Used boat: Offer what % below asking price?

I'm thinking about getting a used V-drive, late model. Most boats are between 30k and 40k. I can figure out MSRP, and can also ballpark what they may have paid for the boat considering 10-15% discount from the dealer.

What depreciation can I expect to calculate?
X% after 2 years??

I know that the final price is really set by how motivated the seller is and by the condition of the boat, but can anyone suggest what percentage below asking I should start with? I don't want to start the deal offending the seller.

Thanks

You're right, it depends on the boat but more importantly, the attitude of the person selling the boat and how desperate he is to sell it. The time of the year and how long he's had it up for sell really does a lot to persuade him to let the boat go at a price well below his asking price.

I bought a used 01 in January. The boat was like new but the owner was ready to sell it and he had gone through the winter and no one was even calling him. He was ready to move it. I approach him with "I'm not trying to knock the quality of your boat but I noticed you've had it for sale for a while." I told him that I was trying to keep my payments under $XXX and that locked me into a price of $XXXXX. I asked him if we was wiling to take less.....not that the
boat wasn't worth what he was asking but I was stuck and couldn't afford more. It worked. He was ready to sell and I saved 12% off what he was asking.

Hope that helps and it works for you.

Thanks for the story Jeff,

I am going to sell my current boat, as I look for a new one, so I'll be trying to save what I can.

That's a good tip about the monthly payments.

Now is the worst time to negotiate a good price on a boat. Wait until after summer to get the real deals. Otherwise, If you find a boat you really like, pay for it. The dollars you save will not be worth more than the memories you'll make.

Don't be afraid to make an embarracing offer. All they can say is no. The free market economy-- offerers and sellers. Start low enough that you get a good deal, and be prepared to walk away. Let them think about it for a few days before offering again.

I once bought an old fishing boat. He said he was anxious to sell, the boat had some motor problems, he wanted $1,000.00. I told him $650.00 because of the mechanical problems. He said no. I said OK.

A couple of weeks later he called me and I gave him $650.00 for the boat.

The principal works for any buy/sell between individuals. Sellers are usually "too" anxious to sell and the longer the clock ticks, the more anxious they get. Bargaining 101.

Also, this depends on location.

Check boattraderonline.com to see comparable prices in the general area. Something worth $20K here, may be worth $25K elsewhere and vice versa.

Ah, the art and skill of negotation! My second favorite topic after wakeboarding!

The best $1000 I have ever spent:

http://www.karrass.com/

Taking this course will enure you get the absolute best price on the boat (car, truck, widget, etc) possible, along with making the seller fell like he received the best overall offer for the item.