1999 Sport Nautique- prepping to sell - listing price

[Tom351]

Any thoughts on listing price for this boat? My initial guess is around ($15k-$18k) I am getting ready to sell. I hate to part with it, but we just don't use it very often at all anymore. I have not paid much attention to the Nautique market lately, but if anyone is interested let me know. Boat runs great, has approx 600hrs (digital hour gauge on tach is partially readable- first digit is either 5 or 6- I think it is around 550). Trailer needs some work: surge brakes don't work and could use new bunks/wood steps. Interior is OK, could be used as is, but shows some wear and splitting along seams on the rear pad (above trunk). GT40 5.8 ending, includes PP Stargazer.

[bturner]

Based on what I'm seeing in my area you're in the ballpark and certainly asking $18K ($16K if you want to get some quick action) and being prepared to negotiate lower wouldn't be a bad strategy. The wild cards I see is the vinyl and condition of the trailer. Vinyl is something that will scare off anyone with a clue about how expensive it is to repair/replace. With the trailer in the condition shown in the pictures your boat unfortunately comes across as a project and not something ready to take to the lake. Taken together, the boat gives the general appearance of something that hasn't been maintained which for me would have me looking deeper for other flaws during inspection.

Exceptional examples I'm seeing my area are going for $22K - 24K but these are low hour, really nice, ready to go boats with exceptional vinyl. If we take the high side and reduce based on condition to get your boat to where these are for comparison, this is where I would price yours.....

• Subtract $5K - $8K (hard to tell just how bad the vinyl is in pictures) for an interior.
• Subtract $2K - $3K to bring the trailer back to the level of these boats. This would assume bunks, brakes, tires, step pads and misc. related materials.
• Subtract $1K for hours in comparison to the high end reference.
• Subtract $1K for misc. / maintenance items.

Depending on where the actual condition falls I do think you're really close on what I believe the current market is in my area. Then again it's way too early to say what the market will be with all the turmoil going on right now and how willing people are going to be buying boat this season. There's also how bad you want to move the boat factor that goes into the pricing. I've seen a lot of Sport Nautiques listed since the middle of last summer.

Your boat has a lot going for it (color, tower, Bimini, PP, etc.) but for me, a boat for sale sitting on a trailer in the condition shown is a full project and in my mind, I would be evaluating it as such. The hardest part for me to get past is the vinyl. If you pay say $15K for the boat then put $5K - $6K into the interior you're just a grand or two from buying one of the exceptional boats from above and you still don't have an exceptional boat.

All this said, for the right buyer that doesn't need an exceptional boat at $14K - $16K it is in an affordable price range.

If you really want to move it and have the skills, I'd detail the heck out of it and fix the trailer myself.

[Tom351]

Thanks for the detailed response!