Looking at 1981 28' Carver Mariner in WA State

B

bruce56

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Joined
Apr 25, 2008
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29936
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Hi everyone,

Name's Bruce from Lacey WA. New to boating and could use some advice. I apologize up front for the lenghtly message but being new I have a bunch more than what's written below. If there is anyone in my area that could educate me that would be great too

I'm looking at a 1981 28' Carver Mariner in Olympia WA http://www.yachtworld.com/core/list...et¤cy=USD&access=Public&listing_id=1459&url=

Having no boating experience I'd like to get your initial impressions on the boat and any known issues you may know of about these types.

I plan to use the boat for cruising our beautiful Puget Sound and enjoy some fishing fun as well. I'm retired military so it will be my wife and sometimes the kids when they visit.
Planning weekend overnights and once in a great while week long overnights.

Also would like to get some advice on a surveyors. Prices I found range from $13-15 a foot.

I understand that an offer is contingent on a favorable survey and sea trial.

Last Question: How much below asking price is the rule of thumb for making an offer 10-15%?

Thank you all for taking the time to read through this long message and for your advice and suggestions

Thanks Very Much
Bruce

"Whining is like a rocking chair, gives you something to do but doesn't get you anywhere"
 
Hi Bruce, I was just passing through the threads and noticed no one responded to your request for moral support on a carver you are/were looking at. SOOOOOOO seeing the experts did not jump in and give you some helpful hints you are stuck with me until someone who knows something about boats comes along.
Now having 1- 26ft Santa Cruz 1984 and 1- 16ft Bass boat and 3 10ft basstenders this my friend makes me the all time wizard of knowing nothing about boats. But after looking at the pictures of your interest...I think it looks like something you should check out. As for the 454 big block I hope your service pension is large as I have a 350/350 mercruiser and at 3/4 throttle she can suck down the juice rather quickly.
I am hoping along with yourself, someone else will read my writing and say..."this guys knows nothing so I will jump in and add my 2cents."
Anyway get back to us and let us know how your doing with checking this boat out AND I almost for got......I made an offer on my Carver at the right time of the year and got about 40% off the asking price so DO NOT be bashful you can us the extra $$$$ for gas. THe owner can always make a counter offer.
Keep em Floatin 1984 Santa Cruz "Maybe Baby" Bob
 
Sorry as well that no one got any advice to you. I am a novice and just purchased my first boat, so I will let you know what I have and how I got it.

I bought a 1986 carver mariner 2897 for $9500. The boat was for sale for the last 5 years at $20,000. That was not in my budget and I was shopping for a year to find the right boat, at the right price. I am not even 30 yet, disposable income is not a plentiful luxury for me, so I had to keep the purse strings tight. I knew I wanted this style of boat from Carver or a select few other manufacturers. I had to have looked at a hundred boats before finding one or two to start dickering price. When I found this one, I asked the story on it and knew that the fat that they had it for sale (although, not trying very hard) that they would take less. I asked the yard owner what he thought I could get it for and he facilitated the offer. I offered $9500 (in the dead of winter) and they were happy as they are retired, one of them is ill, and they want to move on and stop paying for (inside) storage. Mind you, I do live in the rust belt of America so things are pretty depressed around here for the average person.

Once the offer was accepted and spring arrived, I had a survey performed. I paid $16 a foot and got a 20% discount because he was friends with my parents.

The surveyor started by doing a simple once over then a serious look at the stringers. He discovered a problem with the inboard stringers under the salon deck. Explained to me how this would affect me immediately and down the road. At that point, most will stop the survey and charge a nominal fee for their time if you want to move on. I had him continue since there was plenty of good wood left and a boatload of fiberglass on each side. The engine compartment was great and other than the forementioned issue, the boat surveyed out extremely well and he appraised the vessel at a fair market value of $22,500. He said I could have the stringers repaired for $5-7g and the value would be $30-32g.

This may be a lucky deal for me but the most important things to remember are that the boat is only worth the amount of money that is the most you are willing to pay and the least the seller is willing to sell for. You have to resell the boat some day so don't go for something that you will take a huge loss on unless it will make your quality of life exponentially more enjoyable. There are millions of boats on the market. And finally, your goal is to get a good/fair value, not to become best friends with the seller. If you ruffle this guys feathers by offering a low (even half or less) and he gets pissed, move on, there is a deal out there somewhere.

I made an offer of $16 on a 1981 3007 that the asking was $22 asking price. I was crushed when they laughed at me. I am so glad that I waited for the deal I got. The 3007 is still for sale too!

Jim
 
bruce,

you can look up the value of a boat on NADA, but it's a buyer's market so take your time and don't overpay. it's a great idea to get a surve (both hull and engines), especially on a used boat. it's also a great idea for someone new to boating to take a coast guard or u.s. power squadron safe boating course. good luck with the search!

bruce
 
Oh dear! How did this request slip through the cracks!!! Like everyone else said above, don't be bashful about negotiating, people are in a hurry to move boats right now!!!

PS - the boat looks nice! I love the fact that it has a bow pulpit, the newer "Traveler" MSD in the head, and that its in covered storage. One caveat - its a single engine, which means it will be a bear to dock in a crosswind, or to maneuver in other challenging situations. On the other hand, so long as you don't mind the reduced top speed you'll be spending less on gas than the rest of us, so you'll be waving to us dock-bound boaters as you pass by :) !!!
 
Bruce,
What happened to Bruce... I guts to know????Did you buy it???Get back to us PLEASE.
BOB
 
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