MacGregorSailors.com

I, unfortunately, have to sell my X. I do have it in the classifieds here but, have a question. When I took her out a couple months ago, I noticed the steering was very stiff. It had the original steering, so, i decided to replace. During the course of researching I realized I would be selling her. Knowing that ther are three basic types, original, clutch, and free wheeling planetary, I left the steering out with the intention of putting in whatever the new owner thought they might want. Is this smart??? Or, should I pick one and just make the boat whole before someone looks at it. I understand that the time of year is wrong to sell, but, I expected slightly more interest...as always the opinions out here are much appreciated...

Allowing the new owner to pick what he wants (he might not know) only delays the sale and allows more time for things to go wrong during the sale. Pick one and fix it now IMHO.

Rick

I agree put the steering in and use it as a selling point "brand new steering"

Hope this is helpful...as a potential buyer (though slowly looking for an M), I'd want the boat to have good steering and done by someone with more experience sailing it to determine the best fit for that boat. I'm not sure of the differences between your choices, but I'd want the most sensitive feel, de-linked from the motor, while under sail. Good luck with your sale!

Respectfully,

David

I think that if you are looking to get the best selling price for your boat, sell it fully functional. A new buyer is likely to be looking for something fully functional. Anything left to the buyer as a project to make the boat fully functional will lower the percieved value and final selling price. Doing work on the boat pre-sale to satisfy a potential buyer likes could ultimately lead to two dissatified parties and no sale. OTOH - sold "As is" with the troubled or no steering and priced accordingly / attractively may make a sale at a challenging time of the year.

From all of the above posts, I believe you see the consensus forming. Add me to that list.

Don't cloud the issue with incomplete steering. Have it made whole. When I was shopping, I was looking for a working boat.

bjmeunier wrote:I, unfortunately, have to sell my X. I do have it in the classifieds here but, have a question. When I took her out a couple months ago, I noticed the steering was very stiff. It had the original steering, so, i decided to replace. During the course of researching I realized I would be selling her. Knowing that ther are three basic types, original, clutch, and free wheeling planetary, I left the steering out with the intention of putting in whatever the new owner thought they might want. Is this smart??? Or, should I pick one and just make the boat whole before someone looks at it. I understand that the time of year is wrong to sell, but, I expected slightly more interest...as always the opinions out here are much appreciated...

I agree with the above. Many buyers will not have sailed a Mac before and you will need to be prepared to do a test sail. Make it the best that you can.

~Rich

I have to agree with the above. When I am looking for a boat, I want it to be in working condition. If it is not in working condition, then I will start deducting for anything I can not test. I will also wonder why the current owner did not fix it already, and will never believe that the repair is as simple as what the seller states (if it is, then it would already be fixed). Also, a fully functioning boat makes it look like you are not as desperate to sell.

If you want to get rid of the boat quick and basically give it away, then do not repair. There are a lot of people willing to take on projects, but these same people will not want to pay you anything for your boat.

I just sold my last month I sold it to guy who was a modest sailor so I had to derig the boat from its racing mode 28ft mast back down to the original 24ft mast took me about 4 wk-ends as the boat had been stored in my shop for about 3yrs so I had to get the eng. running etc. any way three days later a guy calls me say's he'll buy it sight unseen full price ! I said to myself where was this guy three days before !

Fix the steering

j

Ok...thanks a ton for the input...I will put in the new system......She will be sold 'Whole"

"whole" and not "holed" I hope??

NiceAft wrote:From all of the above posts, I believe you see the consensus forming. Add me to that list.

And Me


I know I wanted a boat "ready to sail". I did have in mind many mods that I picked up here, but I wanted to sail her more than mod her

Just ordered the uflex plantetary system...she will be "whole"


seriously tho, thanks for the input when things quiet down in my life, I hope to be back out here again...