Your questions answered
Is winter a good or bad time to buy or sell a boat?
Selling
There's no time like the present
-
Buyers who are ready are trawling the internet constantly. It's not as seasonal as you think.
-
Although the post-pandemic fever has worn off, sale prices remain steady. This is down to the relative price of new boats, a low volume of available boats on the market, and a lower propensity for buying overseas (given the 20% import tax on 2nd hand yachts)
-
Selling now means you have time to find what you want for the following season.
-
If you need to sell before you buy - time is of the essence, as you'll miss all the good, well-maintained boats that come on. They get snapped up by those ready to pounce!
-
The sooner you sell, the sooner the bills stop :)
Buying
Anytime!
Bear in mind that a purchase process normally takes 28 days when a survey is involved.
Logic would have some wait until the spring, to avoid winter storage costs, but our advice would be to allow plenty of time.
-
Finding both the right boat for you, plus the sometimes lengthy buying process, takes time.
-
Buying before the new season gives you time to prepare your boat the way you want it.
-
Surveys may advise remedial works that can be completed over the Winter.
-
How long are you going to wait, and what will you miss in the meantime?
-
Frantically looking for a boat - just before the season kicks off - is not a good idea.