Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Exceptional Lagoon 410s for Sale
Friday, May 22, 2009
Catamarans Get Exposed
Whether you are buying or selling a catamaran you want all the exposure you can get. Open your eyes to all that The Catamaran Company can expose for you.
The #1 ranked catamaran website and 4 dockside showrooms help expose buyers and sellers to catamaran information more easily than anywhere else.
Finding the best catamaran to meet your needs can take time. You may have some idea of what you are looking for but you likely want to have first hand exposure to all of the possible information before you make a decision. Working with The Catamaran Company can get you that exposure to catamarans faster and more efficiently than any other resource.
Website Exposure
The www.catamarans.com website is the comprehensive source of the latest catamaran listings and prices. The site ranks #1 on all major search engines (Google, Yahoo, etc…). The detailed listings include extensive current photographs and they often include video and 360 degree images. Many other listing websites can’t handle multimedia presentation like www.catamarans.com. Many of the Catamaran Company listings also include online third party "Catchek" boat surveys that provide even further insight into the condition of many of the boats available. All new listing and price changes are activated on this website before being pushed out to all other listing sites. This means buyers get both more information and the timeliest information at www.catamarans.com . Remember that you can even sign-up for “new listing” and “price reduction” notifications to be sent directly to your email weekly from the website. There is also a “Killer Deal" notification sign-up for boats we believe are priced significantly below market value.
Dockside Exposure
The Catamaran Company is the best when it comes to physically showing catamarans for sale everyday with dedicated docks in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Annapolis, MD, and Tortola, BVI. Both new and used boats can be seen everyday. The docks and boats are accessible by appointment. It is common to have as many as 40+ catamarans at a combination of our docks. If you are a buyer this means you may see a boat that you did not even know you might like. If you are a seller your boat may be seen and bought by someone that wasn’t even considering your model boat for sale. It is also a great tool for a seller that has a boat that may be perceived as too expensive but worth it if “you have to see it to understand it is worth every penny”. A boat seen frequently on one of our docks is likely to save a buyer and seller a great deal of time and money.
Contact me for an appointment to get exposed. If a picture (or video) on our website is worth a thousand words, our dockside locations must be priceless when buying or selling. I personally have over 15 years of catamaran experience, including working visits to most catamaran manufactures from the USA, Europe, and South Africa. Both the buyers and boats on our docks as well as the www.catamarans.com website are getting maximum exposure everyday. This detailed timely information is sure to help whether you are a buyer or seller.
If you are ready to buy and you want even faster notification of special opportunities let me know personally. The information often gets passed around the office of the 12 catamaran specialist at The Catamaran Company before the boat or its' marketing are even ready.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
How to Make Money Buying a Catamaran.... Not Selling
It can be said that selling a boat never makes you money. It is when and how you buy the boat that can however make it possible to sell at a gain. Right now is the time......... and let me tell you the how!
The best opportunities to get value when buying a boat are typically when a manufacture releases a new model or when the market is temporarily depressed.
Lagoon has announced the details of their new L400 & L620 models...........and you don't likely need me to tell you that the market is somewhat depressed.
To make the best of a new boat purchase consider the following. When a new model like the L400 or L620 is released there is "pre-production pricing" and there are typically opportunities to buy a demo boat that may be displayed at a boat show at a discount. Once the boat is available for every one to see the pricing typically increases and becomes inflexible. As your boat ages you will likely be one of the first boats on the used market. The higher pricing of a new boat built after yours will make your boat more valuable and the limited supply in the used market will give you even more used sales price advantage. We saw this with both the Lagoon 440 and Lagoon 420.
For more details and pricing of the new L400 and L620 email me: george.coggeshall@catamarans.com
When it comes to the depressed used market opportunities I can also speak from experience. Each time there has been a major down turn in boat market and the production of new boats contracted; the sale of used boats also became cheap.
1973-1975 -- Recession and Gas crises
1987-1988 -- Recession and Repeal of Investment Tax Credit for boats
1991-1993 -- Recession and Luxury Tax imposed on boats
2000-2001 -- Dot.com bust and 9/11
The result of each of the ensuing recoveries has been a lack of good quality used boats built in those down years. Thus, the limited supply has resulted in increased values in the good years.
You can also look for specials on dealer inventory stock boats in this market. The Catamaran Company currently has the complete range of catamarans from Lagoon in stock (L380, L420, L440, L500). You can make an appointment to see any of these boats at one of our dock locations by contacting me as well.
A purchase today insures your best chances of a gain in the future. So lock in your future gains on new or used boat now!
When making a bona fide offer always be prepared with a 10 percent deposit on both new and used boats. Many sellers are too proud to advertise how low they will seller their boat but please be realistic in your offer. Trust me or any other broker when being advised in pricing. We don't get paid unless the deal is put together but we don't want to waste your time or the sellers.
Give me a call or email for my latest boat recommendations that are personally tailored to your needs and requirements.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Buying Caribbean Based Boats for Sale
Your first hurdle is deciding between a new boat or a pre-owned boat. Remember, the price & size of a boat doesn’t effect the number of priceless memories. It's amazing what you can buy today at any budget.... if you can find it.
If you will share the parameters of your intended use as well as your needs and wants (aka "wish list") with a good broker, they can likely save you time and money. Don't be afraid of using your broker to find your PERFECT CATAMARAN. Remember, a good broker is not a salesperson, rather, they are a consultant. It costs you, the buyer, nothing. In my case I am also licensed, bonded, and have the CPYB distinction held by less than 5% of brokers world-wide. At The Catamaran Company we work 24-7-365 in the catamaran market. In my case I have 15+ years experience to draw on including working knowledge of a dozen factories from the USA to Europe, and South Africa. I confidently believe we provide you great value at no cost..... You have to like the price this day in age.....FREE!!!
Answering the following questions honestly is the first step.
Where do you intend to sail / keep your vessel?
This can also be summed up with, "How do you intend to use the boat?" It is possibly the most important question. Are you looking for a local day sailing, extended cruising, live aboard, charter, coast wise, Caribbean, transoceanic, etc…. catamaran. For someone new to boating and it is where an experienced broker can seriously help you through some expensive pitfalls. A wrong answer can greatly affect insurance and loan costs. For the experienced buyer a buyer a broker can quickly understand the most important basic question and move through the process quickly to the other questions.
New or Used?
New boat opportunities are exceptional right now. You can buy a well equipped base boat in stock (Lagoon 380, 420, 440, 500) and add all your personal favorite equipment. Service shipwrights are standing by to help you install anything you want and the price is right. Lead times on custom ordered new builds are a little shorter right now with the exception of the all new Lagoon 400 which debuts this May. Production is now sold out until August 2010 and will get later once everyone sees this new model. Be careful with some of the smaller catamaran builder brands. They may not be around long enough to complete a boat for you or give you the warranty service you deserve.
The pre-owned market is a vast place. There are wastelands and wonderlands within the used catamaran market. Working with a broker that has seen, sailed, and sold these older models can help save you time by matching your budget with the best values. Great values can be found in both multi-million dollar budgets and hundred thousand dollar budgets. Let a professional help you here. If you buy the wrong boat you may never be able to get your money back out of the boat one day.
When would you ideally like to take ownership?
If you are ready now and you can take advantage of the current market you should probably act soon. Once the currently inventory of new boats is sold you will be looking at longer wait times and 2010 model price increase. Deals on used boats are great for certain models where there is significant supply or extraordinary seller situations. A broker can direct you to these deals. Seller rarely promote that they are desperate. If the supply for what you want is not available a good broker can go into their database to find what you want but the price is not likely to be as good as an over supplied model. If you are just researching you should follow the market at www.catamarans.com or subscribe to the automatic notification of new listings and price reductions from the same website if you have done so already.
Do you prefer a 3 cabin or 4 cabin layout?
There has always been a premium for "owner's version" layouts in the used market. This is because the catamaran charter companies fill the used market with the 4 or more cabin charter layouts. I actually see great value in former charter boat layouts.... let your ego. Unless you are single and need to impress someone you might want to consider the savings. Your stateroom is basically for sleeping. The extra cabin will come in handy with the many guests you will have with boat ownership. One cabin typically ends up as storage whether you have 3 or 4 cabins. Nobody likes to sleep in the Salon (and nobody likes disturbing them either). The proper conversion of an extra cabin into storage can actually increase the value of you boat later. I have NEVER met an owner who said their boat had too much storage. The salon, deck, and equipment should be you priority.
What size range are you seeking?
This is a tough one for me to answer as it is dependent on the other questions such as budget, number of cabins, where and how you will use the boat. Remember the bigger the boat the bigger the bills. If your budget allows for a big boat you should go fit it. I have NEVER had an owner say they wish they had bought a smaller boat. If you are not the type to change your own engine oil be sure you have a big budget or a small boat. However, don't let a small budget keep you from your big dreams. I often find the happiest sailor have the simplest boat and systems. Whether your budget is 35 feet or 105 feet you can't live the dream without leaving the dock.
What budget range would you like to stay within?
Be honest with yourself and your broker here. Establish your boat budget including possible taxes, duties, insurance, and maintenance. It is likely that any boat you find (including a new boat) will need some modifications or additional equipment to get even close to fulfilling your perfect boat needs. I always suggest keeping it simple and only add equipment as you find that you have to have it. Does your budget allow for trips to far away place to seek out the right boat?
How far are you willing to travel to buy the boat?
Whether you are going to move aboard or you need to bring the boat to your home will you consider starting with a boat in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, or South Pacific? There are sometimes very good deals to be had in some far away places but you need to be a savvy traveler and have the knowledge of a good broker that can protect your money and your investment when dealing with foreign individuals and their country's laws. An internationally savvy broker can again be valuable to you here. I personally have visited over 40 countries!
Have you seen any models that you like?
If you are at the point that you know what you like and it is in your budget you are one of the fortunate. It is probably why you are in a position to fulfill your dream. Good decision makers are usually successful. Let your broker know the specifics and they can direct you to the best values and may know of boats that are for sale yet not listed on the various websites. I have contacted owners of boats that had not yet even considered selling and put them together with an active buyer.
If you answer these questions honestly you are most likely to be happily matched with the perfect catamaran within your parameters. It may not be your “Dream Boat” but it is better to have the PERFECT CATAMARAN given the your parameters than to be left sitting on the dock fantasizing about catamaran ownership. Let me help you create real memories and priceless life experiences with the answers to these questions.
Remember you can now sign-up for free weekly notices of new listings and price drops at www.catamarans.com .
Contact me for a personalized review of the market to meet your needs and dreams.