How To Buy Sailboats On Facebook Marketplace

Sailboat shopping is usually done on Yacht World but finding a cheap sailboat is much more likely on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. Today we go boat shopping and look at Catalina, O’Day, Hunter Legend, Com-pac, and Cabo Rico boats on Marketplace to see what the hype is all about. We study what to look for in a sailboat in Florida and what to watch out for. We practice a good process of critiquing sailboats for sale to help you find your next sailboat.
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[@par4par72]

Your spot on !! Market place is the "deal central" for many thing ..but Boats are "buyer beware" and the educated consumer is the best customer. To me, Boat are the new real estate. Big profit margins at a low risk. Easy to flip in certain geographics. But great deals on great SV. And post hurricanes is a target rich environment !!

[@corradodeluca1320]

I found and bought my boat from Facebook. I got a cool sailboat, for MUCH less than I had seen (similar : year and condition…) on other sites. I have had it for 3 years now and all it needed was a bottom and rudder paint job and oil and filters change. Period. Been living on it and sailing it since (April 27 to October 27).

[@wanderingwithdan]

Another great video, always informative. The issue I have with FB marketplace, is that ads stay up indefinitely. Whether people sell it or don't want to sell it any longer, they just stay there. Not the worst thing, just more filtering work for the person looking for something specific.

[@stanleybest8833]

Tim, if you had a down to earth something that lead to a snail mail, you could learn air cooled diesel refits. I could even have an extra motor mounting base made so you could learn. It saves money, weight, and gives reliability. A sub sized motor means the accent is on battery charging.

[@mountainmandale1587]

As always, great video Tim!

[@jplace9773]

I recently sold my first boat on marketplace and got more than I paid thru a broker. Good deal. Bought my current boat word of mouth before it went on the market. Even better.

[@harmonyacres0351]

As a surveyor, I've done 'walk-thru' type surveys...an hour with a camera for remote buyers answering a basic : "should we proceed"? by phone with pictures...then follow up with a written report if the boat does sell. Takes a lot of the guess work and agita out of the process.

[@9drydock]

I love Market Place. I quickly sold a lightly used electric bike. It was so easy to do and I just might sell my boat here.

[@texarama]

Nice video,. It would be nice to see a video about navigating the world of boat brokers, and/or having a representatives broker while buying more expensive boats. Or maybe how to find a good survey'er when the seller or broker are the locals and youre from out of town.

[@brianhanners1256]

Been looking on market place for my first sailboat, hopefully will be a catalina 22 swing keel. Great lakes region. As always great video

[@gkrebs6636]

.. try for the Catalina 27 or even the 30 ...if ya really can. You will thank yourself later on

[@artsmith103]

I would skip Catalina 22. Look for 24ft if you can tow it. Or something like San Juan 21 if you need smaller.

[@clintontaylor8904]

Scored my bavaria 960 on market place from a gentleman in poor health unable to keep up with slip fees Guy was asking 20g I got it for 13g. It's in amazing shape

[@UncleJoeLITE]

Thanks Tim. I'd still only buy a small boat on fb in Australia. 🇦🇺 ⚓️

[@lyfandeth]

The Islander28 is a sleeper. She can easily be trimmed to balance on any point of sail, no autopilot needed. Kinda spooky but awesome to see. But friends don't let friends do Facebook. The most persistant and egregious data miners on the planet.

[@XavierPil]

awesome! I'd personally love a video, probably too controversial, about why boat dealers. Why pay them so much money? Don't they "just" put an add online and wait? Or do they do more (excpet closing paperwork)

[@220shamrock]

There are people/services that take care of the closing and paper work.

[@patrickwentz8413]

Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist are about the same. I have fun looking at the ads. I own an Alberg 30 and have too much time, money, and emotional energy invested to ever sell her.

[@airborneranger-ret]

How about ebay?

[@Sv_SeaDuctress]

Tim, putting out great content. Is there anywhere where there is a blue book value(like cars) on sailboats?

[@practical-sailor]

Sort of - brokers have a tool to see all prices of sold boats.

[@Sv_SeaDuctress]

@ can that be viewed by us common folks?

[@jackwalby6257]

Nada is the place not always accurate if not many built though.​@@practical-sailor

[@jackwalby6257]

Nada has a name change that I forget. Not very accurate if not many built though.

[@harmonyacres0351]

@@jackwalby6257 J.D. Powers took over NADA. You can only find the major builders, like Hunter and Catalina.. Soldboat is a subscription service.

[@joeldelamirande5792]

Atomic 4 you can get lots parts

[@jesuschrist-alphaomega]

Ya don't do FB

[@BigDreamsBoating]

I’ve bought and sold several boats on marketplace. Currently I live on a boat I found on FB would delete app if not for marketplace. Besides why pay more for broker and so it was advertised??? To me better to spend on survey.

[@MICHAELMEREDITHSR]

Thanks for your guidance & wisdom skipper. You give us a lot of good information from which to glean! 🙏🦉 🏞️