Best time of year to buy used boats?

[family affair]

When do the most used boats typically come to market for the east coast?

I would think the best deals (not most volume) would be in the fall, but since I'm in the north, Maybe this isn't true for the entire coast. Can anyone with experience comment?

Thanks

 

[Gary M]

If you have a specific model and year-range in mind, keep your eyes peeled every month of the year! I've bought three used Gradys in the months of December, March and May.

 

[NOTHING ELSE MATTERS]

I think that the best deal happens when you are ready to buy and have the money in hand, when a seller sees the money he wants to deal right away instead of waiting for a potential buyer. Also knowing what you want and also knowing what you suppose to pay, brings price down too. Good luck and what boat are you looking to get?

 

[family affair]

I'm hoping to find a Voyager or Islander.

 

[DB]

November

 

[family affair]

Perfect! I'll be vacationing in Florida then.

 

[bayrat]

Up north here, the best time seems to be the fall. People who've been thinking of selling or who are actively trying to sell, become more aggressive in pricing at that time. Probably driven by two facts: 1-they really dont want to spend the money and have the aggravation of storing and winterizing their boat for another year and 2- after they spend that money and try to sell their boat again in the spring , it's one year older. Makes sense for many to drop the price now and be done with it. Other parts of the country where you can boat all season, all of the previous postings make good points.

 

[hotajax]

Between January and April, just before fishing season opens up here in the NE. Here's why:
Boat shows - many of them are in the winter mos. A guy goes out and has the same craze he did when he got married, only this time it's a boat. Whoops, he already has one. Now he has two. He has got to sell, and especially now, boats aren't moving real fast. Other factors included in the winter and early spring sales are payment of taxes, and the need for cash for some people.

The fall is OK but prices are higher then than in the late spring when the seller is up against a deadline. If a seller puts a boat up for sale in the fall, he's figuring he has 6-7 mos to sell it, and he more than likely won't be highly motivated to move it quickly. But if you can keep your cash in your pocket until March, and find what you really want, you should be able to swing a good deal. BE PATIENT!!! I watched my boat for 4 mos, even visited it a couple times. Then came March, the seller was in a panic. Got the boat for 25% less in March than he wanted in October.