Selling and pricing older boats

[bishoptf]

Starting the process of listing my older Ranger fish and ski and can take pics and all that but not sure where to start from a price stand point. Just no idea what its really worth, I take care of my stuff and the boat and trailer is in good condition but it is an 2005 and has an optimax on it so....

 

I can provide more details but when looking online for others out there I see a big delta in pricing etc....just thought I would ask, thanks.

[DaubsNU1]

When I sold my old 1960 Rich Line, researched craigslist, FB marketplace, and some forums to get a feel for what it might be worth. Might be a good place to start.

 

I purchased boat, motor (20HP Merc 2-stroke), and trailer in 2000 for $600. It was bare with just bench seats...I added trolling motor, front deck, and seats right away.

 

In 2021 I added decking, Garmin's up front and in rear, bilge pump, running lights, new seats, and USB ports.

 

 

I asked $2,300, and sold a few days later to the first guy who came to look it over. He offered me $2,200...Done!

 

Good luck selling your boat. Might be worth more than you think...

[Junger]

I just helped a friend buy an used bass tracker off of FB marketplace. I used NADA as a tool to negotiate prices. But things I looked for in a used boat were: Garage kept, condition of the trailer, make/model of the engine, condition of the deck/carpet, and trolling motor. 

 

https://www.jdpower.com/boats?aid=167268&nozip=1&nopop=1

 

Just based on your description, I'd start around $10K if it's in really good condition and you have maintenance records and a decent TM.

[bishoptf]

16 minutes ago, Junger said:

I just helped a friend buy an used bass tracker off of FB marketplace. I used NADA as a tool to negotiate prices. But things I looked for in a used boat were: Garage kept, condition of the trailer, make/model of the engine, condition of the deck/carpet, and trolling motor. 

 

https://www.jdpower.com/boats?aid=167268&nozip=1&nopop=1

 

Just based on your description, I'd start around $10K if it's in really good condition and you have maintenance records and a decent TM.

Yeah I'm really picky about stuff and keep things in nice shape, the glass is really good shape, along with the carpet etc. The major drawback of the boat would be the 115 optimax, in 2010 our local lakes had a HP rating and it was 115hp, it was a lame requirement but it was what it was and that is what is on the boat. Since then they have raised it to 150hp and I was looking at re-powering but just decided that it made more sense to get a boat dedicated to fishing vs the fish and ski which had no rod storage etc.  I am not a fan of optimax engines they are complicated beasts and were driven by EPA and not what they normally would have done. In 2015 I had to rebuild the power head when one of the injectors leaned out and melted one of my pistons, I then learned the lesson that you should have your injectors (2 per cylinder) serviced every few years, lol. When I rebuilt it I replaced a lot of stuff and it runs fine but I am not a fan of the engines at all. When looking at used boats when I see an Opti or an Etec I just sigh, since there are some decent boats but I want nothing to do with either one.

 

I included a picture of my piston and what happens when an air or fuel injector leans out

[Junger]

Agreed, your Optimax will be somewhat of a deterrent for a buyer who knows what he/she is looking for. But, you'll get prospective first time boat owners and the best thing you can do is to run a water test with them, or at least on muffs in your driveway.

[bishoptf]

Just now, Junger said:

Agreed, your Optimax will be somewhat of a deterrent for a buyer who knows what he/she is looking for. But, you'll get prospective first time boat owners and the best thing you can do is to run a water test with them, or at least on muffs in your driveway.

Yeah Im still fishing out of it, runs fine...but it is what it is. We have a lift on the lake and when it warms up which was March this year the boat is already on the lift, will continue to fish out of it until is sells and or I get a new boat.

[bishoptf]

Just for fun here are some old pics...

[Capt Ed]

I'd say around $12,000.  The engine will hurt and the rest depends on how it's equipped and the overall condition.  

 

JD Powers says average retail is $11,850 with a 115 engine.

 

https://www.jdpower.com/boats/2005/ranger-boats/180_/10222919/values

 

 

 

I forgot to include trailer in it's value but it only adds a couple hundred dollars.

 

https://www.jdpower.com/boats/2005/ranger-boats/180_/10222919/values

Sorry, it adds about $500.

[airshot]

Pricing is always a guess, so many different things to influence the price.

Do a good search, then an honest evaluation of what you have and come up with a price....that is the best you can do !!  Having receipts and records is a big plus even though you had some issues.  Good luck !!

[bishoptf]

22 hours ago, Capt Ed said:

I'd say around $12,000.  The engine will hurt and the rest depends on how it's equipped and the overall condition.  

 

JD Powers says average retail is $11,850 with a 115 engine.

 

https://www.jdpower.com/boats/2005/ranger-boats/180_/10222919/values

 

 

 

I forgot to include trailer in it's value but it only adds a couple hundred dollars.

 

https://www.jdpower.com/boats/2005/ranger-boats/180_/10222919/values

Sorry, it adds about $500.

I listed it for 11k, I take care of my stuff and while its not perfect for that age of a boat it's in pretty good shape. Trailer has not seen many miles since in the spring it comes out to the lift and stays on the lift all summer until late fall when I put it away. It's defiantly under-powered for the boat but like I said at the time they had a 115hp limit for the lake so it is what it is kind of thing. Started at 11k and will see how it goes, no rush since I do not have another boat but will see at that price if I get any interests.

 

I would think someone on the lake would be interested since how its setup to charge all the batteries when running but I guess we will see. Thanks for the response. 

20 hours ago, airshot said:

Pricing is always a guess, so many different things to influence the price.

Do a good search, then an honest evaluation of what you have and come up with a price....that is the best you can do !!  Having receipts and records is a big plus even though you had some issues.  Good luck !!

Yeah I tend to do all the work myself, always have. I can give them a list of things that I have done, like last season I had to replace the cable steer, but otherwise its just normal maintenance stuff, outside of the *cough* minor power head rebuild, lol.

 

[airshot]

Receipts for parts are better than a list of things done.  They don't know you, how would a buyer know if you were truthful without receipts ?  

[bishoptf]

2 minutes ago, airshot said:

Receipts for parts are better than a list of things done.  They don't know you, how would a buyer know if you were truthful without receipts ?  

Yeah I get it, I probably have some stuff I keep good records of what I do but how many receipts I have is another issue. I have had the boat since 2010, rebuilt the engine in 2014. I know they don't know me from Adam but I can tell ya anything about the boat and when and what I have done to it. If you saw my boat you could tell I take care of things but it's not like it's worth a ton of money, the optimax on the back of it will turn off a lot of folks that know anything about boats. The only selling point is the trailer and boat itself is in really nice shape, clean and functional. The engine may be fine also but you have to keep those injectors happy, I sent them off every three years to Burcato to have them clean them and I think thats about as good as you can do. Its on my lift and I continue to run it and fish out of it, always in a covered slip on my lift. If the boat had better rod and storage I would re-power it but being a fish and ski, rod storage stinks to say the least.

[MickD]

Ask a dealer what it's worth in trade in.  Then add about 20% to that number and advertise on Craig's list.  

[bishoptf]

4 minutes ago, MickD said:

Ask a dealer what it's worth in trade in.  Then add about 20% to that number and advertise on Craig's list.  

I have it listed on facebook, craigslist is really not what it used to be imho. Pretty sure a dealer is not going to give me anything for it but might as well ask, lol.

[MickD]

I mentioned Craigs list because I sold a boat on it for much more than I thought I could get. Use all options.

 

[airshot]

With so many scammers out there, it is difficult to find a good place to sell things today.  I have had good success with Craigslist but have to go thru numerous scammers and no shows to find a serious buyer.  My grandkids use Facebook to sell for me at times, but, they are just as bad, you get 5-6 no shows before a real person shows up.  Sure wish their were other options !!

[Vilas15]

Fellow 2005 ranger fish n ski owner here but mines a 1850 with a 150. I'm going through replacing the torsion axle right now since it's wore out and rubs one of the tires on the fender. Something to watch out for if you don't sell it any time soon. The 1850 deep V brings a little more cash from the northern crowd than the bass hull and they go for mid to high 20s from what I've seen for the mid 2000s VS models. Your price seems appropriate to me. How much attention or how many inquiries you get will tell you how it's priced.

[Junger]

Good luck with the sale. You'll have to weed through all the scammers on FB and Craigslist, but you'll quickly find out who the serious buyers are based on the questions they ask you. And a really serious buyer will ask you to water test, and may have the cash in hand if all goes well.

 

 

[WRB]

You have been looking at buying a bass boat and should know it’s still sellers market. Don’t under evaluate your good condition boat!

Tom

[bishoptf]

I have it listed on facebook with a video but still need to do it for craigslist. I think I have decided on which way to go for the new boat just would like to sell this one first.

[bishoptf]

The selling slog continues, I had someone really interested and spent a lot of time discussing etc and they even agreed on a price and wanted to place a deposit which I said wasn't necessary. The next day they backed out, I know thats par for the course I guess we will see how many times it happens, still hasn't warmed up much so hopefully someone will want to pick it up sooner than later. I'm pretty honest about everything going on with the boat, I even list that I rebuilt the powerhead back in 2014, that was one of the reasons that the latest buyers backed out. I thought that was interesting since I rebuilt it in 2014 and have put over 100 hours on it since, lol.

 

Oh well guess we will see what transpires next.

[bishoptf]

Update, sold my boat on Saturday and the winner was Craigslist, lol. I had it listed on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist and had lots of hits on Facebook and had lots of questions and one that told me they were going to come get it but backed out. Lots of stuff on Facebook marketplace and I thought that would drive the sell but also listed on Craigslist and thats where it finally sold, so list high and low, you never know.

 

Now I need to get the new one, pretty close but trying to close the deal taking longer than expected hopefully maybe by end of the week!

[Junger]

Congrats, do you mind disclosing the asking price, and what you sold it for?

[bishoptf]

18 minutes ago, Junger said:

Congrats, do you mind disclosing the asking price, and what you sold it for?

I don't mind, 2005 Ranger Reata 180vs (Fish and Ski, not a deep v more of a bass hull), 115 Mercury Optimax w/ 215hours rebuilt power head in 2014 due to one cylinder leaning out. Listed it for 11K then 3 weeks later lowered to 10.5k and sold for 10K. I included the rebuilt engine information even though it was 10 years ago and had at least one person walk away due to that fact. But a twnety year old opti that hasn't had any major work well that would be a rare thing indeed. I learned way more than I wanted to know about the Opti's, if the compressor ever cuts lose or the air/fuel injectors bad stuff happens. You can't really do much about the compressor but you can keep your injectors serviced and that will go a long way to keeping things happy. I didn't know that until bad stuff happened, lol.

 

The boat over all was in really good shape, I tend to take care of things, I live in a lake community so the boat was either on a covered lift in the summer or in enclosed storage over the winter. When I rebuilt the engine I replaced a lot of stuff and learned my lesson to keep the dual opti injectors serviced, I rebuilt myself.

 

I probably could have gotten more the longer it went but was wanting to move on and get something more set up for fishing, just not enough storage in the boat, was a great boat when the kids were small and we would pull tubes etc, allowed me to also fish out of it but now that the kids are grown and out of the house I wanted something dedicated for fishing. I knew the first one that actually came out to look at it would purchase it since it's probably in better shape than, well most of the boats out there but the 115hp on the back was the biggest hindrance but when I purchased in back in 2010 115hp was the hp limit for my lake so it is what it is kind of thing.