Long Distance Boat Buying - Part 2

3/25/2008
3:40PM

Good afternoon all,

Some weeks ago I wrote about a man who found me on the Internet and wanted me to assist him in his boat buying search here in the States. Much has happened since then.

I'll call him Joe, flew over to the US from Singapore a few weeks back to look at about 10 boats I'd lined up for him to view. Being a power boater, he liked the Meridian 368, especially a 2006 model I had found in SC. Joe left the country after two days but instructed me to place an offer on the boat. The deposit money was wired in and the offer was made. Unfortunately, the seller would not take less than his asking price so we did not buy the boat.

Immediately I set out to find another one and did locate one in St. Petersburg, Florida. She was a year older, a 2005, but was in very good condition. Three weeks ago an offer was made and a price was agreed upon. Last week I represented Joe in her survey and sea trial; everything went smoothly with only a few things found needing attention. I received the survey report last Friday and I communicated the findings with Joe via email. Remember, he is about 12 hours ahead of us so we "talk" early in the mornings and at dark. I recommended about 10 items that we should have corrected before we took delivery and he agreed.

Today I got an acceptance from the seller as to the terms by which the sale would continue. He's agreed to correct those issues at hand for the buyer, before I take delivery next week. We'll likely close the deal late next week.

I've got a shipping date from Savannah Georgia to Singapore in May but am waiting to hear back on a shipping date for Miami. I'll probably run the boat around to Miami through the Keys but may truck it to Savannah, we'll see about that.

All in all, its been a very pleasant experience for me; lots of work but that's what I do. Joe will see his new boat for the first time in person when she's off-loaded in Singapore in early summer. He'll be very pleased I am certain. He's going to get a very good boat! You can see photos of her on my other website.

Now on to the next one for a customer in New Zealand.........all in a days work for this Yacht Broker...:)


Till next time,
Mike