G'day everyone, I'm just after some thoughts on the second hand market in Australia in the near future.

From my perspective there was a huge run on second hand boats in the 27-32ft / $25 000-40 000 range over March - April (which was unusual as boats that had been on sale over summer were selling at the start of lockdown and winter for the same price).

For example there were at least four defiances/2 eastcoast 31's and heaps of cavaliers and cole's that had been for sale for ages that went over a couple of weeks.

What would you do: buy now while supply is low and prices high but have a new boat to use over summer or wait until start of winter next year when possible over eager first timers and covid economic factors flood the market and drive prices down.

I suppose my actual question is: do you think there is going to be a flood of boats for sale after summer?

Second part: If you know anyone that has been thinking/waivering about selling their half tonner (Defiance!! etc) within striking range of Brisbane but hasn't advertised it (if it is on gumtree/yachthub/boatsales I've seen it believe me ) please tell them to feel free to pm me, ill keep it private and won't waste their time.

Housing around me has been selling very quickly of late.

A mate just sold his 50 Foot yacht, only had it on the market for two weeks!

Seems like all that money that used to be spent on holidays overseas is being spent in Aus.

My mate sold his cav 32 in less than a month , I got some engine spares for mine and was told business has been flat out. I'm going cruising again next year ,but am a bit worried that as you can't go overseas owners will use their boats crowding marinas and anchorages , on that basis I'm not so sure there will be a flood of good boats on the market. If you were thinking of selling ,you would be keeping an eye on the market and getting it out there now. As a buyer ,if your thinking you might get a bargain later , I know of a few people who think the same so good boats might just keep their value if there is interest in them. If times get real tough and selling your boat at a basement price won't bail you out , may as well keep it ,move on board and rent the house cheap, YouTube is now full of people living the dream. Hard call. Cheap boats will remain cheap as always , Dreamers will dream ,and people who really want to go sailing will make it happen. As a side note I paid to much for mine, Could have spent another year looking, inspecting , wasting more of my precious time , I got one and went sailing , that was about 8 years ago, best thing I ever did besides saying to the boss " I'm going sailing , dont know when I'm coming back , maybe in six months ,I will give you a call" . Now it seems I might be told we have no work , go sailing ,call us in six months lol ??

oldboyracer I think you are on the money: ^^ "and people who really want to go sailing will make it happen. As a side note I paid to much for mine, Could have spent another year looking, inspecting , wasting more of my precious time , I got one and went sailing"

I think you might be right about people not travelling overseas.

That the way I'm looking at it- a book I recently read said that if you miss another season looking for a boat you are a dreamer not a sailor.

I think I'm lying to myself if I keep waiting for the perfect boat to appear I've set myself a date: I will have put an offer in on a boat by 30 November.

Buyers market starts after fat gov.support
and drawing super is over. Just come back from Kuranda all shops close, not because no tourist, similar Meriba, Atherton. Easy figure out why. Selling Pippin, a few young couples/students inquired ready to splash cash from supper. All that will be soon over and reality kick in.

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Charriot said..
Buyers market starts after fat gov.support
and drawing super is over. Just come back from Kuranda all shops close, not because no tourist, similar Meriba, Atherton. Easy figure out why. Selling Pippin, a few young couples/students inquired ready to splash cash from supper. All that will be soon over and reality kick in.

While I think the overall economic situation will get worse there are pockets that are doing very well.
If they can't go overseas people are spending money on cars, their boats and their houses.
Everyone I know in the boating industry is flat out with waiting times now going into next year.
A buyer on my boat called it a sellers market.
Unintensional consequences of the pandemic.

The new car market is down 95%. Used cars and in particular interesting cars are being snapped up though. People can't spend their money on overseas holidays and often can't cross borders in Australia so they are spending on cars they always wished they had owned when they were young. Some people have decided to give yachting a go and have cleared up a lot of the good buys. A fair percentage of these people will suddenly decide they don't like sailing when overseas travel resumes. If you want to wait till late next year the market will be awash with decent boats.
Just be careful at the moment. This is the time of the year when all those one offs and lemons get dragged out for sale again.