Boat Ad DO's/DON'Ts.....

[SCT]

Seems like there has been a rash of very bad boat ads lately. Sometimes I think sellers don't want to sell their boats (but are trying to make the old lady happy) or are just plain stupid. In this market, one has to be on their game!

Here are a few of my boat ad pet peeves. Please feel free to share your DO's/DON'Ts:

1. Blury, out of focus pixs.....might as well not have any pixs. Or the seller is trying to hide something!

2. Kids in the ad pixs. I know you might like your kids but they do nothing to sell your boat. Keep them at home when taking the pixs.

3. If you are to lazy to clean your own boat, spend a couple hundred for a detailer before taking pixs. It will pay off in spades....

4. Don't take a pix of the boat with the tarp on it! I'll go to TSC if I want to buy a tarp...

 

[SCT]

Here are a few of Jimway's suggestions from another thread:

Well, I've got a couple. 1. Make sure you install cockpit cover, full cover, and blue tarp, before sale picture. 2. Do not clean boat. 3. Remove transom tie downs. 4. Install wake board tower, especially if it is homeymade. 5. Flatten or remove at least one tire on trailer or maybe take vessel off of trailer and place on driveway, vacant lot or overgrown field, concrete blocks are a bonus. 7. Make sure fenders on trailer are no longer there or are at least bent up fairly well. 8. Seal deck fittings with painters caulk, lots of it. 9. Chew up the prop some and the skeg while your at it. 10. Take at least 2 paragraphs to describe the sound system and it's end book retail cost.

 

[bigsbetter]

These are deffinetly DO'S!!! Take picture's of it with 8 inches of snow on it with your crappy cell phone camera in the dark with the porch light on!...............

 

[Problem Child]

Do put your phone number in your ad. If you cant afford a phone I dont want your dang boat you email tag sob.

 

[keith4216]

Half naked girls will always get more looks at your ad.

 

[bigsbetter]

Definitely leave the life jackets and dock line and ski ropes out where we can see them and leave the sunscreen on the floor so we know that it comes with the boat.

 

[Chris]

I would further suggest that you rake the leaves out of your boat before taking interior shots, a leaf blower is also an alternative!

I would especially suggest you do this if you're going to claim things like your boat has been; "garage kept", "is mint" and "is in showroom condition"!

-Chris

 

[SippyRat]

I agree with all of the above but the biggest one for me is BE HONEST!

If you are not willing to list all of the defects in your ad at least have the decency to disclose them to me over the phone and send me pics of all the defects. Don't pretend that after a 4-6 hour car ride I will some how be too blind and stupid to see what a POS you are really selling.

 

[keith4216]

I like the ones that list the little things that need fixing, such as a light on the trailer.
Why not take 10 mins and replace it, he11 while your at it spray some black paint on that skeg. If the owners letting the little things slip you know the big things aren't getting done.

 

[sim]

Don't forget to give the weeds time to grow up around the trailer. And it's flat tires.

 

[Sam I am]

Take a little time to get picture savy...

Pictures sell boats...and houses...and trucks...and damn near everything else. Lots of pics. And not the crayon variety. Take some good pics and put them on photo bucket. If you're posting on craigs you can use the HTML code and you can post as many high quality pics in your ad that you want.

Pictures...worth a thousand words since forever.

 

[Jimway]

Half naked girls(not from Wall Mart) wearing pink or flamingo should dress up nearly any vessel 'for sale'. 11. Make sure that your pictures of the engine compartment show mold, a funky battery charger, jumper cables, wire crimpers, four different types of plug wires, a tube of permetex, or RTV, or better yet, both, and don't forget to drain sump into bilge (bilge plug optional)

 

[keith4216]

How about don't sound like a dick!
The last line in this ad wasn't needed. Could have just put in the info.

 

[MonteC]

I agree with all of the above but the biggest one for me is BE HONEST!

If you are not willing to list all of the defects in your ad at least have the decency to disclose them to me over the phone and send me pics of all the defects. Don't pretend that after a 4-6 hour car ride I will some how be too blind and stupid to see what a POS you are really selling.

Pretty much sums up the last boat I looked at.

 

[RNGRDVE]

If the boat needs work and it's only a $20.00 part that installs in 3 hours that makes the boat worth twice the asking price then fix it and sell for more. I never take a sellers when they diagnose anything.

 

[MonteC]

If the boat needs work and it's only a $20.00 part that installs in 3 hours that makes the boat worth twice the asking price then fix it and sell for more. I never take a sellers when they diagnose anything.

great quotes i heard this weekend.

"yeah the jack plate is cracked, but it hasnt spread since ive owned it, so its not an issue." ... "Ive only had it out on the water once since ive owned it."

"and here is the stabbin cabin" (refering to the area under the bow.)

 

[RNGRDVE]

Here's an example of what not to do. 60k and 1 crappy picture.

CL cincinnati all for sale / wanted boats - by owner Reply Reply to: kwm3t-3786614060@sale.craigslist.org [?]

flag [?] : miscategorized prohibited spam best of
Posted: 2013-05-05, 4:33PM EDT
Beautiful fountain - $60000 (Morrow OH)

40ft fountain
1989
White on white
Twin 502's
Trs drives
Myco trailer super clean led lighting
Very clean boat always kept inside
Full boat cover
Always a fresh water boat
Call 513 313 6670

• Location: Morrow OH
• it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

Posting ID: 3786614060
Posted: 2013-05-05, 4:33PM EDT
Edited: 2013-05-06, 6:54AM EDT
email to a friend

Avoid scams, deal locally! Do NOT wire funds (Western Union, Moneygram). Beware cashier

 

[Jimway]

12. Leave dirty aluminum ladder leaning on vessel, additional ropes, cables, wiring, interior parts or components, or lumber, would be a bonus. 13. For a more custom approach, remove full vessel cover and throw cover down in dirt, snow, ice, or mud, next to vessel in background. If in doubt, place a destroyed 1969 Ford 3/4 ton pickup upsidedown in background. 14. Make sure that vessel is photographed with attractive background, such as apartment complex, mobile home park, boat repair yard (Read that as boat wrecking yard), or tornado aftermath scene. 14. If vessel will float long enough, photographs of bow sitting atop of rocky shoreline is a nice touch. 15. Back in the engine department, removal of components such as hoses, wiring, fasteners, filters, or carburators, followed by the term, 'runs good' is a nice touch. 16. Greasy finger and palm prints placed upon white interior upholstery is a must. 17. Broom handles, pipes, or 2x4s should be used to hold up engine covers where possible. 18. Do not even think of cleaning the bilge area. 19. Dirty boot prints left upon exposed fiberglass is a nice touch. 20. Corroded or missing zinc anodes should be visible in the stern views along with chewed up props, ground down skegs, missing fasteners, evidence of barnacles followed by the phrase 'never seen salt water', puddles of oil beneath outdrive, and a special favorite, creative transom tie down replacement materials. A name like 'Monkey Spanker' in large letters sprawled across the stern would be an added bonus.

 

[SCT]

I like it when the seller's pix shows water laying on the floor or bilge......that always gives you a warm fuzzy!

 

[jazzy]

I'm flying you guys in to do my ad work when it comes time to sell my boat! On a side note I think I fell in love with one I saw the other day.
http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifieds/outerlimits_40_sv_now_reduced_to_225k-o51326-en.html