You drive a day to go see your most recent marine love interest, roll into the marina at the appointed time and meet your broker. Then, it hits you. The boat you"re going to see is not in the water, it's on land. AND, there is a huge ladder that you have to climb up, before you get to see it. Sometimes, seeing a boat on land is a necessary evil and sometimes pictures on the the various yacht listing sites look much better than real life. It's pretty hard to get any idea how a boat will behave underway, unless you have already been on a similar boat. We"ve taken some of the guessing out of the equation by starting to put many of our boats on YouTube.com . Like this Beneteau 50, 2 cabin owner's version, in Annapolis now.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIVTkW7cY-c
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
The New Bruckmann Yachts 34e Express Cruiser Arrived in Annapolis Today!
I am pleased to announce the new Bruckmann Yachts 34e Express Cruiser is now at Crusader Yachts Sales and she is stunning! She is available to show immediately.If you are in the market for a Downeast-style yacht, like Grand Banks, Sabre, or Legacy, the Bruckmann 34e should be at the top of your list, beacause you will quickly realize this is not a run of the mill production boat.
I can honestly say the Bruckmann product is at least on the same finish and build quality as Hinckley, Morris, and Lyman Morse, if not better. Yes, I know, they are big shoes to fill, but the Bruckmann 34e does so with ease.
The 34e offers a large cockpit and swim platform, spacious helm deck with plenty of seating around a teak table, which converts to a double berth. The one thing that immediately strikes you about the 34e is the remarkable visibility from the helm. The forward wind screen is full size and the visibility is unrestricted. Everything about the fit and finish on the 34e is superb. The example here in Annapolis offers a high gloss Mahogany finish on white panels, and is tastefully classic in every sense. Her galley is quite large for a 34 foot yacht and it features tons of storage, with marbled, solid surface counter tops.
The 34e has wonderful engine access to a Yanmar 440hp diesel. The hull design, flat in the after stations, allows it to plan with ease. You will be interested to know that this is the very same hull mold as the Legacy 34, (R.I.P. Freedom/Legacy). The nice thing about this Mark Ellis design is you can just as easily crawl along the creeks at 6 to 8 knots, if you like. Her single engine is appealing for long distance cruising and getting her in and out of tight quarters is easy with her bow thruster.
If you are in the Downeast market, you owe yourself to look a this boat.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Just Sold: Tayana 55, Tayana 52, and Nordhavn 46!
Well, 2009 ended with a bang! I am happy to report that I just settled 3 boats that had been members of an exclusive club, until now.
Preceeding November 2009, only 5 sailing yachts over 50 feet sold in the entire US. Now, make that 7 in all of 2009! I had the great opportunity to transact a beautiful 1998 Tayana 55 and a spectacular 1987 Tayana 52 aft cockpit. How's that for momentum? The Tayana 55, which is one of the nicest cruising boats I have ever had the pleasure to list, is going to go back to what she does best: wander the sea! She was exceptionally maintained and I am happy to say, she is going to an experienced owner who will love her just as much.
The Tayana 52 was purchased by one of the nicest gentleman with which I have ever worked. She was another yacht that had original owners and she was perfectly maintained for all of her life. She will be headed to Virginia to live, then outbound ports. Kudos to Robert Noyce and her two very prominent, previous owners for making it an easy transaction.
Rounding out the year was what I think may have been the best buy in the entire power yacht market: A 46' Nordhavn Trawler. She had been lingering around for a while in Annapolis and suddenly, a buyer presented himself with the foresight that this boat was a great deal. Mind you, these trawlers are designed for expedition style cruising, in most of the world's oceans. These boats are brought to us by PAE, Pacific Asian Enterprises, which are the same folks responsible for the iconic Mason sailing yachts. You should check out Nordhavn's website as soon as you get the chance. On it you will find video of what these owner's do for giggles: jaunt across the Atlantic to Portugal, stopping to water ski and have a cocktail party in the middle of the Sargasso Sea! There is other info on the website about owners taking off across the Bearing Sea, ala Deadliest Catch, in search of better sushi in Japan! These are boats that will go wherever you have the guts to travel!
Jump on in! The water is perfect!
Preceeding November 2009, only 5 sailing yachts over 50 feet sold in the entire US. Now, make that 7 in all of 2009! I had the great opportunity to transact a beautiful 1998 Tayana 55 and a spectacular 1987 Tayana 52 aft cockpit. How's that for momentum? The Tayana 55, which is one of the nicest cruising boats I have ever had the pleasure to list, is going to go back to what she does best: wander the sea! She was exceptionally maintained and I am happy to say, she is going to an experienced owner who will love her just as much.
The Tayana 52 was purchased by one of the nicest gentleman with which I have ever worked. She was another yacht that had original owners and she was perfectly maintained for all of her life. She will be headed to Virginia to live, then outbound ports. Kudos to Robert Noyce and her two very prominent, previous owners for making it an easy transaction.
Rounding out the year was what I think may have been the best buy in the entire power yacht market: A 46' Nordhavn Trawler. She had been lingering around for a while in Annapolis and suddenly, a buyer presented himself with the foresight that this boat was a great deal. Mind you, these trawlers are designed for expedition style cruising, in most of the world's oceans. These boats are brought to us by PAE, Pacific Asian Enterprises, which are the same folks responsible for the iconic Mason sailing yachts. You should check out Nordhavn's website as soon as you get the chance. On it you will find video of what these owner's do for giggles: jaunt across the Atlantic to Portugal, stopping to water ski and have a cocktail party in the middle of the Sargasso Sea! There is other info on the website about owners taking off across the Bearing Sea, ala Deadliest Catch, in search of better sushi in Japan! These are boats that will go wherever you have the guts to travel!
Jump on in! The water is perfect!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Power Yachts lead the comeback!
In an amazing twist in the yacht brokerage marketplace, powerboats, especially trawlers and downeast yachts have lead the comeback. I wish I could say the same for new power yacht sales. I recently worked with several clients in the power market and what I observed truly caught me by surprise.
I wrote months ago that prices seemed to have had bottomed out and were remaining steady, with sellers remaining consistent on pricing strategy. Today, it appears many choice offerings in the power market have been sold or are under contract! I called broker after broker only to find many of their listings were surveyed and ready to go to closing! If you are a consumer, sitting on the sidelines, and you are going to buy something, I wouldn't wait too much longer. This is November ( '09) and where many folks are putting boats away and boat yards become sleepy, business on the Chesapeake has become brisk!
I wrote months ago that prices seemed to have had bottomed out and were remaining steady, with sellers remaining consistent on pricing strategy. Today, it appears many choice offerings in the power market have been sold or are under contract! I called broker after broker only to find many of their listings were surveyed and ready to go to closing! If you are a consumer, sitting on the sidelines, and you are going to buy something, I wouldn't wait too much longer. This is November ( '09) and where many folks are putting boats away and boat yards become sleepy, business on the Chesapeake has become brisk!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Getting a Downeast Education at Lunch!
The president of Crusader Yachts, Nancy Cann, Scott Taylor, and I rushed out of the office today to get from Annapolis to Kent Narrows for what was supposed to be a normal lunch meeting. Always trying to squeeze every minute to get two back, we finally made it across the bridge and to our destination. We were meeting prominent Eastern Shore yacht broker and yacht yard owner, John Shannahan, to tidy up arrangements for our annual Spring Open House. Sounds boring, huh?
Well, it would have been, except we had a guest: Jarvis Newman! I have read dozens of books about Downeast boat building and design, but, nothing is better than eating fish and chips with the master of the craft!
When one thinks of Jarvis Newman boats, I am not sure what your visual is, but for me, it is the rocky Maine coast, a light house or two for background and a crisp American yacht ensign flying from the stern of a perfectly built lobster yacht.
What a great opportunity of a career to have lunch with him!
Well, it would have been, except we had a guest: Jarvis Newman! I have read dozens of books about Downeast boat building and design, but, nothing is better than eating fish and chips with the master of the craft!
When one thinks of Jarvis Newman boats, I am not sure what your visual is, but for me, it is the rocky Maine coast, a light house or two for background and a crisp American yacht ensign flying from the stern of a perfectly built lobster yacht.
What a great opportunity of a career to have lunch with him!
Saturday, January 31, 2009
S/V PRUDENCE - a Southern Cross 35: Clients (and a Boat) to make a Yacht Broker Proud!
Southern Cross 35 Hull
Southern Cross 35 to Windward!
Southern Cross 35 in Antigua
ANNAPOLIS - You meet a lot of people in the business of yacht brokerage. When I met Doug and Sheryl Mayle, in Annapolis, they were just starting to look for a "cruising sailboat." Like many folks getting ready to buy a cruising boat, Doug & Sheryl had many questions, but, there was something different about them.
It was obvious, Doug & Sheryl were focused, and had planned a long time to pursue their dream. They didn't have thousands of ocean miles under their keel, and hardly could be considered old salts. We saw a lot of boats when they came to visit. Obviously, Annapolis is a supermarket of yachts, so they could see just about anything ever made to float.
They set one foot over the rail of this wonderful Southern Cross 35 and it was all over. Love a first sight! A canoe stern, sensible sail plan, honest construction, and excellent price make the Southern Cross 35 one of my favorite choices for a cruising sailboat.
Doug & Sheryl did a good job of trying to hide their blushing enthusiasm, and really had a good look at her. I remember Sheryl asking, "Do you think this is worthy of blue water sailing?" She asked in such a way that it was clear the underlying question was: You wouldn't sell us a boat where we are going to certainly die, would you? Of course not! S/V Prudence had a secret: She had been sailed to Europe from Annapolis and back through the Caribbean already! S/V Prudence would take good care of them, indeed!
As I write this, Doug and Sheryl are on their 35' Southern Cross, S/V PRUDENCE, in Antigua!
If you are thinking about slipping the lines and really going cruising, you owe it to yourself to see how Doug and Sheryl got themselves prepared. They are a text book case on how you put dreams into motion. Take a look at the journey of Doug & Sheryl on S/V Prudence on their Blog here
Monday, January 26, 2009
Yacht Prices Reach Bottom...3 months ago!
Bristol 51.1 Sailing
ANNAPOLIS - It is no secret the economy has been pretty tough on yacht sales the last 6 months or so. At the US Sailboat Show in October, you could see dismay on the faces of the show attendees as the stock market took another several hundred point plunge. Sales were few and far between. Several attendees confided they intended to purchase a new boat this year when they made their plan to travel to Annapolis, but, quickly changed course as the clouds of the economic situation clearly appeared on the horizon. Even the sales machines of Beneteau, Jeanneau, Hunter, and Catalina were off by all accounts. Many folks realized their dream needed to be deferred.
Fast forward to January 2009. The phone started ringing when we returned from our holiday slumber and it hasn't stopped! This time last year, I was in Florida for two weeks, because it was a welcome break during a traditionally slow time. As I write this, there is no way I could take the time off due to the demands of my business and my clients needs. Trust me, I am definitely not complaining.
Two months ago, I was seeing many, shall we say "overly hopeful" offers on yachts. Many buyers thought, surely the average boat owner would be practically begging for them to buy their boat. The end result: many rebuffed buyers who still have no boat and a lot of sellers effectively selling their boats to reasonable buyers, at market price.
If you know anything about sailboat owners, they are not the type of folks who go out and buy a boat on a whim, because they had a few extra bucks to burn. Sailing is in their soul and sailing is a necessary part of their life. They made the sacrifices in other part of their lives to afford their boat. I know folks who debate whether to buy a pizza on Friday night or save the money for a mooring at their favorite port, in the upcoming cruising season. Consequently, most sailboat owners are not in a position where they are required to get rid of the boat at any price.
If you are seriously in the yacht market and looking for the bottom of the market to get the best deal, you may have already missed it. The recent activity I've seen suggests there are more serious buyers in the market and prices have begun to stabilize. Every broker in my office has at least one boat under contract. My polling of other brokers up and down the East Coast suggests the micro-markets of New England and Florida are moving too.
Don't get me wrong, there are great deals out there and you should move swiftly to take advantage of them. Many sellers are not rejecting reasonable offers and they are engaging serious buyers in negotiation. Although, it is natural to want the best possible deal and maybe a pound of flesh too, it may take a year for prices to completely stabilize and for you to realize you got exactly that by buying now.
Fast forward to January 2009. The phone started ringing when we returned from our holiday slumber and it hasn't stopped! This time last year, I was in Florida for two weeks, because it was a welcome break during a traditionally slow time. As I write this, there is no way I could take the time off due to the demands of my business and my clients needs. Trust me, I am definitely not complaining.
Two months ago, I was seeing many, shall we say "overly hopeful" offers on yachts. Many buyers thought, surely the average boat owner would be practically begging for them to buy their boat. The end result: many rebuffed buyers who still have no boat and a lot of sellers effectively selling their boats to reasonable buyers, at market price.
If you know anything about sailboat owners, they are not the type of folks who go out and buy a boat on a whim, because they had a few extra bucks to burn. Sailing is in their soul and sailing is a necessary part of their life. They made the sacrifices in other part of their lives to afford their boat. I know folks who debate whether to buy a pizza on Friday night or save the money for a mooring at their favorite port, in the upcoming cruising season. Consequently, most sailboat owners are not in a position where they are required to get rid of the boat at any price.
If you are seriously in the yacht market and looking for the bottom of the market to get the best deal, you may have already missed it. The recent activity I've seen suggests there are more serious buyers in the market and prices have begun to stabilize. Every broker in my office has at least one boat under contract. My polling of other brokers up and down the East Coast suggests the micro-markets of New England and Florida are moving too.
Don't get me wrong, there are great deals out there and you should move swiftly to take advantage of them. Many sellers are not rejecting reasonable offers and they are engaging serious buyers in negotiation. Although, it is natural to want the best possible deal and maybe a pound of flesh too, it may take a year for prices to completely stabilize and for you to realize you got exactly that by buying now.
You can search for great deals by clicking here.
Bill Day - CPYB
Crusader Yacht Sales
Annapolis, MD
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