I need a little advice ....

[lots of luck]

I have a boat that I may sell next spring.

My dilemma, the boat has an older trolling motor that functions. It is a 24v motor, just not enough pounds of thrust. When I mean it functions, it pulls the boat around OK when it DEAD calm outside. Any wind at all and I use the wind to drift and the trolling motor to correct myself on the drift.

So, my question is, should I replace the trolling motor to make the boat more enticing to potential buyers? It is a fish/ ski combo, my thoughts are that the boat may be bought potentially just for family activities, sking, tubing, etc.. They may not be interested in the trolling motor at all. A weekend warrior on the other hand is going to want to probably upgrade. Maybe it just becomes a term for bargaining on the boat if brought up.

I kind of look at trolling motors and electronics on used boats as not adding a tremendous amount to the sale value, at most maybe 50% of their original value. Older stuff adds little or no value.

This was my first boat purchased, just trying to educate myself about buying and selling used boats since I have so little experience.

Link to the boat pictures from Open Water Forum, Pic with trolling motor although hard to see.

http://www.fishingminnesota.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=706855&page=1&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=13&vc=1

[EBass]

I'm still on my first boat, but I upgraded everything. However I'm keeping my boat for a few years.

If you keep it then I'd upgrade, but if you forsure are selling it I wouldn't bother.

That's just my humble opinion - good luck in whatever you decide

[nofishfisherman]

I for sure wouldn't bother upgrading anything. You never know what a buyer will want. If a someone wants your boat for just skiing then he won't care about the trolling motor and maybe won't buy it if he sees a new trolling motor on the boat that will raise the price.

Sell it as is and let the buyer decide if they want to upgrade motors.

[marine_man]

I'm with everyone else... I wouldn't upgrade it.

In the grand scheme of things the accesories on the boat aren't a large percentage of the cost of the boat and aren't considered much when determining what a used boat is worth.

I'd let whoever buys the boat take care of the upgrading, if they so choose.

marine_man

[BobT]

I believe that if you leave the motor with the boat, it adds no value to a potential buyer. Take the motor off and sell it separately if you want to recoup some value from it otherwise let it go as is.

Bob

[the squirrel]

Ebass get back to work.. The boat looks in real nice shape for an 88. What type of price range are you thinking? You might need to move this thread to the for sale forum.

[lots of luck]

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Ebass get back to work.. The boat looks in real nice shape for an 88. What type of price range are you thinking? You might need to move this thread to the for sale forum.

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Did I state the boat is for sale? Do you see an asking price?

I am well aware off the rules, I will gladly pay for an add when the time comes.

Squrrel, I will not entertain any questions about selling the boat from this thread. I am not looking to sell at this time. My fear is that if I do sell this boat I will not be able to replace it with anything comporable in size and performance.

If I decide to keep the boat I will be adding the trolling motor, if I decide to sell the boat over the winter I will take the advice of FM'ers.

It may be easier to spend hundreds instead of thousands in the long run.

[marine_man]

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Take the motor off and sell it separately

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This is an excellent point... your going to get more for the trolling motor (and all accessories for that matter) if you sell the seperately instead of with the boat.

marine_man

[EBass]

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Ebass get back to work..

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Thanks squirrel, did you put your boat away? Oh whoops, not working again

[Valv]

I agree with everybody not to upgrade.

If you spend $ 900.00 to install a new trolling motor capable to push boat with no problem, will you get $ 900.00 more from the price ? The aswer is No 95% of the times. Same is for electronics, since they change so quickly now it will be almost impossible to keep up, by the time your ad is listed, the new sonar will be obsolete.

I would stick with an honest price, let buyer know the trolling motor is not a high power unit and the electronics are not the latest trend but will still get you on the fish.

Most important thing on a sale is honesty, if you disclose everything you will have a much happier and willing to buy customer.

[lots of luck]

Thanks for the input guys!!

It was a sad day yesterday, winterization completed.

It's good to have a neighbor with a boat though, still fishing for a little while longer.

[the squirrel]

Quote:

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Quote:

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Ebass get back to work.. The boat looks in real nice shape for an 88. What type of price range are you thinking? You might need to move this thread to the for sale forum.

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Did I state the boat is for sale? Do you see an asking price?

I am well aware off the rules, I will gladly pay for an add when the time comes.

Squrrel, I will not entertain any questions about selling the boat from this thread. I am not looking to sell at this time. My fear is that if I do sell this boat I will not be able to replace it with anything comporable in size and performance.

If I decide to keep the boat I will be adding the trolling motor, if I decide to sell the boat over the winter I will take the advice of FM'ers.

It may be easier to spend hundreds instead of thousands in the long run.

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Lots of luck, All I was trying to ask was a ball park $ figure because it looked in great shape for a 88 and I know you can't put $ amounts on this thread. So the reason behind that comment was that I was hoping to get a possible furture $ amount from you on that thread. Sorry for the misunderstanding