When commenting on boats for sale

[CharlesL]

The first sticky above states:

"Please think carefully when discussing asking price, your opinion of likely sale amount and the condition. I feel it is important that forum does not become the place whereby the sale of a boat becomes more difficult because of negative remark. After all, we might all be wishing to sell one day."

Please take this seriously, as someone recently emailed me as follows:

"All of the stupid comments on the forum are both childish and uninformed, it does not help when one is attempting to find a suitable buyer."

I have a great deal of sympathy for this.

Charles

[nicky]

You are totally right and it is all too easy to comment. Apologies for mine, but in my view most comments referred to are made by people who are mature and well informed. I do not include myself in this. Point taken
David

[wsmempson]

I do so agree, Charles - it wouldn't please me to have a bunch of folk rubbish a boat that I was trying to sell.

However, to counter that, I think that it is useful to share insights and information in an open and fair fashion - especially if there are very real issues with a boat, that are not being disclosed.

When I was looking to buy a boat 4 or 5 years ago, I generally found that 90% of the members of this club who were selling things were upfront, quick to share information and a real pleasure to meet. There were quite a few members who, although they were not selling, were kind enough to show me their boats and take me out on them too, and this helped hugely to educate me in what I was looking at.

As ever, there is always a small percentage of folk who have another less collegiate agenda, who are less than transparent over what they are selling. Do we make sure that no one comments on these instances?

Or do we take the view that, primarily, we are a members club run for the members, by the members, and our forum is a place where members discuss things germaine to the boats, whether it be trips, history or, in the instance of the For Sale section, the boats that come up there?

I think trying to prevent all comment if and when when a member knows something relevant about a boat, would be quite a dubious proposition, and might raise the question as to whose benefit that would that would be?

I accept that the forum is not the place for one member to gratuitously rubbish another member's boat, but I think that the comment emailed to you would make my thumbs start to prickle.

It's a difficult balance to strike.

[CharlesL]

Thanks Saul. it is of course all a question of degree.

I think that if there is need for a debate, and you think it right to save a prospective purchaser from wasting their time it might be reported on the private forum for members, rather than open to anyone?

Its all so difficult in a world where its easy for you to buy a £30k boat, spend £60k on it to find its still only worth £45k. And of course if a restored and well used boat is sold to a new less caring owner, the speed of deterioration can be frightening . . . and most upsetting.

Charles

[Ben]

My guideline is that it is acceptable to talk about condition or price, but not both.

[Paul Foulston]

Charles,

I am sorry my comments reagrding Sabre 370L fitted to 'Mosi' resulted in the whole thread being deleted.

As comments did not express any opinion merely technical facts I find it difficult to accept that it fitted your guidelines.

Paul

[nicky]

It's all on the YBW forum. So common knowledge for any sensible person, so worry not Paul
David

[robin3boats]

Whats YBW?

[Folly Reach]

Yacht and boat world forum.

[gpeet]

David. I can’t find anything on the YBW forum, in this connection.

[nicky]

It's all there Grant, as is so much useful information on the Internet for those considering advice re a prospective purchase.
Missed your attendance at Thurlestone.
See you David