Buying process - trying out a Ranger?

[VogonPoet]

Ok, so wife and I are almost certain we're going to buy a used R25. We looked at one today, and we have three lined up for tomorrow to look at.

I guess a surprising part in the process - if today is to go by - is that we don't get to see how the boat rides unless we have made an offer / money down / in process of doing a survey with a sea trial.

Is that the norm? If so, any ideas how to get to see how the R25 feels (should feel) in the Puget Sound?

 

[Scuba Too]

Yes, that's quite normal. However with a good seller you should be able to back out of the offer and get your deposit back without any issues. I suppose that they want to qualify the buyer as it takes fuel and engine hours to do a sea trial.

Eric

 

[Scuffy]

Check with the Ranger Factory as they have trade ins that are usually priced to move.

 

[Irish Mist]

Most people want to qualify the purchaser so you are not just taking folks out for boat rides.
Good luck

 

[Mr. T]

Brent from Reed Yacht Sales in Grand Haven, Michigan took me out on an R21 EC, didn't know me, knew I had a boat and was very interested in the R21. It was on a trailer in his warehouse, he took it out to the launch and we spent at least 30 minutes on the boat. I didn't buy then but I bought the next year. It seems to me if you want to sell a boat, you'll have to demo it. I would not buy a boat I haven't tested out. Just makes good business sense.

 

[Levitation]

You can argue that both ways. Seems he took a chance on creating a relationship that might result in a sale. In your case it did. Good on ya - and good for him.
In many cases all the dealer/owner is doing is providing free entertainment to tire kickers at the expense of time/fuel/wear and tear.
So from bitter experience comes the attitude - show me the money or hit the road.

Now my experience was different. The dealer said, sure I'll be here Saturday morning. I blew $300 in airplane fuel going there. His buddy had come along two hours before that and they went golfing. Needless to say there was no sale. It was a year later and I bought the same model boat from someone else. A month after that he calls me saying, I've still got that Tug here. I guess 2008 finally caught up with him

 

[VogonPoet]

I think some really good points are made above, and I totally understand the challenge for the sellers regarding the trade-off between making the sale, and ensuring they're not giving rides.

We've found our boat (a 25sc) - obviously conditional to survey and sea trial. We will be waiting for the sea trial to get a real feel for the Ranger in the water, but I'm sure it'll have me chomping at the bit even more for the sale to be complete.

Hoping to be in the water in a month!

 

[stwendl]

This is really hit and miss. If the boat is in the water and a low fuel consumer a test ride is more likely to happen then if not. I guess it all depends on how the buyer approaches the seller. If you are front up telling the seller you are not sure it's the right boat for you and your situation, maybe you get a ride. Perhaps a broker pools a few buyers together for test ride like on boat shows.

I bought mine new. The dealer had a used one on site but not in the config I wanted. Never been on a r27 underway. I asked for a test. Wouldn't give me one unless an order was on paper. Even afterwards it took some time to get a trial. I bought a boat from that dealer before and had a trade in. I probably could have backed out of the deal while the boat was in production but I liked the r27

 

[Smokeyham]

One thought is that you could charter a Ranger 29, so at least you have feel for what a Ranger will feel like on the water. Their are a couple of charter operations in your area (Anacortes Yacht Charter and San Juan Charters).

 

[South lake]

I've bought and sold several boats. Never made an offer on one without going out on the water first. Never sold one without taking the prospective buyer out. One time I had a guy waste my time when I was selling a C-Dory but I never mind going out on a boat. I bought my R25 from Marc Grove at Wefings in Florida when he was still carrying Ranger Tugs. I spoke with Marc on the phone and since others were looking at the boat and I was in Ohio, I gave him $500 on a credit card to hold the boat for me a few days until I could fly down and look at it. I flew down, Marc took me out to see how the boat was on the water and I bought the boat. I wouldn't buy a boat from someone who told me I couldn't see it running in the water unless I made an offer beforehand.