Ashley.... I agree that people are always looking for a deal. Before we were producing the M_boats again, prices were somewhat lower.
Those days are gone. The Montgomery 15 is a coveted prize. We can't build them fast enough. There is quite frankly, nothing in the world that is as strong, seaworthy, fast upwind and as good looking as a properly out-fitted Montgomery 15. We can thank Jerry for designing and producing this gem. (Thanks Jerry) I just built a couple with round bronze ports, blue hull...very salty looking. (I can email photos, just ask) As everyone knows, resin and fiberglass material, lead, stainless, sails and even cushions have gone up in cost. Resins that were 350-400 a drum are now $765 a drum. But these higher material costs affect all boat builders; we all have raised our prices over the last year. People are still buying regardless of costs. They simple want the best boat and they want a new one. I think the value of used M_Boats will also continue to climb. The days of used M_15s under 5 or 6 thousand are over. Everytime gas prices go up, we get more orders. I think people want a sailboat for low fuel costs and I've noticed powerboat builders are slow. Who wants to guzzle $ all that Gasoline...? The Montgomery 15 and 17 are great sailboats. Unlike those rowboats with sails that won't go upwind or tack in anything over 10 knots; these boats (we all know the name) are cheap and plentiful on the used boat market. So and uneducated sailor (who thinks all boats are alike) finds a brand x for $2900, he does get confused when a similar Monty 15 is listed at $7500. Lucky for me, I just bought 13,000 more pounds of lead.....back to work... Fair winds Bob Eeg -----Original Message----- >From: Sailfan1 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Sent: Mar 22, 2007 12:51 PM >To: [email protected] >Subject: M_Boats: The value of a Montgomery > >Somehow I'm thinking I won't find many friends here on this but wanted to put >this out there just the same as I think it's a good topic. I received a rather >rude email this morning asking me the rhetorical question of if I thought my >boat was priced too high. I asked the sender if this was supposed to be an >intelligent question or if they were just trying to make a point. I pretty >much sent the following email. > >Perhaps you've heard the expression you get what you pay for? > >It always amazes me how intelligent people fancy themselves when it comes to >these boats. On the one hand there is almost a snobbery in regard to how much >better they are than other boats of their size yet when they look for a used >boat (buyers and voyeurs alike) they feel the price should be on par with the >"inferior" (not my word) brand. Other brands in this size category sell in the >$5k+ price range so why wouldn't good Monty's sell for more if they are indeed >as most will say, a better built boat? > >I recall a conversation I once had with the current builder of Montgomery's >and in the discussion I off-handedly referred to the other most commonly >associated brand, as being the same caliber of boat. At that point I thought I >was being reprimanded by my own dad. I was duly and steadfastly reminded that >Montgomery's were in no way in the same league or of the same caliber and that >"these were real sailing boats not rowboats with sails". > >My observation is people in the Montgomery used market sit around hoping a >boat comes up for sale, preferably by some owner that can be taken advantage >of who might not know the true market value, or they settle for a boat in >rough and neglected shape then pat themselves on the back they only paid $5k >but with a season of work ahead of them to make repairs and pretty them up. > >Regardless that very good ones are out there and the trailers are in good >working order, but that the price reflects the level of quality. > >People even send emails in this very forum when they discover an M15 for sale >at $5k or under eagerly wanting to share the find. As though gold bars have >just been discovered at 50% off. > >I have had a couple of people contact me, clearly knowing what I have listed >the boat for, and yet only after exchanging some emails they say, oh it's a >bit high for my budget despite their seeing the pictures and complementing how >beautiful the condition my boat is in. > >These people are silly in my opinion and frankly I think are only fishing to >see if there's a sucker on the line. You either want a good quality used M15 >or you don't. Your choice is to either buy a new one for $14k all in - and >deal with the wait time - or buy an older, most likely abused or neglected >80's version, complete with steel shot keel, etc, for about $5k. As one person >who contacted me put it, people usually sell boats when they aren't using them >anymore. Most commonly this is correct and it more often translates to a boat >that has indeed been left sitting outside in the weather to rot before taking >the time to try and sell it. > >An alternative is a well found 1991 boat, well cared for, garaged stored, >bells and whistles such as lead ballast which has been preferred, extra >rigging, and in ready to sail shape for a fair asking price IMHO. Yet in this >niche market of buyers for these fine little yachts, there seems to have >become an almost ignorant concept of what should be paid. > >To answer the lame question my answer is obviously no. And since I am in no >hurry to sell my boat I can afford to wait until an intelligent and reasonable >new owner comes along. And frankly that's the kind of individual I'd prefer to >sell the boat to anyway. If I even sell it at all. > >I'm sure there will be several armchair replies to this email and most will >more than likely slam me for having this opinion. But at the end of the day, >the answer to the question of what is the true value of a Montgomery 15, is >quite simply, whatever the right buyer is willing to pay. > >Ashley >M15 #478 > > > >____________________________________________________________________________________ >Finding fabulous fares is fun. >Let Yahoo! FareChase search your favorite travel sites to find flight and >hotel bargains. >http://farechase.yahoo.com/promo-generic-14795097 > >_______________________________________________ >http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats Boat Builder _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
