www.iFourWinns.com

Hi everyone -

After entertaining several local offers but not getting the right price, I have received an offer from a buyer in Australia who has called me several times and wants to buy the boat through a California dealership. Obviously, working a deal like this has me nervous, since I've never done anything close to this. Questions:

1. Anybody heard of VS Marine in California? This is who the sale would go through. I'll talk to them directly tomorrow.
2. What is the correct process to make sure funds are paid in full and completely certified before completing the deal?
3. How can I get screwed here? I have my ideas, so I'm naturally hesitant.

Anybody else sell internationally? How did it go/would you do it again?

Thanks,

Todd

Looks like they do it:
http://www.vsmarine.com/custompage.asp?pg=export

They are also a FW dealer - so you might check with the factory to see what they say.

As long as you have money in your pocket that has 'cleared' the bank before the boat leaves your driveway -- seems like a no brainer.

If they ask you to do a bunch of stuff - that should raise red flags.

Are you selling to the buyer, or to the dealer - who then sells to the buyer?

_________________

2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

The buyer offered to do it however I wanted - he could pay the dealer and the dealer could pay me, or he could pay me direct. They would need to get it transported to California in the next few weeks so it can get on a scheduled shipment the 2nd week of December. Sounds like it could work, but I don't want to end up on Dateline explaining how I lost my boat and all the money in my account, while everyone shakes their head and says "what an idiot - how could he fall for that scam?"

Talk to your bank and/or whoever holds the note, and see what they say about how to make sure the funds are cleared fully before you let the boat leave your possesion.

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

I would have them go through the dealer. The dealer cuts you a check from a reputable bank. You, go to the bank and cash the funds on the spot -- they can validate funds that way. The bank can cut you a check in cashier's form if needed.

If you have a loan on the boat - the dealer would need to pay that off obviously.

I would avoid any money handoff between the buyer and yourself. Use the dealer.

VS marine is a FW dealer. They have a store front. They have inventory. They have a page on their website that mentions export services. It 'should' be fine.

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

Thanks for the info - I have the title in my hands, so no worries about working with a lender. I'll see what VS has to say about coordinating everything - I hope it works out.

Whats the boat you are selling ?

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=2740

Sold my 248 in the spring to a buyer in Italy. Couldn't have been easier. The buyer had an agent work through a transportation agency stateside, so they set everything up at the port. The hardest part was removing the fuel from the tank as it was full from winter storage. He wired the funds and I dropped the boat off at the port of baltimore. Make sure you take pics when you drop the boat at the port. Things like to disappear...

I agree with the above...sell it to the dealer and let the dealer pay you...but still, insist on certified funds. There are a lot of dealers with cash flow problems out there and you dont want to get screwed there also. Certified funds from a nationally known bank in your hands BEFORE the title changes hands and BEFORE the boat leaves storage...end of story.

You going to buy something else Todd, or getting out of boating for a while?

_________________
Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

Thanks for the advice - if I was smart at all (which I'm not) I will probably be away from boating for a while - 1 kid in select soccer, 1 kid in select volleyball, 1 wife playing competitive tennis, and a dog with separation anxiety all make it hard to find the time to enjoy it. We'll see what happens with this deal - I didn't get a call from the dealer today like I expected.

Selling to someone in Australia can only be a very positive experience!!

_________________

Brian
2006 Horizon 220
350mpi Mercruiser
Jeep Grand Cherokee V8

+1

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Ardy
Adelaide South Australia
Red H180 3.0 Merc