2014 Brisbane Boat Show - What's your trailer boat worth?

by John Daffy on 2 Aug 2014 2014 Brisbane Boat Show - What’s your existing trailer boat worth and is it likely to be one that people are looking to buy? That’s an answer you can find at this year’s Brisbane Boat Show as the event’s organisers, Marine Queensland, team up with leading independent boat brokers to prove a free valuation service.

None of those providing the indicative values sell new boats and that makes the service fully transparent, with no hidden strings or agendas.

'People might want the indicative value of their boat so they know how much they can potentially spend at the show on a new one; or they may want to know for insurance purposes, or maybe just out curiosity – whatever the reason, we’ll be happy to assist,' said Mr Matthew Hodson, President of Marine Queensland who also will be providing valuation advice under the John Crawford Marine banner at the show.

'John Crawford Marine has been a key part of the Queensland marine scene for 50 years and it is that half century of experience, particularly in boat brokerage,' that we are looking to join with others in providing at this year’s show,' Mr Hodson said.

'We also will be giving people advice about their legal obligations and the required paperwork when selling a boat privately as well as how to go about undertaking ownership and loan searches, options for marketing and selling their vessels, as well as things they can do to make their boat more attractive to potential purchasers,' Mr Hodson said.

'And we’ll be explaining some of the on-line rorts currently doing the rounds. They include ones where ‘fake’ purchasers seek to scam transport costs out of sellers by asking for the transport costs to be loaded on to the price of the boat, but offsetting that with a cash deposit into the rogue purchaser’s bank account.'

'Unlike cars, there are virtually no two boats identical – you have the option of different brands of engine on the same model, different engine capacities and horsepower, differences between two stroke and four stroke engines, and that’s even before you get into electronics which can be worth a few hundred dollars on one boat, but worth thousands on another supposedly identical model.'

'Then they are factors such as a live bait tank is fitted, whether or not power steering is fitted and a myriad of other considerations such as levels of equipment including bilge pumps, entertainment systems and different options for weather protection.'

'Our role is to reduce that confusing maze of variations down to an indicative bottom line answer – a price or price range for the boat’s owner,' Mr Hodson said.

'Having sold thousands of vessels to all parts of the country from our base in Brisbane, we have an extensive knowledge of those variations, particularly in leading brand names where John Crawford Marine is regarded as a specialist.'

'Like a house or a car, you really have to see the boat before making a final determination, but a free indicative pricing range will be of benefit for many people.'

The Brisbane Boat Show runs from Friday, September 12 to Monday, September 15 at the Brisbane Showgrounds, Bowen Hills.

Adult entry to the Brisbane Boat Show is $18, concession is $12, there are discounted prices for ‘after dark’ admittance on the Friday and Saturday, children under 15 are free; an adult two-day pass is $25 and tickets are available through website.