Survey revealed 100 more hours than listed

[Brian55401]

I'm getting close to closing on a 2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer. Today I got the survey report back which listed the hours on both engines to be 530, but the online boat listing stated 430 hours. How should I best handle this discrepancy? The survey also revealed that the port windshield wiper doesn't work and that the bow spotlight doesn't operate up and down, both of which the seller does not want to fix. The boat has been well maintained, is in good shape, very clean, and I was comfortable with the agreed upon sales price. It's not a question of the overall condition of the boat, as I realize the hours on the engines is only one factor when evaluating a boat. I'm more concerned by the resale value when I go to sell it in the future. All things being equal, obviously the boat's value would be higher with 100 fewer hours. What should I expect after learning of the discrepancy? What is 100 hours worth? Any other insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

[boatman37]

I'm far from an expert but I would probably be more concerned with WHY the discrepancy? Were the sellers aware? Was it a typo? Did they verbally say 430 hours or are you just going of what the ad stated? If they are lying about that then what else are they lying about? IMO 100 extra miles isn't that big of a deal but again, I am not an expert here

 

[Bridog]

Pretty good survey for a 13 year old boat. The port wiper your likely never going to need and spotlight would be an easy fix. 530 hours are low and the boat looks to be very well maintained. I'm curious if you did a sea trial on this boat? The 320 DA with the 260 stern drives are pretty rare. That's a lot of boat for that engine package so I'm curious to how you felt the boat performed. Hope your search goes well. Brian

 

[bahamabreisus]

How long was the boat on the market, maybe 400 hours when listed. There is no real value difference in 100 hours on a 13 yr old boat. Ask for a little off for the wiper and spotlight. If the rest checked out, buy it.

 

[mquiet]

My thoughts are about what the expectations were when the agreed price was set. Did they say he spot light does not work or the wiper? If they were trying to be upfront then the hours could have been an error. Your overall survey sounds great and he boat has only been used 50hrs per year which I think is low. Ask your surveyor what they think of the boat overall and how the price compares to the comps he is going to give you.


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[mnm99]

My 2004 340 was listed with 260hrs. It was for sale for almost a year. ( long story... Seller husband divorced and wife was a pain in the A** to deal with ) When I went to look at it it had 320hrs. Who knows why.. Maybe they really drove the boat in that time, doubt it. Or they listed it low by accident. Either way, it had low hrs like yours and was not worth the questioning. I would question 100hrs just to see what they say.

 

[copb8tx]

I've never felt that the seller is obligated to fix items that are found as defective on the survey. As a buyer I get a survey to find major issues and be made aware of minor issues. If/when small items are found I'd certainly ask for them to be repaired but if the seller refuses I'd simply make a value judgement on whether to proceed with the purchase or not.

Now even though 530 hours isn't that much the represented hour difference would stick in my craw. That's almost a 25% discrepancy and I think quite significant given you were looking at low hour boats. I'd want an explanation as to how it was that it was misrepresented and get a gut feel as to whether it was intentionally low-balled. If it was I'd be concerned about what other things were misrepresented.

Finally, how long has the boat been on the market? If it sat for a while you could play chicken and walk away until you're compensated in some way.

 

[fwebster]

The "Why" on the engine hours is an easy one……It is a Sea Ray that has Teleflex tachs which are known to fail. The tachs were very likely replaced with new OEM tachs at 100 hours.

The tachs on my boat show about 275 hours but she has closer to 1500 hours on the engines……..but I have 2 sets of replaced tachs in a box to prove actual engine hours if or when I ever decide to sell the boat.

 

[Stee6043]

Either number is quite low hours for the age and I personally never use my spotlight...nor my wipers for that matter.

I'd ask the question of "why" and see if you get a believable response....

 

[Gofirstclass]

C'mon Man. You're buying a boat worth how many thousands of dollars and you're quibbling about a couple of piddly little items? First of all, the spotlights on the bow are a PITA in my opinion. You are in the middle of a docking situation and you're going to take your eyes of where you're going to fiddle around looking for and using the spotlight controls on the helm? Pick up one of those $25 rechargeable spotlights and keep it on the helm. it's much faster to pick it up and point it than to monkey around with the bow mounted light.

The wiper? If you like the boat and the boat came through with a clean survey for all major components (engines, hull, etc.) I would not let a clean boat get away for something as minor as that.

The extra hundred hours? Don't worry about it. Put that out of your mind, buy the boat, forget about these three piddly little items and go have fun on your new baby.

Life is too damn short to let little things like these keep you from having fun and getting the full enjoyment out of your new boat.