TOPIC: How I Search for Vintage Boats

Here are the web addresses I use to search Ebay for cheap boats. They only cover power boats 13' to 18'.

This first one is for boats 0 to $500:

www.ebay.com/sch/Powerboats-Motorboats/31269/i.html?Length=13%2520%252D%252018ft&_dcat=31269&rt=nc&_mPrRngCbx=1&_udlo=1&_udhi=500

This one is for "expensive boats"...$501 to $1,000:

www.ebay.com/sch/Powerboats-Motorboats/31269/i.html?Length=13%2520%252D%252018ft&_mPrRngCbx=1&_udlo=501&_udhi=1000&_dcat=31269&rt=nc

Of course, some of them have reserves and some are just too far away to consider but at least it narrows down the search quite a bit. Have fun!



I also run ads in the Boats For Sale section of a couple local Craigslists:

"I buy old runabouts, running or not, 1946 to 1965 ONLY, fiberglass or wood, up to 24'. NO pontoons, house boats, sail boats, bass boats, jon boats or canoes. Email photo and asking price. Fair prices paid based on condition."

People offer me all kinds of boats...some good, some bad, some priced high, some cheap and some free.

Craigslist now has the option to select year from to year now in the boat section.

The cheaper list shows a Glasspar G-3 stating it is a 1956 model. This is wrong!!!! The first Glasspar G-3 was built and sold in 1958!!!

I owned one then and I have a 1960 model now!!!

Jim Savage

There will always be sellers who don't know what they own and who don't know what it's worth. That second group is my favorite.

Some of my favorite comments from sellers:

Good Ones
"It was here when I bought the place."
"My wife says it's got to go."
"I just want it out of here."
"Is this thing worth anything?"
"I need the space."
"After the divorce, my EX just left it here."

Bad Ones
"It's a classic!"
"I saw one on Ebay for $10,000."
"If you fix it up, it will be worth $50,000."
"It ain't got no engine."
"We ain't messed with it since it sunk."
"You can get it out of here if you cut the tree down."

Nautilus wrote:

Bad Ones
"It's a classic!"
"I saw one on Ebay for $10,000."
"If you fix it up, it will be worth $50,000."
"It ain't got no engine."
"We ain't messed with it since it sunk."
"You can get it out of here if you cut the tree down."

Lol! So true! Your second list is extremely accurate. I'd like to add:

"Run/drives great, needs nothing, haven't used it in 10 years but was a top when it was out last. No low balls, I know what it's worth."