Possible Delta for sale

[ivorandrews]

Evening all!

This is possibly the strangest way of (maybe) selling my Delta Dash 5.5 Rib. I need assistance in putting a price on the boat. I know I'll never recover all of what I've invested but would be interesting to see what everyone thinks it's worth.

Time has come that I am considering moving on to something different and so sounding out selling this Rib.

Bought as a development and then demo boat for my suspension seating business.

I purchased the boat in 2011 in a bit of a sorry state and over the past few years, it has evolved to become something quite special.


First job was to strip the boat and original engines. Next was to fit a new deck, completely re-wire and re-plumb. Brand new 150 Mariner Optimax in Nov '11, new seat pods, new fuel tanks.

Transom was checked for moisture and holes from old engines filled with crestabond, before being glassed over with several layers of 600gsm mat. A massive re-enforcing knee was added, made from 4 layers of 18mm ply, glassed between all layers and bonded and screwed all the way down to the keel, sandwiching centre stringer, then all glassed over.

Winter 2015 saw a deck layout with a brand new double width console, doing away with the previous single centre helm. New screen, 4x suspension seats. New throttle integral to helm seat so that it floats with suspension.

Besides suspension seats, I run a metal fabrication business, so the boat has also been treated to some very nice custom hatches, grab rail, deck sump, anchor locker, all from 316ss or 5083Al

The only item to let the boat down was the tubes, so the boat is currently away being retubed.

I also have a righting bag and bottle but this needs adapting to suit the frame on my boat.


Any price guidance would be very handy before I list it in the classifieds!

[Chris]

Nice looking boat and clearly well loved, not an easy one to price due to all the custom work you have done.... I tend to break boats into their component parts in order to price them. Engine, trailer, hull, electronics, if that helps...

The seats are an interesting one, if they are your own design then difficult to put a price on... Are they removable ?

[Pikey Dave]

As nice as it is, I can't see it being worth more than low £teens, putting new tubes on is a waste of money IMHO, you'll never recoup your money unless you've stolen them😎
Sorry!


.....sh1t happens.......

[two stroke mick]

I have to say I love that boat. I dont have the money to buy it or a suitable car to pull it but It does not stop me from dreaming.

[ivorandrews]

Thank you Chris, That's what I'm trying to do, but at the same time have to be realistic about what something's really worth..

The seats are my design, but are a production product (not just something home made) and are now distributed through TEK Seating and TEK Military. They are easily removable - just 6no. M10 Socket Bolts per seat and they lift straight off.

Dave, I realise that I'm unlikely to recoup the re-tube cost, but the tubes go very soft within a day and the price of repairing the various leaks was so close to retubing, it wouldn't have made sense to repair.

I definitely think it would be wrong to sell it with tubes that go flat so quick..

[Poly]

Originally Posted by Chris

I tend to break boats into their component parts in order to price them. Engine, trailer, hull, electronics, if that helps...

I'm not sure that adds up. I think you would usually get more splitting it all and selling, unless it is a particularly popular package/combination.

That boat is not going to be bought by an ordinary new to ribs punter. Old deltas are of interest to people who like wearing dry suits and geckos. Many of them enjoy a project or speccing their exact wishes. So the market for a finished, pretty specialist spec small orange rib just got a lot narrower.

Engines and trailers however are of interest to all sorts of people and not just in ribs. second hand electronics don't fetch mutch but I would almost ignore them when buying as you can never be sure they will work, and are almost always dated.

If you want maximum money probably split and sell (including the seats, which are nice to have in the hull but probably worth a bit when removed). On the other hand, if you want a quick, easy sale...

[Xk59D]

Originally Posted by ivorandrews

I definitely think it would be wrong to sell it with tubes that go flat so quick..

have to admire your ethics, commendable but probably financial suicide is the bad news.

without seeing the retube or knowing who done it etc, i'll stick my neck out....£10k, probably ask £11500 or so.

nice boat btw, good luck with the sale.

cheers

[paul tilley]

Ivor is totally right to retube rather than con someone into buying the rib with its existing tubes which do look in quite good condition but actually have 20 plus leaks and deflate in less than 24 hrs .When we have retubed the rib it will be an excellent boat for anyone to buy

[jeffstevens763@g]

ivor

a bit like you i spent a lot of time & money changing my 2008 rib-quest with 2009 90 & 2009 4 Suzukis, two shock seats,two chartplotters including side scan,three props & loads of extras started at £18995 got £15500 two years later ish had it on eBay only got to £10500 no response off free adds or boats and outboards.delta's are lovely boats and when you have it finished it will be a very good boat i would say around the £10,000 mark but its what people are prepared to pay buyers market from what i have seen at the min good luck with the sale.

[ivorandrews]

Thank you everyone for your comments..

As you can probably tell, I'm not the most motivated of sellers, just toying with the idea of buying a fast sports rib and can't really justify buying yet another boat!

As you'll have seen, Paul Tilley is carrying out the re-tube, so I have every faith in a fantastic job being done and the boat being a fantastic little workhorse for many more years to come.

Besides good ethics, I have a professional reputation to uphold. In the 5 years I've been trading (both marine seating and fabrication businesses) I've only ever had 1 dispute with a customer (he was a horrible person)! I have never sold anything that I wouldn't have been happy with myself and have never taken financial advantage of somebody.

Still undecided on whether to sell. Maybe I'll list it at the price I need to recover on it (which admittedly will be higher than people have suggested) and who knows it might just meet someones exact needs.

There's been so much thought put in to the boat, making it really very easy to use and maintain. Silly things like the super robust front hatches and a centralised fuel manifold for switching between the 4 tanks that just make life easy, especially in tricky situations.

[Poly]

Originally Posted by ivorandrews

There's been so much thought put in to the boat, making it really very easy to use and maintain. Silly things like the super robust front hatches and a centralised fuel manifold for switching between the 4 tanks that just make life easy, especially in tricky situations.

Ivor - the value of this (and its shiny new toobs) will be most appreciated by someone who knows the boat well. Good luck, there might just be someone who really wants what you have, especially if you are not in any rush.

[jeffstevens763@g]

Ivor
Had another read of your spec to be honest when Paul has re-tubed her she'll look as good a new I would wait till then you have a good sea keeping boat built for the commercial world and will last good spec good layout good engine a new boat will only give the same.
Good luck what ever you decide

[CJL]

Ivor,

I'm in a much stronger position as I've seen the boat and know what it's like but I would suggest it's worth around £15k+.

The tubes are tired but not exhausted and if you were going to keep it for a few more years I'd think about a retube soon so you get some benefit rather than spending for somebody else's benefit if you sell immediately.

The boat is supremely capable and worth a premium on that basis alone so don't let anybody talk you down on price.

Chris