Thanks, one confirmation that I made the right choice, first time out! ---L. #189 -----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats-bounces+larry.hughston=dgs.ca.gov@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces+larry.hughston=dgs.ca.gov@mailman.xmiss ion.com] On Behalf Of Steve R. Sent: Friday, March 23, 2007 9:53 AM To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com Subject: M_Boats: re: The value of a Montgomery Let me begin by saying "Hi" to Jerry and Bob and thank both of you for your continued support. One thing to keep in mind about the M-15 in particular is that storage is simpler and less costly than for larger boats. If you visit the bulletin boards of bigger boats or look at the "for sale" sites you will find a lot of boats are available "for free". The owners just give up on paying fees for a slip or storage. Call the extra price for an M boat a convenience premium. Another thing at least as far as the Eastern owners go is there are fewer boats available than there were a few years ago, before those big hurricanes hit. The supply is beginning to thin out. And have you check the prices of new boats? The cost of everything has gone up. Many 15s are kept in covered storage and look far better than bigger boats of similar vintage. I have twice had people ask me during gas stops if I am towing a new boat. No one believes it is 20+ years old. I saw Skip's boat when she was on her way to MD. I had looked up the ad and I thought for $3,800 he got a good deal. Now after I began fixing my boat up, my wife asked if I would have been better off buying a new boat or maybe a new trailer. The trailer took a lot of work but she sure tows good and loads easy. Maybe I would have been better off buying new. My boat is nice and no offense to Jerry but the boats Bob builds are super. Bob keeps raising the bar year after year just like Jerry did when he was building them. We sold our last house on our own by setting up a web site, buying ads in the local papers and with a blank contract that I bought off the internet. I would do the same thing again, but next time I will start with a higher asking price. People seem to believe that sellers will come down drastically once you start negotiating. Not only were we being low balled, we had one couple that made multiple, identical low ball offers. The fact that they were driving by the house at all hours of the day and night was not a particularly clever negotiating tactic on their part. If I had known that Howard was a pro I should have gotten him to do an appraisal when he stopped by. I bought my boat sight unseen after I had a survey done. The survey value was 20% above the asking price and the surveyor commented on the substantial construction of the scantlings (sp?). It was a no-brainer for me at that point. Maybe a survey could help a seller establish a price point. If I have an issue with price, it is that some of you guys are selling your boats too cheap. When you look at the market I think the Montgomery boats are a great value. I wish I had a fleet of three. No, make that four as I would need a dink for my 23. steve Steve R. M-15 #119 Lexington, KY