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Does anyone know exactly what dealer prep consists of for boats such as small Montauks or Super Sports?

I was under the impression (not sure why) that the boats were delivered to the dealer on their trailers and with the engines already mounted! If that is the case, it would seem that dealer prep should not consist of much more than removing the shrink wrap and buffing up the fiberglass?!

I would appreciate input as to the condition the boat/motor/trailer is in when it arrives at the dealer and what actual prep the dealer does for the prep charge.

I do not mind paying for legitimate labor to get the boat ready to sell, but I do not want to pay a lot of money for nothing more than a mis-labeled dealer markup.

Thanks.

Ron C.

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Ron -

The engine and all standard equipment is assembled at the factory.

The boat is fitted on the trailer and then wrapped and loaded onto a tractor trailer. Some leave the trailer wheels off for transport. The prop is put in the boat along with documentation.

The dealer will take off the shrink wrap, install the prop unpack a few items, give the boat a visual inspection. The boat may get a cleaning. It should be clean and shiny.

My opinion:

I recommend you ask the dealer for their list of items they do. I also recommend you price the boat from 3 dealers to get the best deal.

Buying a boat is like buying a car. The dealer sets the price, not the factory. They use hard sell techniques.

I would not negotiate items separately but rather one price for everything, including tax, a walk out the door price.

I would not get any electronics or any option you can buy/install yourself.

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When was the last time WalMart, Target, Publix, BestBuy, etc charged a separate fee for "preparing" the product you are buying?

Even if they do have to cut the shrink wrap off, thats part of doing business and should be included in the price the offer the boat for sale for...not tacked on after they lure you in.

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If you are a member of COSTCO they now sell boats "kinda". You contact COSTCO, give them your location, and they give you a reference # that you present to the closest boat dealer in your area which is involved with their program. I met a fellow fishing who got his boat that way (Montauk 190) and he saved over $4000 from another bid for the same boat, features, etc...

Garris

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Well, depending upon your location... good luck getting a quote from three dealers for the same boat. Dealer prep probably means different things to different dealers. There is a charge and you can try to negotiate it downward. But, the choice is to buy the boat or not.

The last small Whaler I bought, a Dauntless 16, I paid a small prep charge. It included installing an Evinrude to replace the Mercury and a full on the water test as well as clean up, etc.

If I was a dealer I doubt that in this market I would sell a boat without prep. It protects the dealer as well as the buyer in the event of a warranty claim.

The charges I find most outrageous is documentation fees of around $600 for a new car.

Butch

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Thanks for the input on dealer prep, gentlemen.

Ron C.