A few boats have been up on e-bay and been sold. What are people's experience of selling Merlins that way.

I ask, as I put WAPB on the Merlin for Sale list at a seriously discounted price, probably £1,000 less than she could fetch, but I like to sell my boats in tip top condition and I haven't the time to do anything on her. Yet despite a price that you couldn't buy the deck fittings new for, let alone a second hand combi, mast, set of goodish sails, rudder etc. there has been very limited interest.

Next step e-bay? What do you think?

Not only is it the wrong time of year to sell but there's a general shortage of readies at present. I haven't looked at your ad but anyone selling needs to market the boat with lots of words and lots of photos - so much is lost by poor advertising. If you can afford to hang on until spring you'll do better.
Personally I took advantage of bad advertising and resorting to ebay at this time of year to snap up a bargain. The difficult bit was explaining to the insurance company why she's insured for a thousand pounds more than I paid for her!

Would agree with everything that Pat said as regards presentation - photos - really good ones and truthful descriptions.   I believe that there is a way of providing links to quality photos but not sure how to do it but these are much better for displaying what you are selling.  As for timing, I picked up a vintage Firefly needing restoration last year with a trolley just before Christmas for £47!!  A couple of weeks before the boat had been bid on and "sold" for over £200 and the buyer chickened out or didn't bother to complete the payment.  When re-listed two weeks  closer to Christmas I got it at the knock down price.  Moral of the story is put a reserve on it that you are happy with then at least you can test the market and you might just get her sold. For interest I picked up both my Merlins Gannet 252 and Secret Water 111 on ebay but that is a different market!!

A quick search of recent Merlins shows 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/merlin-rocket_W0QQitemZ110289023675QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item110289023675&_trkparms=39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A13%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

sold OK and yours is much younger and likely in better nick.  Good luck.

Easier if I put the link in the box!!

You are probably right. I haven't put much into the wording of the advert, and the timing might be a little bit wrong. It can stay in the garage for many more years, it doesn't owe me anything really and it doesn't cost me to keep it.

I just thought by offering a bargain it might get used.

I guess my real question is will advertisng on e-bay attract a broader group of bargain hunters. I guess that listing it on a the boats for sale doesn't express 'bargain'.

Perhaps if I listed it at £1,550. And then offered a cash back offer of £1,000, or part exchange minimum value of £1,000 on any sailing equipment (e.g. a pair of sailing gloves) like the car people do - that would attract the bargain hunters?

I could probably sell it in parts for more. But I don't like the idea, especially as she is the first of a rare design.

p.s.
Chris/Mags can you add links to more photos as below, to the description of 3394 in the for sale list?

Is this Pat Blakes old boat? She's in a sorry state.

P.S. Alan - perhaps no-one wants your boat becuase it is PINK!!!???

Certainly thats Myth Isle, a Rowsell Hornblower, originally owned by Pat and the Tony Lane, had a terrific sailing record in its day

It might be  good idea to indicate what needs doing to it. I'm up for stripping and re-varnishing but my carpentry skill are zero.

Looks to need virtual total rebuilding.  What a shame.  Link to pictures of the boat in its day

Pondering, e-mail me and I will e-mail you with what needs doing. No carpentry skills beyond raking out a joint and glueing required.

Mags, some people like pink. I think you will upset Judith Massey and Duncan Salmon, and probably Alan Jackson as I think the colour is original, among a few.

Pink is fine really, I just wondered if the majority perhaps preferred other colours? Personally I like green, and that's just as uncommon.

Green boats are supposed to be unlucky, something to do with the colour of a mark marking a wreck. Anyway, off thread.

I am not normally superstitious but at the Nationals I taped up the usual things with Tim Harridge's green tape, result busted rudder fittings in 1st race and a snapped puller in the 2nd.  All green tape off and no further breakages.

Coincidence of course, but I am not putting the green tape back on.

It really does seem that preventative maintenance is a waste of time but certainly the tape colour has a big part to play.

It is quite upsetting to see the old dear in such a state.
I was very proud of her back in 72 - but I have to tell you she was painted 'British Racing GREEN'
Very fast in her day though - Keith and I were 4th at Falmouth - and if it hadn't been for......

Just to let you know, WAPB, went to a great new home, and the girls loved the pink. I am so pleased she will be put to good use, doing what she is designed for, sailing.

take a look at the video. fancy looking sideburns back in 72...

http://www.bluelightning.co.uk/Merlins/hexagon.htm

2682 Imagine retired some years ago after becoming rather fragile. I enjoyed sailing her for many years with my other half. I haven't the heart to introduce Imagine to my Black and Decker chainsaw at present, she provides a very useful container for our plastic bottles before they go for recycling! Could be an interesting project for someone one day.
Imagine was replaced with a red Hysteria 3045 and still sails at CRSC. Hoping to sail my Satisfaction 2633 Tumbling Dice soon, had it for about three years and it hasn't even been in the water yet!

there is two on ebay now heres the link for one http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Merlin-Rocket-3321-Poitin_W0QQitemZ260303400427QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item260303400427&_trkparms=72%3A1301%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

here is the other one http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Merlin-Rocket_W0QQitemZ170274476058QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item170274476058&_trkparms=72%3A1301%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

For ease of link

Again