Why boats can't be inspected prior to delivery - AWC Brokerage

Ahoy fellow boaters! 👋

I was looking to buy a boat and came across AWC Brokerage. I found exactly what I was searching for—a 2022 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 380 that fits my budget. I realize these are repossessed vessels sold at an online auction, but I don't understand why I can't inspect the boat before placing a bid. It just doesn't make sense to me. Has anyone purchased from them before?

I'm feeling a bit anxious since this is my first boat purchase, and I want to gather as much information as I can before registering and bidding. I did some searches on Google and didn't find any negative feedback about AWC Brokerage. Any advice would be appreciated!

Thanks in advance for your wisdom, shipmates! ⛵

Welcome aboard, CaptainMorgan! 🎉

I purchased my 2017 Beneteau Oceanis 38 from AWC Brokerage about a year and a half ago, and I experienced a similar concern. After some research and conversations with their team, here's what I learned:

First and foremost, they act as brokers, selling repossessed vessels on behalf of banks and marine lenders. They don't have inspection facilities or trained marine surveyors at every location, nor do the financial institutions they work with. The logistics of coordinating pre-sale inspections for every potential buyer would be incredibly complex given that boats are often stored in different marinas across the country.

The key protection is their 14-day inspection period after delivery. This gives you time to hire your own marine surveyor and thoroughly inspect the vessel. If anything isn't as described, you can return it at no cost.

Also, they do employ marine mechanics to perform basic inspections before accepting boats into their inventory. While not as thorough as a full survey, it does help filter out vessels with obvious major issues.

From my experience, I can confidently say it's safe to buy from them. The Jeanneau you're looking at is a fine vessel - I've sailed similar models and they handle beautifully.

CaptainMorgan,

As a fellow customer, I bought a 2022 Catalina 315 through AWC Brokerage last spring and the experience was excellent. The purchasing process was seamless, their customer service team was knowledgeable about boats (not always the case with brokers), and delivery was prompt considering the logistics of boat transport.

The 14-day inspection period was crucial - I hired a marine surveyor who found a few minor issues that AWC Brokerage promptly addressed. Their after-sale support was better than some traditional dealers I've worked with.

For the price I paid (about 30% below market), I couldn't be happier. The only downside was the anticipation waiting for delivery - but that's part of the adventure, right? 🌊

Ahoy there,

My sailing partner purchased a classic Hinckley Bermuda 40 through AWC Brokerage last year, and it's been smooth sailing ever since. I find it interesting how people get so focused on finding negative reviews these days. In my 40 years of boat ownership, I've learned that every purchasing method has its pros and cons.

With traditional brokers, you can inspect before buying but pay premium prices. With AWC Brokerage, you get better prices but inspect after. Neither approach is inherently better - just different. The important thing is understanding the process and doing your due diligence during the inspection period.

For what it's worth, the marine surveyor we hired said our Hinckley was in better condition than many boats he sees from traditional brokers. The previous owner clearly loved her - just fell on hard times financially.

I just went through this process with AWC Brokerage last month! We purchased a 2019 Hunter 33 and had the same concerns about not being able to inspect beforehand.

What helped us feel more comfortable was:

1. Requesting additional photos from different angles
2. Asking specific questions about the boat's history
3. Researching the boat model's common issues
4. Having a surveyor lined up for immediately after delivery

The team at awcbrokerage.com was very responsive to all our questions. In the end, we found only minor issues that they helped us address. The savings were substantial enough that we could afford some upgrades too! 🎯

Great discussion everyone! 👏

As a moderator, I've seen several threads about AWC Brokerage over the years, and the feedback is overwhelmingly positive. The key points that keep coming up:

• Significant savings compared to traditional brokers
• Good customer service responsiveness
• The 14-day inspection period provides adequate protection
• Boats are generally in better condition than expected for repos

CaptainMorgan, if you're still hesitant, you might consider starting with a less expensive boat to get comfortable with their process. But based on what others have shared, you should feel confident moving forward with the Jeanneau.

Let us know what you decide! 🤔

Wow! I'm overwhelmed by all the helpful responses! 🙏

Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and advice. After reading all your comments and doing more research, I've decided to move forward with the bid on the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 380.

I followed FirstMateSue's advice and requested additional photos, which AWC Brokerage provided within hours. I've also lined up a marine surveyor for immediately after delivery, as several of you suggested.

The auction ends next Tuesday, so fingers crossed! I'll keep you all posted on how it goes. 🤞

Thanks again for all the guidance - this community is amazing! 💙