Hi all,

Been a long time since I've been around, hope ya'll doing well. Unfortunately, I think my plane ownership time should come to an end and would like some help pinning a price on my bird.

Backstory: I long dreamed of hunting and fishing from my own plane. I always knew I wanted to fly but it was hunting and fishing that really gave me the impetus. I started lurking here in 2015, trying to decide on the perfect backcountry plane as I finished my PPL. I think I did a pretty good job of building a backcountry plane but a number of factors that I didn't adequately consider in the planning stages have since convinced me it is time to sell. In short, I've decided that it is too late for me to become a safe bush pilot and I'm going to take the amazing experiences I've had and quit while I'm ahead.

So, with that as preamble, I'm looking for some pricing help. Since I bought the plane in 2017 I haven't spent a minute on Barnstormers or TAP and I know they are bad places to infer pricing anyway. I'm looking for some guidance on what would be a reasonable asking price. The plane is in Canada, with Canadian registration.

1963 182F TTAF 4500, NDH
Wing-X, Sportsman STOL
Float kit EDO 2790 amphibs

Extensive retrofit in 2017-
Fresh PPonk (~350 hours now)
2 blade MT (~350 hours now)
Airglass nose fork, 850 mains and 800 nose
Engine monitor JPI EDM-900
PAR200 radio and 4 place intercom
BAS Harnesses
Garmin Aera 796
Alpha Systems AoA

Wings and stabilizer painted in 2019.

On wheels now. The floats will require some work. The interior isn't bad but it isn't new leather either. The fuselage could use a fresh coat of paint. Presently in shop for annual, nothing major on the work list.

Feedback appreciated.

Allan

I am by zero means an expert but I have been in the market for a 182 for a while. I am at least looking daily getting a lay of the land until my kids get a little bit older and I have some time to actually put a plane to good use. Anyways with what you have listed I would guess around $175K USD in the US. C registered planes seem to have about a 10% reduction to N from what I have seen.

Again I am no expert I have just been watching 182 prices for the last 6 months or so. This would be on wheels. No idea about the floats.

I'll trade you BCP for it.

Zzz wrote:I'll trade you BCP for it.

How can he refuse an offer like that, your phone will be ringing very soon

Mapleflt wrote:

Zzz wrote:I'll trade you BCP for it.

How can he refuse an offer like that, your phone will be ringing very soon

Bwahaha. Just kidding of course.

Sorry to see you give this up. It sounds like a very well considered decision though. I hope to fly into my mid seventies or maybe even eighties, but started in my thirties. Watching guys hang it up earlier shakes my confidence.

Consign it with a good broker. Upper Valley Aviation in Chilliwack could help you. Talk to a few others. Don’t pick the one who sets the highest price. Pick the one that sounds most fair and realistic.

Or consign it to RB Auction in Chilliwack. They’ll advertise the heck out of it, and buyers from all over will bid on it. You’ll pay a hefty commission, but they do find the buyers. Be very involved in the photos and writing the ad. Answer any question in the ad that you can imagine a buyer asking. Post the relevant logs. You’ll get the highest price the market will bear that day, less commissions.

A few more pictures like those and this bird will sell itself, selling it must be agonizing for you.

Pinecone wrote:Sorry to see you give this up. It sounds like a very well considered decision though. I hope to fly into my mid seventies or maybe even eighties, but started in my thirties. Watching guys hang it up earlier shakes my confidence.

Consign it with a good broker. Upper Valley Aviation in Chilliwack could help you. Talk to a few others. Don’t pick the one who sets the highest price. Pick the one that sounds most fair and realistic.

Or consign it to RB Auction in Chilliwack. They’ll advertise the heck out of it, and buyers from all over will bid on it. You’ll pay a hefty commission, but they do find the buyers. Be very involved in the photos and writing the ad. Answer any question in the ad that you can imagine a buyer asking. Post the relevant logs. You’ll get the highest price the market will bear that day, less commissions.

Thanks Pinecone, I hadn't thought of a broker. When I was looking for a plane I was really disappointed in every broker I spoke to so they never really entered my thought process. Ritchie Brothers is an interesting option too. Though I'm not particularly religious I often say "It is in God's hands now." and I think I'd feel that way on auction day, for better or for worse.

As to hanging up the skates, it is a carefully considered decision. I look at a few of my photos and am amazed how much fun I've had and how many cool places I've flown. But there are a handful of factors that I hadn't really weighed correctly when I started down this path:
- In my 40s I went through a prolonged period of fatigue, brain fog and joint pain and was eventually diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease. I now test clear for Lyme but still occasionally experience some of the symptoms and I believe it has left a lasting scar on some fine motor skills. Learning to fly at 50, I really struggled with the "touch" required to be a good float or dirt strip pilot. I've always been a good machine operator-- from motorcycles to heavy equipment-- so it was really frustrating to struggle with that last blip of power to control descent just prior to touch down. I never felt unsafe or dangerous but I also never felt the mastery I expected of myself.
- I have a LOT of other interests that compete for my time. In 2017 we bought a fantastic lakehouse project and I've spent a ton of time finishing and improving it. It is 3 hours door to door from our house by truck. By plane is probably an hour quicker but it is hard to haul a load of lumber, food, the wife and two dogs in the plane. And planes are just impractical for collecting firewood;-) In February we moved into a big project house and property and I've been going non-stop here too.
- The weather in the places I really want to hunt and fish is crappy when I want to be there and I figure if you are not flying a lot and wrestle with the finer points of airmanship it is probably not wise to add dicey weather into the mix. Instead, I'll pay a young person that flies regularly in the territory.

So, long story short, I see no reason why you can't fly into your 70s or 80s but that was definitely not in the cards for me. It sucks because I feel like I'm admitting defeat but I have to be realistic too.

Allan

Zzz wrote:I'll trade you BCP for it.

How much cash would I have to add?

Josef wrote:I am by zero means an expert but I have been in the market for a 182 for a while. I am at least looking daily getting a lay of the land until my kids get a little bit older and I have some time to actually put a plane to good use. Anyways with what you have listed I would guess around $175K USD in the US. C registered planes seem to have about a 10% reduction to N from what I have seen.

Again I am no expert I have just been watching 182 prices for the last 6 months or so. This would be on wheels. No idea about the floats.

I wouldn't turn down US$175k but I think that is crazy talk. I have that much into it for sure but it would surprise me if the market had risen that much.

When I bought mine there was a PPonk 182F with Sportsman STOL on 2790 amphibs for sale in Minnesota. It was higher time, didn't have the MT prop, big wheel gear, or any of the cockpit upgrades and he wanted US$140. A couple years later I noticed it was still for sale at that price.

I don't want to leave money on the table (obviously) but I would think after all was said and done and all the flaws of a 57 year old aircraft were parsed and argued US$140k would be a fair expectation.

Am i nuts?

Start at what you have in it, minus sweat equity and see how many nibbles you get. At least one Canadian broker that I know of has been "cold call" registered floatplane owner in search of inventory, its a seller market these days

Here is am American plane that is fairly similar...

https://www.trade-a-plane.com/search?li ... e=aircraft


Again I dont think you have as many buyers in CA so 10% or so off of this would be my guess unless you sold it to someone looking to import it.

I would shake your hand today at $140k if I didnt think it would be another 18months before I could really use the thing like I wanted to.

Josef wrote:Here is am American plane that is fairly similar...

https://www.trade-a-plane.com/search?li ... e=aircraft


Again I dont think you have as many buyers in CA so 10% or so off of this would be my guess unless you sold it to someone looking to import it.

I would shake your hand today at $140k if I didnt think it would be another 18months before I could really use the thing like I wanted to.

LOL, that is the plane I was talking about that he couldn't sell for $140k. Except he seems to add a few HP every few years;-) Mine is way nicer but I don't want to have it for sale for 6 years.

Given the restrictions we have all been living with for the past year or more the Canadian market is screaming for inventory. Place it with a Canadian broker and I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

It looks like a really nice airplane. I really don't have a good handle on that market, though I will tell you that good 182s have been really increasing in value over the last couple years.

Those floats, as you likely know, aren't worth very much by themselves. That said, getting a 182 outfitted for floats isn't easy or cheap either, and those are most definitely the least expensive amphibious floats out there.

What do you have it insured for? The stated value of an insured airplane should be what it would take to replace it in today's market.....I know, I know, a lot of folks underinsure to save money, but that's short sighted.

If you want to sell, put an ad in Barnstormers for what you figure you have in it. See what happens. If it doesn't sell in a few weeks, pull the ad and reconsider price. Then, MAYBE go with a broker.

But, my opinion of most brokers is similar to yours. They leave a really bad taste in my mouth, and most have no idea what they're selling.

MTV

Sorry to see this thread Allan. But I hope I'm open and cognitive enough to know when to quit when the time comes, so good on you for knowing it's time.

I would list it on Barnstormers as well. I'm not a broker fan. List it a bit higher then you think it's worth. I've had guys calling for planes every week. Definitely a sellers market out there right now. Sorry I'm not up to date with the amphib market so I'm not sure on values, but I know the 182 market is very high, and set up the way you are I wouldn't go under 150k US to start.

David

Maybe I'm not very smart but using a broker in this market seems foolish. Right now, airplanes sell. That's what they do. I'd think about what YOU want from the plane (what would make you feel content after the deal), then list it at that. It's your airplane.

I would include those pictures that you posted in your listings. My unlisted scout sold because of a great pic of it out on the tundra, the buyer saw the pic and then was emotionally attached to the airplane before he even contacted me. People like seeing what possibilities your airplane will open for them, even if that's not really how it works.

Good luck, but I'm sorry to see you get out of the game!

-Asa

I watch the market Daily,(it's my job). Seem's to me you already figured out your price. Go list it yourself on BS and the Canadian plane trade. I see you don't want to sit on it, so put it up at 140K usd and go from there. With the writing on the wall and in front of us, I myself would not buy an aircraft at this time. It will be a buyers market SOON. If you also see it, price it to sell and move on. Good luck.

What’re you seeing? I have only been seeing prices go up. I have read about insurance going up but I haven’t been monitoring that super closely. What’s the writing on the wall you’re seeing?

BOOM [emoji95]

That's what it will sound like when it pops.