Introduction

The ABOS Marine Blue Book, the professional’s choice, was first published in 1949 when Anderson (a publisher) and Bugg (a Johnson outboard motor factory representative) originated the first pricing guide for Outboard Sales and Service professionals.  Since that early guide book we have been continually refining our pricing methodology and incorporating the latest in statistical analysis.  Our online product is a culmination of over 60 years of marine valuation experience.

Because the Blue Book is national in scope and some regions of the country support different prices on certain brands, it is assumed that allowances will be made for price differences in certain areas.  The larger the boat, the more extensive the option list and the greater the discrepancy in reported prices.  Blue Book prices are averaged prices, and additional allowances must be made for units loaded with optional or custom equipment and in very good or exceptional condition.

The resale prices used herein reflect units in good saleable condition; any needed repairs must be taken into consideration.

The original M.S.R.P. is the manufacturer’s suggested retail price when new, excluding shipping charges and optional accessories.

We publish three different market values in the ABOS Marine Blue Book.

• Average Retail Value is the highest value published and represents what the Blue Book staff considers to be the replacement cost for a good clean unit of same make/year/model/condition. This value is what a consumer would generally pay for a unit in good saleable condition. One can always find higher prices or lower prices on a certain unit, however, this published price is considered an average of the many units researched when Blue Book condition criteria is applied. Unit is in good saleable condition.
• High trade-in or High Wholesale Value is at the high range for what a dealer would pay for a good clean unit when accepting a trade towards a unit of greater value. The terms “Trade-in” and “Wholesale” are considered interchangeable by the Blue Book staff as used for this valuation category.
• Low Trade-in or Low Wholesale Value is generally what a consumer or dealer would pay for a unit that is worn and faded and will need cosmetic and mechanical reconditioning.  One can always dispose of a unit at that price level providing it is in good clean condition. Another term for this category is Actual Cash Value or ACV.

 

Finance value is the amount a lender will provide a borrower when the unit is put up as collateral. There is no hard and fast rule which valuation category or percentage of a valuation category should be used by a lender.  Credit worthiness of the customer dictates loan default risk more than does the value of a particular asset.

It is solely the user’s discretion as to which valuation category or percentage of a certain valuation category is used.