| I discovered sailing many years ago and found it to | | | | displacement, 42 footer will need 10- 15 knots of |
| be a wonderful way to enjoy time with friends and | | | | wind to develop any kind of "feel" at the helm and in |
| family as well as a way to get away from the office | | | | many locations such as the Chesapeake Bay with |
| and become totally entranced and absorbed with a | | | | winds typically 5 - 15 knots in the summer you may |
| world that I did not know existed. I love to sail, so | | | | have purchased a very nice well equipped power |
| much that I became a certified American Sailing | | | | boat. However these heavy displacement cruisers are |
| Association Sailing Instructor.It has been 30 years | | | | excellent for extended off shore passage making and |
| now that I've sailed the Chesapeake Bay, East Coast | | | | live-aboard sailing either in the Caribbean or the |
| U.S.A. and the Caribbean Islands and I've been | | | | U.S.A..One of the best tips, If you are a first time |
| fortunate to have owned a number sailing vessels, | | | | sailor and want to buy a boat in the 25 to 50 ft |
| currently two Beneteau sail boats.I'm often asked by | | | | range, is to sail with someone who knows how to |
| my students what to look for when making an | | | | sail, take a sailing class and then charter a boat in the |
| investment in a sailing vessel. I often share the | | | | length range that interests you. Picking a boat with |
| following seven tips and hope that you too may find | | | | out sailing a boat of similar size is risky although many |
| some value in them.First carefully examine where you | | | | have done it successfully. Keep in mind that many of |
| expect to use your boat, long term. Will it be on the | | | | the modern designs of the last 10 years are designed |
| Ocean, trans-Ocean, near the shore, in a Bay, on the | | | | specifically for two people to sail easily whether in |
| Caribbean or all of the above. If you plan to sail | | | | the Bay or in the ocean.Lastly, do insist on a survey. |
| Ocean or trans-Ocean then be sure that the | | | | If the boat has any of the defects listed below find |
| construction is class "A" or rated for extended off | | | | out the cost to correct them if you are expecting |
| shore passage making.Beware of the buying | | | | the boat to pass the insurer's surveyor. Insurers have |
| philosophy "I'll buy a smaller boat now and get a | | | | their own requirements. Your insurance agent and the |
| bigger one later." If you're buying new you will suffer | | | | surveyor should be working hand in hand. This is |
| two large depreciations. If buying used, the money | | | | where a purchaser of a used watercraft can |
| you put into the first boat to bring it up to your own | | | | suddenly be faced with unexpected costs. Costly |
| personal standards and needs will go a long way to | | | | defects include but are not limited to:Soft or cracked |
| paying a down payment or many monthly payments | | | | gellcoat on the deck.Deck leaks around windows, |
| on the second boat. You will be upgrading the second | | | | masts, caprail, traveller or through deck fittings.If the |
| boat anyway. Buy now what you expect to own for | | | | engine that has stood idle for more than 6 months |
| 5-10 years.Take into account the area where you will | | | | diesel may be contaminated with bacterial sludges, |
| be sailing and who you will be sailing with. Decide on | | | | have pistons seized, injectors blocked and electrical |
| the type of berths that will be suitable for you, your | | | | system contaminated with water. Insist on at least a |
| family and your guests. For example, aft doubles | | | | 2-4 hour run in the water at cruising speed. Check for |
| aligned with the axis of the boat or an aft double | | | | undue vibration, overheating, proper charging of the |
| that runs across the boat port to starboard. Although | | | | batteries and that the engine can come up to its |
| the latter tends to be larger and more comfortable in | | | | cruising rpm.If the boat is more than 6 years old |
| the slip it is definitely not a sea going berth. How | | | | have the surveyor check that the engine mounts are |
| easily does the main salon table convert into a berth | | | | OK and particularly that all mounting bolts are intact. |
| and is it sturdy enough to do so repeatedly? In a | | | | Two can be broken without any obvious signs or |
| pinch or in good weather can any one sleep in the | | | | effects. When #3 breaks the engine is loose! This is a |
| cockpit?What is your likely cruising range? If just 2-4 | | | | common problem on older boats that encounter |
| days then water and diesel tankage can be | | | | rough waters while under power and can easily be |
| respectively 20 and 80 gallons or less. If it is 5-10 | | | | overlooked by the surveyor.Obviously you will need |
| days then a minimum would be 50 and 160. If you | | | | an out of the water inspection. Check for blisters, |
| buy a boat with say 100 gallons diesel and 2-300 | | | | gellcoat cracks, soft spots, shaft play in the cutlass |
| gallons water then the designer will have given up | | | | bearing and loose rudder bearings, hull integrity around |
| berth space to accommodate the tankage. | | | | through hulls and the gap between the hull and the |
| Depending on the size of the boat the left over | | | | top of the keel which should be filled with sealant |
| space may not be well utilized until you reach say a | | | | else corrosion of the keel may have caused the keel |
| 50 ft. long boat. Look for living and storage space | | | | to separate from the hull.Rigging should be checked |
| that is well utilized. Odd placement of the main salon | | | | by a rigger and all running rigging must be overhauled |
| settees, chart table and galley may indicate poor | | | | end-to-end to detect hidden chafe.Hope you find |
| utilization of space and hence you may be paying | | | | these tips helpful. Best wishes to you on your |
| good money for little advantage.Boats that are | | | | investment, maybe I'll see you on the Chesapeake |
| heavy displacement, say 28,000 lbs for say a 42 ft. | | | | Bay or near the British Virgin Islands sometime, I'll |
| boat rather than say 17,800 lbs for a medium | | | | either be sailing on Majjik II or Majjik III. |