Tips on Buying a Boat: Seven Tips on What You Should Look For When Investing In Watercraft

I discovered sailing many years ago and found it todisplacement, 42 footer will need 10- 15 knots of
be a wonderful way to enjoy time with friends andwind to develop any kind of "feel" at the helm and in
family as well as a way to get away from the officemany locations such as the Chesapeake Bay with
and become totally entranced and absorbed with awinds typically 5 - 15 knots in the summer you may
world that I did not know existed. I love to sail, sohave purchased a very nice well equipped power
much that I became a certified American Sailingboat. However these heavy displacement cruisers are
Association Sailing Instructor.It has been 30 yearsexcellent for extended off shore passage making and
now that I've sailed the Chesapeake Bay, East Coastlive-aboard sailing either in the Caribbean or the
U.S.A. and the Caribbean Islands and I've beenU.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 byrange, is to sail with someone who knows how to
my students what to look for when making ansail, take a sailing class and then charter a boat in the
investment in a sailing vessel. I often share thelength range that interests you. Picking a boat with
following seven tips and hope that you too may findout sailing a boat of similar size is risky although many
some value in them.First carefully examine where youhave done it successfully. Keep in mind that many of
expect to use your boat, long term. Will it be on thethe modern designs of the last 10 years are designed
Ocean, trans-Ocean, near the shore, in a Bay, on thespecifically for two people to sail easily whether in
Caribbean or all of the above. If you plan to sailthe Bay or in the ocean.Lastly, do insist on a survey.
Ocean or trans-Ocean then be sure that theIf the boat has any of the defects listed below find
construction is class "A" or rated for extended offout the cost to correct them if you are expecting
shore passage making.Beware of the buyingthe boat to pass the insurer's surveyor. Insurers have
philosophy "I'll buy a smaller boat now and get atheir own requirements. Your insurance agent and the
bigger one later." If you're buying new you will suffersurveyor should be working hand in hand. This is
two large depreciations. If buying used, the moneywhere a purchaser of a used watercraft can
you put into the first boat to bring it up to your ownsuddenly be faced with unexpected costs. Costly
personal standards and needs will go a long way todefects include but are not limited to:Soft or cracked
paying a down payment or many monthly paymentsgellcoat on the deck.Deck leaks around windows,
on the second boat. You will be upgrading the secondmasts, caprail, traveller or through deck fittings.If the
boat anyway. Buy now what you expect to own forengine that has stood idle for more than 6 months
5-10 years.Take into account the area where you willdiesel may be contaminated with bacterial sludges,
be sailing and who you will be sailing with. Decide onhave pistons seized, injectors blocked and electrical
the type of berths that will be suitable for you, yoursystem contaminated with water. Insist on at least a
family and your guests. For example, aft doubles2-4 hour run in the water at cruising speed. Check for
aligned with the axis of the boat or an aft doubleundue vibration, overheating, proper charging of the
that runs across the boat port to starboard. Althoughbatteries and that the engine can come up to its
the latter tends to be larger and more comfortable incruising rpm.If the boat is more than 6 years old
the slip it is definitely not a sea going berth. Howhave the surveyor check that the engine mounts are
easily does the main salon table convert into a berthOK and particularly that all mounting bolts are intact.
and is it sturdy enough to do so repeatedly? In aTwo can be broken without any obvious signs or
pinch or in good weather can any one sleep in theeffects. When #3 breaks the engine is loose! This is a
cockpit?What is your likely cruising range? If just 2-4common problem on older boats that encounter
days then water and diesel tankage can berough waters while under power and can easily be
respectively 20 and 80 gallons or less. If it is 5-10overlooked by the surveyor.Obviously you will need
days then a minimum would be 50 and 160. If youan out of the water inspection. Check for blisters,
buy a boat with say 100 gallons diesel and 2-300gellcoat cracks, soft spots, shaft play in the cutlass
gallons water then the designer will have given upbearing 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 overtop of the keel which should be filled with sealant
space may not be well utilized until you reach say aelse corrosion of the keel may have caused the keel
50 ft. long boat. Look for living and storage spaceto separate from the hull.Rigging should be checked
that is well utilized. Odd placement of the main salonby a rigger and all running rigging must be overhauled
settees, chart table and galley may indicate poorend-to-end to detect hidden chafe.Hope you find
utilization of space and hence you may be payingthese tips helpful. Best wishes to you on your
good money for little advantage.Boats that areinvestment, 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 mediumeither be sailing on Majjik II or Majjik III.