Buying a Sailboat

Salt and Wind

It’s the dawn of a new day. Ahead of you the morning sun gems the horizon, sparkling red across the water. A strong following wind is brisk and smells of salt; the sailcloth snaps taut overhead, mast creaking as you course forward into the day.

Idealistic, yes; when you’re sailing, it’s hard not to be. We’ve all heard the stories of the teenagers who’ve sailed around the world. We think of multibillionaires and their private yachts and believe deep in our hearts that we could never be like them. We may think briefly of buying a sailboat, but quickly put the idea out of our heads as foolishness, or perhaps, a “midlife crisis.”

Think again! Anybody who’s dedicated to the art of the sail can buy their own craft, whether it’s for cruising around a bay, or like the heroes of the adventure magazines, to take a trip around the world.


Love at First Sight

After their first introduction with sailing, many would-be seamen and sea women are so smitten as to fall instantly in love with the first craft they set their eyes upon. But, such a sailor would do well to carefully think over their options.

The first thing a sailor will want to do is try some different types of sailing. Do you enjoy day sailing, or do you prefer cruising? Or, perhaps, are you interested in competitive sailing? Try some different styles before you buy, thus ensuring that your first love is a lasting one.

Remember also that different boats may require different levels of skill and strength to handle. Assess your abilities realistically – if you’re not as strong or as agile as you once were, you’ll want to make sure you can safely handle the boat you want.

Keep your goals in mind. Do you plan on sailing on inland lakes or on the open ocean? Is your budget wide or narrow? Make sure to keep these in mind when looking over your options.


Where to Buy?

The obvious question, of course, is where you’d go to buy your dream boat. One of the most helpful things you can do in this case is check into boat brokers. Paid a commission by sailboat sellers, a broker brings an enormous amount of knowledge to the table and can help you find exactly the sailboat that will best fit your needs. A good broker will be a member of the Yacht Brokers Association of America, if in North America. European brokers should be part of the Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association.

In today’s world, of course, a great number of boat sales take place over the Internet. One such site is www.sailmarket.com, an online database listing that lets users look up boats and post for sale ads of their own.



New or Used?

This brings up an interesting point: do you want to buy your boat new or do you want to buy it used? Unfortunately, boats often have a very large initial depreciation. After you buy a boat, the resale value drops considerably – the joke is that after you drive your boat once, the resale value drops below what you still owe on it.

New boats also ship with little or no equipment, all of which must be bought and installed separately. For the same amount of money you’d spend on a new boat, you could buy a much larger used one. If your bankroll is not a problem, you may wish to buy a new craft anyway just to avoid the problems that sometimes come with buying anything used.

Otherwise, however, make sure you’re wise in your choice. Ask yourself whether the boat has been taken care of by its previous owner. If small things like the upholstery and seats haven’t been taken care of, chances are the owner hasn’t taken care of the things that really count. Also, if the owner is selling this one because he’s buying a bigger boat, you can guess he’s really into boating and has taken good care of this one.

The age of boats doesn’t matter nearly as much as the quality of their construction, as long as they’ve been taken care of. You may want to have your used boat choice looked over by a professional in the industry. This will let you know just how good a deal you’re really getting.

An invaluable tool for the new buyer is the annual Sailboat Buyers Guide. Available online at www.sailbuyersguide.com, this 392-page guide covers brand names, equipment, and expert buying advice from the editors of SAIL magazine.


For More Information

If you’re interested in looking for more information on sailing and boats, the Internet is always a good place to go. One enormous site on the topic is sailing.about.com, which covers everything from sailing tutorials to sail maintenance to essays on the sailor’s life and recommended readings. Remember, buying a sailboat must be well thought out and planned for, but it is also an emotional experience. Above all, enjoy yourself and be safe.