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There are a lot of articles and even books on things to consider when buying a used sailboat. Since I have been involved with this process more than a few times over the past 30 plus years, I am going to add my two cents’ worth to the collection.
First, what are you going to do with it? Are you going to live aboard? Are you going to day sail it on weekends or cruise to foreign lands? Will you be sailing with crew or shorthanded? Do you plan to race it, go cruising or some of each? These are just a few questions that need to be considered as you begin your search.
As important as these questions, what is your budget? And, you should also include in this consideration the ongoing expense of actually owning what you ultimately purchase. It takes an estimated 10 to 15 percent of the purchase price in annual operating expenses for dockage, insurance, maintenance, repairs, etc. Try to be realistic and not let your emotions get in the way of a sound decision.
Once you have sort-of figured out where and how you plan to sail, it is time to start the search for the “perfect” sailboat for you…and by extension figuring out what you do not want. Every boat is something of a compromise, so as the search begins you need to narrow down what is really important to you regarding systems, electronics, number of berths, heads, etc.
What size and type of boat do you want? Monohull? Catamaran? Ketch? 30 feet, 40 feet or 50 feet? Do you want a traditional mainsail or roller furling? Wheel or tiller steering? Aft or center cockpit? What do you need in the way of electronics? Do you want new, state-of-the-art chartplotter and radar, or can you see these as an upgrade later if the boat meets other requirements? Once you have answered these basic questions it is time to start looking at some boats.
Begin Your Search
The Internet is a good place to start looking. There are a lot of good sites out there with sailboats for sale. It can also be good to limit the geographic range of your search. If you are sailing on Lake Michigan it may not be of much help to find your dream boat in Croatia.
Using a professional boat broker can also help in the search. In many cases they may know of a boat that will be coming for sale that is not yet listed. In addition, a good broker can help you narrow your search parameters just through conversations with you about your plans for sailing. A good broker may act as a buffer to keep you from wasting your time looking at boats that look great online, but that no one would want to own.
Complete Inspection
What are some key issues to look for when exploring a used sailboat? Look for signs of major repairs. With the boat hauled out of the water, look at the keel, hull and rudder. On deck-check the stanchions, deck hardware, standing and running rigging. Does it have a dodger and Bimini (if this is on your wish list)? Down below look for signs of leaks and check over the engine. Look at the wiring; is it a “rat’s nest” or is it nice, neat and organized. Something like this can tell you quite a bit about the overall maintenance of the boat.
Can you fix things yourself or will you be hiring someone to do “everything” for you? Remember the budget…when you go to the marine store these days a “Boat Unit” is around $1,000. What may seem like a basic repair can often turn into something much bigger.
Trust The Professional
When you find the boat that looks like the one for you, the next step is to hire a professional marine surveyor. You will likely need a survey for financing and insurance. Also, a good marine survey will find things that you may have missed, help you determine the potential cost of any needed repairs and an estimated fair market value of the boat. The surveyor will also give you a detailed written report on the condition of the boat.
Marine accreditation programs are offered by the National Association of Marine Surveyors (NAMS) and the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors (SAMS). Surveyors do not need to be accredited, but working with one who is probably makes sense. Ask around the marina to see what experiences others have had when doing surveys.
There are some very good resources to help you in your search. Practical Sailor magazine has reviews of hundreds of boats. Don Casey’s, Inspecting the Aging Sailboat and This Old Boat are worth looking through even if you are not currently looking for a boat. There is something special about a sailboat and there is something very special about a sailboat that is your own.
If you think a brand-new as opposed to a used boat is the way to go, there are quite a few boat shows in the Great Lakes region coming up in January and February. Google “Great Lakes Boat Shows” and you will find a listing of shows from Minneapolis to Toronto.
When all is said and done, it is time to pick a name for your boat, put her in the water and start sailing the Great Lakes!
