How to Buy a Used Sailboat
Take an expert with you., Figure out what kind of boat you want to own before you go shopping., If you are new to sailing, look for a boat that is basically ready to sail away., If you are interested in racing a sailboat, always hook up with local...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Take an expert with you.
Some of the faults of a sailboat can look awful but are easy to repair while other faults are hidden and expensive.
For a beginner, it's really hard to spot the difference.
Hire a professional surveyor.
You'll need a survey done for insurance purposes anyway.
It will be money well-spent, especially if the boat is an expensive one. -
Step 2: Figure out what kind of boat you want to own before you go shopping.
If you go looking at boats without a clear idea of what kind of boat you want to sail, you may fall in love with a boat that won't meet your needs.
Think:
Do you want to race? Then, buy the kind of boat people in your area are racing.
Do you want to trailer it to distant cruising grounds? Then, restrict your search to smaller boats with trailers.
Do you want performance or a big fat cabin? If you don't know the answers, you risk wasting your money. , Learning to sail involves lots and lots of sailing.
Fixing up a junker boat can take months or years and won't teach you a thing about sailing. , There is all sorts of obscure knowledge about racing boats that you will be helpless without. -
Step 3: If you are new to sailing
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Step 4: look for a boat that is basically ready to sail away.
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Step 5: If you are interested in racing a sailboat
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Step 6: always hook up with local sailboat racers before you buy a boat.
Detailed Guide
Some of the faults of a sailboat can look awful but are easy to repair while other faults are hidden and expensive.
For a beginner, it's really hard to spot the difference.
Hire a professional surveyor.
You'll need a survey done for insurance purposes anyway.
It will be money well-spent, especially if the boat is an expensive one.
If you go looking at boats without a clear idea of what kind of boat you want to sail, you may fall in love with a boat that won't meet your needs.
Think:
Do you want to race? Then, buy the kind of boat people in your area are racing.
Do you want to trailer it to distant cruising grounds? Then, restrict your search to smaller boats with trailers.
Do you want performance or a big fat cabin? If you don't know the answers, you risk wasting your money. , Learning to sail involves lots and lots of sailing.
Fixing up a junker boat can take months or years and won't teach you a thing about sailing. , There is all sorts of obscure knowledge about racing boats that you will be helpless without.
About the Author
Andrea Taylor
Writer and educator with a focus on practical creative arts knowledge.
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