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