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