buying a boat
Vložit
- čas přidán 12. 04. 2021
- Buying a boat is the best thing you will probably ever do but there are a few things worth considering when you set out on this adventure.
My books are available to download from: www.gentlesailing.com - Sport
After watching over 30 different YT channels during the past several years, I have no hesitation is saying Michael's videos are the most down to earth, Useful, Interesting, and a pleasure to watch.
thank you for that - I am so pleased you are getting pleasure from the channel
@@SailingGently There was stiff competition as well ;
With Linh's Cooking, Teal's Fiberglassing (Basik).
Laughing Lucy, and Paul getting out the coloured crayons to explain relative humidity (JustAboutSailing).
Justaboutsailing is a wonderful site - I think Paul is brilliant! Wish I had a quarter of his skills
@@transmitthis Thank you for that...They are channels I subscribe to as well... CZcams is a wonderful way of of being informed and entertained at the same time
@@transmitthis All you UTubers have something different to offer - I enjoy browsing the sites as well
Absolutely agree with every single word. You really know your onions!
Carlos hello, confess I was nervous that folks would not agree - thank you
Sir may i presume you're an ex journo. I was a printer newspaper man printed the post. Courier in PNG so enjoyed the company of journalists most off
My life currently attempting to renovate a small sail boat begged scrounged from the boss of spectator mag here in Qld. Enjoy your. take on modern technology it's great skippered a 50ft cat last Sept. The charter. Company were gob smacked when I produced a sextant and dividers then said where's the bloody charts of this coastline. Then they showed me the satnav. Buggar me brilliant till the elecronics packs up ah well coastal in the whitsunday. Apologies I've rabbited on. If I ever get back to the UK must have a beer er pint together
Cheers n beers
Marty
Thank you Carlos. Glad you thought it was OK
@@martinbowskill5511 Martin hi,
Almost right - ex TV drama director - all story telling,,,,
Wish you luck with the renovation - never easy but Queensland is a lovely place to be doing it!
I have twice lost 100% of my electronics - once in the USA with a lightning strike and the second time in the North Sea. Previous owner had installed a chart light bypassing local fuses... When his wiring shorted it blew everything... All domestic feeds so I limped back to Ijmuiden by DR and spent 2 days tracing the fault!
Like you I would not venture out of site of land without charts.
Fair winds
These armchair chats were, at first, daunting in their length, but they are genuinely informative. As an aspirant boat owner it's like having a friendly hand on the shoulder. Thank you!
Johnny I am so pleased you find the videos useful. Buying a boat is a big deal but the rewards can be wonderful. Thank you for watching
@@SailingGently Ive just bought my first boat -a contessa 26 - and approached yachtmaster - thumbs up for that
@@dartmoorguide Well done Johnny - a lovely boat - you have done so well.. Congratulations - I aspired to a Contessa when I started but couldn't afford it.. Now just go sailing - go places...
@@dartmoorguide Well done Johnny - lovely boats and you are so lucky to have a Contessa 26 as your first boat - Fair winds
@@dartmoorguide That's wonderful Johnny. beautiful boats - the perfect first boat - well done - good sailing and fair winds
Absolutley love this episode! Thanks for these words of wisdom and best wishes from Malta!
Aaron hello, Really pleased you liked it.. Lucky you in Malta - Louise and I seriously considered keeping Paw Paw there - it was just the flights from Malaga that put us off - beautiful place
Such a well informed video and good advice.
Your long experience of sailing shines through, brilliant video.
Russ thank you - so pleased and flattered!
I've really enjoyed watching these videos, spoken from the heart by someone who has a natural gift for communicating and who clearly knows his stuff! I can't wait for the next one!!
Chris thank you so much - I am really pleased you liked the videos and found them useful
Love your channel and all your well presented knowledge. Thank you!
So nice of you to write that - I am pleased you find the videos interesting a enjoy viewing
Amazing video thank you for your time! This is my second time watching, taking notes as I am due to view a sailing boat this month you have really covered some serious issues and things I wouldn’t have thought about. So thank you! Also your sailing guide to the med is brilliant keep these videos coming as I feel I may need to be checking in to pick your brains in the near future 🌎💙
JC hello,
I think it is useful to have a sort of check list when you are boat viewing - hope you find the right one and head down towards the sun - Really pleased you like the channel
Michael, thank you for again being so kind to the bridge watch officers on merchant ships. As an ex chief engineer on large ships and now a director for a large shipping company, about to retire early and set sail for a decade or two, I really appreciate how you have acknowledged the professionalism of merchant seamen. I have watched all of your vids and you are a font of knowledge. Thank you sir.
Simon hi,
Yes I do have the utmost respect for the folks in the merchant navy and my encounters with them have mostly been extremely helpful and professional. I think it's quite a hard life combined with the responsibility of navigating a vessel weighing thousand of tons then shifting heavy cargos to and from the shore. It is a trade/profession not much understood by most of us and I still do not understand exactly how the business of finding cargos works - And of course cargo is the reason for the existence of these ships
Incredibly informative and more interesting than I was expecting. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful Ian. Thank you for watching
Another great video Michael. Good timing too as I am still searching for my first boat. Fair winds.
Good luck with the Search Ray - I'm sure it will work out and you will find a beauty
Love your arm chair chats. Always useful and informative. I'm looking for a boat and mooring now.
Glad it was helpful! Searching for a mooring is far less romantic and enjoyable than looking for a boat - glad you enjoyed the video
You sir, as we usually say downunder with more than a tinge of irony, are a gentleman and a scholar! Just what the doctor ordered. I feel much better informed for when I eventually take the plunge and buy my first boat. Fair winds. Oh, and subscribed!
Thank you so much for watching and indeed for subscribing - I am truly grateful - If it helps with your first boat buy I am pleased - owning a boat is a wonderful experience but sometimes challenging...
I watched your video on crossing the Atlantic and was hooked, very interesting and some good info. I've sub'd from NZ thanks Michael.
Ricki hello,
So pleased it was of interest - I loved NZ when I arrived from Fiji the same week as 9/11 - hauled there and flew back to UK then did refit and sailed onto Port Jackson - tough passage!
Great video, very informative. I especially like how you discussed your own mistakes about the tender, engine and water maker. I'm looking to buy at the moment and this video has been very useful. Walked away from a boat last night in no small part based on some of your advice. Thank you.
MH really glad it was useful and well done to walk away - Not always easy and there is always another boat to buy... Yes I have and still do make lots of mistakes with the boat - so many different systems involved
Thank you for sharing your experience in a frank and clear manner. I am looking to buy my first boat and I have learned so much from your channel. Please keep up the great work.
Thomas I am pleased it was helpful - good luck with your boat search
Thank you for all your time was very helpful as in thinking of getting a yacht and it’s gunna be my first one so it’s a big step for me 👍
Paul it is a big step but I am sure you will not regret getting a boat - they have given me so much pleasure and kept me sane! (ish)
Love the chatty approach in your videos, so nice to just listen in and have a mental conversation along. I agree with many of the points you made in this video, very helpful in my opinion. In terms of budgeting one thing I'd point out, especially for first time buyers like I was not long ago myself, is to not buy the boat you can afford, but the boat you can afford to maintain. Especially with older craft the initial price might be "low" and it might be tempting to aim higher. But the older the boat the more you will be putting in each year to keep her up or hopefully even improve. Like with your Beneteau, buying a more expensive boat might be "cheaper" in the end, especially when still learning about boat systems and repairs. But more crucially, you don't want to overstretch your budget with the initial buy, particular when you do not know how much the upkeep will amount to with berth fees, insurance, potential broken systems, general improvements, etc.
Johannes hello,
Yes you make really good points on boat selection and price which hopefully others will read... Mind you I have never owned a boat that did not either need something fixing - or some new piece of equipment... But it's always nicer to own a boat than not to I think
Really like you content, it is straight to the point, condensed and clearly put.
Please continue.
thank you very much - very pleased you liked the video and found it useful
You covered the VAT situation later in the video. A useful video, I purchased the book on French canals which is great.
Malcolm hello, Yes the French canals are a wonderful experience - I am sure you will enjoy them as I have
Hello Michael. Just started to view your content and felt compelled to delve more into your past. It was a pleasure in the 80s to service a couple of Howard's Way cast members in my Chelsea hair salon. I loved the series, being from The Solent area myself. Good health, Stephen [currently considering a Nicholson purchase]
Stephen hello,
Good to hear you worked on Howards Way cast,,, It was a show I liked a lot as it was my original idea - boatyard on the Hamble which Jerry Glaister took over and morphed into Howards Way. Nicholsons are really nice boats - if I get Golden Haze to the Caribbean I might look for one to keep here in Boulogne sur mer
Fair winds
Another very informative video. Thanks for this-full of helpful information as we are starting to think about trading up to a bigger boat! 👍🏼
Sarah hello So pleased you found it useful - trading up is always exciting - and a bit challenging!
Of course I have to subscribe, you Sir are a wealth of knowledge and I am so glad I chanced upon your channel. Thank you
Thank you very much Joshua for both watching and subscribing. So pleased you like the channel
Great video. So informative and well delivered.
Davis hi, so pleased it was helpful
Brilliant as usual M, thanks!
Thank you Michael. So pleased you liked it
Excellent advice. A wealth of knowledge from a world of experience. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful Stephen! I was not sure it would be popular but it seems lots of folks are either buying or changing boats. Thank you
very engaging and so informative; so much pre-planning is needed. thanks for posting.
So glad you found it useful - I was concerned nobody would like it!
Who'd have thought that a video of a guy sitting on a couch chatting could be so informative and entertaining! Completely new to sailing apart from sailing dinghys at high school (55 years ago) and am about to buy (perhaps) a steel bilge keeler that I have my eye on. Had to chuckle about the broker/vendor cleaning and polishing it up for selling. In this keeler the engine cover was off, a hose detached and the whole interior reeked of diesel. Anyhow that hasn't put me off but you have given me *numerous* ideas about how to proceed with the purchase. Thankyou!
Brandon Hutchison (New Zealand)
Brandon hello,
Good to hear from you in New Zealand - I hauled in Auckland one time for a refit before heading onwards to Australia and Asia.. Good experience
I wish you good fortune with your boat buying project but you sound like you know what you are doing - steel boats do need constant maintenance and tend to be a little slow but equally you frequently get a lot of boat for your money.
So pleased that the video was interesting and useful - thank you for watching
Thankyou so much for your insight and sharing your knowledge. amazing.
So pleased you found it useful David
I just bought a boat so this a wonderful video for me. I've grown up sailing so I'm familiar with the activity but moving abroad is going to allow me to get so much better.
I found a "not so expensive" marina in my country in the Southern Caribbean.
Thanks for all of your videos!
Glad it was helpful! Hope to see you out in the Caribbean
Just had a look at your Channel and it looks like it is going to be excellent. Lovely boat you have purchased - when you head up Martinique way do say hello - fair winds - well done on the dingy sailing - you will find the big boat easy - things happen so much slower!
@@SailingGently Thanks for the encouragement, I'll certainly come by and say hi!
You have done a great job here by the way.
Thank you so much....
Lots of insight and hints. Thanks. Really helpful.
Glad to hear it! Really pleased you found it interesting and useful!
@@SailingGently your views are refreshingly different to many of the other channels. And this different perspective is like a breath of fresh air after the hype we're bombarded with as the creators chase views and subscriptions.
Please keep sharing your thoughts.
Very inspiring summary. I look different to all those boat offers now. Thanks a lot! :)
Glad it was helpful! Yes I think the entire boat sales scene has changed and modernised in the last years -
So informative. Thank you for sharing this important story.
Thank you for watching. I am so pleased you found it useful
Such a nice manner conveying real good information … feels like i am sitting in the room talking to an old friend … actually i also live in France for over 30 years now and am selling my business following which we will be buying a boat and sailing to our other home in Thailand where i will be keeping her … so this was all good stuff .. thanks
Andy that sounds wonderful - how exciting - I was grateful to Thailand when I was in Phuket with the boat and my gall bladder blew up - they operated on new years eve and I survived and was made so comfortable - lucky you to be going to have your boat there - perfect!
Really enjoy your videos.
Joseph thank you for that comment and for watching
Please keep it up. Great advice and experience.
Steve thank you - glad you enjoyed it
Wonderful. You've helped me so much with this video!
I'm so glad Matt.. Really pleased it was helpful
I can really relate to, and agree with, the feeling getting on board the Oceanis 323 for the first time. I found it the perfect boat for me and my wife. We actually found it and bought it by coincidence. We weren’t really looking to buy a new boat, but fell head over heels in love with it.
I had been making lots of upgrades on our previous boat, a sturdy, roomy very well sailing Beason 31 from 1976 with a Volvo Penta engine from 2010. The Beason is a pretty big swedish 31 ft boat that’s considered a keeper here in Sweden.
That was our plan. An electric windlass, an autopilot and a canvas cockpit housing (?) was all that was left to do. The we found the Beneteau and we were absolutely convinced that it was well worth more than three times the money we would get for the Beason. Stepping up space, comfort, life on board, gadgets and devices was a step into another world for us.
The sailing though does take some getting use to, since I’ve been sailing 1960:s and 1970:s boats all my life. The modern Beneteau is quite different.
Thank you for sharing your vast experience and I’m looking forward to watching the rest of your videos once our boat’s in it’s right element next weekend.
They really are nice boats Kay... I had looked at around a dozen other types and as I walked on board I just knew as I think you did with yours it was the 'one'... So well designed and so sensible - just such attention to detail - easy to get at things - I am so pleased with Golden Haze - Just need all this covid to go away so I can go sailing in her - Your right, the world of boat design has really moved on and I think the French have a great 'eye' for comfortable design
Have a lovey summer
Michael -
@@SailingGently I will spend another summer here on the Swedish west coast and I really could do a lot worse. It’s quite amazing with all the small islands, picturesque villages and great sailing. Our original plan was to spend a couple of weeks sailing the east coasts of Denmark but I guess it will not be possible this summer either. A bit ironic, now that we finally bought a great cruising boat, the world shuts down.
Wish you a great summer!
Kay
@@kayloren63 Sweden sounds lovely - I would enjoy spending a summer there ... It's incredible how long this problem has gone on for - I need both France and the UK to get OK before I can start to enjoy Golden Haze, she came with a Eberspaecher in the rear cabin - yummy in the cold!
Thank You , i bought boat in essex in febuary was due to sail ir back in march to Ireland , I got covid and missed my work time window
And missed 2 weeks of easterly winds , it got frightly expensive fast , 110 £ per week , crazy .
Lucky I got a bargin with my new boat .
She is an endurance 40 an unfinished project , boy does she sail well .
Thank you so very much for shareing your knowlage and wisdom with us , fantastic vidieos very well done ,
Cheers John
Sorry to hear that you got badly stuck with covid in an expensive English port but and Endurance 40 is a lovely boat... Have a good passage back to Ireland now summer is here! Good sailing
@@SailingGently back in my home port of crosshaven since june and an epic trip across the theams estuary and through english channel , yes a lovely boat , very solid and surprisingly quick .
thank you for the most informative u- tube vidieos and such wonderfuly clear information.
Did you ever consider a rain water catchment +filter system definatly worth considering,
fair winds , cheers John.
John I'm glad your back safely... The Thames Estuary is not a bundle of fun. I had a rain water catchment system in my Moody 36 via big Bimini into water tank during my circumnavigation but now I am marina based I simply plug in the hose pipe!
This was VERY helpful for a newbie buyer. Thank you!
So pleased it was helpful Patrick. Thank you for watching
Thank you, great tips. Starting looking for sailing boat
Rogerio hello, So glad this was useful - good luck with your search
Thank you so much for sharing your invaluable experience, knowledge and wisdom.
So nice of you Joseph - really pleased you enjoyed it...
@@SailingGently I would definitely recommend you to anyone with sailing interest and want to learn more. Had it not been for Covid, I would have completed my Skipper course in Scotland. If there is ever a next time, I really hope to have a chance to meet you in person. Thanks again.
@@josephlai9759 Thank you Joseph - I wish you good fortune with the Skippers course and I am sure we will meet up in some 'foreign port'
Hi Michael, Really well explained and loads of good advice.
As soon as the borders between Thailand where I live and Malaysia where there are a couple of boats I’m interested in are open, I will start my liveaboard adventure. Thanks again for a fine video and as a fan of Blake’s 7, thank you.
I really enjoyed Malaysia and Phuket where I actually had a gall bladder operation on new years eve.. Wonderful cruising area - I quite envy you Stuart - Good luck with the boat search!
@@SailingGentlyMany years ago I had my gall bladder out two days b4 Xmas, good memories!
@@Stuart.Mckenzie Seems like they anticipate festive events! The International hospital in Phuket was brilliant - made a bad experience good...
Comprehensive , valuable, interesting. Thanks for these tips
Glad you think so So pleased you found the video useful
great informative video, going thru the process.
Glad it was helpful Thierry! I find my attitude to buying has changed over the years and I was pretty blind to a lot of the process
Thank you for this great blog
So nice of you Peter - thank you
Very wise and precious advice.
Abdul so pleased you found it useful - thank you
Another great video and well worth watching. In the midst of selling my home here in Mexico and traveling to the UK EU once the virus restrictions are lifted in search for my sailboat to both live and cruise on so this information was very useful as I continue my research. Seems it's a seller's market right now but possibly things might change once restrictions are lifted.. especially when it comes to Rustler, Vancouver, HR and Malo.
Dennis that sounds like a real adventure and very exciting - so pleased the video was of some help.. You have selected a very good range of boats IMO and will cruise comfortably in any of those - I think you are right about sellers market at the moment - I have been contacted by a couple of brokers asking if I want to sell - I suppose fewer people in the UK are putting their boats on the market because of the combination of Covid - UK northern France based holidays and Brexit - Med very difficult..
I wish you good fortune with your plans
Hello from Argentina, I love these videos sharing your extensive knowledge about sailing. You should consider making a podcast
Juan it's good to hear from Argentina - the internet is a marvelous thing! Pleased you like the channel and will look at Podcasts... Others have suggested that as well - Thank you
Thanks for sharing your insights and experience, just what I was looking for :-)
My pleasure Andrew - glad it was useful
Recently purchased a bilge keeled 27ft boat moored behind the sealock at Heybridge Basin east coast whilst this limits getting out to 1.5hrs window either side of high tide it’s safe with shoreside electric (pay as you go) £340 a quarter is very reasonable.
Always enjoy and take heed of your experience thank you for sharing your valuable knowledge 👍🙏
Well done finding a mooring like that - brilliant price - Glad you found it interesting
@@SailingGently yes and a decked bankside mooring on the canal just the limitations of getting out the sealock but as you know it’s very tidal with mud that area in Essex in any case, very happy.
Your lucky your not close by as I think I’d stalk you to your local pub as could listen to you for hours 😁
Great video, great advises !! Thank You so much!!
Youra hello, So pleased you found the video enjoyable and useful..
Always interesting and to the point
Trevor than you. Glad you found it useful
Thank you again great video
And very good advice
Much appreciated
Glad you enjoyed Davy, Pleased it was useful
When we bought Wave Dancer in 2007 my husband (ex naval reserve with yachtmaster qualifications) was worried about is it the right thing to do with our three young boys. His father said " it will either be the best thing to do or the worst. You won't know unless you try ".
My father in law absolutely nailed it. BEST THING ever. So many adventures
that's a great story - s pleased it worked out for you as it did for me
Thankyou for your very logical and through information.
My pleasure Donna - I hope it's useful
best day of your life second only to the day you sell it
Yep - mainly true Leon - once or twice I have been a little tearful as she sailed away
I have purchased two boats and both prior owners were close to tears on the day they handed them over. In fact, the prior owner of our current boat has made us promise that we would give them first option if we were ever to sell her.
Depends on the boat!
Enjoy the video today Mike lots of good detailed information in there, I've been through most of those ups and downs with buying and selling boats and did Chuck all to some of your comments that I was involved with over the period of time. My personal thought today on buying sailboat is, find one with a really good inventory a good spec have a look at it yourself go over it make sure it's in very good condition, but don't have a survey. Just make an unconditional offer for the boat As is, I did this with my last Boat and it seemed to work out quite well I got a really good discount on vessel they could take it or leave it as an offer. Still crying with Envy you going over to the Caribbean this year later, I put my Southwood plans on hold for a while giving the current circumstances with the virus. But it does give me good time to brush up on some skills. Thanks for an informative video Mike really enjoyed it all the best for now.
Billy hi,
Yes I agree with you, but we both know a bit about boats and I suspect a lot of folks who click in the video will be first time buyers and so I tried to find a middle ground.
Agree about the virus and travel - I am optimistic but not 100% confident.. I never quite believe we know all this is to know and wonder exactly what the future holds...
Really interesting to see what the summer brings
@@SailingGently well it's pretty guaranteed I would have thought that the figures are going to rise regarding the virus but to what level is anybody's guess (UK) - what is the situation in France ref coronavirus? Most adults up to 50 years of age are now vaccinated here, - It's very coincidental I purchased my beneteau from Lymington Yacht Haven in 2019 had the same arrangement with you regarding the slip, and yes I had to pay a day rate because they wouldn't offer me a contract whilst the virus was on - kinda stuck there for a while and Leamington is renowned for it's high prices!..
It's good that you're doing the videos for the first time buyers it is a good insight for all viewers.
Moved to a new CZcams level now. Made some brokers or surveyors unhappy? 3 down votes. Has to be trolls. The most congenial, information packed storytelling on the platform!
Joanie hi,
So far not had any feedback from Surveyors or brokers but I am sure that will come! I find CZcams generally to be a great platform for information and entertainment - learning things - It has enabled me to find a place for my little films which otherwise would not have been worth making
We are looking for a boat and this video has been a huge help.. We are looking at a Huitema Zeechouw which we will use to explore the French canals. Going to see it next week. Your experience and how you explain things really bring to the fore what is most important. Thank you for that.
Huitema Zeechouw are really pretty boats and steel is perfect for the freshwater canals... Really pleased you found the video helpful and I wish you good fortune in your boat search
@@SailingGently Thanks! These boats are really only for canals and lakes aren't they? Do you think 8.4m is a bit too small for living on?
@@magicbusart Yes they are isslemere canals lakes and river boats as you say but fine for that... Actually I do think 8.4m in that sort of design is probably a bit small - There are some excellent more modern design Dutch boats around - like Pedro for example.. Motor boats because they are of a more square design so do give better living space
This channel is utterly FABULOUS!! Such a deep mine of knowledge & extremely well executed! Bravo Sir!!
So nice of you. Thank you. Glad you like the channel
@@SailingGently I love it! And regarding your books....I'd have bought a couple IF they were physical and not electronic. I'm also a writer and have a couple of books flying currently on Amazon. If you'd like some pointers on how to do it I'd be more than happy to help ;-)
I put in a link to doxzoo.com. who will turn my books into hard copy for £5.. I did try Amazon but found their 'take' too high and postage from France where I live is impractical
@@SailingGently we should talk about this if you're interested. As i see it 40% of something is better than 100% of nothing ;-)
It's good of you but having tried the Amazon route I am certain that my own web site works much better for me... 80-1 v Amazon sales! @ 98% keep.... But thank you for caring
Absolutely fascinating.
Robert thank you - Glad you found it useful
Thank you excellent advice which will really help😊
Simon I am so pleased you found it helpful. thank you for watching
I don't know how I missed this one, finally caught up to this episode though. I've had to come around to the distinct Benefits of modern Production boats and even God forbid, bolt on Keels. If I want to be able to stay Afloat in a Sailboat anyway. Disabled, this means I have to be able to get inboard and off again, as Emily as possible, which means a Rear Cockpit with a bathing platform, and Twin wheels layout, to get into the Cockpit . Handy though, as rear cockpits are fantastic for Solar Panel arches, with significantly reduced shading issues, which solar panels don't like, also, there are some very manageable companionway steps to get below and back into the Cockpit without any real problems. Thankfully for me, there's a pretty good range of boats that fit the bill and tick my compromises boxes in my direction - heavily weighted towards Cruising Liveaboard, and avoiding anything to do with Sailboat Racing. When my Money turns up, there'll be something suitable to buy, just like there usually is. Maybe see you in the Caribbean in 2024, you never know. Best Wishes and Fair Winds. Bob. 👍⛵️
Bob I hope your money comes through soon... I'm not disabled like you but at almost 81 I am not that agile as my videos demonstrate..
I choose Golden Haze for the distance between cockpit and midship cleats being able to reef both sails from the cockpit and able to drop the Anchor remotely.
I find I have to employ professionals for most jobs as I can't really feel my hands but this little Benateau 323 is working out pretty well and is comfortable below.
Hope you get your boat soon
Michael
Thanks for the boat hunts 🌊🐟🌬️
My pleasure. Glad it was useful
Thank you, good information. much appreciated.
Glad it was helpful! Thank you for watching
Interesting and very useful, thank you.
Jean hello - really glad it was useful
I love watching this video....just to dream!
Mary so pleased you like the video - dream on - they can come true if you believe enough - and save up a few bob!
Great video very interesting. I think I'll stick with charging boats for my holidays. Buying a boat sounds overwhelming. But you're both looks like a real beauty.
Gerry hi, Glad it was interesting - It's a big deal owning a boat and indeed buying one but there is a lot of pleasure associated in having your own.
Very good advice, not just for buyers, but sellers as well. Maybe you could do one for selling your boat as well? I could listen to you all day. Many thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge.
Great idea Alex - although as you say it does give a few hints to sellers on how to prepare their boats I think... But I will bear it in mind
Great summary. My minor additional contribution: (i) wood, steel or aluminum boats are specialized and I would only contemplate buying one if supported by a very competent specialist surveyor; (ii) old (pre 1985) fiberglass boats are the easiest to buy as they probably have 1" thick hulls, fully encapsulated lead keels etc. The survey is therefore less about the structure and more about the systems, which most competent sailors can assess for themselves. They also tend to be less expensive so less $'s are at risk; (iii) to my mind, the most tricky boats to buy are modern fiberglass boats as the structures are finely engineered (to keep costs and weight down) but are highly vulnerable in a grounding (or daft mistakes like an overtensioned rigging). Even a good survey may not always detect such issues but they can materialize over time. (There are some high quality exceptions to this general rule). Personally, I would buy an older fiberglass boat every time, knowing that i will have to change out various systems over time but knowing that the important, structural stuff is bullet proof.
Stephen, in regards to an older fiberglass sailing boat what in your opinion do you think were the best years in regards to production methods & techniques?
@@billycookson8804 Generally the earlier the better but relatively few were built in the 1960's so you are probably looking at a 1970's boat. After the 1973 and 79 oil crises fiberglass resin began to get expensive which is when they began to start squeezing costs. Depends on your budget and sailing plans but the 1970's Taiwanese boats are all terrific but the US, UK, Europe were also all building some great boats. If you are thinking of buying something there is no substitute for hanging around marinas and asking various owners their experience. I am now in Central America and probably the majority of boats that make it this far are pre 1985.
@@stephenburnage7687 thanks for your information on that appreciated. Bill.
Very well made points... thank you Stephen
ha...!! So Thorough...Thank You for Your Time. ✌
Glad you found it useful. Thank you for watching
Very useful as always. Dinghies and outboards might make for an interesting video in its own right. Perhaps including launching / stowage
Great suggestion James - thank you - will have a think about that!
The first few sentences are so uplifting to one on the edge of buying their first hole in the water.
This is a wonderful channel that will only grow as word gets out. Great content though it is, of course it lacks only one thing. Bikinis.
I expect we shall be denied such eye candy as you probably will refuse to wear one.
You are right - no bikinis but still have an old pair of Speedos.. although I would not wear them in public
Invaluable information.
So pleased it was helpful
Very informative video. Regarding the Avon tender issue - leaving a manual on the chart table indicating a modern tender and then "substituting" a much older one would have almost certainly amounted to a misrepresentation of some sort on the part of the vendor which is actionable under English law at least. Probably not worth pursuing for the cost of a dinghy and outboard but certainly worth remembering if there is more at stake.
Roger hello,
It is irritating but I suppose ''buyer beware' is the slogan I omitted from the video. In the end for me it was the lack of the watermaker as listed on the inventory that motivated me. To be fair in the end the brokers themselves sorted the issue and I got a nice new Avon rib... Buying a boat is full of pitfalls but in the end I got a lovely boat which Louise and I had so much pleasure out of...
Thank you so much. So useful
James a pleasure - so pleased it worked for you
I have watched the boat yacht market for more than 3 years to get a good view on the price and ranges for the boat I was looking for. Ones I had found one, I did a look at it and finally bought it 🥂😁⛵️
Sounds like you planned it perfectly! Well done - I wish you wonderful cruises in your new to you boat and fair winds
Love your view,and the interpretation of the whole Boatie thing ,keep it boating11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
Ken thank you - Boating is fun - a wonderful hobby
Great advice 👍
Glad it was helpful Douglas - Thank you
Hi just found your channel. Love it very helpful. I'm saving and hoping to buy a boat . Best wishes Christopher Gorman leeds UK
Christopher hello,
so pleased you like the channel and that it's proving useful
I've been looking for a boat for a while now I have come to the conclusion that a project boat is an over priced boat that should be scrapped, very good info from you cheers
Dave I think you are right but there are boatbuilders out there who get great pleasure from projects - I would rather be sailing
Very informative, Thanks
Glad it was helpful Najad - thank you for watching
I am a recent subscriber to you channel and thoroughly enjoy your videos. Your sailing experience and knowledge is evident and a great source of information for beginners and more experienced alike. Regarding you assertion that the dinghy/outboard issue was entirely your fault I tend to disagree however.
Putting documentation of a latest model Avon dinghy inside the boat, the case can be made that they probably intentionally tried to create the impression that the Avon dinghy listed in the inventory was of the model of the documentation. A border case probably but definitely not pretty.
But you accepting this as your own fault shows that you are a real gentleman!
Gert hello,
So pleased you like the channel - thank you.
There is a basic law in the UK on buying things, which is 'Let the buyer beware'. I was too trusting - silly me.. But I won't make the same mistake again - the vendor was not a very honorable person
@@SailingGently You occupied the moral high ground here. We Dutch admire you Brits for that. I certainly do, although I hardly define myself as such having lived for 37 years in Tenerife. Beer and/or dinner is on me whenever you happen to moor in Santa Cruz. Just let me know...
This is absolute gold
Kevin thank you - so pleased you found it useful
@@SailingGently you're more than welcome. I owe you a pint or three!
What a fab vid!
James thank you... So pleased you think it was useful
Interesting & practical video :-)
Glad you liked it James
Thank you again
Thank you too for watching Uwe
You can expect to pay from about £3000 a year for most Trot moorings in the UK on an averaged sized (31 foot) boat.
Peter thank you for that - I am very out of touch with UK prices - back in the day I had trot moorings on the Hamble for I think 400 pounds for my 31 ft Elizabethan so the world really has moved on - thank you for bringing the price issue to my attention
Very nicely done :)
Really pleased it was helpful. Thank you for watching
Great video 👍 also didn’t know les Patterson was a sailor 😉
Me neither Gary! Glad it was useful - thank you for watching
Brilliant piece of advice Michael. One question regarding surveyors. What would your strategy be to find and eventually pick one? Word of mouth? broker recommendation? Googling.. around the particular area where the boat is.. could you share your advice on this?
Cheers, Bruno
You are right Bruno it is very difficult finding a good surveyor and actually I don't know how you work it out - maybe the ones that have been at it longest? As a seller I have observed surveyors doing their thing and frequently thought they were not that good - experienced - There is also the problem that they are scared of being sued so over-react. Ask the broker but that also depends how long the broker has been at it and most just provide a list of local surveyors - bit of a minefield
when i bought Freebird, i had looked at hundreds of boats was was starting to get disheartened. As soon as i was aboard i knew she was the one and bought it.
I am strange and every boat i researched, usual problems, fail points strengths and weaknesses, i did this for 10s of makes and models. With each list there was black flags, red flags and yellow flags. If a boat had more than 2 red flags or a black i just walked away.
When i went to see Freebird, it had 4 reds and a lot of yellows... still felt right and i knew i was going to love this boat but i knew it was going to take money and effort to put right.
Worth it in the end even though on fixes and upgrades i spend half the value again on her. Just pleased there was no black flags haha
If you feel at home, you feel at home. Cant put a price on that.. maybe im too sentimental.
Stu hi,
Boats are indeed really special and I agree you do sort of just know when you find the right one... Like other things I suspect.
Your Freebird sounds lovely and well done for giving her a facelift!
Hope you have some great sails this summer
I'm a veteran of the Navy. My dream is to start with America's great loop.
Me Too... I have longed to do the Great Lakes down to Mississippi - got as far as planning it - the ICW was a superb experience
Bought your canal book, great insight..my thinking is to buy a 26ft and do the canals then sail the med.
Do you think a trailer sailor would do the job in the med as a full keel means mooring costs. Ideally I would like to find someone with a large property where I could store the boat. What r the chances of that? And if I did get a full keeled boat where is the cheapest place to have it hauled out for months?
Thx.hope you are well wherever u r ,lose track.
Thierry hi,
Buying a boat in the UK and taking it down via the canal to the Med is a great plan.. I' ve done it that way several times! I think it would be difficult to find a property to keep it on but Port Napoleon www.port-adhoc.com/en/port-napoleon/ at the end of the canal system in France or the waterways around the Sete area are relatively inexpensive and have haul out facilities and even cheaper in Almirimar in Spain!
This is the second time I've watched this as it is very valuable information. Ultimately I want to sail across to Caribbean, and having little experience, acknowledge that I can't just get in and go. I'm thinking buying a boat in UK is easiest for me as a Brit, however it seems rare that ocean crossing navigation and safety inventory are rarely present in UK boats? Should I think to buy outside UK, if so where, and secondly, are there loose or rough programmes to follow as a guideline of gaining skills and knowledge to get to the level to attempt an Atlantic crossing. That is, when do you know you are ready to cross? Finally, do you think that getting an experienced crew member is feasible, if you cannot afford to pay a skipper to observe your job?
The UK is a pretty good place to buy a boat if that's where you are based although the sailing season is quite short.. A good place to fit out a boat for an Atlantic crossing and at the same time gain some sailing experience... Try joining a dinghy club and learn to sail that way then with your own boat sail as much as you can - That's basically the way I did it - and there is also the option of shipping your boat to the Caribbean and the cost of that is similar to fitting one out for an Atlantic crossing.... more here czcams.com/video/68tlYSdIJ3g/video.html
"The Boat is either going to be in the water or on the land." Priceless information to know. ;)
You are right! I misspoke - intended to say 'or on the hard' and I didn't notice even in the edit - Sorry for getting it wrong
Michael, thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience on what is for some of us, a critical subject right now. I am wondering however, based purely on my own needs and endeavors, if you have bought a boat in France at all ?
Jim hello,
I have lived and owned UK boats in France for some time but never purchased one there... There is one big difference I understand - if there are major or structural faults with the boat and the vendor does not disclose them then it is very easy to sue and get your money back. I think the rest of the process is pretty similar and there are Navel Architects who do survey work - surveyors in English.
Forget festooning the Bimini. I like repeater type instruments on the companionway so that I can see the depth from anywhere in the cockpit, without craning myself around the the helm(sman).
Its also useful to have something at hand at the logbook.
Just me.
Couldn't agree more Ratus - except in the Caribbean and nearer the equator the bimini does become important but up here in the channel - no! I agree
@@SailingGently dam.... I thought I typed binnacle. Many a slip betwixt...