This week's discussion and quiz on SailboatOwners.com... You're in the market for a used sailboat for daysailing and cruising. Here are four similar boats (same make and model) for your consideration: 1. Boat for sale. Proven bluewater cruiser just back from the South Pacific . . . The good news is you know this boat can make it, and its probably well equipped for cruising. The bad news is somebody lived aboard for an extended period of time,causing some wear and tear, and it probably got beat up a bit in weather somewhere along the line. 2. Boat for sale. Owned by a doctor who had little time to sail her. . . The good news is the boat's had little use. The bad news is the boat may have been neglected and what little maintenance occurred may have been poorly done. She also may not be well equipped. 3. Boat for sale. Professionally maintained boat being sold out of a charter fleet . . . The good news is she has been professionally maintained (hopefully by a good professional) and may be reasonably well equipped for cruising. The bad news is she's been used by people with no long-term interest in her care and many of them may have had limited skills. 4. Boat for sale. Racing equipped with three sets of sails and carbon fiber spars... The good news is she should be fast. Extra sails are always good to have and they're probably in good shape. The bad news is she's probably not well equipped for cruising... and racing can be hard on a boat. Which history would appeal to you the most in your search for a used boat and why? Share your thoughts and be sure to vote in the Quick Quiz at the bottom of the home page. (Quiz by Gary Wyngarden)
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patrick
that's easy..
The least expensive one (provided it has no big, permanent damage) because (hopefully)i can fix all the little stuff cheaply and it seems to affect the price quite a bit.
The least expensive one (provided it has no big, permanent damage) because (hopefully)i can fix all the little stuff cheaply and it seems to affect the price quite a bit.
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Bill O'Donovan
Doctor boat
I bought my Hunter 29.5 from a dentist who didn't have enough time to enjoy the boat. It was chalky but otherwise in fine shape, having been seldom used.
I bought my Hunter 29.5 from a dentist who didn't have enough time to enjoy the boat. It was chalky but otherwise in fine shape, having been seldom used.
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BILL ROBB
The Romantic in me wants to sail into the Sunset!
Oh, yeah! Give me an Island Packet over an ETAP any day of the week! Bye-Bye! See ya all in the Carribean! Bill on STARGAZER
Oh, yeah! Give me an Island Packet over an ETAP any day of the week! Bye-Bye! See ya all in the Carribean! Bill on STARGAZER
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Tom Riley
When in doubt, race
Assuming the same price and all things being equal, and if for daysailing, I would enjoy the racing boat. A boat is for learning and trying new things. I want each sail to be a stretch, and that is why I race, so that's what I would go for. However, if the boat demanded the whole damned neighborhood to sail it, I would go for one of the others.
Assuming the same price and all things being equal, and if for daysailing, I would enjoy the racing boat. A boat is for learning and trying new things. I want each sail to be a stretch, and that is why I race, so that's what I would go for. However, if the boat demanded the whole damned neighborhood to sail it, I would go for one of the others.
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jenna
Doctor boat
I have several doctors in my immediate family and they never do anything on the 'cheap'! So even not maintained...the boat will not have had shoddy workmanship! I'd rather buy a boat with little use and put in some elbow grease, than buy one that requires "refurbishing/restoration". *!
I have several doctors in my immediate family and they never do anything on the 'cheap'! So even not maintained...the boat will not have had shoddy workmanship! I'd rather buy a boat with little use and put in some elbow grease, than buy one that requires "refurbishing/restoration". *!
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Michel Benarrosh
Purchase of a used charter boat
As an owner of my 3rd charter boat with a large charter company, I can attest that it can be a very smart buy to purchase a used charter boat. Of course, it can be a mine field. But if you know what you are doing, there are incredibel deals to be found for boats that have been extremely well maintained and phased-out by a serious charter company. You can visit the web site below to read all the details about this. Note: I do NOT represent a charter company.
As an owner of my 3rd charter boat with a large charter company, I can attest that it can be a very smart buy to purchase a used charter boat. Of course, it can be a mine field. But if you know what you are doing, there are incredibel deals to be found for boats that have been extremely well maintained and phased-out by a serious charter company. You can visit the web site below to read all the details about this. Note: I do NOT represent a charter company.
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Chuck Stehle
Blue Water Cruiser
Pick the BWC every time. It has the gear. Is proven. May need some work, but when complete it will be ready to go again!!
Pick the BWC every time. It has the gear. Is proven. May need some work, but when complete it will be ready to go again!!
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Jack
Give Me The Doctor's Boat Also!
I'm with Jenna and Bill on this one. Give me the Doctor's boat every day of the week and twice on Sunday!
I'm with Jenna and Bill on this one. Give me the Doctor's boat every day of the week and twice on Sunday!
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Ellis David Hay
All Around poor choices
Personally you need to have your chozen one professionally inspected and tested and given a CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH, a certificate of acceptance for a specific time period... If neglect is found it is to be rectified by previous owner at his expense and then reinspected... The log of maintance and replacement of equipment and upkeep schedule... A personal tested sail with its previous owner aboard... Total refund of all expenses that occurred... If it doesn't fly... WALK AWAY
Personally you need to have your chozen one professionally inspected and tested and given a CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH, a certificate of acceptance for a specific time period... If neglect is found it is to be rectified by previous owner at his expense and then reinspected... The log of maintance and replacement of equipment and upkeep schedule... A personal tested sail with its previous owner aboard... Total refund of all expenses that occurred... If it doesn't fly... WALK AWAY
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Dan
Dr.'s boat
Of course, I would have to have any of them surveyed and found to be sound and all that....but given the limited information, I agree, the Dr.'s boat sounds like the best deal up front. Limited wear, prob maintained, even if only at the beginning and end of the season, prob has some bells and whistles. Now if my plans were to go cruising for the next few years, the BWC may have been my choice.
Of course, I would have to have any of them surveyed and found to be sound and all that....but given the limited information, I agree, the Dr.'s boat sounds like the best deal up front. Limited wear, prob maintained, even if only at the beginning and end of the season, prob has some bells and whistles. Now if my plans were to go cruising for the next few years, the BWC may have been my choice.
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Steve
Dr.'s Boat for sure
Just bought one of these and had it delivered last week - he wasn't a doctor, but he had the money. Everything on the boat was professionally installed, the boat was professionally maintained and kept cleaned/waxed. Cleanest, best kept and least used boat we looked at.
Just bought one of these and had it delivered last week - he wasn't a doctor, but he had the money. Everything on the boat was professionally installed, the boat was professionally maintained and kept cleaned/waxed. Cleanest, best kept and least used boat we looked at.
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Tom S
Gary, Question is "used for daysailing and what
type of cruising"? Coastal cruising or bluewater cruising? By the nature of your question and noting "daysailing" then I think you're meaning Coastal cruising, weekend jaunts, etc Boat #1) If I am sailing to Bora Bora then I think the Blue Water cruiser would be a good choice, but for fun lively day sailing and quick weekend getaways I would stay away from it. I have seen too many beautiful heavy blue water boats just sit at the dock, week in and week out because they are not that fun to sail for just an afternoon or a quick getaway. Boat # 4) As for the racing boat - well that all depends. Most that are really raced are pretty bare bones and minimalistic and tend to be "beat on" a bit -- maybe good for a daysail, but not enough amenities for me to cruise on. Boat # 3) We all know most of these charters are sailed hard sometimes 250+ days a year by people who don't own them and don't really care. I wouldn't really want to buy a leased car either. And come on, the level of "professional" care that these boats get can vary widely, way too many variables....I'd stay away unless the price was ridiculously low. I'd go for boat # 2 - the good doctors boat. If the boat has been sailed very little then most things are probably not broken and thus not need maintenance. Most things neglected on a non-use boat won't be serious. True an engine sitting idle for long periods isn't a good thing, but thats easily tested by a good mechanic and even then probably easily fixed unless it was something blatent (water in the cylinders, stuck rings, etc). But I'd rather have a boat that has little use and no maintenance (who cares about a dead battery and mildew, etc) than one misused.
type of cruising"? Coastal cruising or bluewater cruising? By the nature of your question and noting "daysailing" then I think you're meaning Coastal cruising, weekend jaunts, etc Boat #1) If I am sailing to Bora Bora then I think the Blue Water cruiser would be a good choice, but for fun lively day sailing and quick weekend getaways I would stay away from it. I have seen too many beautiful heavy blue water boats just sit at the dock, week in and week out because they are not that fun to sail for just an afternoon or a quick getaway. Boat # 4) As for the racing boat - well that all depends. Most that are really raced are pretty bare bones and minimalistic and tend to be "beat on" a bit -- maybe good for a daysail, but not enough amenities for me to cruise on. Boat # 3) We all know most of these charters are sailed hard sometimes 250+ days a year by people who don't own them and don't really care. I wouldn't really want to buy a leased car either. And come on, the level of "professional" care that these boats get can vary widely, way too many variables....I'd stay away unless the price was ridiculously low. I'd go for boat # 2 - the good doctors boat. If the boat has been sailed very little then most things are probably not broken and thus not need maintenance. Most things neglected on a non-use boat won't be serious. True an engine sitting idle for long periods isn't a good thing, but thats easily tested by a good mechanic and even then probably easily fixed unless it was something blatent (water in the cylinders, stuck rings, etc). But I'd rather have a boat that has little use and no maintenance (who cares about a dead battery and mildew, etc) than one misused.
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Andy
Finding a gem
I'd go with the little used boat if it passed muster. Our daysailer had been a family's number three boat (after the ski boat and skiff) at their summer place. The constantly shifting wind on the lake made for poor sailing. She had little use, was stored inside offseason and maintained. She's a gem. I always look at the seller's yard and vehicles. If they are pristine, that's a good first clue about the boat.
I'd go with the little used boat if it passed muster. Our daysailer had been a family's number three boat (after the ski boat and skiff) at their summer place. The constantly shifting wind on the lake made for poor sailing. She had little use, was stored inside offseason and maintained. She's a gem. I always look at the seller's yard and vehicles. If they are pristine, that's a good first clue about the boat.
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Gary
Tough one
Is this a question about the best boat or stereotyping boaters? If I was looking for a daysailor and cruiser then I'd probably stay away from the racer because I would expect it to have no furling, stripped out interior, racing sails, and other racing associated gear. The other three probably are more cruise oriented (furler, holding tank, heat, etc), particularily the Charter boat and the cruiser. They are both probably well used and require some maintenance. The doctors boat probably needs some work due to neglect or just because he only sailed on nice days. It would be a wise man sensible enough to work out the prices involved in bringing each boat up to the standard sought and then buy the one that is most economical. I am afraid I would probably buy the one with the highest WAP. (Wife Aproval Factor)
Is this a question about the best boat or stereotyping boaters? If I was looking for a daysailor and cruiser then I'd probably stay away from the racer because I would expect it to have no furling, stripped out interior, racing sails, and other racing associated gear. The other three probably are more cruise oriented (furler, holding tank, heat, etc), particularily the Charter boat and the cruiser. They are both probably well used and require some maintenance. The doctors boat probably needs some work due to neglect or just because he only sailed on nice days. It would be a wise man sensible enough to work out the prices involved in bringing each boat up to the standard sought and then buy the one that is most economical. I am afraid I would probably buy the one with the highest WAP. (Wife Aproval Factor)
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Chris
Clean up is easy
By far the one to go with is the one with little use. A boat with little use typicaly just takes cosmetic repairs as apposed to the repairs needed after racing a few seasons.Upgrade some old mildewed lines, wash, buff, wax, polish and the boat is about as good as new. The engine has had little use and would have low hours as apposed to a charter or a cruise boat. I have taken this route on a couple boats. I made sure the hull was clean from repairs. The boat has had little use and just looked bad because the previous owner did not want to clean it up or bother to take their personal effects off the boat. I have made a profit on my past boats.
By far the one to go with is the one with little use. A boat with little use typicaly just takes cosmetic repairs as apposed to the repairs needed after racing a few seasons.Upgrade some old mildewed lines, wash, buff, wax, polish and the boat is about as good as new. The engine has had little use and would have low hours as apposed to a charter or a cruise boat. I have taken this route on a couple boats. I made sure the hull was clean from repairs. The boat has had little use and just looked bad because the previous owner did not want to clean it up or bother to take their personal effects off the boat. I have made a profit on my past boats.
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Peter Coggins
Blue Water vs. Performance Needs
The label "Blue Water" does not necessarily mean slow performance. I have done a few races to Bermuda - - three times on go-fast machines (40-45 ft)and three times on comfortable, sea kindly vessels (50-60 ft). Interestingly enough, the CCA designs did the passages in less time than the IOR/IMS designs and they were far less fatiguing. Obviously, these boats were performance cruisers and as you might expect, the winds were better suited for a fast passage. Sail changes were far less frequent and simpler to do, boat motion was predictible and much easier, and there was a bit less attentiion to crew and personal gear weight, so as a result, living was much more civilized. Isn't that why we go back to sea? As an initial boat we chose a pretty little 31 ft yawl but, while she was attractive we quickly found her too squirrelly and moved to a wonderful 1974 S&S Tartan-34C. This boat is a fine sailing boat, simple rigged, solidly built, and has all the desirable qualities for an off shore boat for two people. We can lock the helm and she will sail herself upwind for an hour or so. We don't have a floating condo but we can sail for 4-5 days without problem. Drawing only 4 ft we can go any where with confidence. And she is a quick boat, too. We often compete against some more modern boats and do very well indeed. The bottom line is to pick a good design, that has been built by an established quality builder and you will find a boat that, while perhaps a bit tired, cosmetically, can be restored to her original elegance within your budget.
The label "Blue Water" does not necessarily mean slow performance. I have done a few races to Bermuda - - three times on go-fast machines (40-45 ft)and three times on comfortable, sea kindly vessels (50-60 ft). Interestingly enough, the CCA designs did the passages in less time than the IOR/IMS designs and they were far less fatiguing. Obviously, these boats were performance cruisers and as you might expect, the winds were better suited for a fast passage. Sail changes were far less frequent and simpler to do, boat motion was predictible and much easier, and there was a bit less attentiion to crew and personal gear weight, so as a result, living was much more civilized. Isn't that why we go back to sea? As an initial boat we chose a pretty little 31 ft yawl but, while she was attractive we quickly found her too squirrelly and moved to a wonderful 1974 S&S Tartan-34C. This boat is a fine sailing boat, simple rigged, solidly built, and has all the desirable qualities for an off shore boat for two people. We can lock the helm and she will sail herself upwind for an hour or so. We don't have a floating condo but we can sail for 4-5 days without problem. Drawing only 4 ft we can go any where with confidence. And she is a quick boat, too. We often compete against some more modern boats and do very well indeed. The bottom line is to pick a good design, that has been built by an established quality builder and you will find a boat that, while perhaps a bit tired, cosmetically, can be restored to her original elegance within your budget.
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Bruce
Little Used Boats are Trouble
I only buy used boats because when I get mad about something not working... and there will be more than enough of those whether the boat is new or used... I knew what I was buying when I got it... nothing is more aggravating than all the NEW stuff on a NEW boat that won't work... or worse... won't work right. An unused boat has virtually brand new, but with older model stuff on it that won't work because it hasn't been used and has just frozen/gummed/corroded up from neglect... from motor to masthead! If I buy an unused boat that is more than 4 or 5 years old ... I expect nothing to work well for long. A charter boat's mechanicals have been maintained... they can't charter it if it don't run... now the aesthetics may be another story after the bangs and dings... but I can fix those.
I only buy used boats because when I get mad about something not working... and there will be more than enough of those whether the boat is new or used... I knew what I was buying when I got it... nothing is more aggravating than all the NEW stuff on a NEW boat that won't work... or worse... won't work right. An unused boat has virtually brand new, but with older model stuff on it that won't work because it hasn't been used and has just frozen/gummed/corroded up from neglect... from motor to masthead! If I buy an unused boat that is more than 4 or 5 years old ... I expect nothing to work well for long. A charter boat's mechanicals have been maintained... they can't charter it if it don't run... now the aesthetics may be another story after the bangs and dings... but I can fix those.
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Larry Long
I bought the Dr,'s boat
The boat might be 7 years old, but it was clean and maintained very well. The engine had 30 hours on it. I got to be the first person to fly the spinnaker. I get to use all of the nice accessories that someone else paid for. After a couple of days of cleaning it is like getting a new boat for a 50% discount.
The boat might be 7 years old, but it was clean and maintained very well. The engine had 30 hours on it. I got to be the first person to fly the spinnaker. I get to use all of the nice accessories that someone else paid for. After a couple of days of cleaning it is like getting a new boat for a 50% discount.
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mike
blue water boat
lets say it was a shannon 43 ketch versus a newer 43 foot jeanneau (sp) just off charter... it wouldn't take me 2 seconds to go with the shannon... it's a boat that can be worked with for the rest of your life... it won't be as much like a winnebago but it will take you wherever you want to go....
lets say it was a shannon 43 ketch versus a newer 43 foot jeanneau (sp) just off charter... it wouldn't take me 2 seconds to go with the shannon... it's a boat that can be worked with for the rest of your life... it won't be as much like a winnebago but it will take you wherever you want to go....
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