I probably would not take a "prospective buyer" looking for his/her very first boat on a "test sail" just from an interest request. FYI--that would be analogous to a sea trial which is not done unless the broker/owner is holding some earnest money from the prospective buyer. For one thing, it's useful to know if the buyer even has the money on hand to complete a purchase, and earnest money would be some, albeit weak, indication of that. Also, do you know how to sail? That might also affect my decision. A first-time buyer who does not know how to sail at all, but wishes to go on a "test sail" is certainly not to be taken seriously as a buyer unless there is earnest money in the equation--typically up to 20% of purchase price agreed to previously. By the way--one normally does not get that money back if the decision is made to not purchase.Thanks everyone for your valuable feedback. Yes, an escrow account conditional on a successful test sail might be the solution, thanks for suggesting it. I also thought of paying the seller $100 or $200 in cash up front to motivate the seller to do a test sail on the water. I live in Montreal, Canada, so tides are not an issue because the city is surrounded by the Saint-Lawrence river. I do plan on keeping the boat anchored in the water all summer in an area that's sheltered from strong wind and waves. In this price range, the boats I've looked at were all built in the 70's and 80's. The models I'm considering are the MacGregor 25, Tanzer 22, Siren 17, and DS 16, to name a few. I'm only looking for casual day sailing (no racing), but I want the boat to be equipped with a cabin in the front, so I can occasionally take a short rest indoors out of the sun, or for nature calls. The reason I'm looking for a keelboat is to help provide more stability and reduce the chances of capsizing. A retractable keel would be the ideal thing to allow shallow water anchoring and easier trailer launching in the spring and retrieving in the fall. Regarding the sales and inspection contract, is there a template that exists that I could use where I could simply "fill in the blanks" with information such as the boat model, ID number, required state of the boat at the time of sale, selling price etc? Thanks again everyone.
Alex
But... you'd get to go sailing. Are you suggesting a sailor would turn down an excuse to go sailing?Put me down with the grouches. In addition of limiting getting jerked around, you are taking someone inexperienced out and exposing them and yourself to a degree of risk.
I don't think this is true. Most "standard" purchase agreements allow the buyer to back out for any reason after the survey and sea trial, and recover his deposit.there is earnest money in the equation--typically up to 20% of purchase price agreed to previously. By the way--one normally does not get that money back if the decision is made to not purchase.
Exactly correct; that is how purchase agreements are written, the prospective buyer recovers his/her deposit for any reason; if unacceptable problems are discovered or even if one doesn’t like the manner in which the boat handles. Boats wouldn’t get sold if there was a no refundable deposit if the buyer couldn’t reject the boat after a sea trial and haulout for inspection.I don't think this is true. Most "standard" purchase agreements allow the buyer to back out for any reason after the survey and sea trial, and recover his deposit.
Edit: Although the buyer would be out the costs associated with the survey, prepping and launching the boat, if applicable, etc.
I'm sorry here guys but an escrow account, servey, and sea trial on a hobie 16 to a cal 25 are you crazy? I have bought and sold more than a dozen sail boats and I'm with @Gene Neill who would say no. I live 2 blocks from a river and would not launch a canoe to sell it to a potential buyer. There is just too much risk of a dreamer damaging something. In comparison to most on this forum the total investment is very low on a boat this size and even if the boat sinks on launch the salvage parts are worth more than the boat.I'm looking into buying my first sailboat: a used keelboat between 16 and 25 feet long, between $2k and $4k, equipped with a trailer and a small outboard motor (less than 10 hp).Thanks!
Alex
I have almost no knowledge and scant experience, but I bought a boat in the range you're talking about without a test drive and I think I made out pretty well. Probably wouldn't have done me much good anyway, since I'd never been on a sailboat before. Sailboats this size are generally pretty simple and you can tell most of what you need to know just from looking if you have any amount of mechanical savvy at all. Mine is a fixed keel, so there were no worries about issues with centerboards and such. No through-hulls or anything complicated like that, either. The little outboards we use on little boats are simple as dirt and pretty easy for any competent shadetree mechanic to repair and maintain. (One thing I've learned recently in that area is that Evinrude parts are way more expensive than Yamaha parts.) I can't think of much of anything significant that might have shown up in the water that I didn't see on the trailer.Can people with knowledge and experience please shed some light on this?
I don't think he found a boat to purchase yet! He wants to date a few before he makes a commitment. I don't blame him … it's worth a try. BTW, I have an old high school acquaintance whom sells very high-end production boats on Lake Michigan. Last time Sue and I saw him, he was later going sailing with a prospective customer. It didn't sound like a contract-driven sea trial to me. It sounded more like a genuine sales effort for an expensive yacht that he wanted to sell. I'm sure there was some level of vetting, though. It sounded like he was building a relationship with the buyer. Isn't that how salesmanship works? Of course, if you don't want to do that sort of thing, that is why you hire a broker … you know, somebody whom might already be bored by the process and can't be bothered with building a relationship with a buyer because he or she has nothing invested in the process.“What happened to Ace? What is he thinking? Has he gone forward with his purchase?”
Hey Scott, unless times have changed, the dowry is what the bride brings to the party. Surprised?I'm picturing some of you guys running off every suiter that your daughters might have with a shotgun unless they show up with a dowry.
Actually, I looked it up … it can go either way. For some customary dowries, it is what the prospective husband brings to the table. It probably depends on whom is most in demand, women or men!Hey Scott, unless times have changed, the dowry is what the bride brings to the party. Surprised?