How soon is to soon?

dlochner · Jul 25, 2022

It is never too early to look for the retirement boat. You may start today and find it tomorrow or in 2 years. The earlier you start the more boats you will see and the better idea you will have about the "perfect" boat for you. Of course you may end up with 2 boats for awhile (I did).

The earlier you buy the boat the more time you will have to do the upgrades. Regardless of the boat you buy and what the broker says, very few boats are turnkey. You may be able to sail it the day you buy it, however, it will probably not be the way you want it to be.

Scott T-Bird · Jul 25, 2022

It's never too soon! It's almost always too late!

I don't really understand your intentions ... a bigger boat for live-aboard on Lake Pueblo? That doesn't seem rational. Or, someplace where you have to travel until retirement? You'll have to pay for storage whether on land or in the water, so I guess it depends on the difference in rates depending on where you want to be. If you are planning to spend most of the time working on upgrades, it makes more sense to keep it on stands and only launch for vacation. But then you are dependent upon yard reliability for schedules. And then where are you going to go? Anchor out for the duration? You may not be able to rely upon obtaining a slip or mooring for short periods unless there are ample opportunities for transient slips. I think it all depends on location.

Scott T-Bird · Jul 25, 2022

In my experience, it doesn't take long to find a suitable boat unless you are extremely picky. So the length of time to find a new boat really depends on you. We started looking for a larger boat in April and sailed her home from Massachusetts at the end of June. So it can be that quick or quicker. But in the northeast, there is never any shortage of boats to see within a reasonable travel distance. If you are shopping from Colorado, logistics will be far more limiting, I'd guess. If you have a boat to sell and it is in good condition and priced right, it also shouldn't take more than a few months. We owned our 27' boat for almost 2 months after purchasing our current boat. After I finished making her ready for sale, I let the purchaser have 2 months in a slip that I paid for. I had already arranged to keep her in a slip to make a sale more attractive. I was more interested in getting her sold to a good buyer than I was in price. I had already spent a fortune on that boat that was impossible to recover. I was happier to move on.

Hollyberry · Jul 25, 2022

If your interim 'storage' location is remote from where you live, on-the-hard makes more sense once you sort out the relative costs. Don't forget to add in the lift and launch to the overall calculation. If in a hot climate, though, long term on-the-hard storage takes its toll on boats too, esp the rubber bits on the engine...

Don S/V ILLusion · Jul 25, 2022

For what it’s worth, I agree with your wife (always a good policy even when pandering).
The difference between slip cost and dry storage cost, periodic haul/relaunch, stepping mast, etc… can be minimal. All else being equal, it’s more convenient in the water and easier on the hull.

Calif. Ted · Jul 25, 2022

Is it correct to assume you want the larger retirement boat in a place other than Colorado ? Paying to keep a boat for 2 1/2 years against an intended future use seems fraught with peril and pitfalls. That's money could be going into the retirement/boat fund, boat market is terrible right now. Overpriced and very little stock, it will improve shortly.
Oh, and as mentioned it is actually more expensive to store on the hard here in a boatyard, unless you have it trucked out to the desert.
The day you accept an offer on the old boat is a good time to start looking, I've found that to be the most cost effective method.

dlochner · Jul 25, 2022

Scott T-Bird said:
In my experience, it doesn't take long to find a suitable boat unless you are extremely picky. So the length of time to find a new boat really depends on you.

I think this depends on a several factors, perhaps the biggest being how long is the list of potential boats, how many were made, and how popular the particular model is. Boats that have long production runs, like Catalina, Hunter, and Beneteau will have a larger selection simply because there were more built yielding more boats on the market to select from.

In my case, I started building a short list of potential retirement boats about 10 years before I bought it. When I finally found a boat that I wanted at close to a price I could afford I saw it and put an offer in on the day I looked at it.

Now is definitely the time to build your short list. If you are uncertain about what you want, save for bigger than 27 ft., get out and start looking at boats and talking to people about the choices they made.

Dil · Jul 25, 2022

starting the process is the key, me and my wife have been discussing this same thing. leaving NJ moving to FL selling main house buying next house. Finding next boat selling current boat we have put about a 2 -3 year time line on it. We are planning on going to a few boat shows. Already have tickets and accommodations for the fall Annapolis sgow I have started some remodeling projects to prep for sale of house. We intend to live on board but not full time. I am still learning valuable skills as well as boat systems with 1991 Hunter seem like every time I go to the marina when I come back to the dock I found something else that needs fixing. We also go and look from time to time at boats to kinda get a feel for what we want and are comfortable with.

stickinthemud57 · Jul 25, 2022

A tad confused. Could you clarify the following?

Since your current boat is a 27-footer, I'm assuming you would be going 30 feet or larger, correct?

Is there any point at which you you will be using it more than a few weeks a year?

jon hansen · Jul 25, 2022

buy your boat on the great lakes. fresh water boat. then sail her to the sea.

do not buy a used salt water boat. you'll be replacing everything

just my $0.02

Scott T-Bird · Jul 25, 2022

Allowishish said:
I was curious what having a boat on the hard that long would do vs being in the water but not being used regularly.

I also agree that the used boat market right now is still pretty stupid. I am hoping that by the spring it will start sorting itself out. Prices are already start to move down a bit (not where they should be yet though)

Mostly I am just looking for input on anything I might have missed. Benefits of buying earlier vs later, on the hard vs in the water? ect.

Psychologically, I'm with your wife. If I was to purchase a boat only to leave it on stands, that would simply be a downer. I'd have it in the water if there wasn't a compelling reason to keep it on land. I also agree that it would be easier on the hull and the maintenance to keep it in water. If you have a buyer lined up, I'd make the deal and begin looking. The market is going to loosen and you should put yourself in a position to choose what you like.

Rick D · Jul 25, 2022

I think your timeline to buy the bigger boat is too long IMHO. What I have seen often is buyers picking up a boat in Ensenada, Baja California, or in San Diego. Then moving aboard in Ensenada and finishing the outfitting there where it is close to San Diego, there is a large local chandlery and craftsmen and and an excellent boat yard. That and very comfortable pricing and expenses. And, if you take delivery offshore and head right to Ensenada, you can skip the California sales tax, a savings of 8.75% (brokers know all about it). I would think you could find a liveaboard capable boat to your liking easily in six months. My take is that it's premature right now. Whatever you decide, have fun doing it!

David in Sandusky · Jul 25, 2022

Another brainstorm idea. Sell your 27 footer now. Then charter for vacations in locations and on boats in your target range.
Advantages:
- No maintenance or storage costs.
- Experience at different, attractive sailing destinations.
- Experience on boats you are considering.

While sailing our 27 footer for 23 years, and 500 days in lakes Erie and Huron, we have chartered about 15 times in the US, Canada, Sweden, France, the BVI’s, and New Zealand in boats 30 to 45 feet long. Charter deals have been what we expect in every case, and there are no concerns after we leave! And we know exactly what we like and dislike about different Catalinas, Beneteaus, Hunters, and other cruising models.

stickinthemud57 · Jul 25, 2022

From the comments of others and now understanding your plans more fully, I think now is definitely not the time to buy. I would think that you would not have too hard a time finding that Catalina 380 in a reasonable amount of time.

As for worries over time on the hard, I would opine that would have mostly to do with how well it was stored. One of my favorite YouTube channels is "Captain Q Yacht Hunter". He reviews mostly boats that are on the hard, and I have never heard him make a negative comment about a boat's hull as a result of being out of the water, but rather deck and interior condition due to inadequate mothballing. I would say buying a boat in the water could be more fraught, since blistering of boat's hull is something that occurs when it is in the water. It was also stands to reason that a surveyor will be able to assess the condition of the hull and keel attachment much better out of the water than in, with the exception of possible leaking at through-hulls.

sail sfbay · Jul 25, 2022

Allowishish said:
...............My question(s) is this; when is to early to buy?........

Never!!

Scott T-Bird · Jul 26, 2022

I took a brief look at Boat Trader and saw a very attractive offering in Michigan for well under $100K. I would look at that one within the week. I don't know what you would be waiting for in this case.

stickinthemud57 · Jul 26, 2022

Scott T-Bird said:
I took a brief look at Boat Trader and saw a very attractive offering in Michigan for well under $100K. I would look at that one within the week. I don't know what you would be waiting for in this case.

All the aforementioned expenses associated with owning a boat for approximately 2-1/2 before you plan to actually start using it.