What to buy

[funirishboy]

I am a retired former Marine. I have crewed on three boats. I love sailing, being on the water and all that goes with it. I plan to buy a boat in the next six months. The question is, what to buy? Do I get a smaller (30 ft) boat that is ready to sail right now or a larger (40-45) boat that needs work? Do I get the smaller boat and trade up to the larger boat in a year or so? Do I find a larger boat that needs work? When I am finished, I will know what I have in the boat because I selected the equipment/motor/sails myseLf.I can pay cash for the smaller boat. I would have to carry a note on a larger boat unless I got it cheap because it needs work. Another advantage with the larger boat besides the additional living space below is having additional crew that can stand watches and teach this new sailor things I need to learn.

What to do?

Thanks for all the advice. I have decided to wait till spring and pay cash for a 30 - 34 foot boat. I have deferred this dream for this long, I can wait a little longer. Thanks again!

 

[sailcruiser]

All tough questions. What type of sailing do you plan in the next 5 years? Oh and a note on trading up be careful on money you put into a boat on extras. It is rare you'll get that money back. SC

 

[Benjamin Disralei]

Sit down and work out what you would like in a boat first of all. Spend as much time as you can walking around marinas and do not be afraid to ask questions. be patient in your search and this time will help you make a better than average decision. This was my method to buying my first yacht, my decision was perfect for me and do not need to up size as it meets my needs now and at least for the next 5 years

 

[r.oril]

I am a trailer sailor, 26 foot MacGregor D. Bigger boats require slips or storage at $100 plus a month. Boats in the water require more maintenance like bottom paint. I can work on my boat at home on my days off.

r.oril
Army E-7 Ret

 

[Tim R.]

...Oh and a note on trading up be careful on money you put into a boat on extras. It is rare you'll get that money back. SC

Not necessarily true. If you do a complete refit, your boat will definitely command a higher price than it's comparables. Just do not expect to make any money or break even.


To answer your question, I would advise you to start with the 30 ft. boat you can pay cash for. You can get to know that boat, enjoy sailing it and then be prepared to purchase the bigger boat knowing exactly what you want instead of buying a bigger boat now that you end up hating or being overwhelmed by.

Buying a boat is like buying a house. You will have a list of needs and wants. Better to know this info before dumping large buckets of cash. Now you can do all the upgrades you want because you will keep this boat a long time.

Don't rush the dream. It takes time to do it right.

 

[Fly_H23]

I would suggest buying something you can pay cash for that doesn't need extensive work. If you'd rather be sailing than working on a project boat, buy something that fits your budget that is complete, ready to sail but might need some minor updates. New sails are expensive, often costing as much as the boat itself!

Semper fi

 

[dkdoyle]

I would suggest joining a sailing squadron. Some have slips., haul out facilities and launch facilities. This reduces your costs and expands your opportunities. You may decide you want a larger boat to take cruising or get the racing bug. slip costs are anywhere from 200 a month to 12 a foot at a nice marina.

 

[Freedom77]

I agree with R.Oril. before you go big check out slip fees. Do you want to be slip locked in a marina. They might be higher than your house payments. Also, depends on how much time you are going to spend on it and how far you want to sail. Sailboat interiors seem to grow exponentially for every foot in length. Right now there is a glut of used boats on the market depending on where you live. A sailboat is a hole in the water into which you pour endless amounts of time and money. We have trailered our V-25 from Baja to British Columbia and points in between. Have race in some long ocean races including 125 mile Newport/Ensenada. Sleeps four comfortably and easy to get parts. OORAH, SEMPER FI. Fair winds and full sails....

 

[MrBill_FLL]

where are you and what kind of sailing do you want to do...

how deep, marina facilities, service, support, etc...

I'm of the mind set go sailing now, rather than wait for more money or a perfect boat. so smaller is better. (k.i.s.s.)