Ideas On Buying A Sailing Yacht

Sailing yachts and motor boats are rather complicated pieces of machinery and at the same time they are both costly to purchase and maintain to a good standard.

If the vessel you are considering to purchase has had little or no regular maintenance you could find it costly to maintain.

Apart from the inherent safety considerations of one's own life, family and crew there may also be insurance implications in having a boat survey.

Depending on the age, make and construction of the vessel it may adversely effect your ability to obtain insurance cover if you do not have a recent marine survey.

A boat surveyor will be able to help steer you through the many possible pitfalls of buying a previously owned vessel.

An independent marine surveyor will be able to draw on very many years of real life hands on experience which would help to identify any problem areas that could save not only lives and considerable sums in repair costs.

Before you place a deposit on a boat you must be assured that the proposed purchase is totally correct for you in all material respects. Do as much research as you can first and do not simply place a deposit on the spur of the moment or as is so often the case when the sun comes out and is sparkling on the water!

If you have found the correct vessell and you have made an offer which has been accepted at an agreed price then you would normally make a deposit which would be made "Subject to Survey" very similar to someone buying a property.

If the marine survey proves to be satisfactory and displays no important faults then the onus will naturally fall on you the buyer to complete the purchase and if you do not then you may well forfeit your deposit.

Most sailing yacht brokers will be able to provide a draft sales and purchase agreement which the buyer would complete at the time that he makes the deposit.

The agreement should contain a reasonable time frame to allow for the survey to be completed and should specify the conditions umder which the deposit may be refunded.

If one simply changes ones mind and decide to buy another boat that has just come on the market then you will undoubtedly lose the deposit and be considered a tyre kicker if you withdraw from the proposed purchase.

Should a material fault be revealed which you could not reasonably of been aware of at the time of making your original offer then your deposit should be refunded less any lift out costs or related expenses which have been incurred on your behalf.

Usually the proposed buyer will arrange and pay the boat yard directly for the cost of the lift out. Usually this is arranged with the vessel being held in slings during the lunch time of the boat yard.

When a private seller asks for a deposit (which is reasonable) one should make a similar agreement with them.

The buyer will have an exclusive right to have the boat surveyed in order that he can complete the purchase within a reasonable time frame and be satusfied that the vessel has no substantial defects.

The well known phrase "Caveat Emptor" buyer beware comes to mind and the more information you have will leave you better prepared before any major outlay.

It can be very sound advice before purchasing a used boat to use the services of an independent boat surveyor.


------

The Author writes a great variety of articles on sailing topics and for more information please go to Brighton Boat Surveys