Saving Money by Buying a Used Sailing Boat

When looking for a sailing ship, there are many different features and questions that should be asked beforehand. The consumer will need to know how many people he will be sailing with on a regular basis, what classes of boats are allowed in the waters where he will be sailing, whether there are shallow waters or bridges to deal with, and what type of material he prefers the boat to be made from.

When he has a lot of these features and questions answered for himself, then he can start to look at the different types of sailing boats. He will want to decide whether he wants to go with a new sailing boat, which he knows is under warrantee and has all new components, but he will have to take the hit in the depreciation of the boat in the first year, or if he wants to go with a used sailing boat, in which there may be little to no warrantee, used parts, but the boat will hold its value better over time since the first year has passed by.

Buying Tips
There are certain tips that people should follow when purchasing a used sailing boat. The first is to ask how old the boat is and how often it has been used over the time that the person has had the used sailing boat. If the person bought the used sailing boat from another person who had used it, that is usually a red flag warning sign that the boat should be avoided since it is harder to check for abuse of the boat over time when there have been multiple owners.



If there has only been one owner and the boat is only a year or two old that is the most ideal situation for buying a used sailing boat. These boats have not had much time to suffer abuse and they are also often under the initial warrantee on the boat for another year or two.

Regardless, the person should take the used sailing boat to a mechanic to get a professional opinion on the condition of the boat before purchasing it. The boat should also be taken out on the water so that the person can get a feel for how the boat handles and if it is the right boat for him to buy.

If all of these situations check out, then the used sailing boat is a great purchase. The previous owner will have taken the loss in depreciation, the boat will still be in good condition for years to come if properly maintained, and the buyer will have paid thousands less than buying it new.

What To Look Out For When Buying A Sailing Boat

Before you decide on the kind of sailing boat to buy, do take into consideration some important factors.

Firstly, determine your sailing experience. For beginners, it would be wise to rent boats when you are still testing if sailing is a past time that you would like to be part of in the near future. If you are unsure, you may want to check out charter sailing.

Once you are more sure of your intentions, decide on the type of sailing boat you want to purchase. There are smaller sailing boats like the sailing dinghies that are on the market today. Many of these dinghies are made to be transported on the roof of a car, making them a great starter boat.

If you intend to go for a larger sailing boat, then there are some other considerations that must be made. One important one is the types of waters that the sailing boat will travel through. If the waters are going to be fairly shallow, then you will not want to have a boat that has a keel that will drag or break on the bottom.

If you are likely to sail under bridges or other overhang, then you will need to be careful of the height of their mast. If possible, check out the lowest overhang that you could be traveling through.

In addition to these things, the sailing boat for sale should be checked for the communication system that is on board. If you plan to sail to more remote area, then you will need a radio that can communicate over thousands of miles, but if you  will be travelling near populated areas at all times, then you will only need a VHS system.
Choose the material of your boat carefully. There are wooden sailing boats that look nice when kept up, but take a lot of maintenance on a regular basis in order to keep them in prime sailing condition. There are other boats that are made of fiberglass or other man-made material which take less maintenance work and are tougher materials.
 
If buying a used sailing boat, which is a wise choice in that the previous owner has taken the loss in the depreciating value of the boat during the first year, the people need to have the boat thoroughly checked by expert mechanics to make sure it is in good shape for sailing.

Buying a Sailing Boat- What You Should Look Out For

It doesn't matter if you are keen in buying a simple sailing boat or one with the latest gadgets and technology. You still have to look out for certain basic things when buying a sailing boat.

If the sailing boat for sale is a used boat, you have to exercise even more caution. For a start, you need to check out its maintenance records and having a professional mechanic to examine the boat.

If the sailing boat for sale is brand new, then you should be more concerned about how the boat is going to be used, in what types of waters, and how many people will be on board the boat most of the time.

So how to go about choosing the boat?

One thing to consider is your own experience in managing a sailing boat. If you are a beginner, then start by renting or borrowing different types of sailing boats to have a feel which one suits you best. A boat is a sizeable investment for most so be sure that sailing is not just a passing whim, but something you will enjoy in the long run. If the boat is only going to be used once or twice per year, then you may consider renting a boat instead of buying one.

Where will you be sailing in will decide what type of boat you need. Shallow waters require a shorter keel. Crossing bridges means you should not have mast that stands too tall. The storage capacity you need will depend on how long you intend to stay in the open sea.

Buying a sailing boat requires you to do some homework so don't rush into buying one without giving it due considerations. Of course, you can also consider charter sailing.