I know, I know.  I don’t technically own the boat yet, and I could be tempting the fates by assuming all will go thru, blah blahsidy blah.  I’m not a Tempting of the Fates kinda girl.  I’m more of a Ask the Universe for What You Want and Boom! It’ll Happen kinda girl.  Anyway, I have been reading sailing blogs for a couple of years and often get frustrated when the writer chooses not to share all the details of that time between picking a boat and closing on the sucker (I get it – I just want to read about it!).  How am I supposed to learn anything if people don’t blog about it!?!  (um, that’s kind of a joke – see, I know I can learn things from places other than sailing blogs…) So here I am, documenting the purchase of a boat – good or bad you need to know the nitty gritty details, right?

Here’s the low down:  (Keep in mind that we’re starting from ground zero here – we don’t even know how to sail yet!  This is just what we’ve learned up to this point)

1. Figure out what you really NEED in a boat – then find the smallest, most affordable version you can handle. It took us 2 years to travel from wanting a motor yacht to a trawler to a catamaran to this monohull…
2. Find that boat! As soon as we knew exactly what we were looking for, it showed up.  Thanks Universe 🙂
3. Make an offer (- good rule of thumb seems to be 10% less than listing price, but that may be something I’ve learned in haggling in general)
4. Put 10% of agreed upon price down via an escrow account with the Broker.  We went back and forth a couple of times before we agreed on a price (this 10% is to be wired to the account in most cases, and completely refundable to you if you change your mind at any time before signing the Acceptance of Vessel form)
5. Arrange for a survey/sea trial – find a surveyor that is certified with SAMS or NAMS in case the insurance/financing requires this.  Try to get referrals!  
6. Schedule a haul out at near by marina that coincides with Surveyor’s schedule (Duh, they need to coincide, but I had to be told this.  Sometimes common sense is not so common.)
7. Apparently the broker/seller handles the hiring of a Captain to move the boat for haul out/sea trial
8. Arrange financing (if necessary) This will take a few weeks to close – just like a mortgage.  They will need a copy of the survey in order to close the deal.
9. Arrange insurance (they will also need a copy of your survey)
10. Arrange a slip for your new boat at a local marina!

About Author

Jennifer

Artist, food nerd, SUP/yoga enthusiast and travel obsessed blogger – chronicling the process of going from land to sea. Selling all of her worldly possessions so that she can set sail into the sunset with her husband and two dachshunds – searching for that next sunrise paddle. Follow along. It’ll be fun 🙂

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