Boating Advice: Buying a reliable boat
Our 'resident' surveyor *Gavin Clark shares his Top 10 boat-buying tipsWelcome to what we hope will be the first of many installments sharing the good oil from Gavin Clark, a shipwright and qualified marine surveyor with a business called Slipstream Marine in Sydney.
Gavin has 27-years experience in the boating industry and
is also an avid boater and boat owner, with a 33 ft Sharpie (Trawler). So we reckon his credentials and honest approach will stand our readers, boat buyers and boat owners in good stead.
Look for his regular tips on our sites from now on under the pseudonym and pen-name of "The Surveyor"....
FINDING YOUR DREAMBOAT
Over the years I have witnessed the 'dream' of boat ownership shattered by the wrong decision and, at times, a misinformed choice on what is the right boat to suit your needs. Couple this with the lack of homework on the real and true maintenance costs and the dream can soon turns into a nightmare.
In the past, the boating market was filled with what I call generational boaters: Grandparents owned a boat, Mum and Dad owned a boat, now I'll own a boat and take the kids boating.
That ancestral landscape has now changed. The internet revolution has opened up boating to so many people, the wide range of quality manufacturers worldwide has made all brands accessible to anyone anywhere. Boats travel from one side of the globe to the other with greater regularity.
What am I rambling on about here? Well, it’s like this. The old boatie was informed and educated, as boating was in the family. Now, the new boating family is stepping aboard with little or no education on what is required to maintain their vessel. Many don’t even know the first place to start.
So let’s get a little list together. Whether it be a power craft or a yacht, the list varies little. Here are 10 Tips to help you buy the boat of your dreams.
1. Do your homework: You go to a lot of trouble to pick the house you buy, where it is located, there is great school nearby, a short stroll to shops and transport, etc. Buying a boat is no different. Find out about the brands around in your chosen market, tap into online reviews, Google and find online forums and scroll... it’s amazing what you can find. From this research, your list may be eroded to just a few brands. All of a sudden your search for the dream has narrowed significantly.
2. Walk the wharf: Or hang at the local boat ram,p and ask the boat owners. You will surprised, you may even score a test ride that money can't buy. These owner reviews are often the best and most honest you can get.
3. Talk to the local importer or retailer: Don’t be afraid if you’re looking for a second-hand boat, you never know one day that second-hand boat may lead to a new-boat purchase. Ask the questions you want, don’t be afraid to hit hard, eg, "I was reading on the forum last night that there is an issue with this and that, what are your thoughts and have you had many here?"
4. Type and size: Now we have decided on power or sail, and the brand, the type and size come into it. For many, the budget determines the reality of what one can purchase. Write down your needs; is it just day fishing, are you intending to get weekends away, is coastal cruising on your radar, is the retirement dream of cruising the pacific just one step away? How many people do you need to accommodate? From there your search narrows and you are ready to move to the best part... actually buying the boat.
5. Internet shopping: The boat buyer is now in the best position ever thanks to the development of the internet. You can search for the brand, size , price range and even locality and, within seconds, boats are on your screen with so much detail. It’s as good as walking down the wharf. Now it really gets exciting as you are watching boats, you’ve started to get confident in what you are asking the broker or owner, but are you asking the right questions?
6. Check the history: Would you buy a car without asking about its history? Buying a boat is no different. If information isn’t forthcoming on the history of the boat, usually there is a good reason. Move on. Ask the basics: has it had one owner; when was it last sold; do you have the service history... For boats moored in the water: when was it last slipped or hauled out. For petrol engines with sterndrives ask the deepest of questions: when were the risers and manifolds last done? These are five-year replacement parts and should be considered and enter the owners maintenance-schedule checklist every four years. So, when where the sterndrives last serviced and when were the anodes replaced? For yachties: ask when the standing rigging was last replaced, as insurance companies are cracking down and will want it done every 7-10 years; how old are the sails; when was the engine last serviced? You will soon start to paint a picture of your dreamboat or potential nightmare.
7. There is no such thing as a cheap boat! All too often I get clients pushing themselves to own a boat right on the edge of their budget, which is fine, but let’s factor in the extra monies needed to bring it up to your standard, and the new equipment you want on your boat. Don't forget to budget for the maintenance and the mooring fees for a boat kept in the water, storage fees elsewhere, insurance and so on. All of a sudden you are stretched beyond what you can afford. Over the years, I have found most second-hand purchases come with an added 10 per cent on top of the initial sale price. A $50k boat fast becomes $55K and a $100K boat is now $110K. You need to asking yourself: can I afford this?
8. Inspection needed: So we have found the boat of your dreams, now, have it inspected by a qualified marine surveyor (ED: like Gavin), Have the motors, legs and generator inspected by a qualified mechanic. Don’t rely on your 'mate' that has a boat and is an accountant as your expert. If the report comes up with some electrolysis issues or corrosion issues then have an expert in this field come in and do a further independent report. This in my opinion and experience and, well, this is where I see the dream shattered the most. From here, don’t feel pressured or rushed into signing on the bottom line.
9. Repair costs: Once you have the report, start asking the local repairer/mechanic about the costs associated with it. Remember you are to be their new client, so don the afraid to take their time. If they are not accommodating, find one who is. You will be better served in the long run. Bring up or even present the surveyor's report to them. They will give you the real costs and give you some negotiation power going forward in the deal. This will also give you the real costs for your budget moving forward and annual associated running costs. (ED: Shipwrights charge say $85-$110/hr)
10. Use it or lose it: You are now the owner of the dream, let’s keep it pleasant. We have all heard the saying: use it or lose it. For boat owners it’s the truth. The more you use it, the more you keep on top of the little things, the little thing don’t become big things, and all of a sudden the dream is a nightmare. Keep up your regular service program that your repairer has advised you of and never say to yourself — I haven’t used the boat much so I will skip this service!
Boating can be one of the most enjoyable and relaxing pastimes around, it can also be like the weather, as in, turn very nasty quickly. By following some or all of this advice you should be living a pleasant boating dream!
*Gavin Clark is a new contributor at boatsales.com.au and BoatPoint.com.au who will henceforth write under the pseudonym "The Surveyor." He is shipwright and marine surveyor with a business called Slipstream Marine based in Sydney. He has 27-years experience in the boating industry and is also an avid boater and owner with a 33 ft Sharpie (Trawler). He can be contacted at http://boatsurveying.com.au
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