CHOOSING THE RIGHT YACHT
➜I
t might be stating the obvious... but the
trickiest problems facing a boat buyer
are the simplest. What type and size of
boat do you want, then which model
do you choose?
The vast majority of buyers go for a used
boat. They might visit boat shows to gaze
upon the gleaming new models on offer,
but most regard this as research rather
than shopping.
What’s more, as the years trundle by the
number of used boats on the market gets
ever bigger. Unlike motorcars, they don’t
fail MOTs then get scrapped. So the
selection process gets trickier. And as the
stock of used boats gets older, the chance
of buying pricey problems increases.
However there are simple guidelines that
I believe apply to the purchase of any size
of used boat.
Firstly, it makes sense to start off by
looking at models that were successful
and built in decent quantities. There’s
safety in numbers, even if it’s just to
ensure an easier resale at a later date. And
it’s better than risking ‘throwing good
money after bad’ on a tired example of a
little known or unsuccessful model.
An active owners’ association with a
good website – even better if it also
includes a forum – is also a useful
accessory to your purchase.
Any elderly boat can have problems, but
an owners’ association can invariably offer
a solution or advise on spare parts.
Indeed it can even pay dividends to join
the association of your shortlisted boats
before you buy. This way you can look at
the forums and check out second-hand
boats listed.
When I was a boatbuilder I used to
spring three basic questions on
prospective buyers: where are you aiming
to sail, how often, and with how many
people? Clients who cross-examined
themselves often ended up buying
something smaller than they’d first
envisaged.Start small
So it makes sense to start small and I
have selected some popular variable
draught cruisers up to 20ft. These are all
second-hand. New boats of this size arerare because production builders now
major on bigger models.
Many people buying their first cruising
yacht like the idea of trailer-sailing and
coastal pottering. It’s a sensible way to put
a toe in the water without shelling out
loads of money.
At the other end of the scale, many
owners reaching retirement age sell their
larger yachts in order to enjoy single- or
short-handed mid-week sailing in a
smaller, simpler craft.
If they still crave an annual adventure on
a big yacht, they can click onto charter
companies’ websites and book an
extended cruise in sunny climes.Great shoal draught
small cruisers...
MAIN Cornish Shrimper
RIGHT Pirate 17
BELOW RIGHT Swift 18ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Peter K Poland crossed the
Atlantic in a 7.6m (25ft) Wind
Elf in 1968 and later spent
30 years as co-owner
of Hunter Boats. He
is now a freelance
journalist and
PR consultantPhotos: David Harding/Sailing Scenes