PAGE 6 • SPRING 2009 THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SAILING ASSOCIATION
SPRING 2009 • PAGE 7
BUYING THE RIGHT SAILBOAT PART FIVE • USED BOATS
ASA MEMBER BOOK REVIEW • BY GRACE BROCKWAY
By Captain David C. Bello, Fair W ind Sailing School
I found a kindred spirit in Beth in her love of being
T
his article is the last of a five part series on the
outdoors. I found myself nodding in agreement when she
proper process to buy a sailboat. Unlike most
writes of how much she revels in the immediacy of a rain
boat purchase advice, written by manufacturers
shower when aboard, how you cannot help but be aware
and designed to persuade the reader to purchase one
of exactly when it stops and starts, and how closed-off
brand or another, the suggestions in this article are
she feels from this connectedness when she is stuck
written from the perspective of a sailboat buyer.
indoors.
This book is not only about the joys of sunny, warm
Identifying the Right Vessel sailing. Beth and Evans are particularly attracted to
The upfront process to buying a used boat is identical to
sailing in cold climates and have built their boat
buying a new boat. As described in previous articles
especially to withstand the rigors of rough sailing.
(previous articles are posted at www.fairwindsailing.com/
articles/index.html), gaining a thorough understanding of
While that sort of sailing does not appeal to me, I still
how you will use the boat, translating the planned usage
found myself entranced by her descriptions of surviving
into a set of boat features and finding the models/
Sur veyor Jack Morman of Morman Marine Sur veyors tests the
an exceptionally bad gale and seeing her first wandering
manufacturers that best meet your feature list is the
hull for water intrusion with a moisture meter and mallet.
albatross as dawn slowly lights the sky after a night of
right place to begin.
intense strain and uncertainty, and the uplifting feeling
The key error to avoid is falling in love with the boat
of accomplishment she experiences with each tough
Locating the Right Vessel
now. It can be difficult, you’ve seen her, agreed to the
passage.
Once you know the manufacturer and model of the boat
price, probably told your friends and already planned the
you are looking for, the first step is to find the available
first sail, but the boat isn’t purchased yet, in fact it is far
I can’t help but feel that both novices and experienced
boats on the market. While sailing magazines and local
from it. Worse, you still don’t actually know what you
sailors will find inspiration from Beth’s musings. She has
brokers have traditionally been the first stop in this
have purchased.
a wonderful way of waxing philosophical about events
process and can be a valuable source of information, the
without sounding stuffy or overbearing.
internet is really the driving mechanism today to
If you have dealt with a reputable broker or used any
connecting boat sellers and buyers. While a handful of
kind of standard sales contract, you will now have the
Rather, she gives us gentle musings about nature and
boats can be found on websites like Craigslist and Ebay,
option of taking the boat on a sea trial (test sail) and
sailing, showing us how entwined the two are for her and
there will not be a large boat inventory on these sites,
completing a survey (the survey will be required if you
encouraging us to give the cruising life a try, to
particularly for vessels over 25 feet in length.
are financing the purchase and also by the insurance
experience this beautiful interconnectedness for
company even if you are not), before finally accepting
ourselves.
Alternatively, clearing sites such as www.yachtworld.com
the vessel. The sea trial and survey are the most
will list almost every used boat for sale, contain pictures
important part of the sales process.
She speaks of the different views people have about
of the boats, detailed equipment lists and the
various aspects of sailing, saying, “Many cruisers view
geographic locations of the vessels. In addition, they Choosing a Surveyor
passages as a necessary evil to get them from one place
Title: Blue Horizons Dispatches from Distant Seas
will give you a good idea of the asking price and
to another, but for me passages have always been a way
It is difficult to put enough emphasis on the importance Author: Beth A. Leonard
availability for a particular model – both in total and in
to cleanse myself, to let go of the unceasing busyness of
of finding a good surveyor. My experience has been that Publisher: International Marine/McGraw-Hill 2007
your geographic area. With a few clicks and a little bit
shore life and come to a quiet place inside myself that I
finding a good surveyor is essential. I start by getting a Pages:177; Hardcover $22.95
of time, you can get quite a good feel for the overall
cannot seem to reach any other way.” Later, she adds,
list of local surveyors. Again, the internet can be used for
pricing as well as the features and equipment that
“After a passage I return renewed, awake to wonder, full
a quick and thorough listing. Once surveyors are found, I
seems to move the price up or down. Once this is
of joy, and reassured that the sea awaits when I need to
interview several surveyors before I am ready to hire one.
understood, it is time to contact the sellers, view the
So what is a good surveyor? First, the surveyor should be
boat and negotiate the price (a subject of an entire
certified through one of the major national agencies,
article and not addressed here.)
such as the National Association of Marine Surveyors
B
find myself again.”
lue Horizons is a collection of columns Beth
Leonard wrote for Blue Water Sailing magazine.
Less than a day-to-day log of their adventures,
Whether you are still in the dreaming stage, or an
experienced sailor, this book will encourage and entertain
(NAMS), American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) or the
Blue Horizons is more a journal of a love affair with
nature, the elements and the sea. Beth and her partner you, but most of all it will inspire you.
Now What?
Association of Certified Marine Surveyors (ACMS). These
Evans have sailed more than 85,000 blue water miles
So, you’ve now seen the boat, agreed with the seller on
agencies require minimum levels of training and at least
and therefore have a marvelous assortment of memories G race Brockway fell in love with sailing a short four years ago
pricing, signed the sales agreement and placed the
a benchmark of skill. I would not recommend a surveyor
with which to enchant, inspire and motivate. I found her with the Valcour Sailing Club on Lake Champlain, near
deposit. Now what? You’re done, right? Wrong, you have
that isn’t certified through at least one of the national
response to the question, “Why do it?” to be particularly Plattsburgh, NY. Moving south for a longer sailing season, she
now entered the most dangerous time of the boat
agencies.
compelling. She writes, “The birds, the cliffs, the light, currently does her sailing on Lake Lewisville, near Dallas, Texas,
purchase process. There will be a natural relief when the the sluggish sea, the mist from our breaths – all have with her husband, Captain Bill, who teaches at ASA Affiliate
price negotiation is complete and a sense that the
Next, you want someone who is experienced. Most
coalesced into a defining moment of this voyage and of M agellan Sailing Center .What little time is not spent aboard
purchase is complete, but it is not, your work has just
certifying agencies have several levels of certification
our lives. These are the moments we hunger for when we their 30-foot TMI is devoted to cherishing their two
begun.
continued on page 20
return to shore.” granddaughters, Abilene and Delia.
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