Unbiased Used Boat Guide?

akoutdoors1 · #1 (**permalink**) 08-09-2006

Hi, This is my first post to sailnet! What a great resource.

I'm looking for a used boat. I am new to boats and sailing. Is there a reference that reviews used boats and lists the pluses and minuses of different manufacturers and models? Kind of like a Consumer Reports for 30 year old boats?

I'm looking at boats from 29 to 36 ft. for Southeast Alaska cruising.

Thanks,
Brian

sailingdog · #2 (**permalink**) 08-09-2006

I'd recommend the two volume Practical Sailor Sailboat Buyer's Guide.

camaraderie · #3 (**permalink**) 08-09-2006

Try www.goodoldboat.com

paulk · #4 (**permalink**) 08-11-2006

The Practical Sailor's Sailboat Buyer's Guide is excellent. Besides having a general overvies that can be quite helpful, its articles go into specific details on a great number of boats by many different builders. If a particular design you're interested in isn't there, another design by the same builder probably is, and can give you a good heads up on what types of problems to be on the lookout for. Even the best built boats are examined and potential trouble spots identified. Also excellent is Marine Surveyor Hewitt Schlereff's 1985 book "How to buy a sailboat". He goes through the entire process, starting with what your sailing plans are, construction methods and practices, mechanical and electrical systems, and how to negotiate pricing. Have fun!

akoutdoors1 · #5 (**permalink**) 08-11-2006

I found a slightly dated copy of the Sailboat buyer's guide on BarnesandNoble.com (they are much handier than amazon) and it is on the way. Thanks for the tip!
Brian

hellosailor · #6 (**permalink**) 08-11-2006

Hewitt Schlereth. Same as wrote a number of nice books on celestial navigation.

And I'd also second the Practical Sailor books, both volumes. I don't think there's any other resource to match them, since they include both the unsponsored reviews from PS magazine, and numerous owner comments. The magazine polled actual owners for feedback, and that's included in each review, usually along with original-historical-thencurrent pricing so you can see which ones held their value as well.

foxglove · #7 (**permalink**) 08-11-2006

At Boatus.com under the boater-to-boater tab, you can communicate with an owner of the boats that you may wish to buy. There's probably a fee but probably worth it.

Max

sailingdog · #8 (**permalink**) 08-11-2006

Another good place to look is on the user group websites for the various boats that you might be interested in. Most will have a forum or link to a forum, where you can post/ask questions.

akoutdoors1 · #9 (**permalink**) 08-12-2006

Thanks for the input. What are some good venues for finding boats? Seattle Area OR Central Midwest.

Jotun · #10 (**permalink**) 08-12-2006

www.yachtworld.com has all you'll ever need.