To buy a sail boat in Florida

[Mabou]

Hello,
I'd like to buy a used 30-35 feet sail boat in Florida for about $20 000. Could you please advise me what is the best way to find a boat in fine condition?

Also do you know what is the chipest marina in Florida to place there boat and live aboard.

Thanks!

[joeybkcmo]

have you tried the yachtworld listings, just a quick search for your size and price turned up 46 boats. There are other sites you can check as well. As far as "fine condition", the add is only going to give you a vague idea of what the boat is like, the rest will take travel and $ for a survey.

[Mabou]

Originally Posted by joeybkcmo

have you tried the yachtworld listings

Yes, I did. But I thoght that may be it will be better to ask at marinas or may be any local sources, websites..

[FSMike]

Try sailboat trader on line. Asking at local marinas can help you find unadvertised bargains at the cheaper end of the scale, but you have to go there and ask. There's a whole lot of marinas to visit if you intend to do that. You can also look at Craigslist florida boats.

[TQA]

Bill Browning Yacht Sales as well

But a quick search on Yachtworld with parametrs of 30 - 35 ft and 15 to 25k came up with 120 boats.

20k and fine condition are not likely bedfellows.

Decide on your priorities

Good quiet ducted a/c or new sails ?
Awlgrip or a spotless holly and teak sole ?
Electric anchor winch or widescreen TV ?

[denverd0n]

I think craigslist will have the very least expensive boats available. On the other hand, you are dealing with a private seller who may be more difficult to deal with than a broker. In addition, I think the boats listed on craigslist tend to be in worse condition than the ones listed by brokers. Those are the trade offs.

Good luck.

[denverd0n]

Also, Florida has quite literally thousands and thousands of marinas. There are probably more than a hundred just here in the Tampa area. Finding the cheapest among all of them is going to be a long and difficult effort. I think it would be best if you could narrow down your search to a more specific area.

[richard_reinhart]

My State has many boats, so there are many choices, but most of them are not in as good of condition as boats that are located further north.

The sailing season here is 12 months long, with sun and elements being merciless half the year.

If you buy a boat in a northern state, it will have been put away for the winter months, and likely will have only half the wear and tear as a Florida boat.