Procedure for ordering a new boat.

[Razman23]

I have never ordered a new boat from a dealer and I was wondering what it all entailed. So lets say for chits and grins, I have already picked out a boat from the local dealer and now its time to do the paperwork.

Lets use a Pacific Seacraft 37 as an example.

Also I know that the boat comes with some options but what about owner requested items such as radar, autopilot vane, and aftermarket items?

[camaraderie]

Raz...You will contract for the boat with a specific list of features and options. Most instrumentation is generally handled at the dealer level since many buyers have specific preferences that cannot be handled at the mfr. level. The things you will be selecting at the mfr. level are accomodation plan choices, fabrics, engine options, A/C system, furling etc.

[k1vsk]

not unlike a car - PS has a laundry list of options from which you can choose or have things installed "after-market". Most other manufacturers do as well - check out some of their web sites and you will see std and add-on equipment. You can always find helpful people on any marina staff who will be happy to sell you anything you want and even more happy to do the install. Save 20% or more of the boat price for everything else you'll need except female crew which starts to get expensive then

[sailingdog]

You will probably also want a survey of a new boat... they make mistakes manufacturing them... Look at the Bavarias which had the keels fall off a few years back.

[brak]

Really? I had pretty good impression of Bavarias while sailing, who would have thunk it. Is there any info to read up on that?

Originally Posted by sailingdog

You will probably also want a survey of a new boat... they make mistakes manufacturing them... Look at the Bavarias which had the keels fall off a few years back.

[sailingfool]

Search the priopr threads for Bavaria.

[sailingdog]

The keel attachment area was under-engineered and backing plates and additional glass was the remedy IIRC. Several lives were lost during some of the fairly well documented capsizes. Here is a link to one of the stories.

[trantor12020]

I believe that the Bavaria that loses its keel and capsized happens in Croatia waters or somewhere around those part of the world. It was a charter boat.

[Razman23]

Hmmmm, intersting.

Yea, I was wondering how long is the build time or turn around time from signing on the dotted line to splash day on a boat? Saying that there is no wait on materials or workers. Six months?

[Vasco]

Raz,

I have bought three new boats, two directly from manufacturers and one from a dealer. You start with the base boat and then tick off the options. On the boats from the manufacturer, all options were installed by them, on the boat from a dealer some options were factory installed (larger winches, Yanmar engine etc) and some were installed by the dealer (canvas, instruments etc.). They will give you a delivery date but unless the boat is already at the dealer's yard the delivery date is only an indication of when you'll get the boat. If the boat is being built it will depend on the size of the manufacturer's order book. You will have to wait until all those ahead of you get theirs. In the boat building business there seems to be a lot of delays, especially with smaller manufacturers, however even with large manufacturers, delays often occur. I think there's a few threads around about delays from Lagoon 420 buyers. This is a new model and there have been plenty of delays.

I would not bother with a survey of a newly manufactured sailboat. There is a warranty and your best bet would be to order a boat from a manufacturer who has a record of treating customers fairly and who is fiscally sound. The manufacturer usually has a lot of your money by this time and it would be extremely difficult to pull out of the deal. It's not like buying a used boat contingent on survey and sea trials. On the Bavarias with the keel problems I do not think a surveyor would have caught the defects. I think Bavaria did correct the manufacturing defects in that model, (a bit late, mind you) think it was a 40.