gonna do it

businessonly805 · #1 (**permalink**) 12-11-2011

i'm just about ready to get my first sailboat...i want to know if there's anything i should watch out for as a new buyer? also, is it possible to buy a boat and when you try to register it, they give you hassles about some sort of fees you may owe or something along those lines?

businessonly805 · #2 (**permalink**) 12-11-2011

also, which do you guys recommend that i buy

this sloop 28ft columbia sloop DONT MISS THIS BOAT

or this 26' sailboat :: columbia mk II

im thinking the 26 footer since its my first boat, but then again, the 28 footer seems to have a newer hull. what do you guys think?

jameswilson29 · #3 (**permalink**) 12-11-2011

Reading your past posts, is this the boat you intend to live aboard, use for commercial fishing, and sail from California to Hawaii with no sailing experience, but have stocked with plenty of "rope" and a "dhingy"?

kd3pc · #4 (**permalink**) 12-11-2011

to your first post,

there will always be some unexpected things...could be taxes up front - depending on your local county/state, or can be initial registration fees. Some Marinas want to see paid up insurance binder, with their interests covered, should something happen.

In the real world, if you don't have 8-12% of the purchase price set aside somewhere...you can fin yourself in a bind pretty quickly - even if YOU do everything correctly.

As a new buyer, your best bet is some education...just walk the docks and ask a boat owner to tell you about his experiences, and then listen. Most of us love to talk about our boats, but don't take too kindly to non-sailors "telling us what it is"....

all the best

Minnewaska · #5 (**permalink**) 12-11-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by businessonly805

i'm just about ready to get my first sailboat...i want to know if there's anything i should watch out for as a new buyer? also, is it possible to buy a boat and when you try to register it, they give you hassles about some sort of fees you may owe or something along those lines?

You are aware you need to register it, but are unaware of sales taxes and registration fees? Sailors having to pay fees is a typical rant starter. Your next thread will undoubtedly be about anchors.

Could you explain a bit more about your circumstances so that we can answer these in context? To many they seem to be suspect questions. How old are you, do you have a job?

If you are young and have an interest in sailing, you will find many that will give you all the advice you ever wanted. Your questions seem so far fetched, that, unless you are very young, they have become hard to take seriously.

sawingknots · #6 (**permalink**) 12-11-2011

is possible buy the best boat you can,a cheap old unkempt boat will end up costing much more in the end

Siamese · #7 (**permalink**) 12-11-2011

No, there's nothing to watch out for. Everything will be just fine.

dabnis · #8 (**permalink**) 12-11-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by businessonly805

also, which do you guys recommend that i buy

this sloop 28ft columbia sloop DONT MISS THIS BOAT

or this 26' sailboat :: columbia mk II

im thinking the 26 footer since its my first boat, but then again, the 28 footer seems to have a newer hull. what do you guys think?

A couple of thoughts:

28 footer,

"fiberglass hull, good condition, very clean inside, outboard needs tune up 9.9 johnson, fully canvas roller ferling"

"Good" condition?, suggest you carefully inspect bulkhead to hull joints for cracking and or separations. Unless the motor is pre 70's version it should have electronic ignition. If it needs a "tune up", which is new plugs, check timing and idle mixture, why hasn't the seller already done this, it is really easy to do in a short period of time.

26 footer,

If the engine is "new" and hasn't been overheated It is worth about half the asking price. Why so cheap?

Suggest you find someone with some experience to help you.

Good luck, Dabnis

cb32863 · #9 (**permalink**) 12-11-2011

Read all you can on inspecting sailboats. Go over the boat(s) extensively, look at everything, trust nothing the owner says. Look for yourself at every piece of gear, winch, line, bulkhead, dig in the settees, down in the bilge. Everywhere you can. Then do it all over again. Ask if there is a survey on record for the boat and read it. Then go over the boat with the survey in hand. Take pictures and notes. Take that information home and go over it again and again. Then go back and look at the boat(s) again. If everything is good as far as you are concerned, make an offer and get moving forward on sailing and enjoying the life. Read this thread, print it out and take it with you. Keep your head on straight and do not rush.

Good luck and enjoy the experience.

CB

steel · #10 (**permalink**) 12-11-2011

If the 2 stroke runs great! even if it has been seized. If the 4 stroke runs and doesn't smoke then good! If it has been seized then it'll burn lots of oil. But this is a sailboat so you only really need the engine to get in and out of the slip or whatever. And if the wind is right and you know what you're doing you don't even need it for that.

I guess just check to make sure the hulls are sound on those boats then take the one you want for a sea trial before you buy it. If you're going on a long trip you might want to see if the main sail has good reef points and if there is a storm jib. If anything is broken or missing you'll likely find that out when trying to sail it.