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8K views 27 replies 16 participants last post by  ACKward 
#1 ·
Has anyone had success financing while living aboard?

I am in the market for an Alberg 37 (or something very similar) to live aboard while I am stationed in Rhode Island for 6 months. The problem is that the only places with reasonable rates won't finance those who live aboard.

Perhaps I should give the truth a little bit of a fisherman's reef, since I will only be living aboard for 6 months of the loan.

Any suggestions would be very helpful.
 
#3 ·
They didn't say. But I just got approved for a loan with USAA for the amount I wanted and at a reasonable rate. It wasn't the lowest, but I told them I only wanted to live aboard for six months at dock, not cruising, and they said that it was inconsequential.

So, now I have a slip at the Navy Marina in Newport, RI and a loan! All I need is a boat!!!

I'm looking for an Alberg 37, Bristol 40 or a Block Island 40.
 
#6 ·
we used Essex for our financing since we only needed a bit... most of the boat financiers want you take out a minimum $25k and Essex only wanted us to take out a minimum of $15k They are affiliated with Bank of the West on the Pacific side of the country :)

And yes, we live aboard and they knew it.
 
#12 · (Edited)
Strange, until 2 years ago we lived aboard our boat financed through USAA and it was built in 1975. Then again, I saw the boat insurance market change from competitive bids on my boat to nothing but dial-tones in 2 years.

With insurance, if you say one thing, and they find out you ended up doing another thing, they don't pay. With loans, once they write the loan, they've written the loan, period.

I'd say that you don't really meet the criteria of living aboard. Get the loan from USAA with the intent not to live aboard and spend a little time aboard over the next six months. Fill in the blanks as they need to be filled out and don't look back. Have they REALLY defined living aboard? In a calendar year, including the time you spend at work, away from the boat, will you be on the boat for more or less than 50% of the year? Is 50% even a reasonable definition of living aboard?

Some friends I have spend more time at work or out about town than in their own houses on an hour by hour basis. What exactly counts as living aboard anyway and are you sure you meet the criteria?

Banks would use lawyers to argue the point if it came to that, so it behooves you to think like a lawyer yourself sometimes. (feels slimy I know, but then again banks, loans, and all that associated stuff is pretty slimy)

MedSailor
 
#13 ·
.....With loans, once they write the loan, they've written the loan, period......
Not so fast. This appears to be the case, as most loans are paid current and are not a priority, nor do most banks reconfirm these things.

However, if you find yourself in a bind and can't pay, there is nothing more powerful for the collection department at the bank than a strong case of fraud. If they can demonstrate intent to defraud, it is criminal. Although, just a civil action on fraud is much stronger than simply trying to get a judgement on a note or repossess collateral.
 
#14 · (Edited)
...not only is fraud criminal, but it can also make the loan nondischargeable in bankruptcy if the bank should timely file a complaint for such a determination. 11 U.S.C. 523(a)(2).

This would also include use of false pretenses, a false representation ("...it will not be my primary residence..."), actual fraud, or a materially false financial statement in writing used with the intent to deceive.

The awful result: one could end up owing the loan for the rest of one's life, and would be perpetually subject to wage/bank account garnishments.

Tell the truth on loan applications. There are much worse things than being turned down for a loan. Better yet, don't finance depreciating luxury goods on credit. Only buy with disposable cash.
 
#18 ·
We are currently looking for our first boat and in the market for a used 37-50 footer. We'd prefer a cat in the 37-44 range.

I talked with USAA today and we both didn't know some answers.

He stated the boat had to be bought on US soil. I wondered about that. I asked him if it needed to be registered and flagged as a US vessel as well. Then the question of certificates or whatever came up and I have no idea about that.

So if we find a boat in BVI under Costa Rican flag and ???documentation/certification/registration how do I finance that?
 
#19 ·
Where do you plan to keep the boat?

If you are a US citizen, its going to be harder to flag it in another country, unless you set up a trust and pay attorneys for the rest of your life.

The charter companies commonly sell their inventory, but I would highly caution a new sailor from doing that. Those boats take a beating and you will pay for that in maintenance. If you're experienced, you can find a good deal.... maybe. They might, on the other hand, tip you off on where you can obtain financing down there.

Your problem is going to be insurance, even if you can find the financing. Insurance companies are not keen on taking the risk of a new sailor on a large boat. If you break it, smack into a dock, hit someone else, don't tie it to the dock properly, etc, they have to pay. They want to see that you've passed formal accredited training, have experience and no claims. While you can own a boat without insurance, you can't finance one without it.

If this is something you really think you want to do, I would spend the time and money to take a liveaboard or bareboat cruising course with your wife, instead of the captained charter. It is full time, so you won't be able to fish or scuba, but you would get a little snorkeling in. You usually have class at breakfast aboard, then have practical lessons all day and a written test at night. It isn't hard, but its intense and everyone I've known that has done it has become a reasonably good fair weather sailor in a week. Better, you will have an accredited certificate and know what you are doing.

If you can slurge, do the course over week one and then bareboat charter with just the two of you for week two. Other than the cost, the only downside I can see is that the two of you decide you don't like it. However, that would be the case with your captained charter as well.
 
#20 ·
Oh I agree completely. We will do this with a captain to get her feet wet on the open water. I've routinely fished 50-80 miles offshore but only power so I need to learn to sail and continue to learn the sea. If she thinks she like the sea then we'll take courses together.

I'm still in the acquiring knowledge about buying a boat but before I do I'll learn to be a newbie day sailor before purchasing it and certainly before captaining it anywhere particularly around docks and the public.

I'm looking to keep the boat at anchor in the Caribbean and SE US.
 
#25 · (Edited)
Here is Liberty, formerly Marage before we set off for Newport, RI last weekend. Sorry to take her from you Veracity, but she has the best lines I've ever seen in fiberglass so I could not let her go. There are some nice Bristol 40s for sale in Mattapoisette, MA on Yachtworld.

Unfortunately her engine, which started fine for the sea trials, did not start so we made the dinghy up to power. My father, uncle and I worked together to pull her in at the Navy marina in Newport beautifully.

We averaged 8.5kts on the 103nm sail, broad reaching most of the way! At one point we hit 10kts if you can believe it! I've never sailed that fast on a CCA boat.

Now to fix/replace the starter motor on this unknown Westerbeke 53hp.
 

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#26 ·
She is certainly lovely, Prebleboy. I was actually interested in something a bit roomier but I don't think I'd be able to resist her. I looked at the listing and thought I'd be happy just sitting and eyeing her on her mooring. Stunning. Anyway contracted yesterday for a Niagara 42 - more of a truck to your new jaguar but I think she'll work out for the kind of cruising we do. Maybe catch up with you in Newport or Block I or Nantucket or .... this season.
 
#28 ·
Congrats -- on both the vessel and on joining the long line of satisfied USAA boat financing customers. They were terrific when I bought mine 3 years ago; pretty much the definition of no hassle financing. And while they wouldn't refi me this year without a fresh survey (NADA guide value was bizarrely low for my boat and, unfortuantely, it's the only secondary source they allow), they were able to able to knock my rate down by 3/4 over the phone. Unquestionably the best.
 
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