I'm not going to try to talk you out of buying a new boat.
I wish more people could/would buy new boats to keep the builders from going out of business and so that future generations have used boats to buy. If I could afford a new Tartan, I'd jump right on it.

 

Anyone who wants to eat 6 figures of depreciation absolutely should. That way I don't have to.

As for your list...investigate insurance first, as this will be required by both the marina and the financing. No need to worry about an EPIRB unless you're planning on ocean passages immediately...in which case you're going to have a LOT of equipment to buy, install, and shakedown first. New boats don't even come with basic instruments. Going to have to be either part of the deal or added...same with the safety equipment, self-steering, etc etc

 

Chris you are now the keeper of the list . And congrats on your new boat . I think you have a good list of the mandatory stuff . So lets talk jewelry . First clothing you'll need foul weather stuff and light weather and warm weather stuff , boots , shoes , sandals , hats , gloves . That's just the tip of the ice burg my friend . This is gonna be fun I'll leave the other bazillion things to the others .

 

I think there will be a whole separate list for commissioning a new boat. Depending on the builder, you may have a bit of a shopping list to get all the gear needed to sail.

Otherwise, a lot of the list will depend on where you are located. I keep my boat on a pin. I had to scout-out a good place to either store, or launch my dinghy. Out of curiousity, where do you plan on sailing out of?

 

That's a good list! Those are the important things, the rest is easy.

It's so refreshing to hear someone buying a boat for sailing, who knows how to sail!

And you don't intend to live on it so we don't have to discuss kitchens and bathrooms.

 

I'm getting serious about purchasing my first boat, and I'm realizing there is a lot that needs to happen between now and my first sail. To my surprise, I have not found a checklist online of the things that would typically need to be taken care of. I'm thinking of things like,

• Secure a mooring/slip
• Secure winter storage
• Register/document boat
• Get insurance
• Register EPIRB
• Get MMSI/ship station license

Does anyone have such a list, or care to contribute items so that I can build one?

I would normally try to dissuade anyone in their right mind from buying a new boat unless they have owned many prior boats, and are very picky about how they like a boat set up since commissioning a new boat is way more work and requires way more knowledge than fixing up a used boat, and makes way less financial sense. Similarly, I also would normally suggest that it makes no sense to buy a new boat (especially a commonly available production design) unless you have very specific goals for this boat that can't be met by purchasing a similar design, couple year old, used boat, and you perhaps have more money than common sense and years to kill waiting for delivery, equipping, and commissioning the boat before getting out sailing. But of course in your case, I won't give you that advice since you have already said that you don't want that kind of advice, and besides as the old saw goes, "there is one born every minute and perhaps you just happened along at the right time...."

And since I would be the last person to try to talk you out of this after your explanation that you don't want that kind of advice; I will simply try to try to answer your question as follows. When you buy a new boat the list can seem endless.

While some of this may seem obvious and some items may be bought as options with the boat, or may be standard equipment, off the top of my head the list might look something like this:

Before ordering the boat:
-Verify finances are in place including financing if required
-Make sure the payment terms are clearly spelled out
-Make sure every bit of the warranty is clearly spelled out and there is a method to resolve conflicts that does not read, "at the factory discretion'.
-Make sure that any cause for legal action will occur where you live and not where the boat is built
-Have the contract reviewed by an attorney familiar with interstate transactions
-Make sure the contract includes a provision for a sea trial and survey by a certified marine surveyor of your choosing.
-Make sure that you stipulate that you can reject the boat if it fails survey and the company refuses to repair the deficient items to the acceptance of the surveyor, in which case all funds are returned.
-Set up a maximum delivery date after which all funds are returned.
-Stipulate: who pays for delivery, where the boat is to be delivered, who is responsible for the condition of the boat at delivery, who insures the boat during delivery, who pays to rig the boat, at what point title to the boat transfers to you, etc.
-Carefully list all equipment that you expect to come standard and all optional equipment that is to be included with a fixed price including installation. (The standard lists of equipment that are published by boat companies generally has language that says that the list is subject to change. You need to lock the specifications and standard equipment at time of the contract signing.)
-Obtain insurance,
-Obtain a place to launch the boat, keep the boat during the season and off-season
-Find sources for any supplies or trade assistance that you might need to commission the boat.

Once the boat arrives, depending on the design and how you plan to use it, there are a lot of things that may be needed such as:
-Registration or documentation, Numbers if registered.
-Boat name
-Bottom painting
-Ground Tackle (anchor, chain and rode)
-PDF's,
-Harnesses, tethers, jacklines and hardpoints
-Lifesling and lifting tackle
-First Aid Supplies
-Navigation Electronics
-Communication Electronics
-Inverter/charger
-Entertainment electronics
-Tiller extension (if a tiller steered boat)
-Cleaning supplies (that can be a couple dozen items from a simple hose, scrub brush and bucket to all of the cleaning chemicals and specialized items that folks seem to expect today)
-Tool Kit (sufficient to deal with any reasonable contingency)
-Plugs for the thru-hulls
-Rigging tape, duct tape, electrical tape, masking tape, adhessives and caulk
-Oil spill supplies
-Funnels
-Extra engine oil and lubricants
-Oil change kit
-Head supplies like toilet paper holders, towel bars, towels, toilet paper, holding tank, chemicals and spare head parts
-Spotlight and flashlights
-Spare rigging parts and items like sail ties
-Country of origin and staff and courtesy Flags
-Spare hose, nipples, and clamps
-Spare winch handles
-Spare engine parts
-Spare fastenings
-Spare electrical connectors
-Dock lines to remain on your dock, and dock lines to travel with the boat
-Fenders, boat hook, and dock boards
-Radar reflector
-Hatch vent scoop
-USCG (or what ever country you are in) required safety gear (such as flares, signal flags, bell, horn, whistle, etc.
-Warning placards
-Charts and navigation equipment
-Sleep gear like: Sheets, Pillows, blankets and any other linens you may desire
-Galley: pots, pans, dishes, bowls, glasses, can openers, corkscrews, silverware, cutting boards, spatulas and the like
-Screens for the hatches
-Comfort items like electric fans for the berths
-Rigging knife

And then there are custom canvas items like:
-Dodger
-bimini
-harbor awning
-winter cover
-Cockpit cushions
-Sail covers
-Curtains

And sails: (most new boats come with an AP mainsail and AP jib/genoa)
-Light air downwind sail, sheets, and hardware
-Heavy air jib

And maybe a dinghy with all of its parts and accessories.

And that does not include personal gear like foul weather gear etc.

I am sure there is a lot more, but lunch is over.
Jeff

 

Congrats, buying a new boat is fun. and you get to do the first scratch, dent or ding. a few more things I can think of
Color, you get to choose the color that will get scratched, dented or dinged.
Chose a sailmaker and decide on the type of sails. most new big boats don't come with them so don't forget to add a little more $$$$$
Factory options, which option are best and which ones you must get for the ladies to be happy, or is that even possible $$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Dealer options, how many can they talk you into $$$$$$$
If you use a mooring you will need a dingy and motor or save the money and swim to the boat. $$
Anchors, you should use the same ones that I use because they are the best ones, ask any sailor $
Instruments and radios, good way to make the boat not sail any better but keep the cost of sailing up. $$$$$$$
and all the other things that you need to decide on that make it so fun
aren't new boats fun $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ dam every time I think about buying a new boat that same key gets stuck

 

Add to the list:

6 years psychotherapy....

 

Chris: congratulations on your decision! Which boats are you looking at? As for "the list", I think the fact that you are buying new makes this a much different list than the one I had when I bought my used boat about 17 years ago. I have no idea where that list is now, but it wasn't much different than yours to start. It expanded once I found the boat to buy and put together a list of stuff that I needed to replace before I splashed: new VHF (it wouldn't transmit), new compass (the existing one was so cloudy you couldn't see the placard), new throw cushions, new flares, etc.

Jeff has given you some great insight into things you need to consider with a new boat purchase; I'd follow that like a bible.

And don't let the new boat naysayers annoy you; we all have our strongly held beliefs, and I seriously doubt that anyone means their advice to be taken unkindly. No one, and I mean no one who has ever owned a boat (new or used) could consider it to be a financially sound purchase. You want new? Buy new.

 

Hi all, thanks for the replies and encouragement—even if it's just so you can buy my boat at a bargain price down the line. There is some good advice here, both in terms of process with the dealer and outfitting, which I agree is a whole other thing that needs to be addressed. I am already fairly well kitted out from a personal gear standpoint—years of sailing other people's boats and chartering—but the list of things I still need is long.

The good news is it sounds—so far—that the big things are at least on my radar.

To answer some of the questions, I'm looking at buying a Catalina 275, which will be kept in Chicago.

I'll keep the list as I go, and post it back once the process is complete. Thanks again!

 

Chris , you are going to want a good wrist watch . https://www.google.com/search?q=a+p...=0ahUKEwiY6vmMxujSAhWqslQKHYAfBT0QsAQIRw&biw=1366&bih=638#imgrc=vcPi3Q7jhW_VkM:
Or https://www.google.com/search?q=a+p...=0ahUKEwiY6vmMxujSAhWqslQKHYAfBT0QsAQIRw&biw=1366&bih=638#imgrc=nX9BKCdi5cEf9M:

 

Jeff included the winter cover, but forgot the winter cover frame. Two legs on ours blew out in the latest snowstorm, reminded me how the cover won't work w/o a frame.

 

before you splash, be sure to familiarize yourself with local waters and conditions, especially thin water areas.

it's amazing how many people get a boat and head out without doing this . .