Where to 'Boat Shop' in the US ?

[Drifter33]

I want to combine a vacation with some boat shopping. I am still about a year from purchasing, but I want to see what is out there. Sailboatlisitngs.com, yachtworld.com and living in Minnesota are not helping my current 'itch' to get on some boats. Where in the US is a good place to look at some boats?

Thanks,
Nick

[Meridian]

Try the San Francisco Bay area. Lots of boats available, and a great vacation spot.

Try this link for some boats...
http://latitude38.com/classifieds/cl...tegories.lasso

HIH,
John

[osirissail]

There are tens of thousands in the Florida area, although most are coastal or island boats and not deep water/ Water boats">blue water boats. Go to the Chesapeake or New England for deep draft boats. Trying to sell a boat in Florida is akin to trying to sell refrigerators to eskimos. There are too many for the market. Although some of the best buys are hidden in little bayous and creeks in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas.
- - First narrow down what you want to do with the boat, then narrow down the size and style of the boat. Whether you want mono-hull or catamaran makes a big difference.
- - Every years all the charter boat companies in the tropics (Florida to Caribbean) are looking to sell off older boats out of their fleets to make room for newer ones. There are some good buys there especially in the catamaran area.

[Surveyor]

I am shopping also. And, like you I do not currently live near the coast so I feel your pain. What I have done is make google earth placemarks for each boat I have interest in.

I am interested in either proven bluewater boats or boats that fit that mold.

With approximately 200 placemarks already, the areas with the most are:
1. Chesapeake (North end)
2. Pacific NW (includes BC)
3. New England
4. San Francisco Bay
5. Florida

Other hot spots in no particular order:
Charleston, SC
San Diego
Honolulu
Coastal Carolina
Galveston Bay

Hope this helps. Dont buy the first one you look at.
Cheers!

[SkiprJohn]

I think the West Coast south of San Francisco and Florida have the very cheapest prices I've seen in many years of boat looking. It has a lot to do with increasing cost and more strict regulations for moorings and slips. Wherever that happens causes boat prices to plummet.
regards,

[Misiu]

I would also think about my future mooring plans or cruising destinations. Trucking the boat across US or paying for delivery would add to costs...

[capt_douglas]

I'm looking too and would add Florida (higher prices generally), Southern California (better prices than N CA), and the Gulf. That said, I'm also looking at New England as well.

If you want an exotic vacation, I'd try the Caribbean, Australia/New Zealand, and Mexico.

The weather locale can make things interesting, though. It seems to me that boat prices go up during the warm months and down in the winter - probably due to the cost of chipping ice.

[gonesail]

i would head down to anna maria island or maybe pass-a-grille in florida and look at boats from tampa to fort myers

[nautical62]

I'm from the midwest and went to Florida.

I would however, not discount Great Lakes boats. One advantage is they spend over half their time on the hard. With older boats, that may equate to a lot fewer hours and less chance of blister issues.

There are also a lot of boats coming out of charter for sale in the Caribbean. You could go do a charter and boat shop at the same time. You could even request boats that will be on the market soon.

[capt_douglas]

Good point nautical62.

My last boat spent a lot of time on the hard and the price was right too.

[s/v Beth]

Best price I found was in Seattle. And quite a market for bluewater cruisers, especially Valiants. (Yes, I'm biased)

[EpicAdventure]

I'm also in Minnesota and hear your frustration.

I'm headed to Annapolis/Chesapeake for a few weeks at the beginning of July. Hoping to look at a good number of boats.

Do you do any sailing locally?

[seafish]

My approach worked well for me even though my 'type' of boat probably isn't the same as yours.. I went from the Midwest to the Gulf Coast and looked at boats en-route to Miami where I got on a cruise ship and saw 9 Carib ports of call.

I saw many boats and got a good idea for destinations. As it turned out I bought a boat and a house to park it in front of based on that experience. So far...pleased.

Good Luck

[DaveOnCudjoe]

As Gonesail suggested, the Tampa/St. Pete area has many boats and support industries such as sailmakers, riggers and electronics suppliers to help get a feel for refit costs for the boats you locate. Good protected water for test sails and open water for a real feel if you find what you like. Sadly it's only a matter of time before the oil spill reaches that area and who knows what then. Good spot for a vacation so there will be something other than boats. Dave

[Mule]

Ya think the best time to look for boats anywhere warm, for you, might be in January-Febuary??