Buying a Boat for the Mediterranean

[aj36]

Hi all!

My partner and I have decided to spend 6 months cruising between Greece and Spain. I grew up racing skiffs and developed yacht handling skills through my parents who would lend me their yacht...lucky me!

I have the ability handling yachts but not a great deal of knowledge if next to none buying one.

Our plan is to buy a boat ideally in April/May next year and sell it at the end of our trip some 6 months later. My thoughts are that the boat we choose need not tick every cosmetic box but rather be one that covers practicalities. We both feel it too difficult to buy before travelling over to Europe. (we live in Australia)

Priority one is that we buy a boat that is easy to sell and less likely to cost us too much money due to both running costs and the resale.
Our thoughts early on are:

The Beneteau and the Bavaria seem very popular and reputable hopefullf suggesting them to be a more reliable.
We're thinking anything before 2000 is too old.
30 to 36 feet seems to fall into our price range of 45 000 to 70 000 EUR (VAT inc)
Maybe an ex charter.
Boats closer to the upper end of our price range may have less complications both running and resale??

We're also wondering whether the expenses grow much with a boat of around 36 feet as opposed to something at 30 -32 feet...running costs, marinas..wintering??

Note: We think it wise to buy in the Mediterranian as we are not willing to move the boat ourselves with little experience.

Any advice or opinions would be greatly appreciated!

Angus

[beneteau-500]

buying the boat in the med is easy but reselling the boat again will be hard to sell in the med my suggestion is sail it home you may find it easier to sell in oz

[Boracay]

I'm only dreaming here, but how about buying one of the ex charter Beneteau 343's in Greece and sailing it to Spain, where it could be sold?

A quick look suggests that they would go for less than $80k in Greece, with selling prices generally more than $100k in Spain.

Registry and tax would be major issues though...

I'm curious as with the Suez canal no go for cruising yachts if we're to continue cruising after Thailand it'll probably mean selling and buying in the Med. or Caribbean.

Another quick search suggests that this boat may be desirable in Oz, so arranging deck freight, cradle, shrink wrapping and insurance with one of the specialist shippers with a view to selling in Oz may be less stressful than a long distance, out of season sale with the boat eating its head off.

If Beneteau can supply you with the needed documentation it may even be possible to put it into charter here.

[fhammami]

We may have what you're looking for. We are currently living aboard our Moody 34, in Sicily, so a good starting point for your program. She is fully equipped, sturdy, reliable, comfortable, lots of new additions, and everything overhauled last and this year. She is at the lower end of your budget (you'll find running costs and berthing more expensive on anything bigger in-season), is very easy to handle and a great sailer. She is older than what you stated, but by no means feels or looks old. She has tons of space for her size, and a great aft cabin. We're only selling as we have decided to buy a bigger boat in order to do a world-wide tour (yes, we're having fun). At the end of your program, you could sell her in Spain where we bought her last year. Check out the link, and email us if you want any details about cruising the western med, which we have just done):

Moody 34 Boats for sale Italy, Moody Used boat sales, Moody Sailing Yachts For Sale MOODY 34 - Apollo Duck

myles.hartley@me.com

[psk125]

Moody's I've seen have been well built, sensible sailing boats. A suggestion: spend less on the boat and more to enjoy great restaurants while you cruise around. If you want to go off to uncrowded nooks where you can anchor by yourself in a secluded bay, Europe is the wrong place. Though there are some quiet spots, there will be towns & facilities most of the places you're likely to want to see. Might as well take advantage of them, and eat out. A long-term charter might work instead of a purchase, as well.

[Penceler]

For the Med, I think I would opt for the Beneteau of your choosing. Wind is either or on or off in spades, make it easy on yourself and don't invest a fortune ( only half a fortune). They are fine boats for what you are planing.

John

[noelex 77]

Welcome to the forum Angus.

Sounds like a great six months. You only live once.
The Med particularly Greece is great crusing ground.

It does take some time to sort out a new (to you ) boat and you will take a loss buying at the begining and selling at the end of the season.
Any chance you could extend it to 2 or more seasons?

[Charlie]

AJ36:

I am doing what you plan except with a longer time frame. WE bought a Wauquiez 33 last year and plan to sell her in 3 years. An important thing to note is that you are going to need the skills to keep the boat maintained. I didn't see you mention that part of the equation. We wanted to buy a Beneteau in Greece and sail it to Spain as well. It is quite a long trip with a lot to see on the way. BTW Spain's economy is pretty hard hit right now. I was there last summer. I don't know if France might be a better place to selll the boat. Got to go right now but I obviously like your idea but can think of two "traps" 1) many of the boats in Greece are not VAT paid and 2) the distances that you will be covering are not horrendous and ceartainly doable but a slower pace might make it more pleasant. We had a great time last summer in Italy and only sailed ~80nm becasue we were having so much fun. Look at Roaring Girls website.

[MacG]

I have the idea that your plan will not work out. First of all, forget about selling a sailing yacht in Spain. No Spaniard buys a sailing yacht because of the unfavourable winds along the Spanish coast. Secondly, Charlie says it already the economy is hard hit. No real money there. France, only on the Atlantic coast you might find interested buyers as long as your boat is modern and in tip top shape. Even then, it might consume some months to get rid of your boat, also this is a very impractical solution.

For the 6 months I would rent a boat in Greece. They are starved for cash and I believe that you will find many eager businesses able and willing to rent you a boat for that long term.

[aj36]

Thanks everyone for your answers!!! We are moving forward with our dream and a goal of buying our boat (remotely, scary!) before the end of March, so she can be in the water and ready for us in May when we fly to Europe and start our adventure.

We have another question for you. We have been looking at 40-50k Euros (before VAT) production boats of 32-36 ft and have narrowed down our choices to 3 different types of boats

1- (our favourite initially) ex-charter Bavaria 33 Cruisers from 2005-6 and ~2000 hrs on the engine. We thought it seemed spacious enough for two but small enough to be easily and economically cruised, with a moderate age, and hopefully good resale value
2- (then my father found) Bavaria 34 from 2001 privately owned and amazingly taken care of and with all the extras (solar panels, tender and outboard, sprayhood, dodger, new upholstery, down to all the little details like cushions, wind ctacher and mosquito nets). Ready to put on the water and sail away!
3- (and last) we went back to ex-sunsail Beneteau Oceanis 34 with ~2000 hrs, which we originally discarded as we thought they were more expensive (but they are not) and we disliked the mast running through the middle of the saloon, and seeming less spacious down below. But we are aware is a very reputed brand and potentially holds its value better.

Any words of wisdom, opinions, thoughts, preferences to guide us?

Thanks again,
Angus

[MacG]

For a limited period of time and with the resale value clearly on the list of priorities you could opt for the boat with the highest resale value.
That is not necessarily the Bavaria. Keep also in mind that the area of your planned cruise is particularly not the easiest spot to get rid of the yacht when you are approaching the end of your tour. Political & economic situation have grim outlooks and such issues as a keel stepped mast might for you a nuisance, it is definitely a better option than e deckstepped mast. Again, that's just who is buying.

On the other hand, a very well cared boat with lot's of accessories, tender etc. might give you more comfort, as a dinghy in the Med is almost an obligation.

[Pete7]

Angus, I think all 3 would suite your needs, but with the resale value in mind the Bavaria 34 could be hard to beat.

Just be aware how hot the Med gets in July and August (2 hot for me), so you need shade and ventilation on board.

Pete