Buy a boat without a survey? or even seeing it?

[wryanddry]

Am I crazy to even consider this?. Not an ex charter but a respected blue water cruiser and liveaboard with loads of recent upgrades inc recent engine, new standing rigging, keel bolts, windlass, access to recent survey, cruising history, maintenance records.

Boat is in the Med, we are in North America, cruising season is closing in in the med and we are on a timeline, need to buy the boat and start our adventure.

Hoping for a quick transaction and leveraging an unconditional offer to get a good price.

Thoughts?

[chris mac]

It's a gamble, you need to ask yourself... Do I feel lucky?

[Phisher]

Don't do it! I learned the hard way on my first sailboat purchase.

[model 10]

Look, if you are going cruising you need to figure this stuff out for yourself. Don't buy a boat you don't understand or can't fix yourself. You don't need a survey, only people who don't know this stuff need a survey.

[David Chin]

I saw an ad for a boat. I placed a deposit, drove 150 km, paid the balance and towed it home. In my case it was a 21 footer. I was gambling but the stakes are much lower because previously I have owned a 22-footer for 15 years. I was without a boat for 2 years and wanted one this year.
https://davidchin35.blogspot.co.nz/2...magnum-21.html

[Fore and Aft]

Not sure about not needing a survey. But you definitely need an independent inspection of the hull out of the water. I have surveyed waaay to many well maintained boats that still have issues. I surveyed a nice Beneteau last week that had a cracked rudder quadrant that the owner had no idea about. That turned into a pricey repair as the owner decided to replace the rudder bearings as well as get the quadrant repaired.
Here in Australia you need a current out of water survey to get marine insurance. I wonder what the rules are in the Med?
Cheers

[Flyingriki]

Originally Posted by wryanddry

Am I crazy to even consider this?. Not an ex charter but a respected blue water cruiser and liveaboard with loads of recent upgrades inc recent engine, new standing rigging, keel bolts, windlass, access to recent survey, cruising history, maintenance records.

Boat is in the Med, we are in North America, cruising season is closing in in the med and we are on a timeline, need to buy the boat and start our adventure.

Hoping for a quick transaction and leveraging an unconditional offer to get a good price.

Thoughts?

Bad idea. Gambling with your money and more. Might be a keeper...
But then you could get an unsafe, run down, filthy boat soon to need lots of repairs. I've crossed the country twice to look at boats advertised as fabulous to walk away disgusted. Your choice.
Good luck.

[Paul L]

Negotiate a price you can both agree on, then sign a contract contingent on a survey and your inspection. Get the survey done and fly over for the inspection. Plan on taking delivery then and sailing off to the sunset. If anything shows up on the inspections that is significant then renegotiate or back out. Just don't nickel and dime the seller. It is not reasonable to purchase an expensive cruising boat without survey or at least your personal expert inspection. What is pristine to a Seller might be end of life to a Buyer. That doesn't mean you can't complete the toughest part of the negotiations from afar.

[David M]

I would only consider buying a boat sight unseen that is brand new and is under the manufacturer's warranty...even then, I would want to see an identical version first and get it underway.

Only do it if it is a rowboat and you don't have much to lose.

[Diesel Bill]

All boats need some type of work. Anything from a burned out light bulb to something major. You won't know till you see it in person and go through every thing.
I did the no survey thing and had some regrets. Luckily I'm able to do most repairs myself but parts are still expensive.

[BandB]

Originally Posted by wryanddry

Am I crazy to even consider this?. Not an ex charter but a respected blue water cruiser and liveaboard with loads of recent upgrades inc recent engine, new standing rigging, keel bolts, windlass, access to recent survey, cruising history, maintenance records.

Boat is in the Med, we are in North America, cruising season is closing in in the med and we are on a timeline, need to buy the boat and start our adventure.

Hoping for a quick transaction and leveraging an unconditional offer to get a good price.

Thoughts?

Certainly the price and the boat figure into how big a gamble this is. However, the one reminder I'd give you. The seller knows the boat, you don't. The odds of the seller selling it for too little are far less than the odds of you buying it for less than it's value. You may think you've negotiated a great deal, but if the seller accepts it may just be because of something you don't know and they do.

When it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Calendars and timelines are always dangerous. We say that about sailing or cruising and the potential for bad weather conditions, but the same thing applies in making a decision to buy or sell.

I wouldn't buy something sight unseen, not surveyed, and not examined by someone working for me unless I was willing to just write the entire amount off if it was a bad deal. That may sound extreme, but when you're talking about a boat across the sea and one you want to sail out quickly, you could end up with a total or near total loss.

[El Pinguino]

Originally Posted by wryanddry

Am I crazy to even consider this?. Not an ex charter but a respected blue water cruiser and liveaboard with loads of recent upgrades inc recent engine, new standing rigging, keel bolts, windlass, access to recent survey, cruising history, maintenance records.

Boat is in the Med, we are in North America, cruising season is closing in in the med and we are on a timeline, need to buy the boat and start our adventure.

Hoping for a quick transaction and leveraging an unconditional offer to get a good price.

Thoughts?

Not completely crazy ... just marginal.

I would not buy sight unseen.... but if you are happy carrying out your own survey make an offer subject to inspection.... if that is accepted buy a ticket and go and have a look...

Then all you are risking is the airfare ...

Worked for me with my boat ... flew from Straya to Thailand for a weekend ( out Thursday.. home on Tuesday ) .. did my own inspection including the hull while she was afloat .. then made the offer... apart from the mast falling down 3 weeks after I bought her it worked out quite well.

Not every boat on the market is a wreck...

I know more about rigging now than I did then........

[belizesailor]

Certainly a significant risk. You could buy yourself some very expensive problems. Like osmosis, delam, structural issues, rigging, sails, siezed engine...just a few of the big $ items that come to mind...any one of which could wipe out your purchase price savings and then some.

[wandering rober]

Do you intend to insure the boat , survey required !

[knot smart]

Originally Posted by Guy

Look, if you are going cruising you need to figure this stuff out for yourself. Don't buy a boat you don't understand or can't fix yourself. You don't need a survey, only people who don't know this stuff need a survey.

+1..ive never gotten a survey.. But im sure theres nothing i cant fix and i truly feel i know what im looking at