Questions to ask when buying a sailboat

[CaptJamesCook]

This may be of interest to alot of newbies and maybe even some old salts.

What were the questions you asked the broker or owner when you bought your boat?

Then after you had bought your boat what questions do you wish you had asked?

I have 3 pages of questions but here are a few;

Tanks
water qty
how many gal
how old
material
fuel
how many gal
how old
material
holding
how many gal
how old
material
Batteries
how many
how old
type/size
charger model
Inverter
age/model
Solar Panels
How old/type
controller
age/model
Wind power
How old/model
controller age/model
Motor
last overhaul date
rebuild date
last oil change
what has been replaced within the last 8 years
what has been replaced in the last 1 year
Sails
make
inventory age of each sail
when last serviced
Rigging Standing
has it been replaced/when/by who
when was chain plates last replaced or inspected
ever a major rigging failure/when/how
has it ever been rolled over 360 degrees
Winches
when last maintenanced
Bilge pumps
age
has there ever been water above the sole
Stove/Oven
how old are the propane hoses
how old are the propane tanks
Fridge/Freezer
age last maintenance
brand
Hot Water Tank
age/fuel
Cabin Heater
age/fuel
Toilet
model/age
last maintenanced
hoses replaced
Wiring
how old
has it been rewired/by who
what type of wire used
Windlass
age/last maintenanced
Hull
ever any blistering how corrected if so
what hull maintenance has been done in the last 4 years
what anti fouling paint used
Deck
has it been repainted or new gel coat/if so when
Slip
is there a slip available
is it transferable
Misc.
anchors type/qty
rode
will the last owner agree to do several shake down cruises before/after sale completed
Ship Log
where has it been docked/sailed mostly
can I read the ships logs
can I see repair/equipment reciepts

These are just some of the questions I thought of.
Do you think it is over done?
What questions would you ask?

[Training Wheels]

Will it float?

[boatpoker]

Good questions but naive to think a seller or broker can or will answer truthfully 99.9% of the time. Any answers you do get should be personally verified.

[GrowleyMonster]

How much is it?

[S/V Illusion]

Both rather important:
Will it float?

How much is it?

I would add: Is it currently above water?

[Yellowtulip]

I would expect most or all of that information to be provided by the owner or broker. I or a surveyor would then verify it as far as possible. I wouldn't expect more than one trial sail before purchase. If you're lucky after purchase the previous owner may wish to maintain contact, but don't count on it.

[redhead]

What type of cooking fuel?

What type of head?

(I only add this because we don't have propane or a flushing head )

Your questions are good ones, I wish I had had this list when I started!

[jamesdavis]

Don't forget a good sea trial and focus on the engine; and of course, drive train, propeller.

As a neophyte, I've come to think of my diesel as "primary" power. Also, having recently bought a boat in need of taming a rattling sound when in gear; either a shaft-to-engine misalignment, needs new motor mounts or perhaps a damper plate, or all three!

[jrbogie]

one hell of a lot of questions, some of which can be answered with a simple inspection of the boat but most of which will be answered during sea trials and survey. just sold a boat and I think that if somebody asked so many questions before looking at the boat i'd feel that they weren't a serious buyer.

[NevisDog]

Originally Posted by CaptJamesCook

[B][I]...Then after you had bought your boat what questions do you wish you had asked?...

I wish I'd known to ask the owner to de-register this foreign yacht so I could register in my home country. I now learn that de-registering an Italian yacht is a major undertaking requiring the services of several Italy-based intermediaries and about a $1,000 fee to the government department before they will issue a de-registration paper, and I don't speak Italian.

[CaptJamesCook]

Before you even make an offer or travel 800+ miles to look at a boat would't you want to know these things first?

Some of the things are minor but some are major expenses.
Some info can be gleamed for the listing. How ever a lot of listings do not as detailed info.
If the broker/owner can't answer before hand what makes you think he would or could during sea trial.
Are sea trails before or after an offer is made?

[Don C L]

Got any receipts/records for engine, prop and shaft, and rigging, work/maintenance? Zincs kept up regularly? Can I get a good look at the quadrant? and the through-hulls and sea-cocks?
Some sellers don't do sea trials. I didn't need one for my boat since I saw it had the basics covered and I already knew how they sailed. A lot of folks say make the offer pending survey and sea trial.

[taxwizz]

At the top of my list.....

Do you have unincumbered, verifyable, ownership?
No liens or loans.
Government recognized ownership.
Ya don't want to pay money and discover that you own nothing.

[boatpoker]

Of the last two boats Sharon and I surveyed, One was still registered in France and one still documented in the US. Both of these boats had been surveyed in Canada (both have been in Canada for at least 6 yrs) before and neither surveyor thought to mention this in their surveys. Neither broker mentioned it to the buyers. One deal fell through because the owner could not prove the boat had been imported to Canada legally with duties paid. The other deal is on hold as owner and broker try to clean up a somewhat foggy trail of provenance.

Caveat emptor.

[meirriba]

Originally Posted by CaptJamesCook

This may be of interest to alot of newbies and maybe even some old salts.

What were the questions you asked the broker or owner when you bought your boat?

Then after you had bought your boat what questions do you wish you had asked?

I have 3 pages of questions but here are a few;

Tanks
water qty
how many gal
how old
material
fuel
how many gal
how old
material
holding
how many gal
how old
material
Batteries
how many
how old
type/size
charger model
Inverter
age/model
Solar Panels
How old/type
controller
age/model
Wind power
How old/model
controller age/model
Motor
last overhaul date
rebuild date
last oil change
what has been replaced within the last 8 years
what has been replaced in the last 1 year
Sails
make
inventory age of each sail
when last serviced
Rigging Standing
has it been replaced/when/by who
when was chain plates last replaced or inspected
ever a major rigging failure/when/how
has it ever been rolled over 360 degrees
Winches
when last maintenanced
Bilge pumps
age
has there ever been water above the sole
Stove/Oven
how old are the propane hoses
how old are the propane tanks
Fridge/Freezer
age last maintenance
brand
Hot Water Tank
age/fuel
Cabin Heater
age/fuel
Toilet
model/age
last maintenanced
hoses replaced
Wiring
how old
has it been rewired/by who
what type of wire used
Windlass
age/last maintenanced
Hull
ever any blistering how corrected if so
what hull maintenance has been done in the last 4 years
what anti fouling paint used
Deck
has it been repainted or new gel coat/if so when
Slip
is there a slip available
is it transferable
Misc.
anchors type/qty
rode
will the last owner agree to do several shake down cruises before/after sale completed
Ship Log
where has it been docked/sailed mostly
can I read the ships logs
can I see repair/equipment reciepts

These are just some of the questions I thought of.
Do you think it is over done?
What questions would you ask?

Navigation equipment: list of all units, manufacturer, models, state of usability.