Buying a boat remotely

[arbeitslos]

Originally Posted by CarlF

I think your plan is a sound one. Some comments:

A 30ft boat should have plenty of room with the kids only 3 and 6. I wouldn't go as big as a 34. Substanially more money and harder for a novice to handle.

That's a concern of mine, along with all the hassles that come with a bigger boat. On the other hand, I'm considering 34 footers because I'd rather have a slightly suboptimal boat in better condition and price than the perfect model but not in good condition or price.

Originally Posted by CarlF

Look on Yachtworld for a boat that isn't the cheapest and has "a story" - e.g. the current owner is buying a powerboat or a larger sailboat. Only consider boats that were cruising in the last 12 months. That way you know just about everything works.

Definitely something I shall keep in mind. Lots of boats that are on the hard, and "everything worked when the boat was hauled". I think we all know what that means.

Originally Posted by CarlF

I wouldnt' buy a boat without seeing it, but you should be able to do it in two 2 day trips. The first to look at six boats and choose 1. The 2nd trip is to be there during the survey. You generally can not do a survey until you have agreed on price and paid a refundable 10% deposit. To find the six boats, look through Yachtworld for a broker. Email several to setup a call. In the email say which boat you are interested in and why. And that you plan to buy in the next 60 days. Brokers have to be careful to not take on clients who are just a waste of time. They only get paid when the sale happens and they get a commission.

Tell the broker to find you six boats in the area you can visit when you fly out. Then have several calls first where he sends you pictures and explains what he's found and why he thinks it will be right for you. He'll also have talked to the other broker and be able to give you a good guess on the final price (but remember, both buyers and seller brokers are paid by the seller so they have a conflict of interest when advising a buyer)

Ask a lot about the owner.The better the owner the better shape the boat will be in. Ideally, you will become friends with him. I try to stay in touch with people who buy my boats. I can often help with questions such as "what was that paint color" years later. I love to hear about the new adventures of my old boats.

...
https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/200...a-310-9468136/

That boat has actually been on my saved list! Sadly it's "sale pending".

Strangely, finding six boats in one area that meet my criteria is harder than I thought of, especially since I think I'm right in the heart of the market. That's actually why I'm considering 34 foot boats (most of the 30 foot boats seem a bit too small for the family)

[arbeitslos]

Originally Posted by boatpoker

1. "Hard" mono solar panels with mppt controllers are far more efficient if anchoring is the goal. This means much less panel real estate on a small sailboat.
2. Battery generator ... ok if one is a marina hopper and can re-charge it every night.
3.Air conditioners ... ok if one is a marina hopper.

True enough.
I'm expecting 50/50 marina, depending again on how the kids feel. The battery generator is for occasional use - cook while at anchor, use the microwave while underway, etc. Plus a backup source of power to charge the house bank should it start running low.

I'm thinking of a Costco air conditioner for the days when a heat wave passes through and it's miserable. We can marina for those days and run the air conditioner/go into town.

[ArmyDaveNY]

I did not notice where you are from (I apologize if I missed it) but if you have not sailed the east coast, especially in Florida, it can be very shallow. I recommend a vessel with a shallower draft or a swing keel. I took three guys down Florida to Key West in a Catalina 47 with a 7 foot draft. We had a good time and it is doable, but it is definitely more of a challenge. You are able to go to significantly fewer places.


A Sabre 34 with a swing keel had a draft on only 3.5 feet if I recall correctly, and it allowed us to get close to the beach, yet still sail pretty well when it was down. It also made going through channels a lot easier.



Good luck with your search.

[Goodxcharly]

I see you have put a lot of thought into this by your lengthy post. With out being to opinionated , just follow your dream. Your kids will remember this trip for ever.
Good choice on boats as I live on a 36 and owned a 270previously..
Excellent resale value,Catalina’s. A 320 would be a good choice with the aft cabin for the kids.
I can’t really think of any gotcha ya’s with a Catalina having owned 2 of them and I never had any surveys done on my purchases.
The engine is usually my concern which Low hours helps with that though doesn’t eliminate all issues like corroded mixing exhaust elbow. Not a deal breaker.
Buy the boat where ever you want as distant places can often lead to lower prices as buyers don’t want to deal with the logistics of bringing the boat home. Which I used to my advantage in buying my 36 on the Columbia river.
Feel free to message me if you need help in keeping your dream going, 2nd opinion on your sailboat choice.

Good luck

Dave

[sv Stella Maris]

Generally a Fine Plan,

1. Yes, stick with a known brand so you can sell it someday.

2. Yes, plan to forfeit every dollar you spend outfitting her to suit your needs…every dollar.

3. Your boat budget really needs the Broker to double-end the deal and act as mediator…no broker will make enough on a bot like that to give you the attention you need.

4. Insurance: you only need liability on this sized boat. If you are leaving it unattended so much, you need to be willing to walk away from it should something bad happen. It’s not your home, protect other’s with liability and don’t sweat it past that.

5. Many solid skippers will spend time with you aboard and work on the boat. Lots of old sailors that want something to do and are handy. Budget $150/day if you find someone that can live on your boat the whole time…you can find someone, post on crrew-finder apps and you must pay airfare, etc. Be prepared to fire them too 😏

6. Smaller is better. My family is 10 aboard. (2) kids for a couple weeks…low 30’s no sweat. Good luck my friend

[robbjd]

We bought our 97 C34 Mk2 during the pandemic. Surprisingly boats were tough to buy at the time because so many people were buying and it was a seller’s market where if your offer didn’t get accepted you would lose the boat to the next higher bidder. Our boat had been beautifully maintained and very well equipped so we saw the listing, looked the boat over the next day and had our offer accepted on the spot. We offered the asking price.
The 34Mk2 has an open transom which you and your kids will love, a large V berth with door, an great aft cabin for the kids, nice size head/ shower, we’ll laid out galley, large main cabin, etc.
There was a recent thorough survey provided to us and it proved to be accurate. There are hundreds of boats on the market that may suit your needs just be prepared to travel to your favourites to see for yourself if they check all the boxes.
Best of luck, I only wish I hadn’t waited until my sixties to do what you’re doing!

[Ltfdrebbin]

There are lots of people that come to this forum with a version of your dream. Myself included, probably.

Yours seems to be very well thought out, you are asking all the right questions, and seem to have the proper past experience. I wish you and your family great luck in achieving this dream.

Your stars are aligned. Don't let this opportunity pass you by.

Florida has so many boats. I would start working with at least one broker in each area and plan to make a couple of quick trips to Florida and looking at many boats. Get a rental car and drive all over looking at boats. I read your comments on why you like Catalina, and that you are open minded, but I think you should be VERY open minded. You will probably only own this boat for 1-2 years. After that, you will decide you love this life and want a bigger boat, or you don't and will sell this boat. Your kids getting bigger will effect that decision also. I think you could see 20 boats in a weekend. Take a ton of pictures of each, or videos, because you will want to reference them when you are at home. When you get down to 2-3 boats, ask your wife to go with you, and then start engaging with a surveyor.

Why Florida? It seems that island hopping in the Caribbean would be nice. Or you could start in the Chesapeake and then head south. My point is if Florida does not have the boat you want, look elsewhere.

I heard you about the camping AC unit. Think that through quite a bit. If you buy a boat with no AC, it will not have plumbing for Air conditioning. Adding it will be very time consuming. Having lived in Breckenridge, I know the Florida heat is going to leave you and your family needing Air conditioning.

The Autopilot is important. You will want one for sure.

I don't think you need to make the boat perfect before you start nor along your journey. Buy the boat and start your adventure.

Good luck!
Sam

[smacksman]

If you can sail a 22 footer you can sail a 32 footer. I would rather sail with the previous owner who knows the boat than a paid captain who doesn't know the boat. So long as the boat is seaworthy, and at $40k+ it jolly well should be, I wouldn't bother with getting everything perfect before you go as things will break anyway - they always do. My approach to buying unseen (and I've done it twice - buying a boat in the US from my desk in UK) is that the price needs to be relatively low so that if it is a dog then you should be able to sell her on at a minimal loss. I didn't bother with a broker or sellers surveyor as faults are rarely listed but I studied the photographs very closely. I missed your long term plans with the boat. If it was up and down the East Coast ICW (a great trip!) then sell her after 1 or 2 years then I would live with her as you found her and not buy new bunk cushions, rigging, sails, etc. Public liability insurance + BoatUS subscription is fine if loosing $40k wouldn't be the end of the world. I chose the marina where I bought the boats as my 'base' address and they kindly forwarded any mail. I find it odd that a car insurance allows it to be driven across states but a boat is expected to sail in one place. My boat insurance was more expensive because I didn't own a car! I love America! An autopilot on the ICW is a must have. Have fun.

[Happ]

All have been great advice. You can get insurance from State Farm. They have a policy that is restricted to 50 or 75 miles to the US. As always you may get a better pricing if you have other policies with them.

[JamesANGreen]

My experience with indy surveyors has not been good. Consider finding a yard and ask them to do the survey. They will want to do the work and then will have to stand behind it. And you have a large organization to talk to if something was missed.

[OneBoatman]

What you need is an experienced East Coast skipper willing to act as your scout. Also consider a buyers broker if you don't have any East Coast contacts, cut or the most part brokers are pretty useless and surveyors rarely stand in the way of a sale. find a boat with a draft not much over 5 ft and a vertical clearance under 55 ft. Consider doing the trip in reverse. My theory is that many Florida boats see basically year round sun and sometimes higher usage. They exist in higher salinity waters and are likely to have higher engine hours. As a rseult their prices can be attractive but mya have lower resale value. There are exceptions to what this captain says. By contrast, Northern boats typically only see seasonal use. In particular New Jersey boats probably see the lightest use because the waters are open to the Atlantic and there are few deep-water harbors. Maine and Rhode Island boats next in line, if you believe as I do. A Catalina 34 or 36 is right sized for a close family of 4, since after about 1990 they have increased beam and better use of space. Sabre 34s would be worth looking at but likely less space below. Having a centerboard would allow for some gunkholing if you have the time to do so. Hopefully the 6 yr old tolerates the younger as living aboard a boat for more than few days is different from spending a couple of months. If you can find a boat in that size range with a stowaway mainsail that will make single handing the boat much easier.

[Wannabes00n]

Maybe a candidate for you?

https://charleston.craigslist.org/bo...800497240.html

[Happ]

All have been great advice. You can get insurance from State Farm. They have a policy that is restricted to 50 or 75 miles to the US. As always you may get a better pricing if you have other policies with them.

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by JamesANGreen

My experience with indy surveyors has not been good. Consider finding a yard and ask them to do the survey. They will want to do the work and then will have to stand behind it. And you have a large organization to talk to if something was missed.

Havin a yard do the survey then do the work poses two problems.

1. It is a blatant conflict of interest.
2. The underwriter will insist on another survey by a qualified sureyor.

[HeinSdL]

The 6 year old likes sailing and the 3 year old is 3. Excellent! :-)