Dangers to look out for

[LakeSuperior]

Originally Posted by jeanathon

Don't you mean May 3rd?

I read too fast he actually joined on Feb 5. So I guess he has been somewhat active.

[Cloroxbottle]

Originally Posted by SanPuluei

I'm trying to gain some knowledge on all things sailing, with the future hope of buying a Blue Water boat.

I realise this might be a mile-wide question, but what are some of the things that a purchaser should look out for when viewing a boat?

Damp spots, leaks, etc, might be fairly obvious, but what about some of the things you can't easily see. Rust, corrosion, weak points... inside the Hull.

Is there a basic checklist of such issues?

I read about one boat having keel issues, so much so, that a few of them have sunk, over the years!

Are older boats prone to say, electrical issues, fire hazard?

Are there obvious things that owners try to cover up prior to sale?

Is an older boat proof of reliability, or more likely to have problems?

There is no such thing as a proof of reliability.

The first thing you should do is take the first two ASA classes. If you like them, get something around the 28-30 foot range, a fin keel that turns easily in a marina, and gain some experience. As far as living aboard a boat, it's possible...but a bluewater boat typically won't give you the living space that something like a smaller Catalina or Outisland will unless you get something like a Hans Christian 33, but I think that would be an exceedingly poor choice for a first sailboat.

[Greatest Lakes]

Originally Posted by skenn_ie

I wonder if it is like a time when I was "into" homebuilt aircraft. A younger man and his g/f called round to have a look at my project. After talking for 20 mins, I took him aside and said "it is obvious that your g/f is not keen. You should decide if you want her or an aeroplane." I never heard of him again.

If it floats, Flys or f****, it's cheaper to rent. But if you are going to sail and do planes, I feel your pain.

[new-to-sailing]

As someone who recently bought a boat with some sailing experience but no experience in boat ownership and what that entails here are some of my thoughts… I know this diverges a bit from your original questions but just some things I’ve learned so far

- I second everyone on getting a surveyor and again on this do your research before selecting one, get referrals or at the least ask for an example survey you can look at
- The engine to me is a big one, if you’re new to sailing having a reliable engine provides a lot of piece of mind. I didn’t do this but think it could have been worth getting a mechanic to give the engine a full inspection. This is more of a concern with an inboard than an outboard.
- Don Casey’s ‘Inspecting the Aging Sailboat’ was a good starting point for me and it allowed me to rule out boats before going through the expensive process of getting a surveyor. Something you’d hope to do only once.


Some other general advice for buying your first boat
- Sailing is a whole different ball game than boat ownership, I was interested in both specifically the projects which can take up a lot of time on an older boat so be prepared for that
- If you are not doing the work yourself be careful who you work with, ask a lot of questions and make sure everything is very clear. For some reason labor is unbelievably expensive at most yards so if not doing DIY the costs will be pretty high
- While I’m at it giving unsolicited advice I ended up going with a smaller boat than I had in mind at first and am really glad I did. Something simpler makes everything a lot more manageable for your first boat.

[jipcho]

Originally Posted by SanPuluei

What is my background...?
Do I have experience with...

NO. NO. and NO! But I'm not looking to cross oceans YET. I just want a solid boat that I can live on, and learn from.

I'm on here asking questions to see if that's viable, and to learn more about the pitfalls. I'm not Robinson Crusoe and will never know how to weld, plumb, fix engines or electrical systems... to any degree, probably.

I get what you're saying. I need to be self sufficient. I appreciate that. But engines, plumbing, electrical, sewing, metal work ( stainless steel, mild steel, aluminum ) fiberglass ETC.. I'm pleased for you! Really! Your boat must be perfect. As I possess none of those skills mine will look like a shabby wreck next to yours.

If I was you, I would get some experience both living on a boat and sailing across an ocean, and in your own "backyard" BEFORE you buy your own vessel. You will learn a lot about sailing, about problems that boats have and how to deal with them, and most importantly, how much you love it, and how badly you want to do it. You will also learn what you are looking for in a sailboat. For example, I sailed on a few boats over several years, before buying mine, and realized that "performance" was more important to me than comfort.

I started out as a SCUBA diving instructor, and began getting sailing experience, and eventually crewing on boats. In a few years I actually got a masters license, and after helping to run a charter company, I sold my share, and bought my own sailboat. By this time I had 15 years of experience on fiberglass and steel hulled boats. But the boat I purchased was a cold molded wood hull, built 25 years earlier. Of course, I had a survey done, and no major issues were reported to me, but I "was sold" on her due to the way she sailed, her beauty, and pedigree (she was owned and raced by the commodore of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Club). I had no idea what I was in for. All my previous experience was as part of a crew, where I had a mechanic on board. I sailed on my 42 foot sloop for 15 years, and learned from other sailors as well as trial and error about electronics, sail repair, engine maintenance and repair, fiberglassing, wood maintenance, anchoring, heavy weather sailing, etc. As many sailors have noted, living and sailing the oceans is an exercise in "doing repairs in exotic locations".

My point is that, nobody, especially someone without much knowledge, can be certain about every potential flaw and future problem on any vessel, old or new. Even after having a positive survey done, you can and should expect to be maintaining and repairing just about everything on the boat, at some point. You will learn every day, which for me, was one of the joys of living on a cruising sailboat. Get some experience whenever you can, and if you love it, and want to explore the world, find a boat you love, and go for it!