Hi 2greens1red, the standard
purchase process is as you outlined, at least in my experience here in North America.
Initial stage includes
research, discussion with
broker or owner (preferably), personal inspection and unofficial survey. Once you are confident the
boat appears to be worthy it, an offer is made. This leads to the negotiation of a purchase agreement that includes
price and other conditional terms such as "subject to satisfactory survey(s)," and "based on a successful trial sail." There would be other warrants and conditions as well (time frame, access rights during purchase, clear title,
registration, etc.).
An accepted purchase agreement commonly includes the buyer placing a 10% deposit with the seller (or in-trust via say an escrow account).
The buyer then proceeds with a full survey (if they choose to do this), and final trial sail. If the survey or the trial sail reveals something new or unexpected, this becomes grounds to open up the purchase agreement for re-negotiation.
This is the standard approach, but everything is open to negotiation. If you want to avoid the standard deposit, then you can certainly try to negotiate this. Brokers are less likely to stray from the standard approach, but private sellers may be more flexible. Personally, I don't have a problem with the deposit. It ensures both sides have real skin in the
game, and it cuts down on those who are not really serious (speaking as someone who has
sold a
classic boat and had to deal with a lot of tire-kickers).