Sailboat Partnerships

[vmarq]

I was just wondering who has experience with private sailboat partnerships and what was your experience. We are having trouble affording all the fees associated with our sailboat and are wondering if this might be an option. We don't know anyone right now that we can approach so would probably have to list this possibility on craigslist or other forum. Any suggestions? Thank you

[Hardhead]

I'd think the biggest thing to be clear about is who's paying what, and on what deadline, when major repairs or replacements are needed - shrouds, diesel, etc. There could be a real problem in the making, if one of the parties does not have a lot of liquid cash lying around, and the other wants to use the boat, and get on with it. That's the biggest issue I'd worry about - probably more than any personality issues. You also have cleanliness expectations in there also. It could work out to be an absolutely great move, or it could be worse than hell. Good luck though - it could really go either way in theory-

[Hardhead]

Or - look into something like a Catalina C22, that can be kept on a trailer. 90% of the fun, 10% of the cost.

[psk125]

Our boat has been a partnership since we bought her, more than 20 years ago. We went in with the idea that two couples could split costs and get a better boat than either couple could by itself. Soccer games, tennis, swimming & life in general meant that sharing the boat didn't impact how much either couple could use the boat anyway. Sailing every other weekend - or working out a balanced schedule - meant we each use the boat about as much as possible. The boat is big enough for all of us to sail together on holidays like going to watch fireworks. Costs are split 50/50, and so is the work. Finding partners BEFORE we found a boat meant we got a boat that everyone agreed suited us well. and it obviously has. Finding partners for a boat you already have means having to sell them on the boat AND the partnership. You don't say what kind of boat you have, but that could be difficult.