Buying a used yacht

[laurenmg]

As someone seeking to purchase a second hand yacht I want to ensure I choose one with the characteristics suitable for my kind of sailing. I vaguely remember reading in one of the yachting magazines that there is a book available which reviews several yachts giving there seaworthiness, etc. "The Best Used Boat Notebook" by John Kretschmer, is available at Amazon but as he is an American author, this will be geared for the American market I presume. Any ideas of a similar book on used boats available for the UK market.

 

[LittleSister]

I am not aware of one. Several of the yachting mags are, or have recently run, A to Zs of popular classes, or featured successive articles in a particular size/type.

I have a PBO publication from some years ago "Which Boat', that features oultine details and comments on a lot of boats and has given me many happy hours of fun and fantasy over the years, but i doubt you'd be able to find a copy.

I'd suggest you post to the forum the type of sailing and price range you have in mind, and you'd receive lots of suggestions. Some of them might even be sensible!

If in doubt buy a popular, middle of the road boat in reasonable condition, that you can easily re-sell. That will do you for the moment while you're getting to know what's around, and help you become clearer/surer about what you want. Avoid thinking that there's only one perfect boat for you!

 

[laurenmg]

Thank you Carvel, some good advice!

 

[LittleSister]

Just remembered a publication called 'Good Yacht Guide'. This is published in several versions e.g. sailing yachts under 25 feet; sailing yachts 25 to 34 feet; motor sailors, etc. This is now available from Seachest bookshop online for about £20 each.

I have a very old version of one of these, which is just a typed list of boats that fit the criteria (i.e. no pictures), together with basic dimensions and brief, though informative, comments. I believe they were put together by a Mr. Hoskyns, who I think used to be a broker (and possibly surveyor) at Rye. I suspect that they've been a bit updated and enlarged since then.

 

[laurenmg]

Thanks again, had a look at the website and these publications seem a worthwhile investment.

 

[Bajansailor]

Here is a good book about how to buy a used boat - never mind that it was written 30 years ago, it still has lots of good info that is relevant today (I bought one from Amazon recently for a friend recently, as she was buying a boat, and she read it cover to cover in one go).

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Owning-Boat-Hugh...1918&sr=1-4