Charter - Here we go again !

[jonlaw]

OK
Its an ex charter boat - 5 years old- has been on the market for a year.
Yes Yes Yes I hear you
Dont touch it with a barge pole !
I wouldnt touch it with yours !
Its had a life time of use !
You'll be sorry !

But !!!!!!!!!!!

Its cheap, I can fix or repair anything - myself - artificer - jack of all trades.
If its solid, seaworthy, should I buy it ?

I dont care if the gel coat needs renewing.
I dont care if the stanchions are loose.
I dont care if the internals need refurbishing.
If I can enjoy it for 2-3 years and pass it on, id be happy !

What do you think ?

Please dont jump in and say 'not a proper boat'

Im cruising inshore with my wife and four kids - oldest 10 !
We sail my dads centurion 32, now thats a real boat, in my heart I know thats what I should be looking for, but it hasnt got the accomodation of a caravan, and for the present, thats what WE want !

SO What do you say


PS I know Ken will shake his weary head, BAVJENBEN !!

 

[Twister_Ken]

Maybe the key comment is "if I can pass it on in 2 or 3 years".

Could you? It's still an ex-charter, in which you've invested a ton of time and no little expense. It's a 'popular' make - there will probably be a dozen or so almost identical models in the brokers' lists at the same time, so a buyers' market.

OTOH eldest will still be only 13 years at that time, so why not keep it longer? If you plan to get seven or eight years' use out of it before changing to another boat, maybe that alters the sums?

Another question, if it really is a basket case, is how much family time are you going to get out of it in the first year or two? Will you become the missing daddy with the boilersuit who spends every spare hour down the boatyard?

Lots of questions, aren't there?

Of course, you could always leave the bairns with Grandad, while you keep the Centurion busy!

 

[SloopJohnB]

John

I think the price is highly relevant. If it were me I'd make damn sure that it really is a good price taking account of all the downside mentioned. Bet you could knock price down even more now. Provided you know that its much cheaper than you'd have to pay privately, it might be well worth considering. I know someone just bought an ex charter Ben for £6000!
ps You may be glad of the excuse to disappear in your boiler suit - think of all the weekend chores that she's got lined up for you!

Good luck
John

 

[zefender]

If you can repair all yourself, at a cost which would be less than you could earn doing your own 'proper' job and getting someone else to do it - I'd go for it. These boats may look tired and knackered but underneath it all, if they're still floating after all that use, they must be pretty sound.

The resale argument depends on how long you intend to keep it for.

I don't know what the boat is but supposing it costs, say 50K and you spend another 15K tarting it up, you have a cost of 65K. If you get rid of it after 5 years, supposing you sell it for what you bought it for, pre done up. It's cost you 15K for 5 years sailing. Can't be bad. Any boat can be sold. It's only the price that dictates when. I'm not sure I follow the arguments about huge volume increases in boat production causing later depreciation worries. The charter companies, much as we may moan about them, create huge numbers of new customers who, after a taster, may decide to buy. The pressure on marina space is evidence of increasing demand, not less.
I would though seriously suggest a proper survey to check that damage isn't more than skin deep.

 

[Rowana]

I've considered this route as well.

The things that I found against it were-

1..I live about an hour's drive away from nearest place where I could work on boat, so that's 2 hours per day wasted. Or I could take sleeping bag & live on board for the weekend.

2..I want to be sailing with my family NOW, not spending time doing up boat. I disagree with Ken regarding leaving bairns with Grandad. It's family time together that's important, although I'm sure, like most grandparents, they'd love having them.

The up-side is that you will end up with more "caravan" accomodation, which is an important consideration with a family, and a VERY important one ifeveryone is to be happy


I'm taking early retirement next year, so I haven't ruled out this route yet as I'll have plenty of time on my hands, but at the same time I'm still looking round at other options as well - Trailer sailers, Older boats, Etc. Etc.

 

[davel]

Sounds like you've thought it through, understand the risks and feel you can deal with them.

Most Charter boats get much much much more use than a private boat, but then they also get much much much more attention as well. The quality of care may not be what you'd apply to your own boat but the do get regularly serviced and charteres don't usually put up with crap boats when they've paid out good money for a couple of weeks in the sun (I know I don't).

If you accept that some things will be a little tired looking, some things may need replacing dur to wear and your happy with your own ability and the price then give it a go.

Dave L.

 

[tcm]

Re: what is it, how much?nm

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