Hello all, a quick hello!

[Solent Sailor]

I've done a number of sea trials without signing any paperwork first - depends on whether the buyer really wants to sell and your approach to them or the broker. There is no law saying that you have to be in the post-contract stage, only convention. I've also taken prospective buyers out on my boats pre-contract. Sometimes it has resulted in a sale, other times it hasn't. A small amount of fuel and a little time isn't much really. People can generally be assessed as being serious or not without signing their life away.

I have also turned down such sea-trials and bought a boat without trial when I've realised that it would be better to move quickly than to faff about!

I'd suggest that honesty is the best policy. Quite a few years back we had the idea that a certain smaller cruiser could be ideal for us, but having never owned or sailed anything similar we told the broker and owner that to be honest, we didn't really know whether it was what we were looking at. We went on a no-obligation sea trial for an hour or so, decided that it really was too small for our needs and went on to buy another boat through the same broker. The owner sold the boat a few weeks later and we still see him occasionally and are still on friendly terms!

 

[SolentDavid]

Thanks Solent Sailor. I will try to strike up some relationships with brokers around the solent area over the coming months, so they know I'm serious when it comes to buying time. Plus, I'm looking at courses, so can pick them around the boat types they teach on, and bring my wife so she can get a feel for different types too.

I know her well though, so think anything sub 25ish foot will be too small, so around 30 foot for us.

As everything, I think being honest up front is the best policy.

 

[Seastoke]

Doubled the value of the Stoke squad?!

Looks like you'll need them in that relegation battle ??

What do you call a Pompey girl in a white tracksuit, the Bride.