I'll start here ......

[davecason]

Hi Folks,

Well I guess I'll start here ..... I'm currently researching boats and marina's for a live aboard semi retirement. About the only thing I can say about boating is I can spell the word with some help! (grin) I've started looking for boats around the 40' mark and I've found a couple.....

- I guess the first question is what is the process when you search for and find a boat you want to buy?

- I've found a boat I'm interested in but the broker seems to say that I can't have a copy of the survey that was done in 2011 - is that normal. Can I at least read it? What is the procedure with pre done surveys?

- If I want to get a survey done - how is this usually accomplished?

- I assume that buying the boat is pretty straight forward – give them the money and they’re pretty happy.

- I’m guessing that the sale can be made conditional depending on the results of MY survey that I have done or other conditions etc.

I’ve found a Mainship 40 and the broker was pretty laissez fiare about me being there probably because he thought I was a tire kicker ….. is it appropriate to ask the company that’d rather deal with someone else? He did say that the boat burns $50/hr in gas at 9.5 knots – god knows what that means? Any other MainShip folks out there that can fill in the blanks for me?

It’s a 1995 MainShip 40 Sedan with twin 454’s EFI 340 HP 8 Cyl with a V drive and they says it’s got 310 Gal fuel capacity – it also says that cruse is 16 with a top speed of 26 and they say RPM’s t cruse are 3200 – so in knowing that can anyone tell me what sort of range I could expect? I also assume that if I was cruising I can shut down one engine and cruise on one? Is that done?

Part of my idea is getting a sedan boat is since it’s my first boat it might be a tad more appropriate and comfy as a live aboard plus I think it’ll be a bit easier to learn seamanship on a boat like that rather than something like a sloop with full sails.

Anyway that’s where I’ve started and any and all comments or suggestions are welcome!

Cheers’
Dave

 

[chinita]

Hi Dave & welcome

Unfortunately I doubt many (any?) of us on this forum have experience of the boats in question.

I could be wrong but, while you are waiting, give this US forum a try:

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f74/

Good luck.

 

[vyv_cox]

Sorry, cannot help with many of your questions, but in answer to one of them, $50 per hour at 9 knots, i.e. half of normal cruising speed for the vessel, represents a huge cost for going anywhere. Fuel costs are rising everywhere, presumably also where you live, which is why the market for this type of boat has plummeted. Unless you are a) a millionaire or b) buying a boat to live on permanently based in a marina, I suggest you look for something more economical. Something with a smaller diesel engine might be as comfortable but affordable to do some cruising.

 

[Tranona]

As already suggested you perhaps need to get on N American forums for specific advice.

In general though such boats make poor liveaboards particularly if you intend travelling any distances. Not only do they consume vast amounts of fuel but are designed to run at high speeds, not plodding along at displacement speed. Add to that maintenance can be crippling. A near 20 year old boat will require a lot of expertise and money to keep running. The typical owner buys such a boat for weekends and holiday use, probably running only a couple of hundred hours a year.

As to the process of buying a boat, most people who buy this size and type of boat have probably had several smaller boats before and know what they are looking for and what is involved. A first time buyer would benefit from buying a book covering the process of buying and selling boats. Sure that will be be at least one available locally. The survey belongs to the person who commissioned it and they are under no obligation to show it to you. The purpose of a survey that you commission is to check out that the boat is as described before you buy it, as once you have bought it you will have no comeback on the seller (if he is a private person) if you subsequently find any defects.

Although sailing boats look more complex, in practice they are not and some investment in some training to learn how to sail will both show you what is involved and confirm whether it is for you or not. The majority of liveaboards do in fact have sailboats because they are much easier to adapt for liveaboards and allow for economic cruising.

 

[rivonia]

May I suggest that you try the MOTOR BOAT FORUM.

Most of us are raggies.

Peter

 

[Wansworth]

There is a book about a Canadian who knew nothing about boats,he bought a nice ketch and sailed to to Hawaii from Vancover with a proffesssional skipper,seemed to get on alright.Sometimes starting out as an adult has the fun and wonder of a kid but you can afford it yourself!

 

[duncan99210]

Welcome to the mad house. You're buying in either Canada or USA so the laws about selling and buying boats will be slightly different from those in operation on this side of the pond. However, I'm surprised that the broker won't let you see the old survey; they're usually only too delighted to show you a good one as it makes selling the boat easier. The fact that he won't release it suggests its full of bad news.

Over this side of the pond, the normal way of doing things is to find your boat, put in an offer, get it accepted and then arrange a survey of the boat. This will reveal any significant problems and allow you to either negotiate a change in the price or to have the owner of the boat rectify the problems before the sale goes through.

A boat burning $50 per hour at 9 knots means that it wil cost you $5.50 per nautical mile in fuel. That's kind of expensive and unless you have deep pockets or your own oil well (you are from Alberta after all), then it's probably not the best boat for a semi retired person to live on.

Most foks use sail boats to live on as they're cheaper to run and actually, once you've learnt what all the bits of string do, not as complex as a motor boat with 2 engines.

Whatever you do decide, have fun. Just do it.....