Is a test sail customary when buying a used boat?

[jac]

Semantics

Hardly.

If the convention is that a sea trial is different to a test sail and you ask for the "wrong" one, don't be surprised if you get an unexpected response.

if you were buying my house and asked for a test period rather than a viewing i would expect the estate agent to question you as to what you want. if you wanted a viewing - then fine - if you wanted to live in my house for a bit then no.

 

[38mess]

Old thread.... thought Tranona had returned for a minute there!

I wish he was, i learned a lot off him

 

[RichardS]

I wish he was, i learned a lot off him

If he's reading this, now is the time for Tranona to return as, under the new Civilised Public Discourse rules, it's now impossible to be ganged-up on and hounded out. Proof of this can be found on The Lounge where the gang have now been silenced.

Richard

 

[Resolution]

Hang on a min if you was skint nearly 50 years ago , 50 years of owning boat , you must be desperate now and totally penny less
I know I am ,

We are rich, Vic. Rich in experience and good memories!

 

[johnalison]

I wouldn't countenance allowing someone to have a trial sale in my boat. I didn't have a trail sail when I bought it new. Its reputation was easy to gauge and it comes from a respected builder. The question of the engine is a bit harder. It has done something over 2,000 hours of healthy use. If it could not be run for a survey, I could, I suppose, show the service bills from throughout its life, and I might even encourage them to speak to my engineers. If the situation arose, I would be happy to join a post-sale sail to show the buyer the ropes.

 

[jac]

I wouldn't countenance allowing someone to have a trial sale in my boat. I didn't have a trail sail when I bought it new. Its reputation was easy to gauge and it comes from a respected builder. The question of the engine is a bit harder. It has done something over 2,000 hours of healthy use. If it could not be run for a survey, I could, I suppose, show the service bills from throughout its life, and I might even encourage them to speak to my engineers. If the situation arose, I would be happy to join a post-sale sail to show the buyer the ropes.

So if you were selling and someone offered subject to Sea Trial and Survey - would you say no? ( Assuming the price was ok?)

 

[Tiderace]

So if you were selling and someone offered subject to Sea Trial and Survey - would you say no? ( Assuming the price was ok?)

Why not? We have both buying and selling. Contracts signed, deposit paid and subject to survey and sea trials.

Personnaly I would never ever buy a boat without taking it on a sea trial, be it a new or old boat.

 

[sailaboutvic]

Why not? We have both buying and selling. Contracts signed, deposit paid and subject to survey and sea trials.

Personnaly I would never ever buy a boat without taking it on a sea trial, be it a new or old boat.

If deposit and contract are sign I be happy for you to have a sea trail after the survey as long as you pay for the haul in and back out in advance and you understand the sea trail was to check that all the equipment was working as they should ,
don't expect to get deposit back because you don't like the way the boat sail tho , because that not what the sea trail for.

 

[Tiderace]

If deposit and contract are sign I be happy for you to have a sea trail after the survey as long as you pay for the haul in and back out in advance and you understand the sea trail was to check that all the equipment was working as they should ,
don't expect to get deposit back because you don't like the way the boat sail tho , because that not what the sea trail for.

Agree. Standard contract such as that available from the RYA has exactly this, in suitbale legal language off course!!!

 

[jac]

Agree. Standard contract such as that available from the RYA has exactly this, in suitbale legal language off course!!!

I agree 100% -But it was JohnALison who said he wouldn't. personally i'd walk at that stage or assume loads was wrong and want big discount

 

[sailaboutvic]

I agree 100% -But it was JohnALison who said he wouldn't. personally i'd walk at that stage or assume loads was wrong and want big discount

I. Think some. Here are still getting confuse with sea trail and a test sail which are two very different things , if you ask me to take you on a test sail I be saying no on the other hand after all the paper work done and deposit paid I be happy to take you out on a sea trail as there no going back at that point if say the wind the depth gauge wasn't working you won't be able to use that as an excuse to pull out it just mean I would have to fix it or reduce the cost of having it fix .
Where on a test sail you could just say thank you but I don't like the way water comes o we the bow .

 

[Buck Turgidson]

yet another thread has fallen into the pit of semantics. Everyone who thinks a sea trial is a necessary part of the contract has explained to purpose is to test the boats equipment. The only ones against are calling it a test sail and arguing that you can't have your deposit back if the boat sails like a brick.

I think we can put this to bed now can't we?

 

[jac]

yet another thread has fallen into the pit of semantics. Everyone who thinks a sea trial is a necessary part of the contract has explained to purpose is to test the boats equipment. The only ones against are calling it a test sail and arguing that you can't have your deposit back if the boat sails like a brick.

I think we can put this to bed now can't we?

Going by tradition i would say - there's another 3 pages here

 

[rwoofer]

I did offer a trial sail on my RM880, because it was such an unusual boat for the UK, it was in commission and I actually quite enjoyed it even though there was no purchase at the end. I think it is entirely up to the buyer and seller to decide.

 

[johnalison]

So if you were selling and someone offered subject to Sea Trial and Survey - would you say no? ( Assuming the price was ok?)

I forgot that I had posted here and missed the fun. Of course I would be happy for my boat to be surveyed, as two out of my previous sales were, though in both cases the surveyors made pathetic errors aimed to my disadvantage, fortunately disregarded. None of my previous boats have been taken for a sea trail post survey. If a buyer were willing to pay for the costs of this, such as lift-ins, I would probably agree to it, though it hasn't happened in the past and the boats were in good order for their ages. What I wouldn't consider is a prospective buyer wanting to go for a sail just to see if they liked sailing my class of boat. I would make an exception if I were considering selling to someone that I knew personally.

 

[gregmlucas]

We've just bought a 10 year old Dufour, the offer was of course subject to survey and sea trial. As she was out of the water with no head-sail, my main interest in the sea trial was checking that the engine and autohelm worked and to haul up the main just to make sure it was in good order - all potentially expensive to replace and hard to evaluate up on cradle.

On the day of the sea trial, they had thoughtfully rigged the Genoa and as it was a nice day, we did have a quick sail - which was more about making sure nothing fell off under sail than find out what I thought of her sailing capabilities. She is a modern, deep fin sloop so I knew roughly what to expect in that sense. I spent a pleasant couple of hours with owners who were happy to tell me everything they could about the boat that they had clearly loved for the last ten years.

Compare that to the Dufour 310 I sea trialled last summer and din't proceed with. I was clear with the broker beforehand that my biggest concern was manoeuvrability under power given the twin rudders (and my plan to keep it in a locked marina). I know so people love twin rudders but I was glad I did the trial before buying the boat.