My first yacht - about to pay the deposit

[fishz]

Hi All,

I'm been lurking on these forums for literally years as I've thought about buying a boat, and, more recently, as I've saved every penny top finally get something that the girlfriend might actually join me aboard. I've wanted to do this since I was a kid, and as I rush toward retirement, I feel like I'm finally there.

Tonight I'll transfer the funds for the deposit and I'm scheduling the survey. Then I need to move swiftly to get a berth (in the Solent) and get my insurance in place. I thought I had a handle on the process, but now I come to do it for real, I'm realising just how far outside my comfort zone am!

Anyway, aside from introducing myself, I wanted to ask all of you what was at the top of your to do list when you bought your first boat? My first surprise was how quickly I need to go chat to the bank manager but berthing and insurance are right up there.

Cheers fishz

 

[davidpbo]

Welcome to the forum and hope it all goes well for your purchase.

What boat did you decide on? Don't be too specific if you don't want to as your purchase is ongoing.

 

[stuarta]

I've not got any advice but will be following your progress as I hope to do the same in the next year or so. Good luck!

 

[Moonshining]

Hi All,

I'm been lurking on these forums for literally years as I've thought about buying a boat, and, more recently, as I've saved every penny top finally get something that the girlfriend might actually join me aboard. I've wanted to do this since I was a kid, and as I rush toward retirement, I feel like I'm finally there.

Tonight I'll transfer the funds for the deposit and I'm scheduling the survey. Then I need to move swiftly to get a berth (in the Solent) and get my insurance in place. I thought I had a handle on the process, but now I come to do it for real, I'm realising just how far outside my comfort zone am!

Anyway, aside from introducing myself, I wanted to ask all of you what was at the top of your to do list when you bought your first boat? My first surprise was how quickly I need to go chat to the bank manager but berthing and insurance are right up there.

Cheers fishz

Top of the to do list was to head off to the swindlery and come back significantly poorer. Lots of things needed to be bought, like lifejackets, flares, harnesses, charts etc. as well as extra mooring lines and fenders.

 

[Sandy]

WELL done, did the same last September. My bank account has never been so empty!

Enjoy!

 

[chrisbitz]

Hi All,

I wanted to ask all of you what was at the top of your to do list when you bought your first boat?

Top of the list is everything to make a cup of tea and coffee. There's no better bonding experience than sitting having a cuppa and admiring all that you own!

You don't say how old/new it is?

congratulations - I hope you're at least 1/10th as excited as I was first time in the water in her!

 

[Rock Dodger]

Good for you Fishz, I did the same myself in March. I found it a good idea to have a bit of spare dosh put by to pay professionals when you run out of time/strength/ability. My biggest success is shopping around. Let the interweb be your friend. 'Er indoors rolled her eyes as I spent another evening surfing for the best price on all sorts of kit, but boy, was it worth it. I have saved hundreds of pounds. Also lumping stuff together in one order saves on delivery charges as many online chandlers do free delivery for orders over £100. Don't forget your dedicated boat notebook, write it all down... nothing worse than getting to the marina and finding your memory is not as good as the written word

 

[Laundryman]

Welcome, dont buy anything until you have the boat in your possession. If its a used boat, the owner has likely left everything he no longer wants on board, and is now yours. Some of it may be rubbish eg out of date flares is a common one, but some of it worth keeping. Unlikely that all the odds and sods will be listed in an inventory. Mine came with a sprayhood hidden in the depths of a locker,a perfectly good inflatable dinghy which i sold, numerous tools and spares and would you believe an Ipod, which i still use to this day.
Its amazing how much stuff you can find in an apparently empty boat! Dont forget you are a serious buyer and they are few and far between. Drive a hard bargain. Good Luck

 

[Alan ashore]

I'd say your top 3 priorities, in this order are
1) secure a convenient affordable mooring
2) failing that secure an affordable mooring
3) failing that secure a convenient mooring [since affordable has gone out of the window, you may as well bring convenience back into the equation]

Anyway congratulations.

 

[Rum_Pirate]

Congratulations

The two happiest days with a boat

1. the day you buy it

and

2. the day you sell it.


Plus some in between

 

[Wansworth]

Make a copy of the keys.

 

[robertt]

Congratulations, and welcome. I bought my first boat in March, after reading the forums for a couple of years and dreaming about ownership! I have discovered that whatever you set your budget at you're def going to blow it with extra things you either hadn't thought of/factored in, or add on later. I bought at the upper end of my budget (tempting isn't it?) then paid more than I had expected for survey, insurance, launching, some storage and delivery fees. Then I had (still have) a list of things that need sorting eg leaky toilet, dodgy mooring chain and buoy, lifejackets, faulty depthfinder and log, etc. But it is enjoyable doing the tinkering knowing that it is your boat! Depending on experience you may need some training eg have you got your VHF certificate? After my initial problems are sorted out I will move onto luxuries like new running rigging and maybe even a sprayhood!
I am enjoying going down to my boat and working on her and just being aboard her almost as much as sailing!
Hope everything works out well for you

 

[John 32i]

We bought our first boat on a whim and then after drinks on board, meals on board and even sleeping on board we realised that we didnt have the confidence to actually sail it....went out with a friend a few times and finally did 'day skipper' and now (3 years later) we have a bigger boat and it just gets better and better.....! Congratulations and have fun!!!

 

[petedg]

Hi All,

I'm been lurking on these forums for literally years as I've thought about buying a boat, and, more recently, as I've saved every penny top finally get something that the girlfriend might actually join me aboard. I've wanted to do this since I was a kid, and as I rush toward retirement, I feel like I'm finally there.

Tonight I'll transfer the funds for the deposit and I'm scheduling the survey. Then I need to move swiftly to get a berth (in the Solent) and get my insurance in place. I thought I had a handle on the process, but now I come to do it for real, I'm realising just how far outside my comfort zone am!

Anyway, aside from introducing myself, I wanted to ask all of you what was at the top of your to do list when you bought your first boat? My first surprise was how quickly I need to go chat to the bank manager but berthing and insurance are right up there.

Cheers fishz

Congratulations....we did the same in April. Things did'nt quite work out as planned, the weather got the better of us, best laid plans and all that! Have already bought some things for the boat ie. chartplotter, liferaft, good spotlamp, charts, maintenance book, insurance, berth and I'm sure there will be more. I concur with Camelia.....bank account has never been so empty! But we are really looking forward to our first real sail and then at the end of the day relaxing with a glass of wine and watching the sun go down.
Happy sailing......

 

[PhillM]

Congratulations,

When I borght, I panicked and paid top price for my 1st year marina fees. 2nd year shopping around was worth it.

I don't think any of the Solent marinas are so full that they would turn away business. There are plenty to choose from and if you ask around here you can get he good, bad and ugly on just about anywhere. 1st year I paid top price but shopped arounf 2nd year.

I'm at premier and very happy with the place, price and service. I do keep an eye on the costs of a mid Hamble river, or moving further into Southampton (marina or even swinging morring) or even to one of the places near the top end of Portsmouth harbour. These seems to be lots of choice at differing prices. Don't be panicked into signing up until you have done your homework.

 

[KevinT1]

First things first before handing over the deposit ensure the contract allows you to carry these out and if appropriate walk away if you find something untoward :

Check the boat over with a friend who knows what he / she is looking at and the ( if possible ) take it for a sail before booking the survey. If it's in the water the owner / broker shouldn't have a problem with this

Then get a hull survey and if you have have any doubts or concerns get an engine survey and a rigging check - they aren't a cost, just an insurance to prevent bigger costs.

All of these should be get out clauses - to allow you to get your deposit back.

Then when the deed is done : make sure you ( thanks to Sybarite and Attainable Adventure Cruising site )

Keep the water out
Keep the crew on the boat
Keep the keel side down
Keep the mast up
Keep the rudder on

The rest is minor.


I had a very good survey - so I was happy with the first 3 and the mast check allowed me to sail for the rest of our first season before geting the rigging replaced

and then enjoy

Hi All,

I'm been lurking on these forums for literally years as I've thought about buying a boat, and, more recently, as I've saved every penny top finally get something that the girlfriend might actually join me aboard. I've wanted to do this since I was a kid, and as I rush toward retirement, I feel like I'm finally there.

Tonight I'll transfer the funds for the deposit and I'm scheduling the survey. Then I need to move swiftly to get a berth (in the Solent) and get my insurance in place. I thought I had a handle on the process, but now I come to do it for real, I'm realising just how far outside my comfort zone am!

Anyway, aside from introducing myself, I wanted to ask all of you what was at the top of your to do list when you bought your first boat? My first surprise was how quickly I need to go chat to the bank manager but berthing and insurance are right up there.

Cheers fishz

 

[sarabande]

Fish

make it a conditional deposit. That is conditional upon the survey not revealing a problem of anything more than the value of £x.

 

[deuc02]

Fish

make it a conditional deposit. That is conditional upon the survey not revealing a problem of anything more than the value of £x.

Top advice - and as KevinT1 said look at the boat with someone who knows boats. For all the good surveyors out there there are some who shouldn't be in business. Lots of people on here who will recommend the good ones.

 

[maby]

I'll echo the congratulations - welcome to the best way of life there is (and permanent poverty)!

Spend as little as possible till you actually have the keys in your hand and have stayed on the boat for a few days, at least! Take time to review it, understand it and work out what you actually need.

Get third-party insurance, at least. It's just being responsible to other boat owners and most marinas and yacht clubs will make the posession of adequate insurance a pre-condition of renting a berth or mooring.

Do you have a tame experienced sailor who can give you a leg up? If not, consider doing Dayskipper. It's probably worth doing anyway - it will get you a useful discount on your insurance premium. You should also do the short range radio certificate - OK, if you read the book and behave yourself, the chances of getting caught for not having a licence are small, but the course only lasts a day and will build your confidence, so why risk it?

Have a great (and safe) time, and start saving for the upgrade! This is more addictive than heroin, but more fun too and good for your health. Who needs more than one kidney anyway? The trade-in value goes a long way towads the next boat!

 

[LymingtonPugwash]

all excellent advice given here, though if you would like a taste of what it's going to be like from now on, as the old adage goes, stand under a freezing cold shower turned on as hard as it'll go and start tearing up 20 pound notes! I got fed up of that within the first few years of buying a boat, so I moved down to the Med and now stand under a slightly warmer shower turned on as hard as it'll go and tear up 10 euro notes, which makes it all marginally more agreeable!