bitbaltic
Well-known member
+1. The OP may find it difficult to get insured to skipper his boat if his experience is limited and he does not have DS. If that's the case a good marine insurance broker should be his first port of call.
My first yacht - about to pay the deposit
- Thread starter fishz
- Start date
+1. The OP may find it difficult to get insured to skipper his boat if his experience is limited and he does not have DS. If that's the case a good marine insurance broker should be his first port of call.
fishz
New member
Thanks for the warm welcome and solid advice all (and apologies for all of the typos in my first post - I was using a phone.)
My priorities are the survey and the berth in the Solent. Right now, Southsea looks best based on price. Need to find a friend there before I approach them though.
davidpbo, chrisbitz - I won't be too specific since the purchase is still going through, but the deposit is on it's way so she'll be off the market soon enough. I surprised myself and went for a modern, "plastic" boat around six years old. She's mass market and wasn't the top option but if I went for anything with less comfortable accomodation I would have been doing a lot of singlehanding. The other half simply wouldn't have it! She's 30', well used but looks clean to my inexperienced eye... the boat is similar ;-)
Moonshining, Rock Dodger, Laundryman, robertt, peterdg, maby - I think I need to start a list or even a spreadsheet to track the things I need to buy. Trying to stop any of that from distracting me right now though - get the boat and insurance secured and then think about the next steps. Might be a week or two before I actually get to sail her so still time to dream up more ways to spend money.
Camelia - I spent a lot more than I planned to on the boat itself and over the years, it looks like inflation might have pushed the other costs up a lot faster than I expected. EVERYTHING seems pricey to me.
Alan ashore, PhilM - you are so right about the affordable thing! The Solent is incredibly expensive. The way I see it, I will splurge on the Solent this year and make a more informed decision next year.... in for a penny and all that! I am kind of rushing into this though because I want to be on board within the coming week or two.
Rum_Pirate - the thing about one of the happeist days with the boat being the day you buy it doesn't ring completely true with me. It all seems very daunting and I'm intimidated. I've read so many people on here saying "just get on with it" that I take it as good advice, so here I am. And anyway, it's been a long time coming in my case.
mogy - Copy the keys - good point. Must do that.
John HH21 - Not having the confidence to sail her sounds familiar! One other immediate expense will be some tuition on board. I have some basic training and did the Day Skipper practical a while ago. The plan is to get some boat handing tuition and then do the Day Skipper practical on board... depending on how the funds hold up!
KevinT1, sarabande - Some solid advice I think. The boat is pretty new so hoping to avoid nasty surprises. The surveyor is well regarded. The deposit is indeed conditional. I'm buying through a broker and all looks as expected on the contract.
LymingtonPugwash - LOL - I think you need to do the cold shower and cut your teeth before moving down to the Med and doing it for real!
maby, bitbaltic - I think I had better give some brokers a call tomorrow and figure out the insurance. I did my comp crew on somebody else's boat but I really want to do the day skipper on my own, AND whilst insured!
Thanks again for the warm welcome all.
My priorities are the survey and the berth in the Solent. Right now, Southsea looks best based on price. Need to find a friend there before I approach them though.
davidpbo, chrisbitz - I won't be too specific since the purchase is still going through, but the deposit is on it's way so she'll be off the market soon enough. I surprised myself and went for a modern, "plastic" boat around six years old. She's mass market and wasn't the top option but if I went for anything with less comfortable accomodation I would have been doing a lot of singlehanding. The other half simply wouldn't have it! She's 30', well used but looks clean to my inexperienced eye... the boat is similar ;-)
Moonshining, Rock Dodger, Laundryman, robertt, peterdg, maby - I think I need to start a list or even a spreadsheet to track the things I need to buy. Trying to stop any of that from distracting me right now though - get the boat and insurance secured and then think about the next steps. Might be a week or two before I actually get to sail her so still time to dream up more ways to spend money.
Camelia - I spent a lot more than I planned to on the boat itself and over the years, it looks like inflation might have pushed the other costs up a lot faster than I expected. EVERYTHING seems pricey to me.
Alan ashore, PhilM - you are so right about the affordable thing! The Solent is incredibly expensive. The way I see it, I will splurge on the Solent this year and make a more informed decision next year.... in for a penny and all that! I am kind of rushing into this though because I want to be on board within the coming week or two.
Rum_Pirate - the thing about one of the happeist days with the boat being the day you buy it doesn't ring completely true with me. It all seems very daunting and I'm intimidated. I've read so many people on here saying "just get on with it" that I take it as good advice, so here I am. And anyway, it's been a long time coming in my case.
mogy - Copy the keys - good point. Must do that.
John HH21 - Not having the confidence to sail her sounds familiar! One other immediate expense will be some tuition on board. I have some basic training and did the Day Skipper practical a while ago. The plan is to get some boat handing tuition and then do the Day Skipper practical on board... depending on how the funds hold up!
KevinT1, sarabande - Some solid advice I think. The boat is pretty new so hoping to avoid nasty surprises. The surveyor is well regarded. The deposit is indeed conditional. I'm buying through a broker and all looks as expected on the contract.
LymingtonPugwash - LOL - I think you need to do the cold shower and cut your teeth before moving down to the Med and doing it for real!
maby, bitbaltic - I think I had better give some brokers a call tomorrow and figure out the insurance. I did my comp crew on somebody else's boat but I really want to do the day skipper on my own, AND whilst insured!
Thanks again for the warm welcome all.
jac
Well-known member
Congratulations. Will look forward to hearing more.
As to advice. - obviously the deposit is on the way so a good surveyor is probably top of the list. Depends where the boat is but we've used Tony Staton-Bevan of abbey yachts twice and he has been very good.
Insurance. Probably will be less than you expect but don't go for cheap and cheerful. You want someone who will pay out if the worst will happen.
Mooring. All the big players have websites so you should be able to shop round online but don't rule out the small places. We have walk ashore on the hamble for not much more than 1/2 what we would pay to be in hamble point so a couple of hours ringing some of the smaller places may pay for a lot.
As to buying stuff.
DO NOTHING TILL YOU GET THE SURVEY.
Th e surveyor should talk you through their findings and allow you to prioritise the must do from the nice to do. Once you have that list ask on here for recommendations and if they are significant you may be able to either walk away or renegotiate the price.
Once you have taken possession, don't spend much till the winter unless they are vital for safety.
There will be little irritants that you can fix now but until you've lived on board for a week or two, sailed in different conditions, anchored, moored etc don't go splashing out on things as you spot them unless they are dangerous. Your priorities will change.
Have fun!!
As to advice. - obviously the deposit is on the way so a good surveyor is probably top of the list. Depends where the boat is but we've used Tony Staton-Bevan of abbey yachts twice and he has been very good.
Insurance. Probably will be less than you expect but don't go for cheap and cheerful. You want someone who will pay out if the worst will happen.
Mooring. All the big players have websites so you should be able to shop round online but don't rule out the small places. We have walk ashore on the hamble for not much more than 1/2 what we would pay to be in hamble point so a couple of hours ringing some of the smaller places may pay for a lot.
As to buying stuff.
DO NOTHING TILL YOU GET THE SURVEY.
Th e surveyor should talk you through their findings and allow you to prioritise the must do from the nice to do. Once you have that list ask on here for recommendations and if they are significant you may be able to either walk away or renegotiate the price.
Once you have taken possession, don't spend much till the winter unless they are vital for safety.
There will be little irritants that you can fix now but until you've lived on board for a week or two, sailed in different conditions, anchored, moored etc don't go splashing out on things as you spot them unless they are dangerous. Your priorities will change.
Have fun!!
Kurrawong_Kid
Well-known member
Congratulations! Enjoy! Take it slowly and try not to be persuaded by the adverts in Yachting magazines to part with your money on the latest gizmos. If it works, don't fix it! Work out what you need and programme to purchase in an ordered fashion after you have gained experience. If the sails set, the engine works, you have lifejackets, flares, a VHF, lifebouys etc. warps, fenders, anchor and kedge you should be fine. Charts, compass and log are sufficient, but I expect the boat will probably come with some sort of plotter to cope with the navigation and pilotage. Enough to get started and enjoy rather than worry over every penny spent.
Tam Lin
Well-known member
And don't forget to take a set of keys with you when you go to the boat and take your house / car keys with you when you leave the boat to go home! As a recent thread testifies, it has been done!
Would also echo the comments to have a book to write things down in and not to rush and buy things until you have looked on the boat. Then only buy essential items until you have sailed the boat for a while and have a better idea of what your priorities are. Good luck!
trapezeartist
New member
Two things to add to all the advice already given:
Do you like the name? If not, change the name as the very first thing you do. Afterwards all the hassle of changing SSR, insurance, berthing contract, radio licence, etc means you'll never do it. (Not the most important thing, I know, but .....)
I really feel Day Skipper (theory and practical) should be your minimum standard. It won't teach yo everything you need to know, but it will give you a fair idea of how little you know. I occasionally cringe at the memory of how inexperienced and incompetent I was when I first bought my boat, and I had done the Dazed Kipper course.
Do you like the name? If not, change the name as the very first thing you do. Afterwards all the hassle of changing SSR, insurance, berthing contract, radio licence, etc means you'll never do it. (Not the most important thing, I know, but .....)
I really feel Day Skipper (theory and practical) should be your minimum standard. It won't teach yo everything you need to know, but it will give you a fair idea of how little you know. I occasionally cringe at the memory of how inexperienced and incompetent I was when I first bought my boat, and I had done the Dazed Kipper course.
Seven Spades
Well-known member
Don't go to Southsea go to an all tide marina. At the moment most south coast marinas are full of empty berths and you can get a deal(10% discount if you try hard). Take a look at Hasler it is a nice all tide marina and fairly easy place to berth and there is a nice sheltered place outside where you can raise and lower the sails even in the strongest of wind conditions.
maby
Well-known member
Where key copying is concerned, be prepared to shop around! Our Bene only came with two keys and I wanted a couple of spares. I went to our local dry-cleaner & key cutter who looked at the key and shook their head at it. I called the Beneteau main dealer who quoted me several tens of pounds for a blank! Eventually, I asked around some more and found a locksmith (near Chatham) who stocks the blanks for most boats manufactured over the last few tens of years - he charged me less than a fiver for each copy cut. Don't be surprised if it proves more difficult that you expect to get copies cut, but don't just hand over silly money to the main dealer without asking round first. It's not only Bene - we had a similar experience with Jeanneau a couple of years ago.
davidpbo
Well-known member
And if you are using some sort of float for the keys, make sure they do. Mine doesn't anymore as I keep one set of all keys to do with the boat and trailer on there, something I must look at.
andymcp
New member
I completely understand, but if it's any reassurance I was completely out my depth during the whole buying process, but the day after we got the keys to our first boat Mrs McP and I decided to ignore the to-do list for a day and just headed out the marina in the pouring rain and very gentle breeze, and just gently sailed round for a few hours with a hot coffee or two. Immediately, it made everything worthwhile. Even the stress of marina parking in our new baby for the first time didn't take the grins off our face.
Congrats, and enjoy.
fishz
New member
Thanks guys, ever more good advice, and mostly reassuring thankfully.
trapezeartist - I hadn't even thought about changing the name. There's all that traditional/superstitous stuff about doing that and I kind of like her name. Anyway, the cost of rubbing down and repainting the name is enough to put me off right now! The day skipper is scheduled, and mandatory for the insurance anyway. I expect to get that sorted as a priority.
Seven Spades - I think I'll have to shop around and find an all tide marina that I can really afford on the Solent but the fees are staggering around here. Southsea and Chichester are off the list for now.
jac, Kurrawong_Kid, Tam Lim - Thanks - lots of good advice. Having spent what I have already on the boat itself, and looking at berths, insurance and all of the professional fees for other services, I think I'm going to be happy to leave well alone and not spend money on non-essentials for a while. Having said that, the essentials (safety gear) doesn't come cheap but at least we can take it to the next boat one day.
maby, davidpbo - I get the impression through this thread that keys are kind of problematic. Definitely something that I'll be taking care of.
andymcp - I can't wait for the day.... but it's getting closer. I've transferred the deposit and it's all go now.
trapezeartist - I hadn't even thought about changing the name. There's all that traditional/superstitous stuff about doing that and I kind of like her name. Anyway, the cost of rubbing down and repainting the name is enough to put me off right now! The day skipper is scheduled, and mandatory for the insurance anyway. I expect to get that sorted as a priority.
Seven Spades - I think I'll have to shop around and find an all tide marina that I can really afford on the Solent but the fees are staggering around here. Southsea and Chichester are off the list for now.
jac, Kurrawong_Kid, Tam Lim - Thanks - lots of good advice. Having spent what I have already on the boat itself, and looking at berths, insurance and all of the professional fees for other services, I think I'm going to be happy to leave well alone and not spend money on non-essentials for a while. Having said that, the essentials (safety gear) doesn't come cheap but at least we can take it to the next boat one day.
maby, davidpbo - I get the impression through this thread that keys are kind of problematic. Definitely something that I'll be taking care of.
andymcp - I can't wait for the day.... but it's getting closer. I've transferred the deposit and it's all go now.
maby
Well-known member
I'll definitely second all that! Actually, the biggest single event for us was the first night spent on our own boat... I had been a dinghy sailor much of my life and our first "yacht" was not a lot bigger than a Wayfarer - but it had a lid on top!!! Objectively, it was an ancient, tiny, uncomfortable boat and I woke up with a sore throat because it was well into the autumn and we had no heating - but we had eaten a meal on-board (admittedly fish and chips from the local shop) and then gone to bed - that made us "liveaboards" - well, almost!
dunedin
Well-known member
Do try to get a friend who has plenty of experience to come for a sail and help get things set up properly. We were fortunate to know a local sailmaker who came out for a test sail with us, and helped advise what needed setting up properly.
If don't know somebody suitable consider on boat tuition day - as the instructor should be able to point out anything of significance to fix
Enjoy
If don't know somebody suitable consider on boat tuition day - as the instructor should be able to point out anything of significance to fix
Enjoy
tsekul
Member
We to have just had an offer accepted on a yacht(subject to survey).....Gulp!
Both have Day Skipper, check
vhf cert. check
rya diesal engine course, check
Mooring, check.
regular racing as crew to gain experience ,check
We are buying privately. Are there any checks we can do to see if there are any outstanding fees on the boat or finance or any thing else, or do we have to get a solicitor involved. The boat is not a huge amount of money, but it is for us. How do brokers get this info ?
Also looking for recommendations for suryeyors in or around Cowes, any help would be greatly appreciated
Both have Day Skipper, check
vhf cert. check
rya diesal engine course, check
Mooring, check.
regular racing as crew to gain experience ,check
We are buying privately. Are there any checks we can do to see if there are any outstanding fees on the boat or finance or any thing else, or do we have to get a solicitor involved. The boat is not a huge amount of money, but it is for us. How do brokers get this info ?
Also looking for recommendations for suryeyors in or around Cowes, any help would be greatly appreciated
Last edited:
Tranona
Well-known member
On a low value boat highly unlikely there is any finance outstanding. Banks usually want to register a charge which means the boat is usually registered on part 1 and you get details of title and outstanding charges from the registrar.
Key things to look for are evidence that the seller has title to sell and any registration and VAT matters are in order. VAT is not really a big issue if you are buying from a private individual and the boat has always been in the UK/EU.
You can buy a useful little book from the RYA which explains the process in detail, advises on contracts and Bill of Sale plus check lists to cover all the things you forget to ask at the time. Your surveyor when you get him (or her) will also be a good source of advice. Have a look on www.ydsa.co.uk for general advice on buying a boat and how to brief your surveyor.
tsekul
Member
Thank you for the reply.
spending the evening on the internet. Oh joy !
spending the evening on the internet. Oh joy !
fishz
New member
tsekul - Good luck. I hope the survey goes well.
My "to-do" list looks a lot like yours, but I have insurance on there too. Like you, I have been getting the ticks made but there's only so much you can do before you own her, and then presumably everything has to happen overnight.
I can't wait. Just wish that I could have rushed the survey and been onboard for this weekend.
My "to-do" list looks a lot like yours, but I have insurance on there too. Like you, I have been getting the ticks made but there's only so much you can do before you own her, and then presumably everything has to happen overnight.
I can't wait. Just wish that I could have rushed the survey and been onboard for this weekend.