sea trial, asked to pay for a skipper??

[volvopaul]

U

Not if you can't run the boat at planning speed! Overheat problems only really manifest themselves at speed when demand for coolant is higher.

Only yesterday I was doing a sea trial involving surveyor and an engineer - Volvopaul - and each did a different job.

Well said Davud on both your replies.

Even yesterday's immaculate but showed a few flaws and all found on sea trial and inspection , no way would half the issues shown up on a river trial at river speed .

 

[vjmehra]

You might "insist" but suspect that the seller might not respond positively. This is a private sale and the seller is offering his boat without any warranty as to whether it is sound or suitable for your use. It is therefore up to you to determine that it is as you have no comeback. If this includes a sea trial to check it operates at speed that is your cost. When making your offer it is sensible to take into account that you will incur the cost of a survey and sea trial. You sign the contract on the assumption that the boat will be satisfactory and if it turns out not to be in the course of the survey and sea trial you can re-negotiate the price, or even withdraw depending on the specifics.

This is the fundamental difference between buying privately where the only significant law that covers the transaction is the law of contract. However if you are buying from a trader who is selling the boat by way of trade you are covered by consumer law and you may well adopt a different strategy in dealing with the seller, although it still makes sense to have your own independent survey and sea trials.

Absolutely, my point is merely that as the buyer, you have the power to walk away. In effect you build the cost of the trial into your bid (explicitly or implicitly), the seller has no obligation to sell to you, but they do need to sell...you don't need to buy, hence if your criteria is such that they cover the cost of the trial (assuming you go on to purchase) then why not ask for this, if they say no and you feel this puts things over your pain threshold you can always walk away.

I have no vested interest of course here, I just get very frustrated that everyone (well not everyone) seems to insist buyers stick to convention when they have no obligation to (and in my opinion convention is not necessarily the way it 'should' be...but of course that is merely my opinion and clearly not the consensus).

 

[TheRookie]

I am surprised at this but guess as my sea trial was in the sea it's a different kettle of fish. I asked for a sea trial and to no expense of my own had a 45 minute sea trial the next day.
On a side note I am selling a beneteau Antares 10.8 down near Chichester if your interested.