Sea trial

[Cathy*]

We're going through the boat buying process and thought I'd share this which might be of interest to others, Having watched a couple of YouTube videos about what to do on a sea trial (including Nick Burnham) each of the boats we were interested in we said if we proceeded we would want the sea trial to be at our discretion. I would want to make sure we were happy with how the boat handled, visibility comfort etc. 1 responded it isn't a jolly it's just to check the engines, another said we could go a mile up the river to check the engines but anything different would be going further than they normally go. That put us off buying from either of them. Parker Adams on The Hamble brought up the purpose of the sea trial themselves, that it is to check we're happy so full marks to them (And lovely people although we didn't end up buying from them) and the contract from the broker we have bought from states "If as a result of the sea trial the buyer wishes to reject the vessel for any reason whatsoever in his sole discretion..... the deposit will be returned" When you're buying something with a value of a small flat you need to make sure it's suitable for your purposes.

 

[Seastoke]

Yes you are correct, s is a problem when buying from ie BURTON WATERS or anyone on a river. Although BW are great to buy from .

 

[colhel]

I can understand why comfort, visibility and how the boat handles are important but I'd be surprised if you could reject on these with no penalty. A sea trial as I see it is to check the boat performs and is as reliable as advertised.

 

[Cathy*]

Jonathan at Burton Waters has been really helpful. We didn't get as far as looking at his boats. The 2 that didn't want to do a proper trial are on the coast. We've been looking for 6 months and considered all sorts before settling on what we have.

 

[Cathy*]

I can understand why comfort, visibility and how the boat handles are important but I'd be surprised if you could reject on these with no penalty. A sea trial as I see it is to check the boat performs and is as reliable as advertised.

Then be surprised The only penalty is the cost of the trial, fuel and any other expenses. But you must stipulate in the contract that it is solely at your discretion, which is what our contract says.

 

[Bouba]

For me it would be how it handles in port...most motorboats are thrilling when you open up the throttle in wide open areas...but can handle like a dog when trying to park. And parking is the most stressful part...plus it will give you an idea if you should option a bow and stern thruster

 

[Seastoke]

For me it would be how it handles in port...most motorboats are thrilling when you open up the throttle in wide open areas...but can handle like a dog when trying to park. And parking is the most stressful part...plus it will give you an idea if you should option a bow and stern thruster

Should you not be sending your Tesla back as they have been recalled. Just saying.

 

[Bouba]

Should you not be sending your Tesla back as they have been recalled. Just saying.

The little men from Tesla come in the middle of the night....they have keys to everyone’s garage and they tinker away on your car....and they are gone before you wake up.... and amazingly, they do them all on the same night...just like Santa Claus

 

[DavidJ]

Should you not be sending your Tesla back as they have been recalled. Just saying.

A recall these days is just a software upgrade

 

[Seastoke]

A recall these days is just a software upgrade

I believe Bouba.

 

[Meagain]

I agree with you, it can be a real barrier to enter this boating world. During covid sales seemed to get silly with people buying without seeing, cause if they didn’t someone esle would! For most of us it’s a significant investment and we don’t want to get it wrong. That said you need to position yourself as a serious buyer as the brokers do need to guard us all from the “Sunday outing” brigade. Unfortunately it’s not like buying a car and trialing a number first, but if all are serious ( I took an engine surveyor with me on the trial) and have nothing to hid, then a reasonable trial should not be unreasonable and I too insistEd a right to say no without cause. I bought the boat !

 

[Alicatt]

For me it would be how it handles in port...most motorboats are thrilling when you open up the throttle in wide open areas...but can handle like a dog when trying to park. And parking is the most stressful part...plus it will give you an idea if you should option a bow and stern thruster

That would have been a good point in our purchase of the boat, the low speed handling is taking a lot to get used to, no steering to starboard at low speed, it has a massive prop walk, much more than in anything I had before, it's easier to turn 270 degrees to port to go 90 starboard. Quite looking forward to seeing the boat out the water to see if there is anything I can do to improve the handling, say a balanced rudder to catch more of the wash from the prop.
That and we have a tight berth with no room for error

We had bought the boat before we managed to get a run out in her, nothing seriously wrong in the boat, just a bit tired after 43 years, the asking price was ok and we got it a good bit less than that.

Oh for a bow thruster ... those trolling motors I see on the bows of US fishing skiffs make me quite jealous

 

[Tranona]

Then be surprised The only penalty is the cost of the trial, fuel and any other expenses. But you must stipulate in the contract that it is solely at your discretion, which is what our contract says.

That is the key point. Although it is "normal" for the seatrial to just ensure that everything works as described - including meeting any claims of performance, that is because many buyers already have experience of the boat either directly or as a type so know what to expect in terms of such things as comfort. This is particularly true for sailing boats, but powerboat buyers, particularly inexperienced are right to check this aspect out. The dilemma is that when you are buying used you are buying as seen somebody's private property and the seller cannot do anything to correct what you don't like unlike , say equipment that does not work.

However as you have found some (hopefully most!) sellers and brokers are flexible and recognise that they may lose a sale if they don't agree to such a term in the contract. Both parties must be happy with what they agree and make clear in the contract.

 

[ylop]

I can understand why comfort, visibility and how the boat handles are important but I'd be surprised if you could reject on these with no penalty. A sea trial as I see it is to check the boat performs and is as reliable as advertised.

Our sea trial would provide the basis to reject without explanation or penalty and was offered by the broker on those terms without specifically asking for it. But it came after we had paid for a lift out and survey so I think they could be sure we were serious. Doing in that order meant we had a list of things the surveyor suggested checking when underway.

 

[KREW2]

Itwo years ago I bought a Seaward through the Seaward brokerage in West Cowes. The boat didn't perform as well as it should have. Angus Beltcher, the broker said he would not carry on with the trial or sell the boat until some things had been sorted, and we would have another go. This meant another trip to the Isle of Wight. He then gave us two ticket for our return ferry. On the next trial we were expecting to complete and bring the boat home with us, but he was still not happy, and recommended we didn't complete. He suspected a malfunctioning turbo, and asked a local engineer to look at it. He said through lack of use during covid one turbo was seized and the other did not spin easily. he estimated about 2k to put right. The owner said he was prepared to drop the price 5K if I agreed to go ahead. Angus gave me another 2 tickets back to the mainland. After a talk with my local engineer I went ahead, Great service and both parties happy.

 

[jon and michie]

The problem you may face with your sea trial on the river especially if its in Lincolnshire is you wont be able to get up to WOT (wide open throttle) or on the plane if its a planning Hull due to low speed restrictions.
you also may want to consider a Marine engineer (not a joe bloggs mechanic) to accompany you.

When I first bought my boat I had the luxury of given a demonstration and a play on the River Crouch which has water ski zones so speeds could be achieved - then after this when I decided to put a deposit down I had added to the Contract that the purchase was subject to Survey and sea trial - which I got Volspec (localish Volvo dealer) in to do the sea trial to look over the engine and outdrive.

 

[Thalassa76]

We're going through the boat buying process and thought I'd share this which might be of interest to others, Having watched a couple of YouTube videos about what to do on a sea trial (including Nick Burnham) each of the boats we were interested in we said if we proceeded we would want the sea trial to be at our discretion. I would want to make sure we were happy with how the boat handled, visibility comfort etc. 1 responded it isn't a jolly it's just to check the engines, another said we could go a mile up the river to check the engines but anything different would be going further than they normally go. That put us off buying from either of them. Parker Adams on The Hamble brought up the purpose of the sea trial themselves, that it is to check we're happy so full marks to them (And lovely people although we didn't end up buying from them) and the contract from the broker we have bought from states "If as a result of the sea trial the buyer wishes to reject the vessel for any reason whatsoever in his sole discretion..... the deposit will be returned" When you're buying something with a value of a small flat you need to make sure it's suitable for your purposes.

We bought through Parker Adams in Oct 22. Great bunch & would defiantly use again.

 

[Alicatt]

That would have been a good point in our purchase of the boat, the low speed handling is taking a lot to get used to, no steering to starboard at low speed, it has a massive prop walk, much more than in anything I had before, it's easier to turn 270 degrees to port to go 90 starboard. Quite looking forward to seeing the boat out the water to see if there is anything I can do to improve the handling, say a balanced rudder to catch more of the wash from the prop.
That and we have a tight berth with no room for error

We had bought the boat before we managed to get a run out in her, nothing seriously wrong in the boat, just a bit tired after 43 years, the asking price was ok and we got it a good bit less than that.

Oh for a bow thruster ... those trolling motors I see on the bows of US fishing skiffs make me quite jealous

Well the boat has a keel... of sorts a skeg to protect the prop and give a mounting point for the bottom of the rudder, looking along the hull from rudder towards the bow.

 

[Cathy*]

Well the boat has a keel... of sorts a skeg to protect the prop and give a mounting point for the bottom of the rudder, looking along the hull from rudder towards the bow.
View attachment 170393

Our first boat was the only one we've had with single engine and used to prop walk massively to port and we usually ended up reversing down the fairway from the berth so the bow thruster was essential.

 

[harvey38]

The little men from Tesla come in the middle of the night....they have keys to everyone’s garage and they tinker away on your car....and they are gone before you wake up.... and amazingly, they do them all on the same night...just like Santa Claus

Fu+k me, sounds like they run Horizon, just like the Post Office