Viewing a boat is exciting, but this is when buyers can start overlooking things.
You’ve been checking out the advert and the photos are appealing. Then you’ve travelled to view the boat; the seller may be friendly, the boat may look good from the dock, and suddenly it is easy to start imagining yourself onboard sailing along watching the sunrise on calm seas.
That is exactly when you need a calm process.
Arrive with a checklist
Before you step onboard, have a checklist ready. Don’t rely on memory. When you are standing on a boat you like, it is easy to forget basic checks or talk yourself past small warning signs. And if you view a few boats, they tend to meld into one!
A checklist helps you stay focused and compare boats fairly later.
Start outside
Begin with the outside of the boat before you get distracted by the interior.
Look at:
- hull condition
- decks and fittings
- cockpit layout
- rigging and chainplates
- windows and hatches
- stanchions and lifelines
- signs of damage, repairs or neglect
You are not trying to do a full survey, you’re just trying to decide whether this boat is worth taking further. It’s not only the condition, but does it suit your needs. Noel and I like like a cockpit we can lay down in comfortably. This meant for one boat, with a ‘bucket-sized’ cockpit, we didn’t even step inside, we rang the broker and cancelled the full viewing before going any further.
Look below with your nose and eyes open
Inside the boat, pay attention to leaks, stains, smells and neglected systems. Musty smells, water marks, soft areas, mould, messy wiring, dirty bilges and poor access can all tell you something about how the boat has been cared for.
A boat does not need to be perfect, but you do need to understand what you are seeing.
Take photos and notes
Photograph anything you may want to think about later. And take an ‘overall’ shot of inside and out, so you can keep boats separate in your mind and not mix up differnet systems or layouts with different boats!
Take photos of:
- engine area
- batteries
- bilge
- seacocks
- rigging bases
- deck fittings
- sails and covers
- electronics
- safety gear
- any damage or repair areas
Also write notes while you are onboard. By the time you have inspected a few boats, they can blur together.
Ask direct questions
Do not be afraid to ask specific questions.
Useful questions can include:
- When was the rigging last replaced?
- When was the engine last serviced?
- Are there any known leaks?
- What is included in the inventory?
- Is there a recent survey?
- Is the boat currently insured?
- Are there any issues that would affect survey or insurance?
A good seller should be able to answer these questions, or at least explain what they do and do not know.
Leave before deciding
One of the best things you can do after viewing a boat is leave. Go away, review your notes, compare the photos and look at the numbers properly. Do not make the next move just because you are standing on the deck feeling excited.
A first viewing is not about saying yes. It is about gathering enough information to decide whether the boat deserves more time, money and professional checks.
Want a clearer way to assess a boat before you buy? The Buying a Cruising Sailboat course walks you through the checks, red flags, survey questions and decision points before you commit.
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