Making an offer on a boat is not just about choosing a number. Before you start talking price, you need to know what you are basing that offer on, what conditions matter, and where your walk-away point sits. Emotion can take over very quickly at this stage, especially if you have already imagined yourself owning the […]

The hardest part of buying a boat is not always finding one. Sometimes the hardest part is deciding whether to buy it, negotiate, pause or walk away. By the time you reach the final decision, you may have invested time, travel, money, and emotion. That can make it difficult to think clearly. This is where you need

Boat paperwork is not the exciting part of buying a boat, but it matters. A boat can look right, survey well, and still become a problem if the ownership, registration, inventory or written conditions are unclear. Before you commit, do the paper trail. Confirm the seller can sell the boat Start by checking that the person

A sea trial is not just a fun day hout on the water. It is your chance to see how the boat behaves when it is actually moving. Some problems do not show themselves at the dock, in the marina or even during a visual inspection. Before buying a used cruising boat, a sea trial

Buoyage (aka lateral markers, or makers or buoys)  is one of the areas that can make new boaters suddenly go quiet. Red markers – Green markers. Channels. Lights. Which side do I pass? What happens if I am coming the other way? If that sounds familiar, you are not alone. At SisterShip Training, we see this

Choosing the right surveyor matters when you are buying a used boat. A survey is not just a box to tick for insurance. It is one of the best chances you have to understand the boat properly before you commit. But a better survey often starts with a better brief. Choose an independent surveyor Look

Not everyone feels confident when they book a NSW boat licence course. Some people look forward to it, others are nervous. A few come along that have been around boats for years but have never been the one responsible or fomalised their knowledge. If you are worried you’ll look silly for asking questions, or havent sat

The engine, batteries and major systems can turn a promising boat into an expensive project very quickly. When you are buying a used cruising boat, it is easy to focus on the layout, the price and how the boat feels. But the systems are where a lot of the hidden costs are. You do not need

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

There are plenty of ways to start your NSW boat licence journey, but local face-to-face training has a few real advantages. Especially if you are new to boating. At SisterShip Training, we train people from Bega, Eden, Merimbula, Pambula, Tathra, Bermagui, Narooma, and the surrounding areas. Many of our students are beginners. Some are nervous, others