How to Buy a Boat | Beginners Guide Part 1 | Podcast 032

Watch Part 2 NEXT: • How to Buy a Boat | Be...
In "How to Buy Your First Boat: PART 1" we arm you with the knowledge you need BEFORE you start shopping for your first sailboat. Do you know the TWO questions you must ask yourself in order to make the right decision?
We walk through the differences between coastal and blue-water sailboats. And we explain precisely what you must know, and what you need to do, before you even start to go shopping.
Are you familiar with sailboat construction, as well as the pros and cons of the gear?
• Keel
• Engine
• Layout
• Construction
• Rig
• Hull
Does size matter?
And why is the boat's depth so important?
Follow our simple guide and you will be well on your way to finding your perfect sailboat.
Make sure you watch the SECOND INSTALMENT NEXT: • How to Buy a Boat | Be...
We walk you through how to make a boat purchase and show you where to start your search. We explain how to inspect each boat you view, the pitfalls you'll encounter along the way and how to negotiate the right price.
• Did you know the three methods of pricing?
• Do you think brokers are important?
• Should you have a boat survey?
By the end of this two-part buyers guide, you'll have the secrets to making a solid boat purchase, and you will have an informed and practical idea of the perfect sailboat for you.
The information in these video podcasts is for those looking to join the growing worldwide community of LIVEABOARD CRUISERS.
Our buying guide can also be used for ANY kind of sailboat.
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5 REASONS NOT TO BUY A BOAT (REVISITED)
• 5 Reasons NOT to Buy a...
HOW WE STARTED SAILING
• How we started sailing...
5 REASONS YOU SHOULD BUY A SAILBOAT
• 5 REASONS WHY YOU SHOU...
HOW MUCH TO SAIL AROUND THE WORLD?
• How much does it cost ...
ARE YOU TOO OLD TO SAIL?
• Are you too old to sai...
THE BEST SAILBOAT TO SAIL AROUND THE WORLD?
• What is the best sailb...
🎣 Liz's Top 3 Fishing Tips
• How to catch fish on a...
🎞️ TOTAL REFIT SERIES: • TOTAL SAILBOAT REFIT: ...
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OUR SAILBOAT
SY Esper is a 1989 Oyster435 cutter-rigged ketch
LOCATION
Secret Gili Islands 8°45'00.0"S 115°56'04.8"E
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[@prestonsjourney]

Thanks! I do appreciate you all and your no nonsense approach to offering advice. One of these days I do hope to work this motion sickness bit out. I went on a cruise ship and we got into some 9 meter seas and oh boy I was as sick as a dog. Our cabin was on the 7th deck and we were getting spray up onto our balcony. It was a trip to remember. That has me a little worried about motion sickness but I figure the body has to adjust. Lol I wish you both continued good health!

[@followtheboat]

Thank you so much for your kind donation to FTB's Rum Fund - nowadays "Coffee Fund"! 😀 I hope you get over the motion sickness - did you see our video about it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iafWq4Kim8t9e9E That cruise ship experience would be enough to put anyone off! One good thing to hold on to is that the motion on a small sailing boat is very different, especially when sailing rather than with the engine running. Good health to you too. 🙏👌🙂

[@nooneanybodyknows7912]

I love your podcasts.😊

[@followtheboat]

We love you!

[@ximono]

Some really good points, thanks! I'm in Norway, so I'm after an insulated sailboat for coastal cruising in cool weather. Because it will be my first sailboat, it should be a small one, but large enough to seat 4-5 people. The Columbie 66 (6.6 meters, not 66 feet!) seems like a good fit. A small, smart, delicious little boat (like Liz said). It is even DNV certified for offshore sailing, should I want to take on the North Sea one day. For my _next_ boat, should I gravitate towards ocean crossing, I'm already looking at folkboat inspired designs like Marieholm 26, Contessa 26 and Bianca 27. Beautiful and proven seaworthy boats that are not too big to handle for solo sailors. But they're not liveaboards.

[@rickowens4397]

Very informative perspective from experienced cruisers. Thanks. Of course I can't comment without inserting some opinion.😃 So here it is. As far as " steel boats are strong" . Boats are designed to be as strong as they need to be whether GRP, steel, aluminum, wood, ferrocement, carbon-fiber or whatever. Certainly considering strength-to-weight-to-cost, steel is very high. Also wooden boats, these days also include-composite, cold molded and strip-planked hulls- all are proven designs. I must add that traditional (carvel) wooden boats, in my experience are, at most, just marginally more demanding of maintenance than any other vessel that lives in the marine environment.

[@followtheboat]

It is true, the marine environment is harsh on any material, Rick. As long as you know what you're letting yourself in for, be it wood, GRP, steel, you'll have fewer surprises.

[@bjswope8797]

Loving your channel. This s the third video of yours I have watched and I plan to watch many many more!

[@fritz3388]

Did you know that electric Air Cons are also very good economical heater? Especially when driven by solar electricity.

[@thomastaylor6991]

You guys have always been an inspiration since I started to dream about returning to Mother Ocean. Coastal cruising or crossing oceans I agree on center cockpit. I like the idea of not having a lot of room for guests due to the fact that if you want to have a big party,just go to the bar. But the main reason for CC in my mind is safety . After all,don't we want to continue to live in order to enjoy?

[@followtheboat]

Yes, I love our centre cockpit and wouldn't have it any other way in big seas! A heavy boat with you in the middle feels secure when the world around you is tipping... 😊🙏⛵ Liz

[@danielwardin3609]

Another wonderful video -- I'm normally shy about committing to a thirty plus minute video but even yours at fifty plus minutes I know will be engaging and never drag. Take care.

[@followtheboat]

Appreciate the feedback, Daniel. It's a pretty niche subject but interesting all the same.

[@iGod4053]

To add: A larger boat equals larger and heavier sail bags. I've witnessed a retired couple (who purchased an all too large sailing boat for them), not having the strength to lift the mainsail sail bag out of the V-berth hatch, and then lacking the strength to drag the sail bag through the saloon and up the companion way steps to the cockpit and then up on deck. They realised all too late, that a smaller yacht would present fewer issues with sail handling.

[@dahveed284]

Prewatching comment: I just put my first big boat under contract. Let's see how many mistakes I've made so far!

[@followtheboat]

Let us know your thoughts, dahveed

[@dahveed284]

@@followtheboat Ok, just finished it. You make some great points. Mainly get the boat that serves the type of traveling you think you would like to do. I say think, because until you start you really don't know (unless you're particularly self-aware). EVERY design decision always comes with pros and cons. You mentioned this. The boat that is open and spacious might have inadequate storage. And that sucks if you're living aboard. If you're just weekending on your boat, you can put up with less storage. If you're month-ending on your boat, you'll wish for more. If you're a cruising liveaboard you'll need some decent storage or living out of a suitcase will drive you to the loony bin. I have a contract on a Leopard 45. A 32,800 lbs (15,000 kg) floating condo (aka condomaran). The prior owner set it up for single handed sailing, which is good because I'm between wives (and neither of the wives would have made a good sailor) so I'm relying on Friends and family to get this boat around. The good news is that the boat currently is on the East coast of Florida and the Caribbean is essentially costal cruising to get too. Though I would like to cross the Atlantic to Europe in 2025. The Guinness in Dublin really does taste better. I agree that the sailing aspect is easy. It's learning to live on a smallish boat that is the toughest thing. BTW, I love watching you because you are the closest to my own age. While watching 20-30 somethings party around the planet on boats is fun, it in no way reflects the experience I will or want to have with my own sailing adventure.

[@followtheboat]

@@dahveed284 thanks. We know lots of happy cruisers on Leopards so I'm sure you'll get on with her better than your ex wife 😅 Plenty of space for storage too.

[@nortonmolly]

Here in NZ we have just put in an offer on a Moody 47 And are now waiting for the survey. Planning to be live aboards. I’ve learnt so much from watching you👍

[@followtheboat]

That's great to hear, thank you. Moodys are great boats! Let us know how the survey goes.

[@stephenauty2402]

Did you get the Moody? If so how are you getting on?

[@TheExumRidge]

New topic. Awnings. Why don't I see more(any?) deck awnings in the anchorages? Stop the sun from hitting the deck. Plenty of halyards. Why not suspend a sun fabric above the deck?... Help me understand please.

[@salmodexter]

Love the Bugs Bunny shirt Jamie. 100% love every episode you graciously send out to us. 😊

[@followtheboat]

It's an intense subject so the shirt provides a bit of light relief 😅

[@salmodexter]

@@followtheboat I found todays podcast subject very relevant. I moved o to my sailboat 2 years ago. Haven’t gone anywhere major yet. Have the intent to though.

[@followtheboat]

@@salmodexter keep us posted on your progress

[@MHow1900]

Don’t feel too bad, a significant amount of GRP is glass (sand)

[@ximono]

On bilge keels: Alan Mulholland just crossed the Northern Atlantic on his 21' bilge keeled junk rigged Wave Rover II. It's a self-built boat, but designed by a naval architect. While I shared your initial skepticism, they do seem to be perfectly safe for crossing oceans.

[@mikefetterman6782]

Thorsten at Sirius yachts (German deck salon sailboats) claims their bilge keels have almost no difference in safety and performance, and offer bilge keels as an option on all their yachts.

[@followtheboat]

Thanks for that, Mike. As we said we have little experience of sailing bilge keelers so this is good to know. I'd be interested to know how the manufacturer's claims compare to real-world experience.

[@charliemcgrain]

Number 1: seaworthy. Your boat needs to be built really well, hull and rig. Everything after that is optional.

[@followtheboat]

It's true. It should be a basic requirement. But all the other stuff is the fun part of shopping/re-modelling! Liz 😄

[@MrSpinnerbug]

Super good information from two very experienced sailors! Wow, just great! Your knowledge is so valuable based on EXPERIENCE, the best teacher! 😊

[@followtheboat]

Thanks for the kind feedback. Yep, experience counts for so much. We should become consultants 😅

[@MrSpinnerbug]

@@followtheboat I think you already are, more than you know!😊

[@gbates122]

Wow you have really knocked it out of the park this time. I absolutely love this episode. Well done!

[@AW9531]

Thought-provoking words from highly experienced cruisers. Thank you. I think that the terms "coastal" and "blue water" can be misleading as they are not really categories, but rather the bookends for a range of cruising intentions. It may be better to start with at least three categories and typical definitions. These are generalizations, recognizing that many sailors have crossed categories during their adventures. [A] Light cruiser: low-risk, day-sailing seldom out of sight of land, under visible optimum weather conditions - typically from port-to-port, in a light displacement sailboat from 30' upwards, with D/L ratio below 200. [B] Moderate cruiser: measured-risk, up to multi-day crossings out of sight of land, under predicted and acceptable weather conditions relative to crew capabilities - typically mainland-to-island or island-to-island, in a moderate displacement sailboat from 36' upwards, with D/L ratio 200-250. [C] Heavy cruiser: acceptable-risk, up to multi-week sailing away from land, under any and all weather conditions anticipated during the current season (excluding hurricane season) - typically highly experienced crew capable of ocean crossing with little possibility of finding land shelter, in a heavy displacement sailboat from 42' upwards, with D/L ratio well above 250. As we move from category-to-category we should also expect the sailboat's comfort ratio to be higher, to accommodate ever more challenging wind and sea states.

[@followtheboat]

Some great thoughts there, thank you. Hopefully anyone looking to buy a boat will find your comment useful 👍👍

[@kennethjackson3377]

Currently buying my 1st sailboat blue water 50 Ted Brewer steel..... I guess time will tell if it's a good idea

[@followtheboat]

I'm sure she'll treat you well, Kenneth. Keep us updated on your progress, please ✌️⛵

[@AirnFire1111]

Good video, good info. While we love our S/V and it makes for a good coastal cruiser, I would prefer a different set if we were liveaboard and taking on guests.

[@followtheboat]

There you go, you've just confirmed what we say: different boats for different jobs! 👍👌😊 Liz

[@sailingsomeday5975]

Time to break out the popcorn and read the comments - There are so many opinions on what makes the best Blue water boat,,,,Should be a fun discussion

[@followtheboat]

This time around we skirted naming specific brands, but we've done that in the past 😁

[@RajeshSingh-Bhangu]

I saw your earlier video on secret hell two years ago. Been following your channel ever since. Thanks for being candid and upfront. I saw your latest video yesterday and looking forward to this one

[@followtheboat]

Cheers, Rajesh, thanks for joining us. Let us know what you think after you've watched it 👍

[@68Thunderbird]

My goal is to sail by myself and want to thank you for your knowledge and information.

[@followtheboat]

Make it happen, Allison! Good luck and fair winds to you.

[@navalgazingatcampdavid]

Enjoyed your channel! Just Subscribed.I’m trying to convince my wife that a circumnavigation is a great retirement project and went so far as to even start a little channel (@NavalGazingatCampDavid) to sell her on the life style….desperate times and all that. Lol. Thanks again for the great content. I have a whoooole new appreciation for the time and care it takes to create these episodes!

[@gregwebb2630]

Thanks

[@followtheboat]

Hey Greg, thank you! That means a lot 🙏

[@nigelsignal461]

Hull construction. One thing that seems to have become really important to consider is the impact the material the boat is made from has on your ability to obtain insurance. Timber boats seem to be harder to get insurance for these days with some insurance companies suggesting problems with dry rot causing high levels of claims. Being a live aboard can also cause problems in obtaining insurance from some companies. Great topic, enjoyed the discussion. Cheers

[@followtheboat]

Insurance is a whole, vast topic on its own! FWIW, we've had fully comprehensive insurance from day 1, and have always found someone to insure us. 👌🙏 Liz

[@marcusdell7420]

Great job guys you covered a huge amount of aspects in a balanced and very informative fashion ... cant wait to see your part 2 release

[@followtheboat]

Cheers, Marcus 😃👍

[@valeriesorrells]

Such great information, thank you so much! We are still on the fence about starting off with a heavy displacement cruiser or go for a 20k lb coastal cruiser to start off with on the east coast of the US. So many choices, even catamarans look fantastic for coastal cruising. Input from the two of you helps center us and really think through all of our choices. Keep these fantastic videos coming.

[@followtheboat]

Hopefully Part 2 will help you crystallise your decisions. Off the cuff, I'd say get a heavy displacement boat if you've even the slightest idea of joining the bluewater cruising community. Mainly because if you buy and sell a boat you'll lose money. I'd say buy the right boat right from the start. Heavy displacement boats are fine for coastal cruising, just slower. Add a code 0 and good light-wind sails to help. 👍🙏 Liz

[@valeriesorrells]

@@followtheboat I love the way you two think. We have been looking at previously enjoyed IPY, Hylas and Oysters for our dream boat and of course Garcia and Allures. We have been to the Annapolis Boat show to get a feeling of bigger boats. Most of the boats around here are lake sailers, up to 40ft. The search continues.

[@24hourtravellers]

Dropping a comment, show of support ❤

[@danielwardin3609]

This may be a myth but I've heard that KZbin only counts comments made up of seven words or more. So I've heard... Best regards.

[@followtheboat]

Thank you @24hourtravellers!

[@followtheboat]

You may be right, Daniel, but for creators the YT algorithm is a complete farce!

[@captainsalty56]

Not quite sailing but useful to anyone contemplating life at sea: Buy a Skip Bin, paint it grey and live in it for 6 months straight. Sleep on the top shelf of your closet. Replace the door with a curtain. Four hours after you go to sleep, have your wife whip open the curtain, shake your foot, shine a flashlight in your eyes, and mumble, “Sorry mate - wrong rack”. Have your next door neighbours come over each day at 0600 - blow a loud and warbling whistle - and then Shout: “Call the Hands, Call the Hands, Call the Hands - Wakey, Wakey, Wakey!.” Do this once more - just in case. Build a wall across the middle of your bathtub and move the showerhead down to your chest level. When you take showers make sure you turn off the water while soaping. Every time there is a thunderstorm, go sit in a wobbly rocking chair and rock as hard as you can until you’re nauseous. Put lube oil in your Evaporative Cooler instead of water and set it to “high”. Don’t watch TV except for movies in the middle of the night. Also, have your family vote on which movie to watch, and then show a different one. Leave your lawnmower running in your living room for 24 hours a day for the proper noise level. Have the paperboy give you a haircut. Once a week blow compressed air up your chimney, making sure the wind carries the soot across to your neighbour’s house. Laugh at him when he curses you. Wake up every night and have vegemite on toast. Optional: tinned snacks you smuggled on board. Set your alarm clock to go off at random times during the night. When it goes off, jump out of bed, get dressed as fast as you can, then run into your backyard and break out the garden hose. Once a month take apart every major appliance and then put them back together again. Use 18 scoops of coffee per pot and allow it to sit for 5-6 days before drinking. Invite 100+ people you don’t really like to come and visit for a couple of months. Shit, shower and shave with these people. Install a fluorescent lamp on the bottom of your kitchen table and lie under it to read your books. Raise the threshold and lower the top sills on your front and back doors so that you either trip over the threshold or hit your head on the sill every time you pass through. Once a day randomly throw your household pet into the neighbours swimming pool, and then run through the house yelling: “Man overboard!” When your other half is cooking the evening meal - run into the kitchen and sweep all the pots/pans/dishes off the counter onto the floor, then yell at them for not having the place “secured for sea”. Put on the headphones from your stereo (don’t plug them in). Go stand in front of your stove. Say (to no one in particular) “stove manned and ready”. Stand there for 3-4 hours. Say (once again to nobody) “stove secured”. Roll up the headphone cord and put it away. When it rains. Get two empty coke bottles, tie them together, and hang them around your neck. Go outside and stand in the rain for four hours. From time to time look through the coke bottles and observe the horizon and lightning. Put on a clean white suit, then go change the oil in your car. Jason pistol / Needle gun the aluminium siding on your house after your neighbours have gone to bed. Make your family qualify to operate all the appliances in your home (i.e. Dishwasher operator, blender technician, etc). Submit a request form to your father-in-law, asking if it’s ok for you to leave your house before 3pm.

[@thomastaylor6991]

I've heard on long passages people in light boats might be you to a destination by three days. But they are so beat up,after you get there in your heavy boat ,three days later they are still recuperating.

[@horizonchasing]

Plus they've had to pay three day's extra marina/mooring fees and bar/restaurant bills. 😉

[@followtheboat]

Haha! Ask Jamie about crossing the Atlantic on a lightweight boat... He did it before we bought Esper and said never again! 😄 Liz