He will but his experience is limited to lake sailing. The Cape Dory is on the Florida panhandle and I would want to move it to NC as soon as the repairs are done since hurricane season is here. But the next issue is being able to afford a delivery captain. Found one that is about $465 a day counting provisions. Little steep for my budget with that distance.
I second this. It’s the best way to learn - I did it despite everyone thinking I was crazy. I have learned so much in 3 years owning a boat so far, and I love working on my boat as much as I do sailing. Be prepared for the costs of owning, but otherwise everything is surprisingly do-able if you’re willing to learn and DIY.
Get your sailing friend to take you out sailing on your new boat, if the inspection goes well. Check the sails too, also, check online for replacement sail prices. See if you can find spare parts for the boat you're looking at.
Read some books and start sailing. You're going to make plenty of mistakes, that's part of learning. Ideally, find a local club and start sailing on one of their boats as crew, you'll get free lessons, you'll learn the waterways and where to dock. I was a good sailor then I started racing and became a really good sailor. Racing isn't for everyone but you'll learn a whole lot more pretty quickly. I raced for a couple of years until it took the fun away, now I just go cruising and teach for fun.
I am in the same situation as you. Took the ASA101 and bought a Compac 16. Forgiving, inexpensive and appropriate to learn on before moving up to something larger.
Get a good survey but if she checks out then go for it! A Cape Dory is a classic and beautiful yacht that you’ll probably be happy with for a long time. Sailing is easy to figure out and she won’t be too complicated for a beginner - that’s the perfect size for a first boat.
Pay your friend to charter his boat.
If you aren't competent to sail the boat on your own yet, you would be wasting your money on a survey.
Bad cutlass bearing probably means bad shaft seal, poor alignment caused by perhaps bad engine mounts and/or other engine related items.
Bottom job could mean just needing anti fouling paint but might possibly mean an osmosis grind/fill/fair/seal/gelcoat/paint job.
Any of these repairs might make what looks like a bargain boat into a hopeless money pit that could ruin you for life as a sailor.
Gain some experience before you become another sad story.
Just do it. Everything you need to learn is ON your boat. Buy the book - chapman “piloting and seamanship” other than that, buy the boat and ask a sailor friend to give you a basic lesson on your boat. Buy him a six pack of beer and do it.
Instead of buying, I joined a club/school that has about 80 boats, most of which I'm qualified to check out at a discount. I've been on so many that I'm beginning to understand what I like and don't like. Plus they handle all of the maintenance.
Maybe one day in the future I might buy something or else partner up on a boat.
I *think* broker and agent are interchangeable, here.
The process of buying a house and buying a boat are - for all practical purposes - identical. (There's even a boat MLS.) They'll function just as a real estate agent would if you were buying a house.
I'm on a virtually identical path as you, but for the first time in my life I've been patient. I've taken the ASA 101, 103, 104 and 114 classes and watched a fuckton of videos on YouTube, been reading books, etc.
A surveyor I'd been referred to regarding a FSBO (pronounced fis-boe, for sale by owner - just like with houses) boat purchase I was looking at suggested I find an agent. I just happens my agent and her husband had been suggested to me as they are ASA instructors. She has helped me clarify what I want in a boat and helped me find one. (It's taken longer than I expected, but it looks like I'm closing in on a boat now.)
The process (roughly) is:
- Agent finds a boat sends you the info. Plus you're looking on yachtworld.com, etc.
- y'all agree on a target boat
- agent gets with other agent and makes a verbal offer on your behalf.
- an offer price is agreed upon
- a purchase contract is drawn up and you give agent 10% of agreed price which they put in escrow. by the way, the purchase contract, sets out a timeline of how long each party has to finalize things. During this time you will get a survey of your boat.
- agent schedules a "survey" (inspection) of the boat by someone capable and certified.
- the survey takes place. They go over the boat inch by inch. BE THERE for the survey and attach yourself to the surveyor - you'll learn a lot.
--- you pay for the survey, which includes sailing it under engine and wind power, having it hauled out of the water so the keel can be inspected and then relaunched, which you pay for as well.
- the surveyor gives you and your agent the report which you can use to negotiate the price.
--- if the survey reveals the boat needs, say $10k in repairs, it doesn't mean you ask for $10k reduction in price. It might be $5k or whatever, just know that it’s not a dollar for dollar kind of thing. an experienced agent will be able to look in their MLS system and see what similar boats have sold for.
- The price of the boat is renegotiated and you either give them the cash or arrange the financing. (I am paying cash for my boat.)
- you now have a boat.
Be prepared for this process to take some time. There's a heavy learning curve.
If you don't know of an agent or someone to recommend one, call an ASA teacher in your area and they'll be able to recommend someone, I'm guessing.
Good luck, and feel free to DM me with any questions.
That's basically the same thing that I am doing right now, so it's obviously a great idea!
It's not that easy to actually finalize a purchase, I've had to find out, though. Two sellers cancelled on me on rather short notice for whatever reason and they seem rather unresponsive in general. I wonder if dealing with a broker is a better experience... Anyway, make sure that the seller reserves the boat for you from the time of the survey until you get the report and a bit of time to make the decision. Sucks to pay for something you then have no use for.
It seems like a loooong way home from western Florida to NC, at least on the water. Maybe do some trucking to the eastern coast and then motor up the ICW?
My budget also includes 3 days of skipper training on the boat. It can be a bit expensive, but I suppose it's the best kind of training you can get. A friend with whom I sail with on the local lake is also interested in that and we can split the cost, which is nice. Maybe you can find someone to split that, as well?
Decided I wanted to buy a sailboat and learn to sail. Bought a 32'.
First time I had ever been ON a sailboat was when we did the survey.
Learned to sail by hiring an instructor for 3 lessons, then hit the water. I'm still learning to sail every time we go out, but we move along and have fun.
I bought a 34 feet sail boat and sailed it home over 200nm from the seller together with a friend. None of us had never been in a sailboat before. Both experienced with boats but not sailing.
Don't rush into it because you think THIS boat is a good deal. There are a lot of boats for sale, and there always will be. a CD 28 might not even be the boat you want. Maybe you take some classes and learn more and you discover you like beach cats more, or buoy racing, or "faster" sportier boats. Also it is almost always a better idea to buy a boat where you want it to be, vs shipping it/moving it from somewhere else. By the time you buy this boat and pay a delivery captain...the money you save on the "killer deal" will be gone (if its in the panhandle trucking it will surely be cheaper and quicker than sailing it). Buying a 20 some odd foot boat with little experience isnt a bad idea at all, its a good way to learn. But rushing to buy a 28' boat hundreds of miles away because you think its the only good deal out there, with little experience is not a great idea.
Not at all. ASA course is a good idea. Will your friend sail with you on your boat?
He will but his experience is limited to lake sailing. The Cape Dory is on the Florida panhandle and I would want to move it to NC as soon as the repairs are done since hurricane season is here. But the next issue is being able to afford a delivery captain. Found one that is about $465 a day counting provisions. Little steep for my budget with that distance.
Trailer it! Or find something closer.
With a little practice and a good weather window, you could do it yourself.
M no o it’s the best way to learn. It’s not rocket surgery. If something is making noise or flapping loose, fix it
I second this. It’s the best way to learn - I did it despite everyone thinking I was crazy. I have learned so much in 3 years owning a boat so far, and I love working on my boat as much as I do sailing. Be prepared for the costs of owning, but otherwise everything is surprisingly do-able if you’re willing to learn and DIY.
Get your sailing friend to take you out sailing on your new boat, if the inspection goes well. Check the sails too, also, check online for replacement sail prices. See if you can find spare parts for the boat you're looking at. Read some books and start sailing. You're going to make plenty of mistakes, that's part of learning. Ideally, find a local club and start sailing on one of their boats as crew, you'll get free lessons, you'll learn the waterways and where to dock. I was a good sailor then I started racing and became a really good sailor. Racing isn't for everyone but you'll learn a whole lot more pretty quickly. I raced for a couple of years until it took the fun away, now I just go cruising and teach for fun.
I am in the same situation as you. Took the ASA101 and bought a Compac 16. Forgiving, inexpensive and appropriate to learn on before moving up to something larger.
Get a good survey but if she checks out then go for it! A Cape Dory is a classic and beautiful yacht that you’ll probably be happy with for a long time. Sailing is easy to figure out and she won’t be too complicated for a beginner - that’s the perfect size for a first boat.
Appreciate the positivity! Im almost over the fence, lol.
Pay your friend to charter his boat. If you aren't competent to sail the boat on your own yet, you would be wasting your money on a survey. Bad cutlass bearing probably means bad shaft seal, poor alignment caused by perhaps bad engine mounts and/or other engine related items. Bottom job could mean just needing anti fouling paint but might possibly mean an osmosis grind/fill/fair/seal/gelcoat/paint job. Any of these repairs might make what looks like a bargain boat into a hopeless money pit that could ruin you for life as a sailor. Gain some experience before you become another sad story.
Just do it. Everything you need to learn is ON your boat. Buy the book - chapman “piloting and seamanship” other than that, buy the boat and ask a sailor friend to give you a basic lesson on your boat. Buy him a six pack of beer and do it.
I actually already have this book. Guess Im ready! Lol
Instead of buying, I joined a club/school that has about 80 boats, most of which I'm qualified to check out at a discount. I've been on so many that I'm beginning to understand what I like and don't like. Plus they handle all of the maintenance. Maybe one day in the future I might buy something or else partner up on a boat.
Just know that fixing the boat will be a huge party of it and go for it!
Hire the Asa person to train you on your boat! That's what I did!
This is an amazing idea!
If I could add, use an agent to purchase the boat and take the ASA 101 and 103 classes. You should have time as buying a boat takes a bit.
I’m not familiar with using an agent to buy a boat. Is that the same as going through a broker?
I *think* broker and agent are interchangeable, here. The process of buying a house and buying a boat are - for all practical purposes - identical. (There's even a boat MLS.) They'll function just as a real estate agent would if you were buying a house. I'm on a virtually identical path as you, but for the first time in my life I've been patient. I've taken the ASA 101, 103, 104 and 114 classes and watched a fuckton of videos on YouTube, been reading books, etc. A surveyor I'd been referred to regarding a FSBO (pronounced fis-boe, for sale by owner - just like with houses) boat purchase I was looking at suggested I find an agent. I just happens my agent and her husband had been suggested to me as they are ASA instructors. She has helped me clarify what I want in a boat and helped me find one. (It's taken longer than I expected, but it looks like I'm closing in on a boat now.) The process (roughly) is: - Agent finds a boat sends you the info. Plus you're looking on yachtworld.com, etc. - y'all agree on a target boat - agent gets with other agent and makes a verbal offer on your behalf. - an offer price is agreed upon - a purchase contract is drawn up and you give agent 10% of agreed price which they put in escrow. by the way, the purchase contract, sets out a timeline of how long each party has to finalize things. During this time you will get a survey of your boat. - agent schedules a "survey" (inspection) of the boat by someone capable and certified. - the survey takes place. They go over the boat inch by inch. BE THERE for the survey and attach yourself to the surveyor - you'll learn a lot. --- you pay for the survey, which includes sailing it under engine and wind power, having it hauled out of the water so the keel can be inspected and then relaunched, which you pay for as well. - the surveyor gives you and your agent the report which you can use to negotiate the price. --- if the survey reveals the boat needs, say $10k in repairs, it doesn't mean you ask for $10k reduction in price. It might be $5k or whatever, just know that it’s not a dollar for dollar kind of thing. an experienced agent will be able to look in their MLS system and see what similar boats have sold for. - The price of the boat is renegotiated and you either give them the cash or arrange the financing. (I am paying cash for my boat.) - you now have a boat. Be prepared for this process to take some time. There's a heavy learning curve. If you don't know of an agent or someone to recommend one, call an ASA teacher in your area and they'll be able to recommend someone, I'm guessing. Good luck, and feel free to DM me with any questions.
That's basically the same thing that I am doing right now, so it's obviously a great idea! It's not that easy to actually finalize a purchase, I've had to find out, though. Two sellers cancelled on me on rather short notice for whatever reason and they seem rather unresponsive in general. I wonder if dealing with a broker is a better experience... Anyway, make sure that the seller reserves the boat for you from the time of the survey until you get the report and a bit of time to make the decision. Sucks to pay for something you then have no use for. It seems like a loooong way home from western Florida to NC, at least on the water. Maybe do some trucking to the eastern coast and then motor up the ICW? My budget also includes 3 days of skipper training on the boat. It can be a bit expensive, but I suppose it's the best kind of training you can get. A friend with whom I sail with on the local lake is also interested in that and we can split the cost, which is nice. Maybe you can find someone to split that, as well?
Im actually considering having it hauled the entire way. May be the safest bet since I am inexperienced and in hurricane season now.
Consider coboaters.com. It’s a great source for skippers looking for crew experienced or not.
Decided I wanted to buy a sailboat and learn to sail. Bought a 32'. First time I had ever been ON a sailboat was when we did the survey. Learned to sail by hiring an instructor for 3 lessons, then hit the water. I'm still learning to sail every time we go out, but we move along and have fun.
I bought a 34 feet sail boat and sailed it home over 200nm from the seller together with a friend. None of us had never been in a sailboat before. Both experienced with boats but not sailing.
Would be so fun to do that. But my trip would be like 1200nm, a significant amount of time in the gulf stream. Seems a bit daunting for a noob.
agreed
Don't rush into it because you think THIS boat is a good deal. There are a lot of boats for sale, and there always will be. a CD 28 might not even be the boat you want. Maybe you take some classes and learn more and you discover you like beach cats more, or buoy racing, or "faster" sportier boats. Also it is almost always a better idea to buy a boat where you want it to be, vs shipping it/moving it from somewhere else. By the time you buy this boat and pay a delivery captain...the money you save on the "killer deal" will be gone (if its in the panhandle trucking it will surely be cheaper and quicker than sailing it). Buying a 20 some odd foot boat with little experience isnt a bad idea at all, its a good way to learn. But rushing to buy a 28' boat hundreds of miles away because you think its the only good deal out there, with little experience is not a great idea.