Advice on 40ft+ Blue Water Sailing Yacht.. talk me out of it
Discussion
Hi all
First time post on this forum.
Ive recently had some brief time on a 40ft sailing yacht, helping a Skipper with the running of the yacht etc and it's got me thinking about buying one! So looking for some advice and for someone to talk me out of it!
So Ive never owned a boat / yacht and have no sailing experience and Im about to embark on getting that said experience and furthering that with a 'Skipper' coarse in the coming year, with possiby purchasing one in the coming year or two. I would be keen to hear from owners who can offer me real world advise on how they are to live with, maintenance, mooring and the associated fees etc. Im approx. 1 hour from some marinas in North Wales but more keen on the idea of mooring abroad (Croatia, Greek Islands etc). Im used to maintenance costs on Supercars so not blissfully unaware about the upkeep of one and Im technically experienced with engines and electronics so could hopefully manage to keep it in good order should problems arise.
Budget would be up to £100k and looking for a 6 to 8 berth sailing yacht, so any advice on good places to look other than FB. Things to look out for when looking at them; Do you get them inspected etc? Would a 40ft be OK for sailing around the Med etc?
Apologies if they seem like Noobie questions but I guess you have to start somewhere!
Thanks
C
First time post on this forum.
Ive recently had some brief time on a 40ft sailing yacht, helping a Skipper with the running of the yacht etc and it's got me thinking about buying one! So looking for some advice and for someone to talk me out of it!
So Ive never owned a boat / yacht and have no sailing experience and Im about to embark on getting that said experience and furthering that with a 'Skipper' coarse in the coming year, with possiby purchasing one in the coming year or two. I would be keen to hear from owners who can offer me real world advise on how they are to live with, maintenance, mooring and the associated fees etc. Im approx. 1 hour from some marinas in North Wales but more keen on the idea of mooring abroad (Croatia, Greek Islands etc). Im used to maintenance costs on Supercars so not blissfully unaware about the upkeep of one and Im technically experienced with engines and electronics so could hopefully manage to keep it in good order should problems arise.
Budget would be up to £100k and looking for a 6 to 8 berth sailing yacht, so any advice on good places to look other than FB. Things to look out for when looking at them; Do you get them inspected etc? Would a 40ft be OK for sailing around the Med etc?
Apologies if they seem like Noobie questions but I guess you have to start somewhere!
Thanks
C
A few thoughts FWIW -
How long is a piece of string? 40' is large enough for the med (people have circumnavigated in 25' boats!), might be a little tight for 8 depending on how much luxury you want. Conversely, it's worth considering who is sailing with you and what experience they have. Sailing a 40' boat with one inexperienced crew will be a very different to sailing a 30' with 2 or 3 experienced crew.
How long is a piece of string? 40' is large enough for the med (people have circumnavigated in 25' boats!), might be a little tight for 8 depending on how much luxury you want. Conversely, it's worth considering who is sailing with you and what experience they have. Sailing a 40' boat with one inexperienced crew will be a very different to sailing a 30' with 2 or 3 experienced crew.
Not the best time to buy a boat, prices are currently on the upside. It's a sellersmarket.
Always have a pre-purchase inspection carried out.
I think 100k is a category of boat that will get you into a boat of which the state of the boat can be either good or one that has a maintenance backlog (also depending on brand/age/size); think of saggy sails, worn teak decks, failing/worn/old equipment, paint/antifouling needed, osmosis etc.
If you're used to supercar expenses the prices won't scare you, but still. Next to insurance and mooring fees in can be a costly hobby.
Look out for yachts used in rental, many 38 - 45 ft yachts for sale in the Med. are former rentals (especially Croatia, Geece and especially certain brands like f.i. Bavaria, Dufour). Doesnt have to be a bad yacht perse, but be extra critical.
100k is good enough for a decent 40ft one, but there's quit a big price diff. between the "premium" brands (Swan, Contest, X-yachts, etc. ) and the regular ones like f.i. Bavaria. To give you an idea, a new Swan/Contest is about 3 times more expensive as a new Bavaria of the same lenght (although in terms of lenght the entry-level Swan/Contest starts where the Bavaria line-up finishes).
Also think of what kind of boat you want, the sailing characteristics (draft/weight/sail area etc.), space etc. A deeper lying, heavier yacht with less sail area will give you a more stable yacht.
Always have a pre-purchase inspection carried out.
I think 100k is a category of boat that will get you into a boat of which the state of the boat can be either good or one that has a maintenance backlog (also depending on brand/age/size); think of saggy sails, worn teak decks, failing/worn/old equipment, paint/antifouling needed, osmosis etc.
If you're used to supercar expenses the prices won't scare you, but still. Next to insurance and mooring fees in can be a costly hobby.
Look out for yachts used in rental, many 38 - 45 ft yachts for sale in the Med. are former rentals (especially Croatia, Geece and especially certain brands like f.i. Bavaria, Dufour). Doesnt have to be a bad yacht perse, but be extra critical.
100k is good enough for a decent 40ft one, but there's quit a big price diff. between the "premium" brands (Swan, Contest, X-yachts, etc. ) and the regular ones like f.i. Bavaria. To give you an idea, a new Swan/Contest is about 3 times more expensive as a new Bavaria of the same lenght (although in terms of lenght the entry-level Swan/Contest starts where the Bavaria line-up finishes).
Also think of what kind of boat you want, the sailing characteristics (draft/weight/sail area etc.), space etc. A deeper lying, heavier yacht with less sail area will give you a more stable yacht.
Boatshed, Apollo Duck and several independent brokers. Get Googling.
Secondhand boat prices are high and firm at the moment but you may find an owner ready to do a deal at the end of the season because they'll not be looking forward to bills that still run up even when they're unused and ashore through the winter.
Buy something mainstream, in good condition and popular - that'll hold value better than anything left field or needing work and there's likely to be far more readily available spares and information and maybe even a resource packed owners association out there. There's a school of thought that there may be a flood of boats on the secondhand market in the next couple of years as Covid driven purchasers realise what they've got into and want out.
Don't buy anything without a proper survey or off a mate. Make sure you're buying the boat that suits what and how you want to use it because that way it'll get used. Bigger is not necessarily better.
Never underestimate how much time and money you'll need to run and maintain a boat. As a rough ball park budget 10-20% of the original purchase price every year for maintaining and mooring. If you need new sails or standing rigging or the engine lunches itself that's going to cost some serious cash.
Pre Covid Croatia had got seriously overcrowded with chartered yachts and marina berths and diesel had become outrageously expensive. Give it a try from Split northwards by all means but having been there several times on sailing holidays myself I'd be thinking about somewhere else to base in the Med.
Secondhand boat prices are high and firm at the moment but you may find an owner ready to do a deal at the end of the season because they'll not be looking forward to bills that still run up even when they're unused and ashore through the winter.
Buy something mainstream, in good condition and popular - that'll hold value better than anything left field or needing work and there's likely to be far more readily available spares and information and maybe even a resource packed owners association out there. There's a school of thought that there may be a flood of boats on the secondhand market in the next couple of years as Covid driven purchasers realise what they've got into and want out.
Don't buy anything without a proper survey or off a mate. Make sure you're buying the boat that suits what and how you want to use it because that way it'll get used. Bigger is not necessarily better.
Never underestimate how much time and money you'll need to run and maintain a boat. As a rough ball park budget 10-20% of the original purchase price every year for maintaining and mooring. If you need new sails or standing rigging or the engine lunches itself that's going to cost some serious cash.
Pre Covid Croatia had got seriously overcrowded with chartered yachts and marina berths and diesel had become outrageously expensive. Give it a try from Split northwards by all means but having been there several times on sailing holidays myself I'd be thinking about somewhere else to base in the Med.
ChrisPackit said:
Hi all
First time post on this forum.
Ive recently had some brief time on a 40ft sailing yacht, helping a Skipper with the running of the yacht etc and it's got me thinking about buying one! So looking for some advice and for someone to talk me out of it!
So I've never owned a boat / yacht and have no sailing experience and Im about to embark on getting that said experience and furthering that with a 'Skipper' coarse in the coming year, with possiby purchasing one in the coming year or two. I would be keen to hear from owners who can offer me real world advise on how they are to live with, maintenance, mooring and the associated fees etc. Im approx. 1 hour from some marinas in North Wales but more keen on the idea of mooring abroad (Croatia, Greek Islands etc). Im used to maintenance costs on Supercars so not blissfully unaware about the upkeep of one and Im technically experienced with engines and electronics so could hopefully manage to keep it in good order should problems arise.
Budget would be up to £100k and looking for a 6 to 8 berth sailing yacht, so any advice on good places to look other than FB. Things to look out for when looking at them; Do you get them inspected etc? Would a 40ft be OK for sailing around the Med etc?
Apologies if they seem like Noobie questions but I guess you have to start somewhere!
Thanks
C
Get yourself on a RYA course and build some mileage and experience, plus chartering when you have the necessary qualifications/experience before even thinking about owning one. Plenty of courses in the Med, or further afield, to test your resolve...First time post on this forum.
Ive recently had some brief time on a 40ft sailing yacht, helping a Skipper with the running of the yacht etc and it's got me thinking about buying one! So looking for some advice and for someone to talk me out of it!
So I've never owned a boat / yacht and have no sailing experience and Im about to embark on getting that said experience and furthering that with a 'Skipper' coarse in the coming year, with possiby purchasing one in the coming year or two. I would be keen to hear from owners who can offer me real world advise on how they are to live with, maintenance, mooring and the associated fees etc. Im approx. 1 hour from some marinas in North Wales but more keen on the idea of mooring abroad (Croatia, Greek Islands etc). Im used to maintenance costs on Supercars so not blissfully unaware about the upkeep of one and Im technically experienced with engines and electronics so could hopefully manage to keep it in good order should problems arise.
Budget would be up to £100k and looking for a 6 to 8 berth sailing yacht, so any advice on good places to look other than FB. Things to look out for when looking at them; Do you get them inspected etc? Would a 40ft be OK for sailing around the Med etc?
Apologies if they seem like Noobie questions but I guess you have to start somewhere!
Thanks
C
Sail Ionian flotilla experience or charter would be my start point to try and advance my skills.
They have boats up for sail currently. I'm not linked to them in anyway. We did enjoy our 7 days on a charter 6 ish years ago and they were nice people to charter off.
8 crew on a Bavaria 47.
It was a little over crowded : )
They have boats up for sail currently. I'm not linked to them in anyway. We did enjoy our 7 days on a charter 6 ish years ago and they were nice people to charter off.
8 crew on a Bavaria 47.
It was a little over crowded : )
pequod said:
Get yourself on a RYA course and build some mileage and experience, plus chartering when you have the necessary qualifications/experience before even thinking about owning one. Plenty of courses in the Med, or further afield, to test your resolve...
Probably the best advice of all.
Sailing isn't for everyone - sometimes it's bloody hard work, sometimes it'll seem like you're going nowhere fast and sometimes you'll asking yourself what the actual f
k you're doing out there grimly hanging onto the tiller on a rough and rainy night when there's a nice warm bed at home. I started on racing dinghies more than 50 years ago. I still wonder sometimes if sailing is for me
Do it (but do some more research first).
Also get yourself on YT to watch the liveaboard folks as they plot their way around the world - this will give you lots of inspiration as well as some insight into the costs and work that will need to be done to keep a yacht ship shape! (YT = gone with the wynns, sailing zatara, sailing yacht florence, and of course Sailing la vagabond amongst many many others)
In terms of North Wales, it is cold and marinas were expensive the last time I looked at doing this. Sailing in UK waters is a different game to bikini weather in the med but good fun in a different way.
Do the course(s), (day skipper, coastal skipper, yacht master), watch some YT, and do it. It's super easy to get sucked into the idea of liveaboards, racing and solo round the world amongst many other expensive things to do on a boat)
p.s. what is it they say, if it flies, floats or fornicates, rent it first - in which case, do some flotilla sailing (almost no experience required) with the likes of sailingholidays.com first. - This is bikini sailing and will give you an idea of what it's like on a 40 ft boat etc.
Also get yourself on YT to watch the liveaboard folks as they plot their way around the world - this will give you lots of inspiration as well as some insight into the costs and work that will need to be done to keep a yacht ship shape! (YT = gone with the wynns, sailing zatara, sailing yacht florence, and of course Sailing la vagabond amongst many many others)
In terms of North Wales, it is cold and marinas were expensive the last time I looked at doing this. Sailing in UK waters is a different game to bikini weather in the med but good fun in a different way.
Do the course(s), (day skipper, coastal skipper, yacht master), watch some YT, and do it. It's super easy to get sucked into the idea of liveaboards, racing and solo round the world amongst many other expensive things to do on a boat)
p.s. what is it they say, if it flies, floats or fornicates, rent it first - in which case, do some flotilla sailing (almost no experience required) with the likes of sailingholidays.com first. - This is bikini sailing and will give you an idea of what it's like on a 40 ft boat etc.
Did someone call?
Take a look at the link in my profile and maybe give me a buzz. Very happy to give a fellow Pistonheader some words of wisdom regardless of whether I have anything in the toyshop to suit (but with everything from 110ft Wally Yachts down to vintage 6m racing yachts and everything in-between, I'm sure I will have a few interesting solutions.
My professional background is selling bluewater sailing yachts (over 20yrs) so I've worked my way through most.
Take a look at the link in my profile and maybe give me a buzz. Very happy to give a fellow Pistonheader some words of wisdom regardless of whether I have anything in the toyshop to suit (but with everything from 110ft Wally Yachts down to vintage 6m racing yachts and everything in-between, I'm sure I will have a few interesting solutions.
My professional background is selling bluewater sailing yachts (over 20yrs) so I've worked my way through most.
Edited by Yacht Broker on Tuesday 17th August 22:03
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