Buying a used yacht/boat is always a stressful process with offers and counter-offers, sea trials, lien checks, documentation and insurance. Once a potential boat is located, a marine survey is always recommended to make sure you are getting what you are paying for and there are no hidden surprises.
But anyone can hang his shingle out as a Marine Surveyor; there are no laws governing or restricting their operations. So how do you choose a surveyor to check out your “new” used boat? Let me give you some pointers.
For starters, if you are dealing with a reputable Yacht Broker such as me, he will guide you through the process. I know several marine surveyors that I will recommend as I’ve had experience with them in the past and I know their capabilities. I will not choose one for you however, as I don’t want any suggestion of a conflict of interest. The surveyor works for you!
There are several types of surveys but for you as a buyer, the Pre-Purchase Survey is the one you will want. It will be the most comprehensive type of inspection, and is usually requested by lenders and insurance companies when purchasing a used vessel. The yacht’s condition and overall operation of the vessel will be thoroughly examined. The value of the yacht will also be estimated by the surveyor.
If your Yacht Broker gives you the names of surveyors, ask your Broker questions about the surveyor, then check them out yourself. Although not required, surveyors typically belong to one or more certification boards. SAMS, the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors is probably the one used most often in the US. SAMS provided training to surveyors and certifies them as to inspecting specific types of used boats and yachts.
Step 1 - Go to the surveyor’s website if he/she has one. Read what his/her qualifications are relative to your chosen vessel.
Step 2 - Contact the surveyor personally; ask him/her about his qualifications to survey your chosen boat; how many yachts like yours has he performed surveys upon? Can he provide customer references?
Step 3 - Ask him how he conducts his survey.
For example, how does he evaluate deck moisture readings, how does he evaluate bonding systems, how does he evaluate hull hydrolysis, will he climb the sailboat mast to inspect rigging if you are buying a sailboat, how does he evaluate engine mechanical health, oil sampling perhaps? Does he check the Hull ID to make sure the boat is not stolen; request that a rubbing be made to provide to the insurance carrier? Ask how long the survey will take and how much it will cost; how long it will take to get the final report. Will the report be handled electronically or by mail? Ask enough questions to get a good feeling that the person you are hiring to evaluate your boat is competent and has your best interest in mind.
Surveys provide good information on the vessels' condition, but they are not total guarantees as to the complete condition of the vessel. To perform such a survey would require disassembly of the boat and we know that’s not practical. The surveyor reports the condition of accessible areas only as it exists at the time of inspection.
My next post will be about what to expect during the actual survey.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
The First Mate’s Role – A Woman’s Perspective
My wife Mary is the First Mate of the trawler, the Patricia Ann. I jokingly call her the Admiral because any decision by me, the Captain, can be overruled by her but we are usually a good team and in agreement.
A yacht is a small city afloat. There are at least two power generation systems, both alternating and direct currents and maybe a wind and solar system on some used boats, a waste treatment system, hotel accommodations to allow the crew to sleep and rest, food preparation systems (electrical or propane), food storage systems (freezers and refrigeration), water systems to allow for bathing and cooking, navigational systems to allow the yacht to move about and even entertainment systems with movies and concerts.
Yes, a yacht is a rather complex system. And running a boat is a team effort – it would be very difficult for one person to handle and monitor everything.
A First Mate’s role is to do anything that the Captain cannot, either determined by skill, preference, availability or all three. The First Mate's role is absolutely critical for safe and enjoyable cruising.
As First Mate, Mary stows everything down below when we are getting ready to cruise (anything that can fall and break while underway). She also handles the lines when leaving the dock. She makes sure to hang those lines in their proper place once we get underway. Our trawler, the Patricia Ann is always ship shape and clutter is NOT an option. While we are cruising to our destination, she is tasked with reading paper charts while I am operating the boat and navigating with the electronic chart plotter and radar. Her role is to navigate and confirm the paper chart’s data for the Captain who’s using the electronic version; call it a backup system. We rarely go without both paper and electronic charts.
When we reach our destination, she handles the anchor, allowing the Captain to set the hook (anchor) at which time she fastens the bridle. If we take our dinghy ashore, the Captain runs that the same as he does Patricia Ann and the First Mate handle the lines. It’s just a lot easier on a 10’ boat than a 44’ boat! When we are ready to leave our anchorage, she again handles the hook, washes the chain and anchor off and secures the security pin. When we arrive back at our slip, she again handles the lines while the Captain guides Patricia Ann right where she should be.
I guess another way to look at it is the First mate is actually the Captain’s assistant. Some women might have a problem with that but my First mate doesn’t. We know couples whose roles are reversed – whatever works!
Another very important first mate duty is to plan meals and provision as small yachts don’t have dedicated chefs. We both do the actual shopping but my First Mate gets to plan everything. She does enjoy that part and loves the shopping even more! We both enjoy cooking – I am the grill-king and Mary is the galley slave, just kidding. She plans healthy, tasty and easy meals as we don’t want to spend hours in the galley when there are islands to explore! You can read some of our favorite recipes on the website.
In a clam shell, the Captain on our boat is responsible for maintaining and operating the boat; the First Mate is responsible for keeping a clean living environment and for the welfare of the crew.
Mike is President of Paradise Yachts, located in Florida USA and Mary is First Mate of the motor vessel Patricia Ann
A yacht is a small city afloat. There are at least two power generation systems, both alternating and direct currents and maybe a wind and solar system on some used boats, a waste treatment system, hotel accommodations to allow the crew to sleep and rest, food preparation systems (electrical or propane), food storage systems (freezers and refrigeration), water systems to allow for bathing and cooking, navigational systems to allow the yacht to move about and even entertainment systems with movies and concerts.
Yes, a yacht is a rather complex system. And running a boat is a team effort – it would be very difficult for one person to handle and monitor everything.
A First Mate’s role is to do anything that the Captain cannot, either determined by skill, preference, availability or all three. The First Mate's role is absolutely critical for safe and enjoyable cruising.
As First Mate, Mary stows everything down below when we are getting ready to cruise (anything that can fall and break while underway). She also handles the lines when leaving the dock. She makes sure to hang those lines in their proper place once we get underway. Our trawler, the Patricia Ann is always ship shape and clutter is NOT an option. While we are cruising to our destination, she is tasked with reading paper charts while I am operating the boat and navigating with the electronic chart plotter and radar. Her role is to navigate and confirm the paper chart’s data for the Captain who’s using the electronic version; call it a backup system. We rarely go without both paper and electronic charts.
When we reach our destination, she handles the anchor, allowing the Captain to set the hook (anchor) at which time she fastens the bridle. If we take our dinghy ashore, the Captain runs that the same as he does Patricia Ann and the First Mate handle the lines. It’s just a lot easier on a 10’ boat than a 44’ boat! When we are ready to leave our anchorage, she again handles the hook, washes the chain and anchor off and secures the security pin. When we arrive back at our slip, she again handles the lines while the Captain guides Patricia Ann right where she should be.
I guess another way to look at it is the First mate is actually the Captain’s assistant. Some women might have a problem with that but my First mate doesn’t. We know couples whose roles are reversed – whatever works!
Another very important first mate duty is to plan meals and provision as small yachts don’t have dedicated chefs. We both do the actual shopping but my First Mate gets to plan everything. She does enjoy that part and loves the shopping even more! We both enjoy cooking – I am the grill-king and Mary is the galley slave, just kidding. She plans healthy, tasty and easy meals as we don’t want to spend hours in the galley when there are islands to explore! You can read some of our favorite recipes on the website.
In a clam shell, the Captain on our boat is responsible for maintaining and operating the boat; the First Mate is responsible for keeping a clean living environment and for the welfare of the crew.
Mike is President of Paradise Yachts, located in Florida USA and Mary is First Mate of the motor vessel Patricia Ann
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Choosing a Bluewater Sailboat
Ocean- sailing is more than recreation; it is a learning platform, observation post, a transportation system for awareness, and a delivery system for understanding. Ocean sailing is often both physically and mentally demanding.
Ocean cruising can be one of the most miserable and enjoyable sports in the world, both at the same time. Ocean cruising people have learned how to manage their lives, including relationships and money, because they must. Ocean sailing presents real problems that require real solutions, that can’t be ignored. Life or death are the only two options.
Ocean cruising is an educational opportunity that has rich potential for the development of knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are difficult to teach in the confines of the classroom. Ocean sailing is a fantastic tool for honing individual and team skills. Bluewater sailing is first, the most wonderful and liberating experience. But it has its own risks that require special care to avoid.
Sailboats were used by the Greeks and Egyptians several thousand years before the birth of Christ. But designs have changes as have the sailors. Designers of bluewater sailboats have taken how boats are sailed today into consideration, considering the extra weight and speed the boats will need. And yes, cruising sailboats are compromises in every sense.
Boats built for speed are much more fragile than those built for durability. But a boat’s seaworthiness has a lot to do with knowledge. Seaworthiness means something very different on sheltered lakes than on vast oceans.
When stability is compromised the boat is not equal to the conditions it is facing. Perhaps the following broader definition is closer to what modern designers aim for; a seaworthy sailboat is one that is able to recover quickly from a 180-degree capsize without serious damage and without sinking. Strong enough to look after herself while hove, free of violent, jerky rolling and pounding, well-balanced, docile on the helm, and easily handled at all times agile downwind and able to beat to windward, or at least hold her ground, in all but the heaviest of conditions. She must able to carry ample crew with good headroom and comfort, plus water and supplies, for extended periods and be capable of good average speeds on long passages.
In Principles of Yacht Design, Larsson and Eliasson note that the seaworthiness of a sailing yacht depends on its dynamic behavior in a seaway; and dynamic effects, naturally, are much more difficult to measure or predict than static effects. (Any boat may be turned turtle by a breaking wave with a height 55 percent of her overall length.
Images of blue water sailboats conjure up names such as Heritage, Contessa, Fisher, Ocean, Tayana and Roberts. So what are the important features to look for in a blue water sailboat?
Ocean cruising can be one of the most miserable and enjoyable sports in the world, both at the same time. Ocean cruising people have learned how to manage their lives, including relationships and money, because they must. Ocean sailing presents real problems that require real solutions, that can’t be ignored. Life or death are the only two options.
Ocean cruising is an educational opportunity that has rich potential for the development of knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are difficult to teach in the confines of the classroom. Ocean sailing is a fantastic tool for honing individual and team skills. Bluewater sailing is first, the most wonderful and liberating experience. But it has its own risks that require special care to avoid.
Sailboats were used by the Greeks and Egyptians several thousand years before the birth of Christ. But designs have changes as have the sailors. Designers of bluewater sailboats have taken how boats are sailed today into consideration, considering the extra weight and speed the boats will need. And yes, cruising sailboats are compromises in every sense.
Boats built for speed are much more fragile than those built for durability. But a boat’s seaworthiness has a lot to do with knowledge. Seaworthiness means something very different on sheltered lakes than on vast oceans.
When stability is compromised the boat is not equal to the conditions it is facing. Perhaps the following broader definition is closer to what modern designers aim for; a seaworthy sailboat is one that is able to recover quickly from a 180-degree capsize without serious damage and without sinking. Strong enough to look after herself while hove, free of violent, jerky rolling and pounding, well-balanced, docile on the helm, and easily handled at all times agile downwind and able to beat to windward, or at least hold her ground, in all but the heaviest of conditions. She must able to carry ample crew with good headroom and comfort, plus water and supplies, for extended periods and be capable of good average speeds on long passages.
In Principles of Yacht Design, Larsson and Eliasson note that the seaworthiness of a sailing yacht depends on its dynamic behavior in a seaway; and dynamic effects, naturally, are much more difficult to measure or predict than static effects. (Any boat may be turned turtle by a breaking wave with a height 55 percent of her overall length.
Images of blue water sailboats conjure up names such as Heritage, Contessa, Fisher, Ocean, Tayana and Roberts. So what are the important features to look for in a blue water sailboat?
- Pleasing to the eye. Can you love the boat--you know there will be issues with her, so she has to make your heart smile while you work through them and accept them or else you'll get dissatisfied and grumpy.
- 35' - 40' on deck. Big enough to be sea-kindly and safe in bad weather, yet small enough for one to single-hand if you had to.
- Good survey. Sound condition and structure, and a dry boat. No need to keep everything wrapped in plastic.
- Good ventilation. . Air conditioning will not be a priority on the high seas.
Heavy displacement cruiser with a full keel and attached rudder. Able to take care of you in bad weather while you hunker down below. - Inboard diesel engine powered at not less than 3 hp/ton. Sufficient power to make your way motoring or motor-sailing when necessary, or to power up and get out of a tight spot.
- Solid fiberglass hull. Easy to maintain and not laminated.
- Fiberglass deck (not teak). Easy to maintain, and no leaks.
Plenty of accessible and well-ventilated storage. This will be your home, so you need enough room for books and other comforts, plus all the spares, tools, etc. for blue-water cruising. - Bulwarks with scuppers. Good solid footing while walking around the deck, and good drainage in downpours or shipping green water.
- Strong through-bolted deck cleats. Strong attachments for docklines and anchor snubber.
Dual bow anchors, one with minimum of 200' chain. Second anchor for storm conditions, and plenty of chain for normal conditions. - 100 gallon fuel tank. Enough to give you a range of at least 500 n miles under power.
- Large water tanks. Enough to last the crew 3-4 weeks without rain catching, or watermaker.
- Small aft cockpit with drains and strong pad eyes for attachment. Comfortable and safe for whoever's on watch, and safe in a seaway, with ability to drain fast if much water is shipped.
- Aluminum keel-stepped mast. Minimal maintenance and more support than deck-stepped.
- Good handholds and foot space on deck for moving around. Essential for safety.
- Good handholds and headroom below. Headroom for a 6' person, and solid handholds for moving around below when the seas are up.
- Sails: Jib with roller furling. Easy to handle from the cockpit.
- Sails: Staysail that hanks on. Bulletproof system, no furling gear to jam, and easy to remove and switch to storm jib.
- Sails: Storm jib. For use on the inner forestay (replacing the staysail) in storm situations--the Tayana 37' heaves to well with this configuration.
- Sails: Storm trysail with separate mast track. For use in a storm, without having to remove the mainsail. Also, useful for stability while sailing downwind.
- Dodger, splash cloths, and bimini. Dodger with easy visibility forward to keep the wind out of the cockpit, and along with splash cloths keep crew in the cockpit dry when water is shipped, and Bimini to shade us from the tropical sun.
- V-berth with double bed on one side, all berths accommodating 6'. Good space to snuggle, and comfort for tall crew.
- Refrigerator. Minimal electrical requirements but yet enough space to keep stuff cool, a freezer would also be good.
- Starting battery separate from house batteries with a battery monitoring system. Enough electrical storage to light and cool the boat, plus run our basic electrical equipment without excessive recharging requirements. Easy way to tell the condition of the batteries (input, output, voltage, status)
- Autopilot. To relieve the helmsman when under power.
- Wind vane. To relieve the helmsman while sailing without draining the battery.
- Swim ladder An easy to drop and retrieve swim ladder on the side of the boat.
- Lee cloths for the cabin berths. Comfort and security for the off-watch crew to sleep below. 3-burner propane stove with oven. Able to cook pretty much whatever we want.
- Instructions for all the equipment. So you can figure out how to fix things, or find out where to go for advice and spares.
- Maintenance record. To know how old the rigging is, what the service record is for the engine, hull, plumbing, and electrical system, etc.
- Diesel cabin heater. To keep you warm on cold nights.
- Life raft, MOB module, flares, fire blanket, propane and CO detectors, and fire extinguishers. Essential safety equipment.
- Radios--marine SSB with ham bands and GMDSS VHF. Essential communication equipment.
- Dinghy with motor. Ability to get around when at anchor.
- Radar. Essential for navigation at night when near land, or in shipping areas, or of course in fog. Also a tremendous assist when approaching an unfamiliar harbor with a hard-to-find entrance, or entering or leaving an anchorage at night.
- Wind instruments (vane and speed) and depth sounder. Depth sounder essential, wind instruments very helpful.
Well there you have it,
Mike
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