Sail yacht Look Before You Leap

Author: Abhishek Agarwal

Whenever you opt for buying a used item you will come across some words that give the seller the options for a better price by proving that his wares are not harshly and roughly handled by the previous owner. You should not fall for certain terms when you are looking at the option of buying a second hand sail yacht. Some of the terms to beware of are “Gently worn,” “previously owned,” “recycled,” and “reconditioned”. So even when the item to be purchased is a second hand sail yacht you should view it with the same options.

Some plus points of a second hand sail yacht

There are some beneficial points to think about in buying a second hand sailyacht. First and foremost it will cost you much less than if you were to go in for a new one. It is definitely a cheaper way to get caught up in the sailing business. You may find that the yacht in question has additional features, without your having to pay for it, which you may not have found in a brand new yacht. The yacht that you are thinking of buying may be a unique one that is not found in the market any more and maybe just one of its kind that will not be manufactured here after.

Make a thorough check before you buy it

Do not go in for the sail yacht unless you check it out thoroughly and are absolutely sure of its condition. In case you are not capable of finding out the problems that may exist in the sail yacht that is second hand, it is better to get someone who knows about how to check things about and find out the true picture. You would need someone who can look out for any faults in the design, or an effort to conceal some severe problems with a poor patch up job.

You could hire a surveyor who would be able to tell you the pros and cons of the choice of yacht. This is suggested only when the price of the yacht or insurance calls for it. Of course you need not go in for a surveyor if you just want to decide which option would be a better buy. Surveyors are specialists and their services are not cheap.

What are the other options to make a examination of the yacht

You could always ask the previous owners about the condition of the yacht. A definite indication would be a scrutiny of the yachts log book where you could ask relevant questions regarding the use of the yacht and the repairs that have been undertaken. Another thing that would give you some idea of the condition of the yacht, is to weigh it against other yachts in its class and of the same age. Once you jot down the points and go over them you will be able to have a fair idea of the general condition of the yacht.

Make a meticulous inspection of the yacht at the time that you go to see it. Examine in detail every bit and piece of it. Begin with the hull, as the rest of the yacht will depend on this as this is the most vital part of the craft. Examine the hull to see if it is smooth and regular and flowing according to the design.

Examine it for other factors like weeping, delamination and various gel coat problems. In case there is substantial gel coat cracking or large amount of leaking all the way through the hull-to-deck joint, think about your choices for this used sail yacht.
Some other problems to look out for are erosion of the electric system.

In case this is green, it is corroded. In case the hull is of iron check for rusting. Check to see whether the sails are stained and dirty, the inboard engine slow to start and rusty, the paint on the interior peeling or chipping and the plumbing smelly, it may be a better bet to avoid going in for this sail yacht.

You will have to give a lot of time and energy and money for a sailyacht. Though repairs are essential for all yachts it should not be so, right in the beginning of your sailing experience. A prudent thing to keep in mind would be to estimate whether the cost of doing up and repairing the yacht would be more than the resale value of the yacht. If this is so then you should not plan to buy the yacht.