Mahina Expeditions

September 25, 2006 D. H. McKee

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One of the best resources I’ve seen on the ‘net for buying boats.
Mahina Expeditions
Boat Selection
Selecting a cruising boat is one of the most important decisions in preparing for an offshore voyage and often is a pivotal point in the changing of dreams from “Let’s take off and go cruising some time”, into the reality of “Let’s get outfitted and go”. Obviously there isn’t any single design perfect for everyone; the boat you choose should be safe, comfortable, well built, and ideally capable of fast passages and prove to be a good investment. The process of selecting and purchasing a boat for long distance cruising usually takes a minimum of six to 12 months. First you’ll need to research boat types which suit your budget and cruising plans. Be patient, ask questions and learn everything you can and keep an open mind. If your plans are for coastal cruising you’ll be able to consider a wider range of boats than those suited for long-distance ocean passages. Secondly you’ll need to locate, examine, survey, test sail, complete the purchase transaction and possibly ship or deliver your new boat to a place convenient for outfitting.
If you make a poor choice you may be plagued with structural problems, leaks, slow uncomfortable passages, endless repairs and a low resale price. I mention resale price now, because the money used for purchasing a cruising boat often represents a substantial part of many people’s life savings. Although sailboats are rarely a “good” investment in strictly monetary terms, you’ll want to recoup as much of your original purchase price as possible when it comes time to sell.

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