Buying a used sailboat, the used sailboat market has crashed

How did I just find your channel now, this is HILARIOUS and so informative!! 😂❤

This guy is great! Play video at 2x speed and sit back for a great ride!

Such underrated advice man 👍

I suggest buy a small day sailor or better yet a windsurfboard! Want to see the Caribbean? Airfare is cheap and will accomplish thousands of miles in just a few hours vs weeks! Once you get there simply charter a sailing vessel! Remember that you don't own the boat! The boat owns you! Sail boats tend to run a ground! If that happens that can mean shipwreck!

I was thinking of spending $300k .. $400k on a Benetau 40.1 but after watching this video maybe I should rethink it , saving some money for more beach activities .

News flash, long ocean passages are a bore or they’re downright terrifying.

80% of "blue water" boats never see open ocean...hell...10% never leave the dock.

30-40K to cross an ocean? ok, lmao

Ugh, I do not like compost toilets. Turned down boats on that one -- one was a boxy Hunter. Did a lot of practice on a Hunter 27, the thing sailed really good-- this particular boat I would put up all the sails over power stall out then reduce from there-- a very forgiving little boat.

Thanks! Great vid! Regarding that Hanse in your review, it looks like it also sustained damage in hurricane Irma. You jumped over that in the description. Does knowing that change your perspective on whether it's a good deal or not? I've seen a lot of hurricane Irma damaged boats on the market, but all of the charter companies give the standard boilerplate on how they've been repaired to manufacture standards. I'm wondering what your thoughts are overall on purchasing and Irma damaged boat.

Again!

Excellence

Nice to see you,I was out of YT long time.
We finished our sailboat and we are in Montenegro now after 7000nm from Fl.
Best wishes in New Year from Peck
Sailing EnVera

I got a 34 Catalina for 15k last year through a broker that was in a slip and it needed a new mast seal, freshwater boat. When I look at the market now it's like 50-60k 😅 Where is the catamaran pricing? And yeah I sailed it for a couple weeks, no problems. The deals are out there if you find people needing cash and know what you want. Unless it's a catamaran, then you're probably still getting ready to shake that piggy bank upside down. I mean we're talking about a really specific market on monohulls under 100k because if you want a 20 year old Gemini it's that same 75-100k as it was last year. Do I worry about the market crashing what if I wasted a couple thousand replacing a mast seal? What if I have to replace the rigging next year? Nope my car costs way more money. I think specifically monohulls under 100k more than 20 years old, their bottoms are around 15-30k going into, and during a recession.

A fun hour. Thank you. I do have one question...You seem not to consider catamarans. I am a dingy sailer (Melges 14) and will never convince my wife to purchase a live-aboard. That said, I would think a catamaran would be the ideal boat for the live-aboard island-hopping you describe. Was it just pricing (catamarans are more expensive?) or was there some other reason you did not consider them.

PS, This was my first experience on your channel and I subscribed!

I am french and owned 2 sailboats in japan, for sailing and also for living on board. My first boat was a 30 ft boat, my second was 26 ft, and as a minimalist, i spent much more time living on board and sailing on the 26fter, more than enough for a solo (at least with simple demands), and much easier to sail . Choosing a sailboat is a very personal thing, and no one can determine what is the best for everyone, because each individual is different. But since the 80's or so the boat market produced bigger and bigger sailboats to make money in the capitalist - materialistic /consumerist system. In the 60's /70's , a 25 ft or even a 22 sailboat was often considered as a quite big cruiser (all is relative ) and originally a sailboat is made to sail, not an "official house on the water ;),

Thank you I fell I have learned so much .
I have been looking for a boat for so long I've almost talked myself out of one.
Till I watched this you clarify so many things

What the f*ck do you need a double helm for? For exposing the 2 Rudders to damage or Line's in the Water? Nobody needed those 2 Rudders 20 Years ago.

Gday Chris,
Thanks for all the great advice. Just like you said, I’m the classic mid fifties, working hard to get everything paid off as quick as I can so I can go sailing!
I really appreciate your straight up attitude and the time you take to put these vids together. All the very best for 2024,
Cheers from Downunder
👍🍻🍷

Great video Chris. I agree with your assessment of the Hanse 40 2011 in the BVI. We're Canadian. Purchase and import problems? Is it easier to buy from the U.S. or stay in our limited Canadian market?

Love your no BS approach. The first rule in buying a boat. Get what works best for you. From there get it in the best shape it can be in. And if its got a compass its perfect. All the rest is on borrowed time anyhow. Noboy is going to do installation as well as yourself anyhow. Thats providing you have the skillset to do them. If not, have a blueprint of every system you have installed and get familiar with where things are with the tech before you leave. Up your confidence before your big adventure and you won't be worried about the what ifs.

I just checked yesterday and im pretty sure you're right. I saw beneteau's and Jeanneau's pretty cheap and even a prout snowgoose that has been overpriced forever (needs a Lot of work) finally dropped

These latest videos have really been good. Very informative educational whatever. ❤ I'm about to jump!!!!!! Get me 1! I'll sign on for ur consults.

How does one get the opportunity to come sailing with you on 1 of your voyages?

Hunters are generally boats for people who do not care if the boat sails well . Great dock cottages though .

If the market is crashing , then you are buying a depreciating asset . Don't forget it . Older boats vary widely in value depending on condition . I would rather have a mint condition well upgraded and maintained 35 year old boat than a 10 year old one where the last owner used up all the equity and she is in need of an extensive refit . It is like a 10 year old car that no one did anything but drive .

On top one of the things with newer boats is they get way more complicated and the engines become less owner maintainable . They are also less proven and less likely to have known problems and fixes . But they do have some nice features .

So for me what I did was go after a well maintained older boat that would be way out of my budget if newer thus getting a proven boat with all the bugs worked out and problems known that is a better boat than I can afford newer .

One other thing about an older and smaller boat , it might attract less crime as it does not look like a fat target . Cheaper in marinas and on the hard too

A Serious Question? No matter what you buy in the used boat market - replacing your rigging and all the accessories associated with the rigging must be replaced every 8 to 10 years ??? So you must consider this when you make any offer no matter the age of the boat

What was that app or site he was using at the beginning and can I use it on my iPhone it looks like google earth ?

Living in the UK I’ll need to sail the Atlantic , North sea , Irish Sea that’s part of the reason I’m looking at the ocean type cruiser

Interesting to see your perspective, now I feel the hunters are cheap cocktail boat. We went and looked at one very disappointing. Then we looked a Beneteau 390 pos. Ended up buying a Sweden yachts 38. Older girl 1985 the difference in fit finish, hardware, Volvo w sail drive skeg hung rudder. Everything just feels a different level. Wing keel. Phrf rating is 124 she pretty fast. The production boats feel like tin can car vs stout Mercedes where when you close doors etc feel is not cheap an whimpy. What are your thoughts on a Sweden yachts? And real world value? Thank you enjoy your channel and perspectives.

Bavaria has a much better build quality than Hunter.

I was very interested to hear your comments on the Hunter 356. I have a 2002 H356 and love it. The interior layout is great. It has lots of room, including a queen-size berth, and a separate shower. It sails great, and like you pointed out, cockpit is spacious. The stern rail seats are great along the the walk through transom. It also has mainsail furling which I particularly enjoy. It is great for solo sailing. I have done offshore passages on other people's boats. One day, I hope to do some serious coastal sailing on my H356.

I wish my realtor talked to me like this. “Absolute trash…look at these pictures!…trash… moving on”

Chris what in the world are you talking about... <3

One last question—how do you feel about finding a fresh water boat over a salt water boat?

Would you consider doing a beginners guide to renting a charter sailboat video? Costs, licenses needed, best deals, seasons, etc.

Can you find me a reasonable priced boat slip to buy?

This may sound like a silly question, but why do you hate Catalinas?

That Caribbean loop looks wonderful!!! .

I'm so glad I found your channel, Chris. Great stuff. Question: The Carribean sailing circuit you outlined at the start of the video (specifically the part about it costing 4x less than sailing the Med)... are there any cost of living calcultors specific to sailing life that you know of?

You missed something on that 2011 Hanse 40.
.
It said that the mast was lost during hurricane Irma!
.

Not mentioned much but have you sailed a Neel? Is it worth considering when comparing to a Cat?

Why Ohio? I don’t know maybe Lake Erie I’ve sailed it.

What is your problem with Catalina's? They have sold like hotcakes for some reason.

Thanks for all the useful information and great content.

This is the first I'm hearing the med costing 4x . Would love a video comparing all of the different cruising grounds, including South east Asia

Steel vessel - yes or no?
I’m worried as they may rot from the inside and you are not aware it’s happening with the hull covered by tanks, furniture. What are your thoughts?

"You can do this for 20 years and never see the same place twice!" ... Thats hillarious! True, but very funny!