3 Things to Ask When Looking at a Boat

Buying a used boat is not easy. There are so many things to consider and internet advertisements are not always so forthcoming.  So here are some questions you should ask along the way.

Okay, so while scouring the internet you found this gorgeous boat and it looks perfect for you. What now? There are a few things you should be sure to ask about. Among others, these are three questions I always ask when I contact a seller.

 1.Does the boat have a recent survey?

Having a recent survey is gold! It is a report about the boat written by a professional. As long as the survey isn’t too outdated, you should be able to get a good idea of the value of the boat and what kind of shape it is in and what you should keep your eye out for.

   2. Are the advertised pictures recent and do you have more?

Some sellers will post pictures from their boats glory days in the advertisement. There will probably be a picture of a beautiful sailing excursion, with the boat heeled over, shining in the sun. However, the sad fact is a lot of these pictures may be several years old and not too accurate.

I like to think that people do not post these pictures in order to deceive. Maybe that picture, that looks like it came from a magazine, is how they still see their old beater boats. Either way, before you spend time and gas going to see the boat, make sure to ask when the pictures were taken.

The other question I always like to ask is: do you have more recent pictures. You want to see every nook and cranny of the boat to make sure it’s worth your time and energy. So be sure to see as much as you can before planning a showing.

   3. Is the engine running well?

The engine can be a source of a lot of headaches and drain your wallet fast. Unless you are ready to possibly put thousands of dollars into fixing up or replacing an engine, be sure find out if it is running well.

Follow up questions to this could be: How many hours does the engine have on it? Has it had any recent maintenance? Is it the original engine or has it been replaced as some point?

*There are no hard and fast rules for what to ask, but these are what I generally use. Let me know what you would ask!

4 Reasons To Live Aboard

When I say that I plan on living on a boat, the most common reaction is, "ARE YOU CRAZY?"

My answer most of the time is to say yes, I have always been a little crazy. But honestly, there are a lot of exciting reasons to living aboard. Here are 4:

#1: LIVING SIMPLY
I don't think that most people understand this one. The point of possessions is to make you more comfortable, but I find that possessions end up weighing you down (and this is coming from a natural-born hoarder mind you).

I spent two summers in high school working at a camp in New Hampshire. During that time I lived in a cabin with 21 girls. The only space I had for my things were two small cubbies, a small shelf by my bunk and the space under my matress that I could keep my clothes. I stayed at camp for almost three months and never needed more space than I had. I had the essentials and never missed all my stuff which barely fit in my room.

I want to live like this again. As Americans we have too many possessions that just clutter our space and weigh us down. And you need a light load to be able to sail away to where the wind wants to take you ;)

#2: AT HOME ACTIVITIES
Sam (my fiance) and I are introverted for the most part (a common side effect to years of homeschooling I guess). We like to spend a lot of time just the two of us and do things at home.

Living aboard sounds perfect for us. I can just see us fishing off the side of our home on an early Saturday morning or after work. Or maybe we could sail down the coast for a few days together and see the sights--without all the packing and cramped car rides. Or we could just go for an afternoon picnic on the deck, by the Statue of Liberty. Possibilities are endless...

#3: BUILT-IN OCEAN VIEW VACATIONS
I kind of already mentioned this in the last point, but vacations are going to be spectacular! Imagine being able to sail away when ever you want.  Yes, we still have responsibilities that will tie us down, but we are young and I guarentee you our home will not always be tied down ;) My dream is to save up enough money to be able to sail away for a few months.  We'll have to wait and see when that can happen...

#4: SAVES MONEY
Okay,  this one I have to admit is not true for everyone. If all goes according to plan, Sam and I will be at a nice marina across the water from NYC. It's going to cost us around $700-$800 in housing expenses per month (or should I say boating expenses?). A one bedroom apartment in NJ averages around $1500/month. We will also save money on small things like electricity and water.

Expenses can really go either way. There are as lot of factors: size of your boat, amenities, location...ect. Be sure to keep these in mind if you are thinking about living aboard.

Comment the reasons why you would want to or chose to live aboard!!!

Contact Me

Feel free to contact me with any questions or comments!

Lauren Nash
Laurenn242@gmail.com

Beware the Internet!

There is almost no limit to how much someone can embellish and exaggerate on ads. Just let me tell you about my first horrible experience going to see a boat.

My fiance and I found an ad on craigslist for an Irwin 37. I already know what you are thinking: of course craigslist isn't that reliable and I am just another of the hundreds of craigslist horror stories. Okay, maybe "horror" is a bit of an exaggeration, but you understand what I mean.

Anyway, we found this boat. It was listed as a project boat, well loved by the last owners and in need of only some cosmetic work from old water damage. We requested some pictures and the boat looked fine in them. There was a little water damage visible on a board or two, but it looked like it was in decent shape and nothing we couldn't handle.

We went to a showing of the boat 3 hours, $30 bucks in tolls, and a tank of gas away from our home. We were probably 15 minutes early when we walked up to the boat and called out to see if anyone was aboard. A man with a burning cigarette hanging from his lips sticks his head out the hatch to greet us. I don't really have anything against cigarettes per say, but being in an enclosed area talking about a possible $10,000 deal is not a place I would suggest smoking. 

Anyway, we get into the boat, where we find that we interrupted them wiping the mold off the ceilings and walls. Apparently "a little old water damage" was not so little and not so old. We could stick our fingers through almost every piece of wood on the boat. Between the mold and the cigarettes, it turned my stomach to even breath. When I asked questions about the appliances, water system and engine, I was told that they worked the last time they were used...at an undisclosed time...too long ago to remember. 

Apparently, a little bit of cosmetic work means "NEEDS GUTTING, its possible that some stuff might still work. Have fun finding out!"

Needless to say, the first stop on our hunt for our dream boat was not so dreamy. Beware the internet!! 

**Picture provided by: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/34/5d/ee/345dee41dcd7b1a2efd45ae9b8dd9f35.jpg

Give Your Trashcan A Nautical Makeover

Give that old trash can a makeover by hot gluing some rope around the outside. For finishing touches I recommend gluing a thick ribbon a couple inches from the top rim, maybe navy blue to go with the nautical theme. You can always add detail with an anchor emblem or whatever you like!

Enjoy and happy crafting!

**Picture provided by http://www.hometalk.com/2169587/100-bathroom-makeover-reveal