MV Patricia Ann

Choosing a Varnish for Your Boat's Brightwork

2009-11-25T09:47:00.002-05:00

Marine varnishes have been used to protect and maintain exterior teak on yachts for hundreds of years. History bears witness that varnishes used in the 1700s are very akin to those used nowadays. The coatings provide for the rich beauty of the teak to be seen while offering protection from rain and sun. The finish achieved after careful application will vary from a soft patina to a high gloss finish found on fine furniture.

Assuming you want to protect and embellish your used trawler or sailboat exterior brightwork, how do you select among the incredible assortment of finishes? Recognizing full well that this is as big a deal as debating the differences of power vs. sail, we nevertheless provide the accompanying observations.

What is a Varnish

A varnish is a liquid coating ordinarily applied to treat wood. Its primary components are oils. resins, solvents, dryers and ultra-violet additives. The components are mixed in various proportions to give the best appearance and protection.

Oils

Wood oils typically maintain the new look and texture of the teak more than the other finishes because they permeate deeply into the wood fibers and do not create as much of a surface coating. Oils are accessible in colors ranking from water clear to gold to dark brown. As with all wood finish, many coats generally result in a much more consistent finish and greater longevity. We learn oil to be the easiest to utilize, since surface blemishes are not as obvious in the final outcome. This doesn't mean, notwithstanding, that applying several coats of oil on dirty teak will produce a great finish. You will also find that oil’s thin consistency makes masking areas to protect adjacent gel coat and painted surfaces almost as important with oil as with varnish. Clean, sandpapered teak with a few coats of oil will provide 3-6 months of beauty and protection.

Tung oil is used frequently for teak applications.

Spar Varnish

Spar or marine varnish is a refined finish consisting of oil, solvents and thinners, resins, dryers and other additives. By changing the proportions of the elements, producers create varnishes with widely varied characteristics. Varnishes can have a gloss or matte appearance, can be formulated to be extremely hard for high -use surfaces and can deviate in color.

The two most routine types of varnishes are traditional varnishes made with tung oil and newer polyurethane coatings. Natural tung oil varnishes are excellent for marine use and offer the traditional golden look. Oil modified polyurethanes tend to be more clear, permitting the color of the teak to shine through.

Recent varnishes, furnish better durability in the worst of environments such as the hot, tropical sunlight. Teak moves, and since it is a previously living plant, it expands and contracts with even subtle changes in temperature and humidity. The best varnishes contend with this unstable wood using high quality oils and resins and a higher percentage of solid ingredients, providing a longer lasting, more elastic finish with a higher gloss.

Mil thickness is everything. Six to ten coats is normally necessary to get a quality look. A sound base coat, annually cared-for with maintenance coats, will give the ultimate in appearance, longevity and protection. Despite the original effort nothing appears better than exterior teak finished with gloss varnish.

Interlux’s Original 90 is one of many brands of traditional spar varnishes on the market.

Synthetic Teak Finishes

These applications gained popularity with cruisers in Florida and the Bahamas looking for UV-resistant low-maintenance brightwork. These finishes have uncommon durability for outside use, are easy to apply and look comparatively good. Some spar varnishes such as Interlux Goldspar and Schooner are produced with no pigment so the wood’s beauty is protected. Full gloss and depth vs. convenience is the trade-off with these finishes, but simplicity and time savings can more than compensate. Applying synthetic finishes is akin to teak oil, where you can lay it immediately over sanded, clean wood.

Cetol comes in four forms, with the new Natural providing a more golden color like the real look of raw teak. You can overcoat any of the other pigmented Cetol finishes with the Gloss for a shiny exterior finish. I know of one professional that applies Cetol exclusively and his work is fantastic.

Two Part Teak Urethane Finishes

Another finish to show up in the cruising world are the urethane two-part finishes. Fashioned to replace traditional varnishes, these products have made a mark in the yachting community. Their manufacturers produced these finishes to hold up in tropical conditions for years at the time. One maker, C Tech Marine, boasts that its product Bristol Finish is used on many cruise ships, certifying to its beauty and longevity.

Cedar Planked Salmon on the Grill

2009-11-02T16:08:00.001-05:00

Cooking meals on board a vessel is a delight, and can make for some warm memories. Preparing meals on board does not need to be processed meals and finger foods. Let me show you how to fix a gourmet seafood meal that will impress your dinner guests aboard your boat. Planked grilled fish aboard the trawler, the Patricia Ann; it’s the talk on the docks these days.

Planked grilled fish fillets or simply cooking on a wooden plank is a fantastic experience; if you like the flavor and smell of smoked fish, this way is for you. This method is great as it gives you actual smoke for flavor. This is especially good if you are broiling salmon fillets, which are my favorite. As a matter of fact, legend has it that this method to grilling came about as a result of grilling chef experimentation. But I think you could cook anything this way. I like to call this method planked grilled fish. Salmon and Mahi seared on cedar are my favorites. You can get the recipes for each of the fish at our recipe page at our website.

So how do you go about it? To begin you’ll need to find some clean cedar wood boards, Lowes and Home Depot have it in their building materials departments. But you’ll have to cut it into the correct sizes to use. But you can also buy them prepacked for use at most national grocery chains or you can order on the Internet.

Typically I use cedar, but many other woods like oak and cherry are also available. Using a clean, raw section of lumber about one half inch thick and big enough to hold the fish sections, pre-soak the wood in freah water for several hours prior to use. I like to use a section about 6" x 6" for the 2 of us. Although any lumber can be used, just make certain that there are no chemicals on the wood.

When ready, get the grill going, gas preferably. I use a Magma Catalina model gas grill on my boat so this article is written using that method. To prevent your fish fillets from sticking to the lumber, coat the plank with olive oil. You do no flipping when plank fish cooking. The fish will be slowly cooked from the bottom up. Season the fish fillets as you like, there are some good recipes on the web page.

As you know lumber burns. We are now going to position the plank with the fish on the lower grill surface and set the control to high. If you see that the plank has caught fire while you are cooking, not to worry, that is the way we want the plank with fish to cook. Give it a squirt with water to help extinguish the fire. But let it burn a little around the sides; the smoldering of the blackened plank is what makes the smoke that flavours the fish fillets.

I always reserve about 50% more food planning time as opposed to normal grilling when I am plank cooking. During the grilling time you can baste the fish fillets with seasonings if desired.
Once the fish is done I remove the fish from the charred board with a spatula or you can just glide the fish fillets off onto a plate with a fork. Turn off your grill and let the burned plank sit until later to permit it to cool prior to disposal.

Plank grilling is truly is a great way to prepare fish. The smoke adds to the flavours and smells of any recipe so feel free to try other ideas.

Enjoy.

Mike Dickens, the author, is a liveaboard boat owner and owner/Broker of Paradise Yachts in Florida USA.

Paradise Yachts offers used quality yachts to customers worldwide.

Visit the Paradise Yachts website to view our selection of Used Trawlers, Used Motor Yachts, and Used Sailboats for Sale

National and international sales. We ship Used Yachts and Used Boats worldwide. Located in Florida, USA. 904/556-9431

So You Think You Could Make it as a Yacht Broker?

2009-11-02T13:30:00.002-05:00

Frequently I have clients or friends say to me, “It must be a lot of fun being a Yacht Broker; being on boats all day, you are on holiday all the time”. Yes, I do enjoy it but its a lot of work if you want to be successful. Let me explainwhat it takes to make it function. If you think you have what it takes, give me a call.

The Hard Part.

To begin with, Florida Yacht Brokers have worked as sales people a full 2 years, before a full Broker position can be reached. Each state is different. As a Broker you may own the company or simply work as an Employering Broker for a parent company. As an owner/Broker as I do with Paradise Yachts, operation of a yacht sales business enterprise includes merchandising, sales, marketing, accounting, banking, website design and building, search engine optimization, tax collecting, and bottle washing. So I have to allocate my time dependent upon what must be done to keep the business operating. But for the purpose of this article, we’ll just be assuming you wish to become a yacht sales person.

So to start, the principal thing is you have to like boats; no, you have to live boats and boating. But there is more. You must know yachts and yachts like the skin of your chin; it’s got to be your life. You will have to be able to talk boats in detail; your clients will certainly be able to do so.

Do you own a boat? Have you ever owned a boat? What is your background operating a yacht? Your customers will want to talk about how things function while underway, how to dock a twin screw boat, and how things aboard operate. Can you walk the talk? Have you ever done these things? Can you guide your clients based upon experience?

What’s your personality? Are you out going and able to reach out to customers? Most of the people you meet will be total strangers.

Do you view yourself a self-starter? Are you willing to make it happen; if you don’t go to work, no one will be there to remind you?

Do you understand sales? Are you a customer service type of person?

Can you endure without a pay day for 1, 2, 3 months? It does and will happen. We only get paid when we sale a yacht. Money management skills are critical.

Are you willing to work seven days a week, every day as well as holidays if required? I work every day, usually 12 hour days. Customers look at yachts everyday and you must be willing to take the telephone call or respond to the e-mail at any time.

Are you up on computers? Are you comfortable on a website? You’ll need to own a robust computer, printer, and digital scanner and have internet access to upload yacht listings online.

Are you an accomplished photographer? Can you use a digital photographic camera and use photographic software. You will needat least a 8 mega pixel digital camera. They are not cheap!

Can you survive a full background probe? If you want to work in Florida, it’s required to obtain a license. If you work in another State, you cannot even enter the State of Florida as a Broker if not licensed.

Are you prepared to shell out $600.00 every two years for the exclusive right of having that license?

Do you have a cell phone, and/or a Blackberry; they are indispensable.

Are you prepared to work in the hot sun, sometimes in the pouring rain to show boats to clients?

Can you deal with with irritating customers that often want something for nothing?

The Easy Part

Can you handle a six figure income? Yes, the money you make is up to you.

Do you wish to have fun? Yes, it’s a lot of fun seeing a new, happy boat owner. And yes, we do get to have our fair share of boat rides.

Do you like forming many new acquaintances? Every stranger I meet is just a friend I haven’t yet made.

Do you like being your own boss? In the yacht business, you get to call the shots.

Mike Dickens, the author, is a liveaboard boat owner and owner/Broker of Paradise Yachts in Florida USA.

Paradise Yachts offers used quality yachts to customers worldwide.

Visit the Paradise Yachts website to view our selection of Used Trawlers, Used Motor Yachts, and Used Sailboats for Sale

National and international sales. We ship Used Yachts and Used Boats worldwide. Located in Florida, USA. 904/556-9431

Tips on Making Your Boating More Fun

2009-06-30T10:07:00.004-04:00

Most of us boat owners tend to be particular about our “ladies” and often fret when they do not go as planned. We take great pride when things are ship shape too. Most of us have developed small improvements for our boats to make our time afloat more fun and relaxing.
Some of the things I’ve done on my trawler, the Patricia Ann, have made our boating more fun and less stressful. Take a look!

Do you ever have problems with mud wasps or as we call them in the South, Dirt Dobbers? I have water, fuel and air vents at various points on the used boat where those little pests like to build mud nests. A plugged vent will create havoc when filling boat tanks. A rolled up 2x3 inch section of coarse air conditioning filter material found at your local hardware store inserted into the vent opening from the outside does the trick allowing the vent to breathe and keeping the critters out.

What did you last pay for a bottle of isinglass cleaner; about $15.00? A much cheaper alternative that works even better and consists of a teaspoon of Johnson’s Baby Shampoo and ½ gallon of distilled water. Use a wool mitt to clean the glass and dry with a leather chamois cloth or soft towel.

Don’t spend big bucks on boat shampoo for washing your used boat, use automobile soap available at almost any retailer. It works just as good at a fraction of the price and will not harm the surfaces.

After washing your boat, do you have window water spots? Use household vinegar to rinse the windows and the water spots disappear.

Eliminate clutter in the shower from shampoo, conditioner bottles and soap by mounting a bulk liquid dispenser on the shower wall. You can get one at a reasonable price at any bath products store.

Use your favorite body wash with the dispenser above instead of bar soap. Bar soap leaves a significant soapy residue on grates and shower walls and will foul sump pumps requiring frequent cleaning.

To further keep your shower sump clean and the pump working as designed, mix about 1 teaspoon of Dawn dishwashing liquid with shower water and let it go down the shower drain. Dawn is an excellent degreaser. I use this about once a week to break up any body oils that are present.

Proper storage of sharp knives is important for both safety and maintaining the knife’s cutting edge. I use a magnetic knife rack mounted on a bulkhead above the cook top to keep the knives within easy reach, free up additional drawers and prevent unwanted cuts.

Trash disposal is a constant problem on a used cruising boat, but a little planning can eliminate much of the packaging that creates the problem. Buy a variety of plastic, reusable containers in a variety of sizes. After buying chips, pasta, cereals, cookies and other dry goods, transfer the foods to the containers and dispose of the packaging on the docks before casting off. Use reusable containers for frozen foods as well.

Maintaining communication while underway is now easier than ever. I use a Verizon air card with my laptop to achieve broadband service 24/7. It works anywhere a cell signal is available in the USA.

Mike Dickens, the author, is a liveaboard boat owner and owner/Broker of Paradise Yachts in Florida USA.

Paradise Yachts offers used quality yachts to customers worldwide.

Visit the Paradise Yachts website to view our selection of Used Trawlers, Used Motor Yachts, and Used Sailboats for Sale

National and international sales. We ship Used Yachts and Used Boats worldwide. Located in Florida, USA. 904/556-9431

Servicing Your Yacht's Cooling System

2009-06-10T08:55:00.003-04:00

Most used boats with inboard engines are provided with fresh water cooling systems. These fresh water systems in conjunction with the raw water system cool the engine during operation. The fresh water circulates within the engine and transfers the engine heat to the raw water system as it passes through heat exchangers. This article will explain the step by step approach to servicing your yacht's raw water cooling system

But raw water cooling systems often become plugged with scale, calcium carbonate deposits, creating an unhealthy condition for the engine. Heat exchanger cooling tubes and piping will become totally blocked if left unchecked.

How does calcium carbonate form in the engine you ask? When hard water comes in contact with heated surfaces, the minerals in the water fall from suspension, Minerals, primarily calcium will then cling to any surfaces that might be there. The same occurs inside hot water heaters and in industrial power plants that use untreated water.

Become familiar with your engines

Prior to servicing the engines on your used trawler, motor yacht, sailboat or cruiser, it is important that you take some time to familiarize yourself with the raw water cooling system of the engines. Get drawings and parts diagrams if at all possible. Examine your engines and trace the raw water flow from the intakes to the exhaust. Make a mental note of each component.
There are two methods to service your used boats engine.

Method 1 - Disassemble the Engine Cooling System

Using your parts manual as a guide, disassemble each component of the cooling system. You will need new seals and gaskets when you put it back together so keep a running inventory as you remove components. The principle sections of the raw water system are the raw water pump and impeller, the oil cooler, perhaps an aftercooler, a heat exchanger and transmission oil cooler.

Clean the cooling system

After the sections have been removed, each section must be examined. Oil coolers and heat exchangers will possibly have a calcium deposit inside them. A professional radiator shop can clean these for you but a cheaper way is to mix a 4-1 solution of Muriatic Acid and water. Immerse the components into the solution and allow it to "boil" until all activity is complete; your components will be clean. Use care to protect your eyes and skin as the acid is very hazardous.

Re-assemble the cooling system.

Once your system is clean replace all the sections back on the engine using new seals and gaskets where needed. Replace older rusted bolts too. Now is a good time to replace the impeller too
Test for leaks and proper operation

When you are refilling your engine with anti-freeze, be sure to bleed the system of trapped air. You should find that information in your operator’s manual. Following the re-assembly, the only remaining task is to start up the engine and check for water flow and stop any small leaks by tightening bolts

Method 2 – Clean in Place

Inspect your cooling system and locate your raw water pump on your used boat. Next, locate an “intake” in the raw water system downstream from the pump where you can connect a hose. On my Volvos, I have a hose that runs from the water pump to the oil cooler that I can temporarily remove. Then locate an outflow from the raw water cooling system where the water leaves the engine.

Assemble the following:

50 gph bilge pump

About 20 feet of wire to connect the pump to your batteries

A 5-gallon bucket

About 10-15 feet of hose sized to fit connections

1 gallon of Ph-Ospho-Ric (Home Depot paint department) phosphoric acid

Connect a portion of the hose to the bilge pump and the other end to the “intake” you have located. Place the bilge pump into the bucket and fill ½ full with water and ½ of the Ph-Ospho-Ric. Connect another portion of hose to the outflow of the engine and route back to the bucket. At this point remove the engine zincs and replace the holes with plugs.

What you now have created is a “closed loop” where the acid can be circulated through the engine. Start the bilge pump and begin circulating the water and acid. The water will turn a dark gray and bubble as it neutralizes the calcium deposits. You may have to add more Ph-Ospho-Ric as you continue the process.

Finally, after you are confidant the deposits are cleaned out, reassemble the engine, install new engine zincs and start the engine to flush the remaining acid.

Men at Sea

2009-06-10T08:42:00.003-04:00

Originally published by my friend, Brian Ratcliff, in American Airlines inflight magazine.

If you are reading this magazine chances are that you are far from home on a business trip with a little time before your next appointment. If you look out of the window and you are in a coastal city then you probably see the waterfront as that’s where they put the hotels. If you are in a plane than you probably don’t see anything but sky or on a clear day if you look down you may again see water. Let’s face it there is just so much more water than land on this planet that it’s a surprise that the dominant life form on Earth is not a fish.

Man retained that position a long time ago when he invented the boat and since that time going to sea has been synonymous with bravery, virility, adventure and romance. In fact, many of the greatest stories ever told involve someone venturing out onto the water for some reason. So if you plan a life of adventure, even if only on weekends, you are going to need a boat. They come in all sizes and shapes and range from hollowed out logs to floating palaces fit for the pickiest princess so you are going to need some help in choosing the right boat for you. Let’s leave the princess out of it for the moment and find out what would suit you.

Your first decision should be power or sail. If you want to make it difficult we can talk about motorsailers but that’s a different subject altogether. For now let’s keep it simple, power or sail.

Power boats are any boats not intentionally moved by the wind. Sailboats are boats whose main propulsion is by wind even though they may have an auxiliary engine for when the wind is not blowing, is not blowing in the right direction or is blowing too much. Power boats give you the independence to go where you want to in spite of the wind and with a good deal less effort on your part than a sailboat. They may take you quickly or slowly depending on the type of hull and the engines you select but one general rule is the faster you go the shorter the range and the slower you go the greater the range.

The next choice should be fishing or cruising. If you plan on going out and doing battle with marlin or other large fish then a boat rigged for this purpose is essential. Here you have the sportsfisherman, a used boat designed to get you to the fishing grounds quickly. It has a large cockpit at the rear of the boat and a fighting chair as the center of activity surrounded by all the accouterments a well armed protagonist needs – a bait and tackle center, bait freezer and somewhere to put the fish when you land it.

You may also have seen these boats with long poles sticking out from either side, well these are called outriggers and allow you to put out several fishing lines at one time to increase the chances of a fish noticing one of the baits you are dragging through the water.

You will also need some refrigerated space to keep the drinks you are surely going to need after all that hard work of landing that fish. This cooler should contain a cross section of healthy juices, soft drinks and high carbohydrate sports type beverages that will fortify the crew when it comes time to help haul in that three hundred pounder you are one day going to catch and a few beers to celebrate afterward. Getting this formula backward can lead to reduced encounters with fish and increased encounters with submerged objects. Contrary to popular advertising ideas the amount of fish you catch does not depend on what brand you drink but could be affected by how much you drink. Not that this is a lecture on temperance, just make sure the one driving the boat is not the Designated Drunk.

Should you decide that fishing is too much like hard work and what you want to do instead is visit tropical islands where the natives are friendly and the water just made for diving into, then cruising is the way to go. This you can do with either power or sail but if time is limited then a cruising power boat is for you. The limiting factor here is do you want to go with just you and the family or are you taking all of your friends and their relatives too?

If its just you and your loved ones, the number of which can diminish the more time you spend on a boat with them, then you will need something you can handle yourself. If you will be taking out more people you will need to train them to help with the boat or hire a crew to take care of your guests. Either way you are going to need more cabins and heads (nautical for bathrooms) and an even larger refrigerator.

At this point it starts to get complex because the moment you leave the dock the umbilical cord that has kept you connected to civilization is severed and you must now provide your own electrical power to keep the refrigerator working. Not only the fridge but the television, water heater, video player and all manner of other things which we take for granted will work when we plug them in. You need a generator. These come in various sizes according to your power requirements and should be carefully matched to the equipment on your vessel. How many air conditioners you have can greatly affect your comfort while anchored off that tropical island and will definitely affect your choice of generator.

It is not unusual to have to turn off one air conditioner to use the electric stove and even then if someone turns on a hair drier or coffee pot the “genny” can make loud groaning noises just before the main circuit breaker blows. So one more general rule here, chose a generator with 20% more power than you need with everything on the boat turned on. You never know who’s going to bring along an electric toothbrush.

If the romance of sailing (using sails) and the gentle slapping of the waves against the hull the only noise you want to hear as you leave the dock and the rat-race behind, then for you the old fashioned way of getting there is indicated. You will need a lot more time to get where you’re going but if you are only getting away from land and traffic headaches then the more time the better. You will enjoy it all the more knowing that you are in harmony with nature and using the power of the sun to move you and the boat along. That is of course if the weather cooperates. In sailing there is an old adage that “the wind is always blowing from the place you are trying to get to,” not very helpful when you need the wind behind you or at least from the beam (side).

You will need to know how to tack and jibe to keep both the wind and your destination in balance and at this point you may discover why the large horizontal spar that holds the bottom of the main sail is called the boom, especially if you forget to duck as the sail moves to the other side of the boat as you change direction. Depending on the rig of the boat, be it a sloop, ketch, cutter, yawl, or schooner, you are going to have to learn the names of all the sails, where they go and how to tell which one is which while it's still in a bag.

You will also need to know the names of the lines (ropes) and what they should be attached to. If they are not attached to anything you could already be in trouble. Of course with modern aids to sailing such as roller furling sails and even power winches a lot of the work has been taken out of handling the boat itself and an auto pilot can not take you from anywhere to anywhere when linked to a GPS (Global Positioning System). The only thing to remember here is that all this stuff runs on batteries and if you don’t keep recharging them they have a nasty habit of running out of juice just when you need them the most. The generator of which I spoke earlier will do it but it is noisy and can detract from that idyllic peace that you have so recently found. Of you can have a wind generator which is basically a windmill attached to an alternator. A third alternative is solar panels that convert sunlight directly to electricity.

Personally I am working on a device that will convert sea water directly into pina coladas.

©Brian Ratcliffe 2008
http://boatacguy.com/

Should You Use a Yacht Broker

2009-04-08T10:02:00.005-04:00

Introduction

The other day I returned a phone call left on my voice mail from a man inquiring about a used boat I have for sale. When the caller answered I identified myself and asked what I might offer regarding the used boat he had called about. The caller immediately responded that he did not want to buy a used boat through a Yacht Broker and hung up. I shrugged my head and wondered why he would NOT want to buy a boat through a Yacht Broker.

If you are considering buying a used boat, here are some things to consider.

Finding a Good Used Boat

A yacht broker will have access to information you will not have or be able to get.
A yacht broker with integrity will be honest about used boats. If there is something wrong with a used boat, he will inform you. I use a disclosure to inform buyers about problems with the boats I represent. If you are using a buyer’s broker, he/she will investigate other used boats for you, and help determine which used boats are worth visiting or considering. He’s going to be able to speak to other brokers about their used boats asking the right questions, and find out information that you would not likely get on your own. He’s going to have access to information than you will have making the search process easier and faster.

What’s a Fair Price?

Once that potential used boat is located, what is a good and fair price to pay? Using data found at soldboats.com, he’ll give you the prices of similar used boats bought in recent months. Remember, a boat is only worth what you are willing to pay and the seller is willing to take. Most importantly, he’ll know the motivation of the seller and guide you in making an offer that will allow you and the seller to negotiate to a satisfactory selling price.

Who Holds the Money?

Professional yacht brokers write purchase contracts that specify each step in the buying process; the length of time for the seller to accept the offer, the date by which you the buyer will either accept or reject the used boat, any specific conditions that the offer is contingent upon, and the anticipated closing date. The contract will also specify your getting your deposit back if you change your mind.

And oh yes, an offer requires a good faith deposit. Who will hold that deposit if a transaction involves you as a buyer and the seller without a third party? Buyers beware!

Lien Checks

When we assist in the sale/purchase of a boat, yacht brokers complete checks to make sure you get clear title to the boat. Any existing ship’s mortgages are paid in full. In addition, documentations are transferred and Bills of Sales are prepared. When working with a yacht broker, you receive the necessary legal documentation identifying the used boat as yours. Buying used boat from an individual can be hazardous if these checks are not made.

Getting her Home

You have found the perfect used boat and got her for a good price; but handling a 42 foot boat has you intimidated. She’s a pretty big boat. But not to worry, when dealing with full-service yacht brokers nothing is left to chance.

Be sure you select a yacht broker that will agree to help you with learning your new used boat as well as getting her home. I do this with all my customers.

Choose Your Broker Carefully

Most yacht brokers are very responsible and treat their customers accordingly. I’ve heard many horror stories from my customers about their dealings with less than professional yacht brokers. Many of them are out for the quick buck and could care less about you as a customer. I have even had dealings with them myself and often wonder how they have ANY customers. They don’t return phone calls or emails, don’t seem to know much about used boats and don’t show up to work until lunch it seems.

Be sure your chosen broker is very knowledgeable about the used boat you think you want. For me, powerboats, especially trawlers are my forte.

Choose your broker carefully. Do bit of research to determine the character of the person you are dealing with. Ask for references.

Mike Dickens, the author, is a liveaboard boat owner and owner/Broker of Paradise Yachts in Florida USA.

Paradise Yachts offers used quality yachts to customers worldwide.

Visit the Paradise Yachts website to view our selection of Used Trawlers, Used Motor Yachts, and Used Sailboats for Sale

National and international sales. We ship Used Yachts and Used Boats worldwide. Located in Florida, USA. 904/556-9431

Marine Surveys - What to Expect

2009-03-17T11:49:00.004-04:00

What is a marine survey?

A marine survey, in its simplest form, is an appraisal and inspection similar to that performed on real estate or other items.

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.

There are several types of surveys but for the 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. Condition and overall operation of the used boat will be examined. The value of the yacht will also be estimated by the surveyor.

A thorough inspection will not be rushed and will depend on the type of survey required based on vessel size, equipment and on-board systems. There may be additional services available such as engine surveys, oil analysis, galvanic and stray current corrosion testing, ultrasonic testing, moisture testing and other non-destructive tests. There may be additional charges for these and other services.

Well conducted surveys can provide good information on the vessels' condition, but they are not guarantees. The surveyor reports the condition in accessible areas only as it exists at the time of inspection.

Do I really need a marine survey?

If you are intending to invest several thousand of your hard-earned dollars in purchasing a used boat, a marine survey may be the least expensive and most valuable tool you have to assist you in that purchase. A boat operator who knows the condition of his vessel is better prepared to handle adversity than one who isn't. The marine surveyor you hire to inspect the used boat should have the knowledge and expertise to determine if it has been properly maintained and in safe condition. A prudent buyer should make his final acceptance of the boat subject to the findings of a marine surveyor.

Why should you have a vessel surveyed?

Most insurance companies and banks will require them on older used boats. They will need to know her condition and fair market value in order to finance and/or underwrite the vessel. Knowing her condition and fair market value before you purchase is also important. However, the most important reason to survey your vessel is for the safety of the passengers

Pre-purchase survey

This covers structural integrity, electrical systems, the propulsion system, the fuel system, other machinery, navigation equipment, miscellaneous on-board systems, cosmetic appearance, electronics, and overall maintenance as well as an out-of-water inspection and a sea trial

Insurance survey

This inspection is performed so that the insurance company can determine whether or not the vessel is an acceptable risk. They are interested in structural integrity and safety for its intended use. Most insurance companies require a survey on older used boats. They will also want to know the vessel's fair market value.

Appraisal inspection

This inspection is performed to gather enough information to justify or determine the fair market value of the vessel. This is normally needed for financing, estate settlements, donations and legal cases

What to expect during the survey

We typically perform the survey in conjunction with the sea trial.

The surveyor will meet you, the buyer, at the boat early in the day. The owner is usually there as well as the Broker. He will begin with an overall inspection of the boat looking for anything obviously different. He will then begin his survey on a specific system of the boat; these include:

Fuel systems,
Water systems,
Cooling and heating systems,
Electrical systems; both AC and DC,
Propulsion system
Waste system,
Electronics,
Navigational system,
and more.

It is usually the engine he will begin with as he will like to examine it before it is started and gets too hot to touch. He will continue addressing each system in no particular order. He’ll look at each system’s component then turn it on to insure it works; such as lights, cooking equipment, air conditioning, everything. Some nondestructive testing such as sounding the laminate with a hammer, or testing with a moisture meter may be included.

And it’s OK to talk to your surveyor and ask him what he is finding, just don’t hover over him and get in his way.

Later in the morning we’ll need to take the boat to a nearby yard to haul the boat out of the water to allow the surveyor to look at the bottom. This is when we perform the sea trial as well. You now get to operate the boat to make sure you like how she handles. The owner is on board to assist us.

Afterwards we lift the boat out of the water for about an hour and your surveyor checks the running gear, through hulls and hull for any damage or other problems.

After we are done with the bottom, the boat is placed back into the water and we will continue with the sea trial. Again you can operate the boat as much as you like. The surveyor will also take the helm to “feel” the boat and check her steering and performance. He’ll also go below to check the engine while underway.

So by later in the afternoon, your surveyor has inspected the entire boat; he has either inspected or operated everything to his satisfaction so he can give you an objective opinion as what he thinks of your chosen boat. You’ll know before the day is over if you have a “keeper”.

Oh, and by the way, it is customary to pay the surveyor on the day of the survey.

What should I expect in a marine survey report?

You are hiring the marine surveyor for his or her objective opinion of the condition of the boat and its value. You may not agree with their final findings in either regard, but you have benefited from their professional opinion.

The survey report will cover the areas inspected and include recommendations regarding problem areas. It will also include a current market value and/or replacement value estimate.
The marine survey provides a complete report on the subject vessel, and references complete identification of the boat (including year, make, model, hull identification numbers, and engine information and so on). The report also gives detailed information about the vessel including description of the superstructure and hull, fittings and equipment, electronics and safety equipment, electronics, galley, engines, electrical system, firefighting equipment, and fuel systems.

You should be aware of the guidelines a marine surveyor uses for his comparisons, such as: "The mandatory standards promulgated by the United States Coast Guard (USCG), under the authority of Title 46 United States Code (USC); Title 33 and Title 46, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), and the voluntary Standards and Recommended Practices developed by the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) have been used as guidelines in the conducting of this survey. "

This tells you the exact information the marine surveyor used as a baseline for his comments and recommendations. Also be sure you understand how the marine surveyor determined the market value and/or replacement value for the boat and what those values mean.

Choosing a Marine Surveyor

2009-02-27T07:59:00.004-05:00

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.

The First Mate’s Role – A Woman’s Perspective

2009-02-04T10:47:00.002-05:00

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

Choosing a Bluewater Sailboat

2009-02-01T13:30:00.004-05:00

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?

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

Boat Values - Know Before You Buy

2009-01-18T05:55:00.002-05:00

I get calls or emails weekly from individuals that are in their final passage to boat ownership; finding and buying their dream boat. They want my counsel. And more often than not, most shoppers do not have a true understanding of used boat values and the prices they command. Most individuals are shocked to find boats cost as much as houses do. They are often taken back when I try to explain the reason a used boat is priced the way it is.

I want to give you a good idea of why used boats cost as much as they do so let's start from the top.

If you read other posts on my website, you will read about the absence of an official Yacht Blue Book. Yes, that's right, there is no such thing. There is one for automobiles but not for boats. If you call any used car dealer or bank in North America and name any production automobile, they will quote a value of within a few dollars of each other. This is due to the multi-billion dollar, organized wholesale car auction system. And there is also the Powerboat Guide, NADA and others that like to sell you their version of a boat Blue Book.

With over 2,200 boat manufacturers (USCG Listings) in North America there is no such wholesale market for used boats and the older a boat gets the bigger the price discrepancies. And keep in mind that boats and yachts are not built on an assembly line. I've been through my share of boat building plants including Hatteras, Bertram and Carver. Boats are built like houses, one step at a time. Very labor intensive, boats are built, cars are assembled. So you can easily see why new boats cost thousands, perhaps millions of dollars to produce. Powerboats cost more to produce than sailboats as they are more complex.

Generally speaking boats do not appreciate in value. But they do reach a point in their life where they do not loose any more value. Much like antique automobiles, the rarer a boat is, the more it will be in demand. A 40 year old Huckins will often bring more money today than when it was first commissioned. But boats generally depreciate about 10% a year.

So you are looking at that 1984 40 foot Albin trawler, with a single Lehman and 2 staterooms. What is it worth? What is a fair price? Simply speaking, that Albin is only worth what you are willing to give and the seller is willing to take. So where do you start?
Here is what you need to know when considering prices of used boats. The owner has established his asking price with consultation with his listing Broker based upon several factors. I do the same with my sellers.

In what condition is the boat? Good boats always command higher prices, always! A newer boat in poor condition will bring less than an older boat in good condition always!. By condition I am speaking of both cosmetics (cleanliness, gelcoat, paint, woodwork, canvas) and structural issues involving fuel tanks, rudder posts, blisters etc. The more upgrades and maintenance that has been completed, the more you should expect to pay as the owner knows this. He also knows that you will have already looked at the worn out boats and have rejected them too.
How old is the boat? See above. This factored in but is not the deciding factor.
How motivated is the seller? Some owners want to move their boat as quickly as possible and any thing close to an asking price might be acceptable. This doesn't happen often but it does occur.
How many of these 40' Albins are there on the market? Remember, the more demand for the boat, the higher the price will usually be. And I find that most people will not travel far to buy a boat, so boats in California will not be in competition with East Coast boats.
And lastly, and perhaps the most important factor in determining that asking price will be recent past sales history of similar makes and models. The recent past sales history is available only to Brokers however through our multiple listing service, YachtWorld. It will give me the recent demand for this 40' Albin and at what selling prices have been in different parts of the USA. It tells me what people are asking and what people are paying!

So when you are looking at this Albin and you have found at what seems to be a great boat for $50,000.00 and all of the others are in the $85 - $100,000.00 range, there is a reason for this. Remember, condition, condition, condition! Be carefull as new fuel tanks will cost you about $30,000.00 to replace, and rudder posts about $8000.00. But if you can live with the problems with the boat, then by all means buy it. I am just wanting you to know not to expect a problem - free boat for the low, low price; you'll pay for what you get.

So now you are thinking, are all used boat prices negotiable? Certainly they are. Everything has its selling price and neither the listing Broker nor the owner may know what that price will be. Only a serious buyer with money on the table will be able to find that out through negotiations. but I will tell you that as of 11/24/2008, boats are selling at about 15% off of asking prices.

Boats - Vessels of Fredom

2009-01-14T06:15:00.002-05:00

Why do people adore boats? Why do people go to great extremes to own a boat? US country singer/songwriter Kenny Chesney has a song titled Boats on his new CD Lucky Old Sun. In the song he sings:

“Boats…. vessels of freedom, harbors of healing...boats, twenty years of a landlocked job was all that Tom could take sitting at his desk all alone and depressed (he) says this just can’t be my fate, went home that night and told his wife (that) you can tell all of your friends it's been real but it ain't been fun (so we are) gonna get us one of them…boats… vessels of freedom, harbors of healing...boats”

I’ve listened to that song a hundred times and it gets better each time. He found the words I’ve always known were there but never could quite find them. Good for him!

As a boater myself it sometimes becomes hard to explain to non-boaters what the love affair is all about. Perhaps it’s a sickness; at least it’s a bug. Some of us use our boats as a home, treating her like a member of the family. I do have a habit of talking to the Patricia Ann; she speaks back but in ways only I can hear. She has become a refuge of sorts, a protected harbor. Sleeping in a motel room when I’m on the road just isn’t the same.

I have friends that use their boats for an escape from life’s stormy weather, relying on their boats to unwind from everyday stress. They take their sailboats, trawlers or motoryachts out to feel the wind on their faces, the sun on their backs. Their boats bring them peace. Others friends, have their boats equipped to make a living from the sea, as do the many shrimpers and charter boat Captains that ply the waters of our Florida coast. Their boats become a life ring, protecting them from the “storm” that waits at the cabin door.

But as a full-time waterman, I can say it’s more than what it seems. Yes, it's a state of mind. Leaving the regular 9-5 world behind, knowing you have everything you need to sustain yourself and your crew for days and weeks on end. If I want to stay, I do; if I want to leave, I can do that too. Oh boats can be trouble and they take tons of work to maintain but us boaters consider it a labor of love. You just can’t place a price tag on the feeling when you are at the helm, everything works as designed, the air is crisp and the sea is calm. It takes only one good sunset to make it all worthwhile.

Mark Twain, an American author eloquently said “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

So ask yourself, do you yearn for that feeling .

Spanish philosopher Jose' Ortegay Gasset once said, "Tell me the landscape in which you live, and I'll tell you who you are."

That pretty much sums it up. Fair winds.
Mike

First Time Yacht Buyer

2009-01-09T10:34:00.003-05:00

If you’re a first-time used boat buyer the choice of used yachts available for purchase can be overwhelming. How do you make sense of all the models and styles out there?

The first time yacht buyer needs to avoid buying on emotion and take a hard look at what they intend on doing with the boat. Making the wrong choice will be a major disappointment in the long run and perhaps cost you thousands.

To start, are you a sailor or a motor cruiser? Some like the romance of a sailboat with the image of tropical islands in the picture; some don’t want the hassle of the sails, rigging etc. But a sailboat is very inexpensive to operate if your plans include traveling to far-away places. Still, power boating is not expensive if you choose the right boat. Powerboats generally come well designed with all of the creature comforts you could every need; generally more so than all but the largest of sailboats. And you don’t need to learn all of the sailing techniques either.

Once you have assessed your yachting preference you can then decide on what you intend on doing with it. Are you going to sail, cruise or fish from it? Of course, you could fish from anything if you wish, but yachts made for fishing are much different than those built for cruising.
How often will you use your new yacht? I always say that there are “boaters” and “boat owners”. Boaters use their boats; boat owners just like to say they own a yacht as their boats rarely leave the dock. Some boaters may be full-time liveaboards using their boats as their home every day. Others may just use their boats on nice weekends when time permits.

Next is the cost of yacht ownership. You must take this into consideration. The purchase price is almost like a down payment. Boating has its costs that you need to be aware of. If you are mechanically inclined, you will find that the costs are not substantial. Most boat owners do the majority of work themselves. I have posting at my Cruising Center website about the specifics of boating costs that breaks it down into each expense. Feel free to take a look.

So thus far we have determined what type of boater we are, so we know what style of yacht generally appeals to us, we know how much we expect to use it and about what to expect in the upkeep of her. So far so good!

Now comes the hard part; how to choose just the right one? I have developed a purchase checklist that I use with my customers to let them specify the critical features of a used boat. This allows them to choose features that they can live without and those that are features that are must-haves. That checklist then becomes the basis for the perfect boat search. When I am working with customers, I then look for used yachts that best meet the customer’s wants recognizing that boat purchases usually involve some compromise. Rarely do I find a used boat with all of the desired features.

In the looking phase, I always say that you’ll know it when the right boat comes along; it will “talk” to you. Any potential boat will have the lines, the feel and the character that appeals to you. Don’t settle for anything less than that pleases you.

But what about the cost of that used yacht? How do you know you are getting a fair deal? Borrowing from another posting at the Cruising Center about the True Value of Boats, good boats always command higher prices, always! A newer boat in poor condition will bring less than an older boat in good condition always! Never buy a yacht based upon the price alone or you’ll be selling it within 6 months.

And should you complete a survey, yes it’s always recommended. Choose a knowledgeable surveyor that has experience with your desired used boat. Ask him for references too. If you are working with a reputable Yacht Broker, he will recommend several top-shelf surveyors but will insist you choose the one you want.

And lastly, locate a Buyer’s Broker to represent you in your search, selection and purchase. It will save you lots of time, money and a lot of disappointment.

The author, Mike Dickens is a veteran liveaboard boat owner, Yacht Broker and owner/operator of Paradise Yachts.

Used Boat Blisters and Hydrolysis - Part 9

2008-09-21T06:11:00.009-04:00

9/21/2008

6:15AM

Since the last posting, we completed the final epoxy barrier coats on the spots where the jack stands and blocks were. We then had to overcoat those posts with bottom paint too. In the midst of all this activity, I repainted the dark blue boot stripe on our trawler as well.

Well the day finally arrived, Friday September 19, 2008. It was time to splash the Patricia Ann. It had been 102 days since she had seen the water.

Now keep in mind, that storing a boat out of the water for this long will be cause for concern. Why? The systems have not been used and an idle boat will usually not work as planned.

The launch was made and I had David, the yards Master Mechanic on board with me to inspect his below the waterline work for leaks; there were new sanitation hoses, a new Electra Scan, the rudders had been dropped, and the trim tabs had been removed. No leaks found!

A quick run to our "new" slip was made without trouble; the good looking Swedish twins performed their best as usual. But as expected, we had problems; the aft AC will not work, there was a cracked water main in the forward stateroom and the freezer will not power up. Go figure?

The girl was absolutely filthy, everywhere. So yesterday I repaired the water leak and began cleaning her up. Today, we'll complete the cleaning. Tomorrow I'll address the AC and freezer issue.

It's sure good to be back home!

Used Boat Blisters and Hydrolysis - Part 8

2008-09-08T14:26:00.013-04:00

9/8/2008
2:30PM

Step 6
Today we began the final step in the barrier coating of the hull.
We chose to use the Sea Hawk brand of epoxy and it's easy to use and provides a thicker coating than does the Interlux. Three coats will be applied to the hull by hand roller, allowing three hours drying between coats.

Here is the port side with one coat of barrier coating. Looks pretty good huh? Now for some of you that may be thinking about what we'll do about the areas where she's resting on the blocks and jackstands, we'll move the boat and coat them when we have completed the rest.

Three coats of barrier coats have been applied; next we'll move the boat so the remaining spots under the jacks and blocks can be reached.

After than, two coats of bottom paint and we're all done.

It's been 92 days for the duration of this project. If you choose to undertake a blister project on your used trawler, motor yacht, or sailboat, just remember, you can't rush it.
Mike

Used Boat Blisters and Hydrolysis - Part 7

2008-09-02T14:56:00.008-04:00

9/2/2008
3:00 PM

Week 13

Today was the beginning of Step 4, Filling the Bottom.

Tom was here right on time and after a few brief showers got to work.

Tom mixed up a mixture of epoxy resin and 410 microlight filler, mixing it into a peanut butter like consistency.

After rolling clear epoxy resin onto the hull and allowing it to become tacky, Tom troweled the mixture onto the hull filling small voids as he went.

On Wednesday Step 5, Tom was back at work, even with the threat of the Tropical Storm Hanna. Tom again faired the epoxy to a smooth surface with 60 grit paper.

Its now time for the barrier coats on our used boat.

Used Boat Blisters and Hydrolysis - Part 6

2008-08-30T15:37:00.010-04:00

8/30/2008
3:50 PM

Week 12 - 84 days

On Thursday work progressed on our used trawler blister project; it was time for step 3, sanding the bottom.

A protective tent of sorts was again built around the boat to protect other boats and people from the flying resin dust that would be generated.

A 6 inch sanding disk of 36 grit was used to sand the entire bottom to a smooth finish, and yes, it is very smooth.

The next step will be to fill the bottom. In this step, epoxy resin will be mixed with cabosil to a peanut butter consistency and them trowelled onto the hull. This will begin next Tuesday.

You see a photo of me hosing the hull with water; here is why.

When Tom completed his sanding, he found trace elements of moisture just beneath the surface; the sanding released it from the resin.

Although its normal for this to occur, washing daily removes the remaining contaminants allowing the hull to completely dry by next Tuesday.

Hurricane Protection for Your Boat

2008-08-21T13:24:00.016-04:00

8/21/2008

1:25 PM

What was thought to become Hurricane Fay is now just south of Daytona Beach as she has been for almost 48 hours. Tropical storm Fay as she's known is dropping huge amounts of rain in Florida; as much as 24 inches in Cocoa and producing some high winds.

For reference, I'm directly on the ocean at the Georgia/Florida border.

The data buoy some 30 miles offshore is clocking wind speeds of 38 mph with wave heights of 11 feet.

I walked out to the beach earlier and could not stand up against the wind. The waves are pounding.

So what can you do if you own a used trawler in these waters?

Earlier, I rode with the owner of the 43 Albin he recently purchased to check on his boat.

Boats can handle the winds of hurricanes or tropical storms with no problems. It's the pounding waves, the pounding of another boat or the pounding of the boat against a dock that usually gets them.

In this photo, the owner has rigged

multiple lines to keep his boat off of

the floating docks. He has used about 6 3/4 inch nylon lines attached to tall pilings.

In addition, the boat is facing east, where the wind was expected to come in from, allowing the used boat to ride the waves.

Next, notice that he has secured the bimini and canvas to eliminate "sails" which would put pressure on everything.

In addition, multiple fenders are placed alongside to keep the boat

away from the dock if the lines stretch too much. Fenders should be attached to the dock other wise they will blow out leaving the hull against the dock itself.

Notice the tops of the pilings. Be sure rising tides will not spill over or the docks and all the boats will be cast to the wind.

This boat's owner did not prepare very well.

8/22/2008

5:55PM

Update!

The Albin's owner and I visited his used trawler again today to check things out. Winds were very strog at the time.

Heavy seas (2-4) were upon her on the bow. One boat has already sunk and another was in the marsh downwind. It was one hell of a sight; boats pitching and banging into the docks. Some of the 42-50 foot sailboats on the outer docks may not make it.

We rigged additional lines from her bow to pilings and secured the fenders on the water so they did not blow out. We worry that the dock may break apart now.

We were accosted by the local police while we were on the dock, they were fearing for our safety.

As a Libertarian, I am fully aware of the danger I was taking to secure the boat and don't need a 24 year old with a 38 special to protect me. After ignoring his pleadings, we finally left the dock.

We did go back shortly afterwards to adjust the lines again; we even had a policeman help us.

So, all said and done, the winds have dropped in the last hour or so and I think we have the Odyssea as well tended as we can.

She'll be fine I am sure.

Used Boat Blisters and Hydrolysis - Part 5

2008-07-30T12:50:00.007-04:00

7/30/2008
11:47AM

This morning I met Tom, from Boat Savers down at my used trawler, the Patricia Ann. It had been 4 weeks since he had last checked on her and he wanted to get a status of where he was.

On Monday of this week I had a survey on another boat and my surveyor let me use his moisture meter to get a look at the hull readings. I subsequently called Tom to report that the numbers looked good.

The moisture readings were quite low, below 15% in most areas. There were some "hot" spots but Tom explained that that was to be expected. It was impossible to get all of the moisture out. But he went on to say, he's done over 1000 boats and can touch the hull with his hand and look at the hull to know when it was ready to put back together.

And yes, he said, we're ready to go on to the next step.

Tom's coming back in two weeks to begin step 3; sand the hull with 36 grit paper. The next day, step 4, he'll fill the bottom then the next day the bottom will be faired, step 5.

It will be exactly 10 weeks and two days when Tom will begin putting her back together.

Stay tuned, I'll be posting more photos so you can see whats happening.

Mike

Sewage Treatment

2008-07-29T05:39:00.007-04:00

7/28/2008

5:45AM

My last post was concerned with the hoses used with on board sanitation systems. Today's post takes marine sanitation to the next level.

Marine sanitation devices are divided into three groups. These groups are:

Type I- Flow-through device (maceration and disinfection) may be used on boats equal to or less than 65 feet in length. The effluent produced must not have a fecal coliform bacteria count greater than 1000 per 100 milliliters and have no visible floating solids.

Type II- Flow-through device (maceration and disinfection) are used on boats greater than 65 feet in length. The effluent produced must not have a fecal coliform bacteria count greater than 200 per 100 milliliters and suspended solids not greater than 150 milligrams per liter .

Type III- Holding tanks may be used on any length boat. This MSD is designed to prevent the overboard discharge of treated or untreated sewage.

The Patricia Ann was designed and built with a Type III system aboard. It has served us fine over the years. But, while she's been on the hill we've decided to upgrade her to allow us to cruise without the constant need of pumping out. The change will also allow us to cruise and/or anchor in Federal No-Discharge Zones such as those we have in the Keys.

So how are we going to do that? We're installing an Electro-Scan waste treatment system on the aft head in the master stateroom. The Type I system generates its own natural disinfectant from salt water with coated electrodes that use salt water to kill bacteria and viruses without the addition of harmful chemicals. The unit discharges overboard with treatment levels that are safe for environmentally sensitive.

In addition, we are plumbing the forward head directly to the holding tank with no overboard discharge.

So in normal conditions, we will use the aft head but in sensitive areas, we'll use the forward head.

Oh Those Toilets!

2008-07-13T11:06:00.007-04:00

7/13/2008
11:05 AM

I got a call from a recent customer of mine earlier today who wanted to know how to maintain his toilets on his used boat; specifically, what needed to be done to keep the lines free? His call prompted this posting.

Toilets are an issue we rather not talk about but they are a requirement on our boats for sure. On the Patricia Ann, they have never been a real nuisance but I have heard the horror stories from others. So what can go wrong with marine toilets?

There are basically three type of toilets, the manual flush, the electric flush and the Vacuflush. Manual type heads have valves that need servicing or replacement occasionally, electric toilets have macerator impellers that can fail and Vacuflush heads can have water flow or vacuum pump issues. These are further defined as Type I, II, or III sanitation devices.

But the topic of this article is not the heads them selves but the hoses used with them. Yes, the hoses.

When I am searching for used boats for a buyer, one of the questions I ask in my Prequalification Disclosure is how salt-water flushing heads are maintained. The question does have a right answer which is that the heads are treated with Muratic Acid on a regular basis. If I don't get the right answer, I look to see if the heads flush at all.

When salt water is used to flush marine heads, salt water reacts with human urine to create a hard calcium deposit, calcium carbonate, said to be the same material as kidney stones. Over time, these deposits will build up on the interior hose walls much like you hear heart arteries do. Eventually, the passage is so small, little can flow through the line. Now you have a problem! On one boat I know of, the problem was so bad that the hoses had to be replaced.

You can find recommendations online for using vinegar; forget it, vinegar doesn't have the horsepower to do much. Mary and I used vinegar for years but discarded that idea after we began using Muratic Acid. Muratic Acid is a diluted Hydrochloric Acid solution; be careful as it is poison and can cause blindness.

If you have never treated your lines, pour about 2 cups of acid into your head and flush. Be sure you are pumping overboard and not into your holding tank, The acid will immediately began to react with the deposits producing a foaming action back into the heads. No to worry, just check occasionally and if the foam is too high, flush a bit more. It took me 2 gallons to initially treat my two heads on my 40 foot trawler. Now I use a cup or so each month to maintain them clear.

The acid is neutralized by the calcium so there is no environmental concern. If you flush with fresh water, you will not have this issue to deal with anyway.

I hear of people changing over from salt water flushing to fresh water because of the sulfur smells. It's not the water that smells, it's what is inside of your intake hose. I discovered this myself, quite by accident some years ago.

Close the sea cock on your intake side and disconnect the hose. Look inside of the hose. You'll probably find that the hose is lined with a black decaying matter of dead grass and algae. The smell you find from your toilet is from decomposing organic matter which gives off hydrogen sulfide gas.

Marine heads when properly maintained do not smell at all. If yours does, you need to investigate.

Well that's enough for now.

Till next time,

Mike

PS - Checked on the Patrica Ann this morning and she's doing fine. The moisture levels are dropping nicely.

Let's Go Fishing

2008-07-06T13:15:00.006-04:00

July 5, 2008
1;30 PM

Several months ago, I had the pleasure of meeting a gentleman after he called me about a used boat. We met and one thing led to another, I find out he's an accomplished entertainer. He's an up and coming Jimmy Buffett type that loves to sing about boats, the Bahamas , an occasional rum and coke and fishing. His work uniform is a pair of sandals, shorts and a shirt. Jimmy's my kind of of man; us Parrotheads of Florida think he's the best. As a boater, I'm sure you will too.

He writes and performs his own songs; this one from his new collection titled "Let's Go Fishing" . Every tune has a history.

As an offshore fisherman myself, I can relate to every word in the song; chasing those billfish from dawn till dusk . Over this weekend, I just decided to put some photos with Jimmy's song; I hope you like it.

Visit Jimmy Parrish's website at http://www.jimmyparrishonline.com/. Review his schedule; if you are down our way, drop in. You can get is songs from Itunes.

Sunrise Over the Atlantic

2008-07-03T06:36:00.004-04:00

7/3/2008

6:34 AM

Living aboard a boat has a lifestyle all of its own.

But what attracts us to the water in the first place? The feeling of independence,
open spaces, fresh breezes and the smell of the ocean.

Rising at dawn and an early walk on a beach brings it all into perspective. Many dream of the lifestyle; few actually ever achieve it. We have a lot to be thankful for.

Mike

Used Boat Blisters and Hydrolysis - Part 4

2008-06-30T06:44:00.007-04:00

6/30/2008

6:45AM

On Friday, Tom was back at our used trawler, Patricia Ann, this time to finish up the peeling of her hull. There were a few spots that he could not get to with the peeler so he had to use a smaller rotary grinder. I suppose he was there about 4 hours. I couldn't talk to him as he was inside the enclosure.

The enclosure is used to control the dust.

In addition, moisture readings were also taken before the hull was pressure washed.

We are now beginning the 4th week of drying and the moisture content is dropping, some 15-20% below the original readings in some places. I am trying not to get too excited as you can't rush the process. I am still anticipating her being on the hill until at least mid August.

Stay tuned.