The process of buying a boat is not at all like buying a car. It is more like buying a house.
You have to secure financing, do a sea trial, get something called a survey.
The survey is the big inspection. Usually, you can sea trial the boat and sail it to the shipyard for the survey. All 7000lbs of boat are hauled out of the water, and the inspector goes over evey square inch of it and gives you a 30 page report telling what is wrong and what is right.
From there you re-negotiate a purchase price, submit this final number to the bank, and a week or two later go to a closing and are handed the keys to your new boat.
As it stands now, we have viewed the boat, negotiated a bit about the price, put earnest money down, and are awaiting pre-approval from the bank to begin the survey.
I tentatively introduce you to our seemingly, possibly-ours-in-the-future, boat.
Dehler 31, meet the internet. Internet, meet the Dehler 31:
*I have to edit and add that we lucked out on this boat. The price is just unreal or we would not be able to afford this. The couple we are buying from are retiring and moving to the mountains near Veracruz, Mexico and they are selling everything. The boat was made in 1985, so it is 22 years old and comes with quite a bit of work, but Bill is jazzed about the prospect. We got a deal, baby! And..and…it comes with an 6 8 foot dingy! Not a blow up one, but a hard hull dingy…brand new and never used….to tow behind us and explore the nooks and coves along the way. I can totally see our boys rowing off to shore to explore islands that you can only access via a boat…like Matagorda Island.
Ooo, it’s beautiful!!!
The boat looks beautiful. My sister and her husband just sailed there boat from Costa Rica to Equador. They were at sea for 5 days. She is much braver than I. I like to see land at all times. lol.
Happy Sailing!
We haven’t sailed too much, but our couple of experiences have been fun. The most fun was sailing into San Francisco, but was a very rough harbor!!
I hope this all works out for you
Okay, you just set sail, take a little detour through the Mediterranean to pick me up. I’ll be the one on shore waving a few bottles of rosé in the air wildy trying to catch your attention!
You have impressed me with your sailing lingo. I’ve been reading past posts, too. I have only been on a boat on a lake. I don’t know if I would be scared to go out into the ocean or not…. but I suspect I would be nervous. My hubby and I really like the soon-to-be-your boat. He mentioned he liked it when I was showing him your blog.
I wish you the best of luck in purchasing the boat. I can imagine that your whole family would have so many awesome adventures on it.
I think it is really cool. I am petrified of boats like this, but then again I also am petrified of planes and all sorts of things so I am in awe that you all will have many adventures on your beautiful boat. It seems like a yacht actually! Be safe and enjoy it in good health!
She’s a beauty. Here’s hoping that all goes well with the rest of the process of making her yours.
What a beauty:-) Hope everything is smooth sailing with the purchase…sorry couldn’t help myself…..
I am completely boat lingo stupid, and have no idea what a dingy is. I’ve only ever been in a pontoon, and a little john boat. But that boat looks fun! Good Luck!
Looks wonderful! It is amazing to me how little those boats look on the outside, but how much is crammed below the deck! Good luck!
I cannot show this to my husband. He would adore it.
Mary, mom to many
It’s beautiful! I hope it all goes well.