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How To Buy A Small Sailboat
When you buy a small sailboat, you need to make sure that it is in good condition and is seaworthy. How do you do this? These are the steps:
1.Read sailboat magazines and speak to anyone you know how owns one.
2.Try to go sailing with some friends who own different types of boats (you can't do this if you are buying a single-hander like a Laser very easily)
3.Look at boats for sale in the brokers or yards.
4.Find the boat you want
5.Inspect it carefully
6.Try to get a demonstration sail
7.Make an offer
If you are buying a new boat, then you do not need to worry about seaworthiness and condition, and you probably cannot make an offer. So here I will concentrate more on buying a used small sailboat.
You might think that any small sailboat will be safe and seaworthy, but don't forget that they are usually launched from beaches, some of which are stony, so they can get a lot of wear and tear. Also, small used for racing capsize often, so the sails will have got wet many times, and this can lead to the stitching rotting, and the sail becoming badly shaped.
Then, when the small sailboat is brought into the beach, the helmsman may forget to lift the rudder or centerboard in time, and they may be damaged. on top of that, the sheets and other ropes on the boats can chafe, as can the sails.
What sort of small sailboat do you want
But first you have to decide what sort of small sailboat you want. Do you want to race, or just potter? Do you want to sail alone, or take your spouse and/or family? If you want to potter around the creeks and inlets you want a more substantial boat than for racing, and with a bit more space. You will want a centerboard, though, so you can go up the shallowest of creeks – this can be a lot of fun.
So for pottering, make sure there is room for everyone you want
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to take, that it has stowage space for a gas ring to boil a kettle, waterproofs and charts. You will also need a small anchor. Buoyancy may be provided by inflated bags or sealed compartments.
For racing, you need a lightweight boat with most of the spare space being occupied by sealed buoyancy compartments.
You can find out a lot about what boat will suit you by watching people sailing, by reading magazines, and talking to owners, including those now selling. Always ask why they are selling.
Once you have decided what boat you want, find some of that type, and take a look at them. You will find a range of prices and condition. Eventually, you will have an idea of how much you need to spend to get the condition you want.
Once you find a suitable small sailboat, you need to inspect it carefully. Take a bradawl or gimlet or small blade screwdriver and a small hammer. If you are buying a wooden boat, you need to tap the wooden panels with the hammer lightly to see if they sound the same.
If one sounds a bit mushy, you need to tell the owner. If he protests that all is well, ask if you can press your screwdriver against the surface. He may agree, but if not just walk away – you can be sure there is a problem. I would say that unless the boat has been left on a mooring, there is unlikely to be a problem, but you never know.
With fiberglass you don't get this sort of problem, but you do need to make sure the bottom of the hull has not been scratched through the gelcoat, as this could lead to damage to the structure. Superficial scratches are not a problem.
Also, check the sails and all the gear. If there are any bad signs of wear and tear, make an offer. It is a good idea to find the prices of replacements first – sails probably cost more than you think.
If you take these steps, inspect the boat carefully, and find it is sound, you have just found yourself a huge amount of fun ahead. Enjoy your small sailboat!
