Hi all

Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas. Ours was quiet with half our little family away in Europe being fattened up by her Bulgarian baba .

Some may recall I have a contract on a VDS36 in Sydney.

The next step is to have the boat surveyed.

After much ado, I have booked her in at Balmain Marina for the 14th January. Shipwright Stephen Gale will be doing the inspection.

I don't want to initiate a thread of libel and slander, however, I am after feedback from anyone who has used this marina and/or shipwright. Therefore, can I request any comments be sent in a private message to me please?

At this stage, I have nothing to indicate a lack of integrity of the marina or shipwright, however, just want to be as certain as I can that I am utilising someone trustworthy.

Thanks
Trace

I haven't heard anything bad about them.

Yep they are good. I've slipped there before. Over the weekends it's DIY so after they pull you out they just leave you alone. I don't know the Shipwright. I know Cyril who works at the slipway though and he's a pro Ship builder. Don't know if he does inspections.

Hi Trace

If you are getting the survey for insurance purposes make sure that the person doing the survey is a registered surveyor and approved by the insurance company you intend to use

Don't ask how I know this

Regards Don

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Donk107 said..
Hi Trace

If you are getting the survey for insurance purposes make sure that the person doing the survey is a registered surveyor and approved by the insurance company you intend to use

Don't ask how I know this

Regards Don

I'm with Pantaenius and they were happy with a shipwright report for MB.

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MorningBird said..

Donk107 said..
Hi Trace

If you are getting the survey for insurance purposes make sure that the person doing the survey is a registered surveyor and approved by the insurance company you intend to use

Don't ask how I know this

Regards Don

I'm with Pantaenius and they were happy with a shipwright report for MB.

Hi Moringbird

In my case the insurance company would not

Regards Don

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Donk107 said..

MorningBird said..

Donk107 said..
Hi Trace

If you are getting the survey for insurance purposes make sure that the person doing the survey is a registered surveyor and approved by the insurance company you intend to use

Don't ask how I know this

Regards Don

I'm with Pantaenius and they were happy with a shipwright report for MB.

Hi Moringbird

In my case the insurance company would not

Regards Don

Yep Don, it does depend on the insurer. It might also depend on you and the boat's insurance history.
It pays to check first with the insurer.
I ended up using a surveyor because it wasn't anymore expensive and he was available.

I bet my last brass razoo, one would be able to employ two surveyors in Sydney who would deliver a survey report on a given yacht diametrically opposite.

Btw, Trace, you want a detailed shipwright's survey not just a superficial insurance survey!

As you are planning to leave the survey for people you don't know and you are not going to be there at the haul out, might as well get someone professional and reliable as good as possible, because you are going to pay for the consequences on the long run.

I would recommend Two Dogs Mottle 33. I sailed on it, it's reliable, solid and nice!

I have decided to go down on the 14th. I have been totally naive and gullible trusting that the same person will deliver an impartial survey report of the vessel, knowing a 'failed survey' will deprive him of further dollars cleaning and antifouling the boat. To spell things out in words of less than one syllable, yes, I commissioned the same shipwright to survey then, if the vessel passed muster, to clean and antifoul during the same haulout. This is not casting aspercions on Mr Gale at all. Rather drawing attention to my own naivety.

Now that I know Balmain allows DIY work on weekends (which the broker omitted to tell me!!!), it may change the whole ball game.

My confidence in the process is negligible at present. If the broker has omitted one detail, what else is he omitting.

I love the boat but am not so entirely invested that I still could not pull the pin on the deal. I have read (and have confidence in) the comprehensive survey report from 9 years ago when it was purchased in Adelaide. I believe she is not a lemon and is a sound, well-maintained (until the last year) boat.

I do believe that the owner is very unwell with prostate cancer and has recently undergone surgery. However, I don't feel comfortable with the broker telling me a sea trial will not be possible!! If not with the owner, then why not the broker??

I also felt hurried and dismissed by the broker during the inspection. A deposit of 10% had been paid and this was the second of two attempts to fly to Sydney to look at the boat. However, he is not the only broker to behave in this way. I have been confronted by this for many, many years. To this day, I have no idea whether the problem lies with me, them, or a combination of both!

This is the big one! THE Forever Boat. I don't have a lot of money. If this goes south badly, I join the legions of people living on the streets. No, I don't want your sympathy or derision...just advice and understanding will be fine.

Kind regards and a very happy 2019 to all

Trace

I have not heard of test sails in Sydney and it wasn't an option on my boat purchases. I am sure some have done so but it is not the norm.
i can give you some names of other surveyors if you like. Call me tomorrow if you wish. Cheers

find a surveyor that is trusted by someone you trust.

Tracey, if you don't feel comfortable with this deal just pull the plug on it.
There are more boats out there for sale than there are so called brokers or surveyors. The majority of brokers are nothing more than shirt box salesmen, I am sure there are good ones but they seem to be few and far between.

We did a sea trial on Alibi with the surveyor on board - in Sydney harbour. It really wasn't an expensive boat, but I wasn't buying without the trial.

Cheers

Bristol

It is reasonable that you should be able to have a sea trial with the surveyor on board. As a former surveyor I did this many times. Don't be dictated to by the broker.

even more reasonable since you will be sailing the boat to Queensland shortly after purchase...

In my books one must get involved personally with a sale or purchase of one's yacht.

It is total lunacy - not to sea-trial an allegedly perfectly good yacht before purchase. (if not possible, l am out!)

It is also idiotic and suspect - and l am using very harsh words here by no accident - to ask for a deposit before sea trial!
It would scare away lot of people, me included! It is unacceptable! Period. (When l am buying, it is my way or the highway!)

As l very recently sold my yacht l think l am in a position to explain what an honest sale should be like. (the emphasis is on the word, honest!)

The buyer is let lose on the boat, he is allowed to look at every part of the yacht, climb the mast, open all compartments, start and operate all and sundry. Motor, fridge, toilet, instruments, gas cooker, tender or whatever else is there.
Take hours, no worries. (one's got nothing to hide! Right?!)

If all's well, he is satisfied, and it must be seen on the buyers face, and because l know the quality of the boat what l am selling, l, the vendor invite him for a sail! I want to catch him and make him fall in love even more with the boat than he already is. Try all the sails he wants, motor the yacht, use it as it should be used for a few hours. The main thought behind all this is to catch him!

If the yacht is sea-worthy and it is not a pig on the water one would ask, why is the vendor denying the possibility to sail it? It stinks to high heaven!

If the sea trial is done and the buyer is caught by the sailing quality of the boat, presumably, he is going to make an offer.
When agreed on a price, he asks for a survey to be done, after that, yes, l am going to hit him for ten percent holding deposit.
Not before and not more. After a successful survey money changes hands and everyone leaves the scene happy! Period.

Well, this is the way l bought as well as sold my last boat.

All brokers are biased, they try to sell someone else's problem and make a living out of it. This situation determines the behaviour and morals of a broker. He is a middle-man using the vendors unwillingness, inability, laziness or general convenience to sell the item using a broker. They are parasites by nature and so likely unreliable and suspect of committing indecent things.
I bought my boat from a broker but l bought on my terms. I sold it privately in seven weeks from advertising it and it was not the first guy who bought it. I went through the sales process described above three times. At the end both of us left the scene very happy.

After this missive, which l had to write to went my spleen, seeing Trace committing a likely financial suicide there is one thing left to say.

Fair winds!

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sirgallivant said..
In my books one must get involved personally with a sale or purchase of one's yacht.

It is total lunacy - not to sea-trial an allegedly perfectly good yacht before purchase. (if not possible, l am out!)

It is also idiotic and suspect - and l am using very harsh words here by no accident - to ask for a deposit before sea trial!
It would scare away lot of people, me included! It is unacceptable! Period. (When l am buying, it is my way or the highway!)

As l very recently sold my yacht l think l am in a position to explain what an honest sale should be like. (the emphasis is on the word, honest!)

The buyer is let lose on the boat, he is allowed to look at every part of the yacht, climb the mast, open all compartments, start and operate all and sundry. Motor, fridge, toilet, instruments, gas cooker, tender or whatever else is there.
Take hours, no worries. (one's got nothing to hide! Right?!)

If all's well, he is satisfied, and it must be seen on the buyers face, and because l know the quality of the boat what l am selling, l, the vendor invite him for a sail! I want to catch him and make him fall in love even more with the boat than he already is. Try all the sails he wants, motor the yacht, use it as it should be used for a few hours. The main thought behind all this is to catch him!

If the yacht is sea-worthy and it is not a pig on the water one would ask, why is the vendor denying the possibility to sail it? It stinks to high heaven!

If the sea trial is done and the buyer is caught by the sailing quality of the boat, presumably, he is going to make an offer.
When agreed on a price, he asks for a survey to be done, after that, yes, l am going to hit him for ten percent holding deposit.
Not before and not more. After a successful survey money changes hands and everyone leaves the scene happy! Period.

Well, this is the way l bought as well as sold my last boat.

All brokers are biased, they try to sell someone else's problem and make a living out of it. This situation determines the behaviour and morals of a broker. He is a middle-man using the vendors unwillingness, inability, laziness or general convenience to sell the item using a broker. They are parasites by nature and so likely unreliable and suspect of committing indecent things.
I bought my boat from a broker but l bought on my terms. I sold it privately in seven weeks from advertising it and it was not the first guy who bought it. I went through the sales process described above three times. At the end both of us left the scene very happy.

After this missive, which l had to write to went my spleen, seeing Trace committing a likely financial suicide there is one thing left to say.

Fair winds!

Hi Sir G

I agree with everything you say up to where you speak your thoughts about brokers

I am sure there are some brokers that are as bad as you describe but I don't think you can tar all brokers with the same brush

Regards Don

HI Tracey,
Insist on the sea trial. I do think seatrials are dependent upon the asking price, ie: if it's < $5000 well then one may expect no sea trial.
Other than that, you really should, it could handle like an utter pig because the prior owner slapped an extra couple of ton on board, or put in a different rudder etc.
One of the VDS in the Hobart is optimised to an inch of its life and frankly is so heavy on the helm I'd struggle to helm for a long stretch..You're not going to know that unless you sail it.
It's your money mate, but don't be all nice and trusting. Tell them no test sail is a deal breaker. There is a bunch of Seabreezers that could help you suss it out if you asked them, even get one of them to come with you.

No test sail, no money.
My two cents mate.

Tracey,
As one who has had Prostate Cancer and subsequent op. unless it was in the last two months what the owner is saying is BS even if just to check motor under load. I was playing golf after five weeks. I would be a little alarmed by their refusal without trying to negotiate a firm acceptance from yourself subject to such and survey.

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sirgallivant said..
In my books one must get involved personally with a sale or purchase of one's yacht.

It is total lunacy - not to sea-trial an allegedly perfectly good yacht before purchase. (if not possible, l am out!)

It is also idiotic and suspect - and l am using very harsh words here by no accident - to ask for a deposit before sea trial!
It would scare away lot of people, me included! It is unacceptable! Period. (When l am buying, it is my way or the highway!)

As l very recently sold my yacht l think l am in a position to explain what an honest sale should be like. (the emphasis is on the word, honest!)

The buyer is let lose on the boat, he is allowed to look at every part of the yacht, climb the mast, open all compartments, start and operate all and sundry. Motor, fridge, toilet, instruments, gas cooker, tender or whatever else is there.
Take hours, no worries. (one's got nothing to hide! Right?!)

If all's well, he is satisfied, and it must be seen on the buyers face, and because l know the quality of the boat what l am selling, l, the vendor invite him for a sail! I want to catch him and make him fall in love even more with the boat than he already is. Try all the sails he wants, motor the yacht, use it as it should be used for a few hours. The main thought behind all this is to catch him!

If the yacht is sea-worthy and it is not a pig on the water one would ask, why is the vendor denying the possibility to sail it? It stinks to high heaven!

If the sea trial is done and the buyer is caught by the sailing quality of the boat, presumably, he is going to make an offer.
When agreed on a price, he asks for a survey to be done, after that, yes, l am going to hit him for ten percent holding deposit.
Not before and not more. After a successful survey money changes hands and everyone leaves the scene happy! Period.

Well, this is the way l bought as well as sold my last boat.

All brokers are biased, they try to sell someone else's problem and make a living out of it. This situation determines the behaviour and morals of a broker. He is a middle-man using the vendors unwillingness, inability, laziness or general convenience to sell the item using a broker. They are parasites by nature and so likely unreliable and suspect of committing indecent things.
I bought my boat from a broker but l bought on my terms. I sold it privately in seven weeks from advertising it and it was not the first guy who bought it. I went through the sales process described above three times. At the end both of us left the scene very happy.

After this missive, which l had to write to went my spleen, seeing Trace committing a likely financial suicide there is one thing left to say.

Fair winds!

I wasn't going to comment further on this post but the second last line above and some other comments forced my hand.

Trace is researching and seeking advice, she doesn't need people making dramatic statements that she is likely committing financial suicide or that a test sail is a go/no go issue and walk away if they won't do it. She is a smart person and is very careful to get things right so don't treat her otherwise.

She has seen the boat, it meets her needs and it presents very well. She will get a survey by an independent surveyor and she has asked me to have a look at it out of the water with her.

A VDS 36 will sail like a VDS 36 unless it has been modified substantially. A survey and good inspection will pick up any additional weight, modified rudders, shortened boom etc. She has done her research and is happy with how a VDS 36 sails. If she didn't like how a VDS 36 sails she wouldn't buy one.

In reality a test sail is of very limited value. Some, but very little.

What will a test sail for an hour or so in one set of conditions on Sydney's western harbour really reveal. In light conditions, which is all the broker or owner are likely to want to go out in, you won't get a feel for helm loads or other sailing attributes. It definitely wouldn't include time outside the heads.

Even if the owner lets the broker take you for a sail (I wouldn't and risk the broker cooking the engine or breaking something through unfamiliarity with the boat), he won't know how to sail it well or be able to explain the systems.

Trace is doing a great job on this purchase and I am sure appreciates the help she gets but she doesn't need some of this.

I was about to commit to a purchase recently and did a test run under motor. The result was covered here with a video and discussion of the clouds of white smoke under load. Without taking the boat out for a relatively short run, it would not have been possible to know about this fault.

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MorningBird said..

She has seen the boat, it meets her needs and it presents very well. She will get a survey by an independent surveyor and she has asked me to have a look at it out of the water with her.

I would not expect a test sail and never had one when buying. I always want to see the engine start up from cold though.

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Yara said..
I was about to commit to a purchase recently and did a test run under motor. The result was covered here with a video and discussion of the clouds of white smoke under load. Without taking the boat out for a relatively short run, it would not have been possible to know about this fault.

Agree, but you can get the same by running it in reverse on the mooring.

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MorningBird said..

sirgallivant said..
In my books one must get involved personally with a sale or purchase of one's yacht.

It is total lunacy - not to sea-trial an allegedly perfectly good yacht before purchase. (if not possible, l am out!)

It is also idiotic and suspect - and l am using very harsh words here by no accident - to ask for a deposit before sea trial!
It would scare away lot of people, me included! It is unacceptable! Period. (When l am buying, it is my way or the highway!)

As l very recently sold my yacht l think l am in a position to explain what an honest sale should be like. (the emphasis is on the word, honest!)

The buyer is let lose on the boat, he is allowed to look at every part of the yacht, climb the mast, open all compartments, start and operate all and sundry. Motor, fridge, toilet, instruments, gas cooker, tender or whatever else is there.
Take hours, no worries. (one's got nothing to hide! Right?!)

If all's well, he is satisfied, and it must be seen on the buyers face, and because l know the quality of the boat what l am selling, l, the vendor invite him for a sail! I want to catch him and make him fall in love even more with the boat than he already is. Try all the sails he wants, motor the yacht, use it as it should be used for a few hours. The main thought behind all this is to catch him!

If the yacht is sea-worthy and it is not a pig on the water one would ask, why is the vendor denying the possibility to sail it? It stinks to high heaven!

If the sea trial is done and the buyer is caught by the sailing quality of the boat, presumably, he is going to make an offer.
When agreed on a price, he asks for a survey to be done, after that, yes, l am going to hit him for ten percent holding deposit.
Not before and not more. After a successful survey money changes hands and everyone leaves the scene happy! Period.

Well, this is the way l bought as well as sold my last boat.

All brokers are biased, they try to sell someone else's problem and make a living out of it. This situation determines the behaviour and morals of a broker. He is a middle-man using the vendors unwillingness, inability, laziness or general convenience to sell the item using a broker. They are parasites by nature and so likely unreliable and suspect of committing indecent things.
I bought my boat from a broker but l bought on my terms. I sold it privately in seven weeks from advertising it and it was not the first guy who bought it. I went through the sales process described above three times. At the end both of us left the scene very happy.

After this missive, which l had to write to went my spleen, seeing Trace committing a likely financial suicide there is one thing left to say.

Fair winds!

I wasn't going to comment further on this post but the second last line above and some other comments forced my hand.

Trace is researching and seeking advice, she doesn't need people making dramatic statements that she is likely committing financial suicide or that a test sail is a go/no go issue and walk away if they won't do it. She is a smart person and is very careful to get things right so don't treat her otherwise.

She has seen the boat, it meets her needs and it presents very well. She will get a survey by an independent surveyor and she has asked me to have a look at it out of the water with her.

A VDS 36 will sail like a VDS 36 unless it has been modified substantially. A survey and good inspection will pick up any additional weight, modified rudders, shortened boom etc. She has done her research and is happy with how a VDS 36 sails. If she didn't like how a VDS 36 sails she wouldn't buy one.

In reality a test sail is of very limited value. Some, but very little.

What will a test sail for an hour or so in one set of conditions on Sydney's western harbour really reveal. In light conditions, which is all the broker or owner are likely to want to go out in, you won't get a feel for helm loads or other sailing attributes. It definitely wouldn't include time outside the heads.

Even if the owner lets the broker take you for a sail (I wouldn't and risk the broker cooking the engine or breaking something through unfamiliarity with the boat), he won't know how to sail it well or be able to explain the systems.

Trace is doing a great job on this purchase and I am sure appreciates the help she gets but she doesn't need some of this.

MB,
I know Tracie, and Tracie knows me, she's sailed my boat and bought a boat from me. We know each other well enough where If she doesn't like my opinion, it's an opinion, she doesn't have to listen to it.
I appreciate you're trying to protect Tracy and good on you for it.
I would never take a boat offshore not buy one without a test sail for a > $5k boat.
A friend selling a boat for $20k insisted on every prospective purchaser taking it for a sail.( don't want bad blood post sale in a small pond.)
we're all different, and if you ask for opinions on a forum, you have the right to take on board what/if you like. You're not her partner, and Tracey will tell me if I appear a harbinger of doom.
Happy new year to you mate,
SB

Select to expand quote

shaggybaxter said..

MorningBird said..

sirgallivant said..
In my books one must get involved personally with a sale or purchase of one's yacht.

It is total lunacy - not to sea-trial an allegedly perfectly good yacht before purchase. (if not possible, l am out!)

It is also idiotic and suspect - and l am using very harsh words here by no accident - to ask for a deposit before sea trial!
It would scare away lot of people, me included! It is unacceptable! Period. (When l am buying, it is my way or the highway!)

As l very recently sold my yacht l think l am in a position to explain what an honest sale should be like. (the emphasis is on the word, honest!)

The buyer is let lose on the boat, he is allowed to look at every part of the yacht, climb the mast, open all compartments, start and operate all and sundry. Motor, fridge, toilet, instruments, gas cooker, tender or whatever else is there.
Take hours, no worries. (one's got nothing to hide! Right?!)

If all's well, he is satisfied, and it must be seen on the buyers face, and because l know the quality of the boat what l am selling, l, the vendor invite him for a sail! I want to catch him and make him fall in love even more with the boat than he already is. Try all the sails he wants, motor the yacht, use it as it should be used for a few hours. The main thought behind all this is to catch him!

If the yacht is sea-worthy and it is not a pig on the water one would ask, why is the vendor denying the possibility to sail it? It stinks to high heaven!

If the sea trial is done and the buyer is caught by the sailing quality of the boat, presumably, he is going to make an offer.
When agreed on a price, he asks for a survey to be done, after that, yes, l am going to hit him for ten percent holding deposit.
Not before and not more. After a successful survey money changes hands and everyone leaves the scene happy! Period.

Well, this is the way l bought as well as sold my last boat.

All brokers are biased, they try to sell someone else's problem and make a living out of it. This situation determines the behaviour and morals of a broker. He is a middle-man using the vendors unwillingness, inability, laziness or general convenience to sell the item using a broker. They are parasites by nature and so likely unreliable and suspect of committing indecent things.
I bought my boat from a broker but l bought on my terms. I sold it privately in seven weeks from advertising it and it was not the first guy who bought it. I went through the sales process described above three times. At the end both of us left the scene very happy.

After this missive, which l had to write to went my spleen, seeing Trace committing a likely financial suicide there is one thing left to say.

Fair winds!

I wasn't going to comment further on this post but the second last line above and some other comments forced my hand.

Trace is researching and seeking advice, she doesn't need people making dramatic statements that she is likely committing financial suicide or that a test sail is a go/no go issue and walk away if they won't do it. She is a smart person and is very careful to get things right so don't treat her otherwise.

She has seen the boat, it meets her needs and it presents very well. She will get a survey by an independent surveyor and she has asked me to have a look at it out of the water with her.

A VDS 36 will sail like a VDS 36 unless it has been modified substantially. A survey and good inspection will pick up any additional weight, modified rudders, shortened boom etc. She has done her research and is happy with how a VDS 36 sails. If she didn't like how a VDS 36 sails she wouldn't buy one.

In reality a test sail is of very limited value. Some, but very little.

What will a test sail for an hour or so in one set of conditions on Sydney's western harbour really reveal. In light conditions, which is all the broker or owner are likely to want to go out in, you won't get a feel for helm loads or other sailing attributes. It definitely wouldn't include time outside the heads.

Even if the owner lets the broker take you for a sail (I wouldn't and risk the broker cooking the engine or breaking something through unfamiliarity with the boat), he won't know how to sail it well or be able to explain the systems.

Trace is doing a great job on this purchase and I am sure appreciates the help she gets but she doesn't need some of this.

MB,
I know Tracie, and Tracie knows me, she's sailed my boat and bought a boat from me. We know each other well enough where If she doesn't like my opinion, it's an opinion, she doesn't have to listen to it.
I appreciate you're trying to protect Tracy and good on you for it.
I would never take a boat offshore not buy one without a test sail for a > $5k boat.
A friend selling a boat for $20k insisted on every prospective purchaser taking it for a sail.( don't want bad blood post sale in a small pond.)
we're all different, and if you ask for opinions on a forum, you have the right to take on board what/if you like. You're not her partner, and Tracey will tell me if I appear a harbinger of doom.
Happy new year to you mate,
SB

HNY to you too SB. Agree to disagree.

When a forum member asks for advice, it's pretty reasonable that other members then give their best shot.

Some advice will be better than other, some will be rather passionate due to strong opinions or really good or bad experiences .

The OP can then weigh up all the advice and use or discard as they wish.

In the case of my small contribution, the broker appeared to be saying that a sea trial was not possible - my experience is that, even with an absent owner, the surveyor and/or broker should be competent to carry out the trial.

One can have a whole debate about the value of a sea trial, but it is reasonable for an individual to decide that a trial, for them, is a requirement.

However, I'd humbly suggest that, if we wish to rehash the pros and cons of sea trials, we start up a separate thread.

A happy New Year to all 'breezers!

Adam

Although I'm going to break my own suggestion.

Whilst a sea trial may reveal a major problem, it is more likely that one might spot one or more minor issues once everything is being used. This may or may not lead to some discussion on price or repair prior to purchase.

Even if no change to the sale eventuates, one may get an earlier start on planning maintenance, upgrades and improvements.

Cheers

Bristol

Select to expand quote

Ramona said..

MorningBird said..

She has seen the boat, it meets her needs and it presents very well. She will get a survey by an independent surveyor and she has asked me to have a look at it out of the water with her.

I would not expect a test sail and never had one when buying. I always want to see the engine start up from cold though.

That's pretty game!

I just test sailed a 45ft hole in the ocean and very glad I did. Sails bellied out, set up was incorrect and sheets fouled by stays. Outhaul incorrect and reefing lines too short. Probably over 10k I wouldn't have known about.

Don't you guys get it?
It is personal, one would buy a boat by just looking at it one would take it apart to make sure everything is to his liking.

One can not fault either one, it's personal!
The main thing, don't jump to conclusions and don't blame people for what they think, what they are.

Like Don, some thinks well of brokers, my experience tells me they are audacious reptiles who's service is meretricious, pre-sale mendacity is legendary, after-sale insouciance is alarming.

All this, is my opinion!

Holy Sh!t Sir G,
Meretricious, mendacity and insouciance!! Where did you get them words from??

Certainly I concur with just about all you have said about buying and selling boats. You have done it enough times.

With the search engines we have had for about a decade now, a serious yacht buyer will have fairly much decided which yacht he/she is going to buy. I paid a $100 deposit to the broker's account to secure a first option on purchase.

I believe the best way to clinch a deal is to have a demonstration of the vessel and it's ability to be moved from it's current location to one that may be near or far.

My deal was clinched with a little motor out onto Lake Macquarie with the owner where I said yes to the previously agreed price. The broker facilitated this.

This be they. Tony and Colin.




They actually called me and asked if they could use the pic on their web site.

Well, Cisco, you assisted at the purchase of Rhapsody years ago, a friendly gesture, which l am still very geatful of, and your unbiased opinion was partially responsible for my joy and my nightmares until the day l sold it.

After your worthy assessment all those years ago, the sea trial, gybing out of and tacking back into Mollolabah, was the deciding factor for me to buy the Adams 28! That sail made me fall in love with the boat!

I feel sorry for anyone who is stubborn enough divesting himself of the joy of discovery, denying the possibility of such revelation and sensory experience.

The truth is, the yacht sold itself, again, and l probably would still own it if l was anally retentive about letting the buyers look at it at length and sail it at their pleasure to their hearts content in reasonable winds.

This letter arrived recently from the buyer:

" Hi Jon,
Hope you are well.
Ive been having a ball playing with Rhapsody. She sails better than I ever will! Spent a few nights out and had 20 knots most times sailing....."

I rest my case.
Fair winds