Travel the World by Boat: A beginner’s guide to buying a yacht

Making the decision to buy a yacht is exciting but it can also be a little overwhelming. There are many factors to consider and, if you’ve never taken the plunge and purchased your own boat before, it can seem pretty complex.

While buying a yacht is more complicated than heading to a car dealer and purchasing a new vehicle, there are a few ways in which to make the process smoother.

Whether you’re a seasoned sailor who’s undertaken a host of training and qualifications or you’ve just done your skipper’s course, our guide to buying your first yacht will help to point you in the right direction.

Choose the type of boat

You’ll probably already have some idea of the type of yacht that you want but it’s worth narrowing down before you really begin your search. Some popular options include:

• Monohull: This is the classic yacht, featuring one hull. They tend to be the smallest of the yachts and often the less expensive option.
• Catamaran: With two hulls, these boats offer stability as well as comfortable and spacious living spaces.
• Trimaran: Featuring three hulls, trimarans are the speedier of these three and offer increased stability in adverse conditions.

The yacht that you choose is likely to depend on the type of sailing that you’ll be doing so it’s vital to consider this alongside other factors.

Consider the size

Again, this is likely to be dependent on for what you plan on using your boat and where you’ll be sailing. If you intend on hosting others aboard, you’ll want to choose one with enough space to sleep and entertain.

If you hope to take part in sailing events and regattas, though, you might want to opt for something more compact.

Budget and maintenance costs

It goes without saying that you’ll need to take into account your budget when deciding on your first yacht but you should also think about potential maintenance and service costs. This could influence the decision of whether to buy a used or new boat, as well as the model and specification.

You might also want to take into consideration other costs such as boat insurance and mooring fees.

Ask questions before you commit

Buying a yacht is a big decision so it’s important to ask the seller questions before making a purchase. Make sure that you have a proper look around and get a full survey done to prevent any nasty surprises on the water.

Finally, while the practical aspects of buying a boat are obviously crucial, it’s also important that you like the style and feel of the yacht. After all, you’ll be the one sailing it as you enjoy discovering new destinations.

Hey there! My name is Wojtek and I am very happy that you came to my travel blog. I've been traveling the world for a few good years now and I still want more.

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