Next message: Judy Rouse: "RE: [world-cruising] boat insurance"
Pat/Nancy -- first congradulations on your decision to
make the conversion.
Somewhat like you, i decided a few years ago to go
"sailing". I was fortunate to live on the east coast
so i attend every boat show i could, not only to look
at boats but also to talk with brokers. We got
fortunate to meet Ted Novakowski who now owes Sound
Yachts in Westbrook, Ct who was himself a cruiser in
his younger days. Having been there done that he
kinda took us under his wing and really taught us
about sailboats. some sell yes but more teaching, in
fact from the time we met until the we purchased it
was over 2 years and i had moved from the east coast
to miami, but stayed with Ted as basically he got to
know my strengths and weaknesses as well as my dreams.
We did end up purchasing a new Jeanneau DS40 from him
and then spent over 3 months deciding what he would
put on it before commissioning and what i would put on
later. It has been 3 years now and I still talk with
him when i need advise or a thought and he is always
helpful.
So for my humble thoughts, find a broker who has
cruised and really know what they are talking about.
Example, when i took one of my sons (a US Marine) to a
boat show and went through one particular boat on it's
positive and negatives, as we left the broker asked me
to stay as he learned more in that time than ever
before about the boat he was selling.
Second, find someone more interested in teaching you
about boats than selling a boat. The later will come
if the former is done well. We constantly kept asking
why this boat and not that boat, now we do it
ourselves.
Third, decide what you want the boat to carry, ie the
goodies. If your broker is a cruiser they will know
what is need and what is not.
Fourth, do your reseach. I read several books and
made notes and then with notes in hand talked with Ted
as we proceed down the purchase path.
Hope this helps as there are may brokers out there and
like finding an employee of a company, many are
interviewed but only one is chose.
These are my thoughts.
Good Luck
Chuck and S/V SoulMates
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