Yacht ownership and women sailors!

Yacht ownership… why own a yacht? For the same reason you own a car, it gives you the freedom to travel near and far with a sense of independence. Give you unlimited adventure!

Yacht ownership isn’t just for the wealthy, an increasing number of women yachtsmen are finding they can afford to own a mid-size yacht in the 28-40 foot range. Make wise decisions: You want to enjoy sailing and the incredible lifestyle opportunities it offers and not continually worry about maintenance.

Yacht ownership What type of yacht?

You need to decide what type of yacht suits your needs and this will depend on whether you want to cruise around the harbor with some friends, take part in fun races or if you see yourself cruising long and blue waters. You could try a charter yacht to get a taste of the adventure that awaits you.

And you’ll also need to consider whether you’re going to be with your family, partner, friends or crew when you go sailing or whether you should consider sailing alone when considering yacht ownership.

Accommodation will depend on how many can be on board and if it is just a sailing day where cabin size matters or for sailing and interior size and layout matters, how many berths, comfort and galley facilities. if you are anticipating longer or blue water cruises.

What is important to your yacht ownership needs? Do you want a large wardrobe of sails for fun racing with the yacht club or a furling system for easy sailing and one-handed sailing?

What type of engine, an inboard or an outboard, and what HP is important to your needs?

Can you afford all the up-to-date equipment like plotters, or are you going to settle for a handheld GPS and some basic but essential equipment? Does the yacht meet all safety requirements with life jackets, flares and EPIRB’s, or will it be an additional expense?

The cost to buy and hold?

The main ongoing maintenance job for yacht ownership is taking it out of the water for its annual antifouling, and this is a time to check and work on hull fittings and other jobs that can’t be done on the water.

And don’t forget to insure your prized possession! This can be expensive.
You can almost always say that what you are quoted as the cost for the work to be done on your boat will be doubled when the final bill arrives. And as a woman, she gets reliable trades, men who are not going to take advantage of you… there are some around here.
So what are the first steps you take when you decide to buy a yacht?
The more you are prepared to do yourself, or learn to do, the more you can reduce costs. Do your homework and investigate!

How do you start looking for the yacht of your dreams?

Don’t be emotionally rushed when looking at yacht ownership! Start looking at boating magazines, shipyards, and boat shows. Browse the Internet within a radius of where you are prepared to travel. Take a look at yacht brokerage storefronts and get a real idea of ​​value by comparing yachts that are similar. Look at loads of yachts and their different layouts, what they come with and always keep in mind what your intentions are when it comes to sailing, but don’t be specific. I saw more than 50 yachts before making a decision. For example, I started looking for a 25 foot yacht to cruise the harbor and ended up buying a 32 foot yacht capable of sailing offshore, how grateful I am now in my final choice.

Are you going to be looking for a small trailer-sailor? If so, have you considered the task of getting it in and out of the water? If you’re looking for a larger yacht, have you checked out the marinas and berths in your area and the rates you’ll be paying on a regular basis? You will find a broker who will listen to you and is willing to take the time to show you some of the yachts they have on their books.

I found that as a woman, many brokerages I walked into, the sales staff seemed to ignore me, not take me as a serious buyer, or, if I had a partner with me, they would talk to him when, as some were told…’ Tell it to her, not to me… she’s the one buying a yacht! When it comes to yacht ownership by women, I know of countless cases of sexism… like the one I encountered when buying a yacht.

The best way to combat this is with knowledge of both the type of yacht you are looking for and the seamanship. A good accredited school or TAFE course in Australia will give you confidence and a foundation of knowledge and understanding. The broker who sold me my yacht listened to what I said, showed me what I was saying and then threw a ‘wild card’… reading between the lines and listening to my excitement and that’s the one I bought.

Did you find the right yacht? Now what?

When you finally narrow it down to a yacht you like and that fits your purpose, the hull and rig look solid and you’re happy with the design, then you can negotiate and buy something else.

But wait… there is still more work to be done! You will need to complete a survey required by most insurance companies and banks. This is done by a marine surveyor and is a thorough examination of the yacht.

The surveyor checks every corner of the boat, the hull if it is fiberglass for osmosis and if it is wood for dry rot, details the equipment on board and provides the buyer with a written statement of the condition of the yacht, as well as as a list of recommendations. .

Hire a marine mechanic to check the engine and make a report for you. I loved everything about the Levitation, the yacht I bought, except its old 12 hp motor, very tired, but it went away and the mechanic warned me there would be a time when I would have to replace it. Also consider the environment… are you leaking fuel or oil… is there excessive fumes? I had to think about the cost, and 14 years after my yacht purchase I replaced my old motor with a new Volvo Penta 30HP motor at a total cost of $18,000A which included installation.

It is also advisable to do a sea trial to see how it moves and sails and if it lives up to your expectations, keep in mind that there will always be compromises in used yacht ownership.

Consider the condition of the sails and if they are hank sails but you wanted a furler on the headsail for easier handling, check the cost factor of making the change or if you are prepared to accept them as is. ?
• What about marine instruments?
• Are you happy with them after sea trial?
• Maybe you want to buy a plotter!
• Or handheld GPS!
• Must have a depth sounder
• VHF Radio
• Do you want to improve your life jackets?

Security equipment is one of those ongoing costs not only for your own peace of mind, but also required by law. So, have you checked what the ship has according to the requirements?
• EPIRB
• Flares that are up to date!
• Are the fire extinguishers up to date?
• What about the First Aid team?

All of these can be purchased at a local Chandlery or you can get a better deal and more options online. Now that you have decided on a yacht and feel you are ready to be a yacht owner… now what?

There is the usual offer and counter offer process with the broker negotiating for you the same way it works in Real Estate until an agreement is reached. And a contract term until the settlement date so that if necessary you can organize the financing, this is done in the same way that you would do it for a car, a personal or special loan.

Don’t get discouraged by the whole process… the rewards of owning a yacht are great! In no time at all, you’ll be taking possession of your yacht, and when you do, have at least one capable sailor with you to take you to a destination of your choosing while you learn and get used to your prized possession.