Hi all looking at buying my first yacht to live on with my wife i dont have much experience other than sailing with my brother Vernon(dexport)
I would welcome any advice on buying a good yacht, and would just like to say hi now that im in the position to join the sailing community.
Hello Tobz and welcome, great that you are in a position to achieve your dream live aboard yacht plan. Sorry to say but imho your post is way too broad for us to respond to with suitably focused advice. So without knowing what experience you have or what you want to do with your live on board yacht it is very difficult to know how to respond. As a minimum I would suggest you both do a suitable yacht sailing course. So you want to buy a "good" yacht - what does this mean and what is your budget - a 40 footer would probably be a minimum for a couple to live aboard on. Where do you want to sail to - up and down the east coast of Oz or around the country for a few years or the Pacific? So the standing rigging would need to be less than 5 years old, the diesel in top condition, and the sails in good condition.
Hi Tobz. My partner and I just bought a Halvorsen and Gowland 31. What we looked for was a strong bluewater cruiser with plenty of headroom and an aft cabin/centre cockpit. We looked at a lot of smaller boats like a clansman 30, compass 28 and swanson 28 and they just didnt have enough room. I would say buying a boat without any experience is a steep learning curve (can definitely be done!) Im glad that I have 5 years experience running a small sailing program and racing in the ever changeable Darwin wet season and I absolutely consider myself a novice - there have been some big learning curves on our halvorsen already. My advice would be to crew on as many different boats as possible before you buy - learn what boats you like. If you can find a way to crew on a longer cruise even better. You will learn about all the noises, movement and eccentricities that living on a boat brings to your life. Crewing also keys you into the the safety aspects - things can easily go upside down when you dont know how to avoid or remedy certain situations. Having said that its an incredible experience and i love being in touch with nature - you definitely feel the world turn around you! So go for it I reckon!
Select to expand quotePatSiesta said..
Hi Tobz. My partner and I just bought a Halvorsen and Gowland 31. What we looked for was a strong bluewater cruiser with plenty of headroom and an aft cabin/centre cockpit. We looked at a lot of smaller boats like a clansman 30, compass 28 and swanson 28 and they just didnt have enough room. I would say buying a boat without any experience is a steep learning curve (can definitely be done!) Im glad that I have 5 years experience running a small sailing program and racing in the ever changeable Darwin wet season and I absolutely consider myself a novice - there have been some big learning curves on our halvorsen already. My advice would be to crew on as many different boats as possible before you buy - learn what boats you like. If you can find a way to crew on a longer cruise even better. You will learn about all the noises, movement and eccentricities that living on a boat brings to your life. Crewing also keys you into the the safety aspects - things can easily go upside down when you dont know how to avoid or remedy certain situations. Having said that its an incredible experience and i love being in touch with nature - you definitely feel the world turn around you! So go for it I reckon!
Hi PatSiesta yea we are looking for something similar only in the 35 to 40 range,
Thats good advise to crew on other yachts ive crewed on a couple for a few months in the last few years, would of like to crew more but work and mortgages get in the way up until now
Toby go sailing with your brother again and suck every bit of information out of him that you can. Ask him what he would do different if he had to do it all over again. What he likes about his current boat and if there is anything he doesn't like and how that could influence your choices.
Select to expand quoter13 said..
Hello Tobz and welcome, great that you are in a position to achieve your dream live aboard yacht plan. Sorry to say but imho your post is way too broad for us to respond to with suitably focused advice. So without knowing what experience you have or what you want to do with your live on board yacht it is very difficult to know how to respond. As a minimum I would suggest you both do a suitable yacht sailing course. So you want to buy a "good" yacht - what does this mean and what is your budget - a 40 footer would probably be a minimum for a couple to live aboard on. Where do you want to sail to - up and down the east coast of Oz or around the country for a few years or the Pacific? So the standing rigging would need to be less than 5 years old, the diesel in top condition, and the sails in good condition.
Sorry mate im looking for 35 to 40ft blue water yacht under 50k
Select to expand quoteLooseChange said..
Toby go sailing with your brother again and suck every bit of information out of him that you can. Ask him what he would do different if he had to do it all over again. What he likes about his current boat and if there is anything he doesn't like and how that could influence your choices.
I wish i could hes in indonesia at the moment, will definitely be asking him lots of advise though.
Ive been looking and dreaming for awhile now online but ive just sold my house today so will be inspecting yachts over the next few months, wish me luck
Select to expand quotetobz said..
I wish i could hes in indonesia at the moment, will definitely be asking him lots of advise though.
Ive been looking and dreaming for awhile now online but ive just sold my house today so will be inspecting yachts over the next few months, wish me luck
In a rather nice part of Indonesia too I might say. I watch all his videos.
G'day Tobz,
Welcome! Whereabouts are you? You might find a few amicable Seabreezers that you could filch a few rides with.
It's a pity Hammo has been canned this year as there is always a few boats from down south looking for delivery crew and its such a beautiful part of the world to go sailing through.
With Covid-19 hanging around, it might be a bit difficult to cross state borders for a while, so focussing on your local sailing community might be the best ROI in the short term at least.
All the best in your boat searching, its a fun experience!
Cheers,
SB
Select to expand quoteshaggybaxter said..
G'day Tobz,
Welcome! Whereabouts are you? You might find a few amicable Seabreezers that you could filch a few rides with.
It's a pity Hammo has been canned this year as there is always a few boats from down south looking for delivery crew and its such a beautiful part of the world to go sailing through.
With Covid-19 hanging around, it might be a bit difficult to cross state borders for a while, so focussing on your local sailing community might be the best ROI in the short term at least.
All the best in your boat searching, its a fun experience!
Cheers,
SB
Hi shaggybaxter
Im in Brisbane and i would love to get some more experience from some other sailors and especially get my wife some more experience too. Will definitely be heading down to the local yacht club when ever we get spare time.
Its probably not the best time to be looking at sailing the world but there will always be some reason to put off going so will have to just make the best of it and explore the beautiful part of the world we live in.
Hey Tobz
As said, sail as much as possible and learn learn learn for as many people as possible, even better under race conditions.
Learn how to sail on as many different boats as you can under different skippers and mix of crew.
Learn how each boat is set up, how it its rigged, how it responds, how easy or how hard it is to handle, how fast or how slow it is.
Learn what doesnt work for you, what you dont like, things you dont want to have / repeat on your boat.
You will find it will narrow your choices when your looking to purchase.
Select to expand quotetobz said..PatSiesta said..
Hi Tobz. My partner and I just bought a Halvorsen and Gowland 31. What we looked for was a strong bluewater cruiser with plenty of headroom and an aft cabin/centre cockpit. We looked at a lot of smaller boats like a clansman 30, compass 28 and swanson 28 and they just didnt have enough room. I would say buying a boat without any experience is a steep learning curve (can definitely be done!) Im glad that I have 5 years experience running a small sailing program and racing in the ever changeable Darwin wet season and I absolutely consider myself a novice - there have been some big learning curves on our halvorsen already. My advice would be to crew on as many different boats as possible before you buy - learn what boats you like. If you can find a way to crew on a longer cruise even better. You will learn about all the noises, movement and eccentricities that living on a boat brings to your life. Crewing also keys you into the the safety aspects - things can easily go upside down when you dont know how to avoid or remedy certain situations. Having said that its an incredible experience and i love being in touch with nature - you definitely feel the world turn around you! So go for it I reckon!
Hi PatSiesta yea we are looking for something similar only in the 35 to 40 range,
Thats good advise to crew on other yachts ive crewed on a couple for a few months in the last few years, would of like to crew more but work and mortgages get in the way up until now
Thats grea tobz. I think 35-40 is a good fit for a couple. I was thinking about shifting to that range but we came by a boat that fitted us while being small. I hope you find an amazing boat to build plenty of great adventures with.
Select to expand quoteCraig66 said..
Hey Tobz
As said, sail as much as possible and learn learn learn for as many people as possible, even better under race conditions.
Learn how to sail on as many different boats as you can under different skippers and mix of crew.
Learn how each boat is set up, how it its rigged, how it responds, how easy or how hard it is to handle, how fast or how slow it is.
Learn what doesnt work for you, what you dont like, things you dont want to have / repeat on your boat.
You will find it will narrow your choices when your looking to purchase.
Good advice!
One thing I'd say though, dont take the wife out on a race boat at the beginning, especially not if its over 20knts out and an uphill course.
Start her off slowly, on a bigger heavier boat in nice conditions, get her confidence up.
Select to expand quoteDexport said..Craig66 said..
Hey Tobz
As said, sail as much as possible and learn learn learn for as many people as possible, even better under race conditions.
Learn how to sail on as many different boats as you can under different skippers and mix of crew.
Learn how each boat is set up, how it its rigged, how it responds, how easy or how hard it is to handle, how fast or how slow it is.
Learn what doesnt work for you, what you dont like, things you dont want to have / repeat on your boat.
You will find it will narrow your choices when your looking to purchase.
Good advice!
One thing I'd say though, dont take the wife out on a race boat at the beginning, especially not if its over 20knts out and an uphill course.
Start her off slowly, on a bigger heavier boat in nice conditions, get her confidence up.
Perhaps learn to sail in a Laser or a Hobie first, yachts are easier from there , obviously different , but same same
Learning to sail in flat water and getting wet sure beats the sheet out of being overwhelmed in a yacht first up.
Once you are scared off, hard to come back as a newbie imo
Select to expand quotetobz said..shaggybaxter said..
G'day Tobz,
Welcome! Whereabouts are you? You might find a few amicable Seabreezers that you could filch a few rides with.
It's a pity Hammo has been canned this year as there is always a few boats from down south looking for delivery crew and its such a beautiful part of the world to go sailing through.
With Covid-19 hanging around, it might be a bit difficult to cross state borders for a while, so focussing on your local sailing community might be the best ROI in the short term at least.
All the best in your boat searching, its a fun experience!
Cheers,
SB
Hi shaggybaxter
Im in Brisbane and i would love to get some more experience from some other sailors and especially get my wife some more experience too. Will definitely be heading down to the local yacht club when ever we get spare time.
Its probably not the best time to be looking at sailing the world but there will always be some reason to put off going so will have to just make the best of it and explore the beautiful part of the world we live in.
Hiya Tobz,
PM me your contact details mate, I' m in Brisbane and I'd be more than happy to drag you out for a sail.
Cheers,
SB
Select to expand quotePerry500 said..Dexport said..Craig66 said..
Hey Tobz
As said, sail as much as possible and learn learn learn for as many people as possible, even better under race conditions.
Learn how to sail on as many different boats as you can under different skippers and mix of crew.
Learn how each boat is set up, how it its rigged, how it responds, how easy or how hard it is to handle, how fast or how slow it is.
Learn what doesnt work for you, what you dont like, things you dont want to have / repeat on your boat.
You will find it will narrow your choices when your looking to purchase.
Good advice!
One thing I'd say though, dont take the wife out on a race boat at the beginning, especially not if its over 20knts out and an uphill course.
Start her off slowly, on a bigger heavier boat in nice conditions, get her confidence up.
Perhaps learn to sail in a Laser or a Hobie first, yachts are easier from there , obviously different , but same same
Learning to sail in flat water and getting wet sure beats the sheet out of being overwhelmed in a yacht first up.
Once you are scared off, hard to come back as a newbie imo
Yea ill be taking my wife out on a laser or hobbie cat whenever i can good learning and just lots of fun too..
wow ... that is super nice of SB ... i'm jealous! .. I want to experience kicking back relaxing with a beer whilst planing on Fusion
Hi Tobz
You & your wife are about to embark on an amazing journey.
I would advise starting in a marina berth first for atleast 6 months.
That will make the transition from land to sea a little gentler.
Go out in daylight only at first. So limit your sailing trips to only about 6 hours for an over night stay in a well set water way.
Remember ...weather weather weather...!!!!
One could go on for hours but you NEVER stop learning.
Have fun ...plan the sail...sail the plan.
Select to expand quoteJakeNN said..
wow ... that is super nice of SB ... i'm jealous! .. I want to experience kicking back relaxing with a beer whilst planing on Fusion
Hi Jake,
Well, we should do something about that, send me your contact details and we'll try and make calendars align,
Cheers,
SB
Select to expand quoteJakeNN said..
wow ... that is super nice of SB ... i'm jealous! .. I want to experience kicking back relaxing with a beer whilst planing on Fusion
Having sailed on Fusion might I say that when she is planeing is probably not the right time to be kicking back and relaxing with a beer. 
