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Which sail boat should you buy? |
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Deciding on which sail boat to buy depends on several factors. Foremost of which is the type of sailing activity (read more on sailing) that you do intend to do primarily with your boat. Is it mainly for weekend cruising along the lakes? For racing? For day sailing? How you sail is the first thing to consider when you are choosing which sail boat to buy. Of course, it is assumed that you already have a fair idea of the price range for your desired boat.
Another important factor is where you plan to spend your sailing days. Location is very important in determining the right size for your boat and the systems and accessories that go with it.
Will you be sailing in an area where the water is deep enough for your keel to go as far as it can into the water? Or are you running on shallow waters with dangers of unpleasant grounding? Check out also for bridges and other structures along lakes and rivers. You would not want to get restricted into certain sailing destinations because of your very tall mast.
Knowing the probable locations for your sail will also help you in choosing the appropriate systems to put in your boat such as the radio, water and fuel systems. If you are sailing in the United States, you can refill your water tanks in most docks. But there are some destinations such as in the Caribbean where water sources may not be as reliable. In these cases, it helps to have a water-making system on your vessel.
The general notion that a bigger boat is better may not necessarily hold true at all times. True, it is more spacious, more stable, and faster, and therefore offers a more pleasurable sailing experience. However, bigger boats are not only more expensive at the time of purchase, it is also costlier to maintain and to repair. There are also fewer boat yards that can accommodate larger boats. In the long run, a medium-sized sail boat that is just right for your needs may be a better investment.
If the sail boat that you are buying is already pre-owned (read more about used boats), then you should be more meticulous about buying it. Aside from the standard questions that you ask when buying a new boat, you should check with the used boat broker or owner about the present condition of the boat.
Where the boat has sailed before has a large impact on its condition. Saltwater is more corrosive than freshwater and is likely to cause more damage on the boat. Find out how the boat was stored during off-sailing season as proper storage also contributes to a boat’s shipshap condition.
So whether you are buying a dinghy, a pontoon boat, a multihull catamaran for sailing, the most important thing is to enjoy the experience. Aside from acquiring the right boat, equipping yourself with the needed skills will allow you to have a more pleasurable and safe sailing adventure. These skills knowing the basics of sail trim, the points of sail, the right-of-way rules, and the fundamentals of anchoring, docking, and navigation and the basics of weather. You may not necessarily develop these skills all at once but you sure will in the process as you hit the water with the perfect sail boat that is just right for your needs.
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