Sara Clemence
Used? New? Custom? In-Between?
Shop around at the Annapolis Sailboat Show.
When you buy a new boat "off the rack," you may be able to choose the color and a few of the features, but most of the details will have been decided by the manufacturer. On the other side of the boat-buying spectrum is a vessel built entirely from scratch to your specifications: "It's a blank piece of paper, and the sky's the limit," says Gibbons-Neff of Sparkman and Stephens.
"What kinds of tolerance do you have for decision making?" asks Hinckley's Bennett. If the answer is "none," then a custom-built yacht it not for you, unless you're willing to hire a manager to oversee the project.
The middle option is the semi-custom boat, which has an off-the-rack hull but fittings designed to your specifications. You can choose the sail plan, the fittings and the layout of the boat. (Do you want your stateroom to be in the center of the boat or the stern?)
A custom boat can take two years or more to build, but a previously owned boat--once you find the one you want--can be delivered immediately. You might not be getting the latest equipment, but it can be replaced. A used boat with a beautiful exterior and aging parts can be refitted, though at a cost. And a used boat has already proven its ability to weather the water.
It may not make sense to set your heart on a new, used or custom boat at the start of the decision-making process. Looking at used boats on the market may steer you towards a custom-built boat.
To get a feel for different looks and layouts, hit the boats shows that are held around the country year-round. The Annapolis Sailboat Show, the largest in the U.S., takes place in October; Strictly Sail Chicago is at the end of January, and Pacific Sail Expo is in April.
Sailboat Buying Guide
1. Intro
2. Location
3. Brokers
4. Bigger can be better, but..
5. Pedigree Counts
6. Turning a Profit
7. Used? New? Custom? In-Between?
8. International Buying
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