Like buying a house or a car, the purchase of a sailboat must be prepared. Of course, we all have dreams of the ideal sailboat in our heads, but it is primarily a matter of choosing the sailboat we really need and not the one we idealize. Firstly because you risk being disappointed in the end, but also because it represents a large budget.
Establishing precise specifications allows you to define all the essential criteria and rule out those that are not needed. This will allow you to prioritize your priorities, set your physical constraints as well as your budgetary constraints.
The navigation program
First of all, it is a question of defining the use you will make of your sailboat. Here is a series of questions that will allow you to define certain essential criteria such as the nature of your boat (cruiser-race, yachting, dayboat, light sailing...). Depending on your programme - coastal cruising, coastal sailing, deckchairs - you will also be able to choose the size of your boat and its draught, as well as its appendage (keel, lifting keel, straight keel...). The answers to these questions will also help you to know if you need a habitable boat, with cabins, or a small non habitable dayboat.
- Are you just going to browse to journée?? Are you going to sail around the world or will you only sail during the period estivale??
- You must also estimate the time you will spend on board: several days, several nuits?? Do you intend to stay at anchor or to reach a port every nuit?? Do you plan to sail a lot or make a stopover régulièrement??
- Similarly, do you intend to use your boat for personal use only or do you intend to put your boat on location?? Do you have a regatta program or only from croisière??
- Do you have a berth or would you like a boat remorquable??
The crew
The crew is also important to consider when buying your sailboat. If you are sailing as a family with children, you will need comfort and safety. If you are sailing as a couple, or single-handed, you will need a boat that is on a human scale and easily manoeuvrable with a small crew. If you're older, you'll want to be able to sail easily, without having to make too much effort.
Are your teammates expérimentés?? Will they take part in the manoeuvres with vous?? Will they keep watches with autonomie?? Will you always sail with the same crew or will you use crews occasionnels??
The equipment for comfort on board
According to your program, what equipment do you think is essential for bord?? If you appreciate having a refrigerator for several weeks of sailing, its usefulness may be questioned for a day on the water. A portable cooler will do just as well.
If you are sailing for a long family cruise, you may need extra equipment to make life on board easier, such as a freezer, a washing machine... Do you plan to fill water tanks or do you want to equip your boat with a dessalinisateur?? Do you need a heating/cooling system to extend the periods of use of your bateau??
Not all of this equipment fits on all units. A strong need for comfort will require a spacious boat and above all capable of hosting energy production systems: generator, solar panels, hydrogenerator...
Life on board
How do you plan to live aboard your voilier?? Are you just going to sail it and spend the night at bord?? Do you plan to take your repas?? Do you need to take on board nautical equipment (paddle, windsurf, dinghy...)?? Do you plan to take vélos? with you? Books to pagailles?? Equipment informatique??
You will need to think about having enough storage and stowage space on board to suit your lifestyle.
Construction
Do you want to buy a large production boat delivered turnkey or do you want to get involved in the construction of your boat by adding your personnelle? touch?
Your program and sailing locations will also allow you to define which hull material you want for your sailboat: polyester, aluminium, steel, composite, wood..
The deadline
Some yards have longer production times than others, particularly those which do not produce in series. It is therefore important to know when you will need your boat and whether the chosen shipyard is able to deliver on time.
The budget
The nerve of the guerre?! It is important to define the budget for your purchase before anything else. You can set yourself a maximum budget, so you can determine what you can't do without and what you are ready to overlook. Be careful with the standard yacht prices displayed. Be aware that you should always add options to the basic price of your boat.
Maintenance
The maintenance as well as the storage of your boat is an important part of the budget. It varies according to the type of boat. Remember to take it into account. Do you plan to leave your boat in port all year round or put it at sec?? Do you have someone to do the maintenance (antifouling, fairing, cleaning...) or do you plan to do it yourself même??
