I set myself a rough budget and approximate size and requirements; I wanted a sailing boat that would sail well, is structurally sound (preferable GRP) and has an air of elegance about it, I had set my sight on a racer cruiser type yacht. An additional requirement was to have standing headroom.
So I started trawling the inter-web, with all my requirements, my search was limited to a couple of 28-30ft boats that were preferably in the south west so I didn’t have to do any epic voyages bringing a boat I hardly knew home.
I spotted a local boat, saw what yard it was in and went down to have a look, from the outside it looked promising, so I arranged a viewing with a yacht broker. On the day of the viewing I was informed she had already been sold – Bummer. However, in the end I got a bigger, better boat so when the yacht broker called me up some months later saying the sale had fallen though I wasn’t that disappointed.
So, back on with the search – on one of the ‘yacht for sale’ sites I found a 32″ yacht based in Falmouth, Cornwall (2hour drive) accommodated by 4 pictures giving limited info of the boat, which sparked something; I needed more info, I called the owner and arranged a viewing the following weekend.
On a cold spring morning I drove down to Falmouth, having never brought a yacht before I scored the Internet looking up info on ‘how to buy a boat’, I even printed off a crib sheet/check list to go against, this ended up being useless as most people who have brought a yacht know the right one when they see it. I met up with the owner to have a look over the boat, from the outside she looked okay, fresh coat of anti foul, bit green on the deck and a few flaky varnished wooden features which I wasn’t too sure about, but all looked like it was in reasonable condition. The interior was dark, damp and dated, although I was pretty sure the interior decor was original, given the mustard coloured cushions, probably dating back to when the boat was new and that was fashionable (i.e.the 70,s). The engine was hidden underneath an old wooden cover which parted to give full access to the engine (a bonus), to the untrained eye, I just thought it looked a little rusty! I also checked a number of other bits, conversing with the owner and pretending I knew what I was looking at… I decided she could be the one; relatively spacey for my budget and with definite room for me to get my teeth stuck in to renovation, additionally I was assured she sailed well. I now needed a reason not to buy her. I called upon my dad and a mates dad to give her a once over the following weekend. With no real issues arising it was becoming a real thing, I now needed to follow through and make an offer. All the time there was a bit of a rush on as there were other people looking at her. The boat was being put back in the water, if she was to go back on the water, due to the annual mooring fee having to be paid the price would go up. Mid week, after more considerations and sleepless nights thinking of adventures I called up and made an offer, minus the GPS and with the life raft, after negotiations we came to a arrangement, this is how we came to own fine ship Gunslinger!
aboatlife 