Buying the Perfect Boat

Why is it, that when you are looking to buy a boat, you can never find one that suits your needs? This is what happens to many people every year and in particular to ourselves. It's just like buying a house. When you are selling, it is a buyer's market and when you are buying it is a seller's market! This year my husband and I decided that it was time to buy our first boat.

Now we have been boating with our friends on their Bayliner for many years. They pay for the boat expenses and we bring the food and drink in exchange. Not a bad deal we figured, until we got the boat bug ourselves. Now we want to own our own boat. After six years of boating and as many seasons of boat shows, we decided to take a boating course. So a couple of winters ago, we signed up for a rather lengthy boating course of 16 weeks. We decided that firstly we wanted to be safe boaters and secondly we wanted to protect our very expensive boat investment when the time came.

Week after week of classes, lesson after lesson of plotting and tying knots came and went and finally it was time to graduate and try our luck at boating with all this new found knowledge. We decided first to try out our expertise on our friends' boat, but discovered that was like having two cooks in the same kitchen. Things don't really run as smoothly as one would like. Tie a knot. Have someone retie it for you! Hang the fenders over the side. Have someone reposition them! So after several weekends of unsuccessful attempts, the decision was made to buy our own boat sooner rather than later where we could tie our own brand of knot and observe the channel markers the way we had been taught!

So we started to look. What happened to all the "For Sale" signs that we had seen only weeks before in every marina that we cruised past? Where were all those perfect boats that we had seen in every cove and tied up to every dock? They were no where to be found. Finally after perusing the yachting magazines and journals, talking to several boat brokers and searching many internet boats for sale sites, we found what we thought to be the perfect yacht for us - right in our own backyard. Only five minutes from our home there is located a marina with lots of power boats. Last year there were many for sale. But as luck would have it, we were not looking then. This year, there were fewer boats for sale. But on this one particular morning as we drove through the marina parking lot, we spied the perfect boat. We hopped out of the car and walked over to take a closer look. The boat had been pulled out of the water, so we were able to look it over from all sides including the bottom.

The information that was posted beside the boat looked very promising. Just the right length. Just the right age. We had already agreed that this boat make was good quality. An inflatable dinghy with motor and seawise electric lifting system was also included. The boat also had a GPS and all the trimmings. But the price, could it be correct? It seemed a bit low for this particular yacht. You guessed it! The twin engine system was gas, not diesel. This was the reason for the excellent price.

We thought that we had found the perfect boat! In fact we had except for one very expensive item. For those of you who own your own boat, you can related to the expense of a gas engine yacht. Gas engines are fast and great for skiing and lake touring in small boats, but on the ocean and in a large yacht, the cost can be prohibitive. (Note: Recently diesel prices and gas prices have moved closer together.)

So once again, our search begins in earnest. And once again, there are no boats for sale. Or is that just our take on the situation? Surely the boat for us is just out there waiting to be discovered!

Valerie Giles owns and operates Boats, Anchors and More http://www.boats-anchors-and-more.com a boating resource site featuring boat accessories, boat chartering, new & used boats, fishing lure manufacturers, inflatable boats, outerwear, thermal underwear & sunglasses. Everything you need for the boating season.

---

Keltic Seafaring

Many academics are unable to handle the possibility of ships that travelled the oceans as long ago as the Franchithi Caves dig that showed 13,000 B.C. community fishing fleets. It even was hard... Read More

How to Choose Alaskan Cruise-Tours with Princess Cruise Lines Vacation Packages

Are you planning to take a cruise- tour vacation to Alaska? Princess Cruise Lines has arguably the best Alaskan cruise-tour vacation packages available. Princess has their own sightseeing rail cars to transport you... Read More

Buying a Used Sunfish Sailboat: Know The Ins and Outs Before Sailing Away

As anyone who's ever bought a used car knows, you have to approach the project armed with your own knowledge before you even set foot on the lot. In this situation, being uninformed... Read More

Royal Caribbean Cruises! Where Their Slogan Is Get Out There? And They Mean It

Imagine a cruise line where choices include ships with golf courses and rock-climbing walls looming 200 feet over the ocean. Where there is so much happening, so much to discover and experience it's... Read More

Crossing Paths With a Legend

When 13-year-old Bill Lefakinis first visited the famed yacht Christina O in 1959 on the Hudson River in New York City, little did he realize that a 45 year old bond was about... Read More

Cruise Trips: Just How Popular is Cruising?

The results are in for 2004. The number of people looking for travel deals has reached record levels for cruise trips. 10.5 million cruise passengers got on board cruise ships last year.According to... Read More

Yacht Chartering in Greece - A Few Things to Consider

When to GoThe sailing season in Greece lasts from March to early November. During the Spring months, the weather during the day varies from cool to warm and is usually cool at night.... Read More

Luxury Cruising

A great cruise is much more than a journey. Blending the grandeur and nobility of seafaring with the imagination and style of the good life, it is my favorite way to explore the... Read More

Italy Cruise Expert Guide

History, wine, serene beauty, dramatic people and stunning views - an Italy cruise has it all! You can visit the main sites of Italy on a European cruise or a Mediterranean cruise, but... Read More

A Land Divided - A World United - The Panama Canal

It has been called "the big ditch", "the bridge between two continents" and "the greatest shortcut in the world". One look at the immensity of the Canal, and you will understand why a... Read More

Six-Star Cruising on Luxury Cruise Lines

A luxury cruise is just what the name implies, a cruise at the upper end of the spectrum, not just five stars but a six-star cruise. There are six cruise lines that are... Read More

Yacht Charter From Rhodos Base - Dodecanese

The most famous of the Dodecanese, beautiful and famous for its mixed lifestyles, Rhodos has contributed the Colossus, a huge statue which stood at the port's entrance, to the seven wonders of the... Read More

The Skipper on a Charter Yacht

The skipper is the heart of every floating vessel on earth. His word is (or should be) law to everybody on board. Yet, on a pleasant sailing holiday with your friends it can... Read More

Silversea Cruises! Committed To Elegance, Luxury, And Gracious Hospitality

Committed to elegance, luxury and gracious hospitality, Silversea Cruises is the "Ultra Plus" in the elite cruise domain. Their promise is to always go above and beyond. Their passion is to exceed your... Read More

Luxury Cruise Expert Guide

What could be more enjoyable than relaxing by a pool and being served with chilled champagne and caviar while soaking up the sun under deep azure skies? It's a dream that many people... Read More

Yacht Winterization Service Business

If you own a boat maintenance business you need to be providing winterization services to your customers. Many boat owners who get to know you may trust you to help them winterize their... Read More

The Delightful Land beyond Imagination

The kids are grown and gone, the mortgage is paid off and it is winter! For the first time you are free to let reality and fantasy trade places with thoughts of lush... Read More

Sailing Itineraries

SAILING ITINERARIES IN GREECE - A PROPOSAL Bellow you may find some itinerary suggestions for your sailing holidays in Greece. These routes are just a proposal your actual itinerary should always be planned... Read More

Cleaning Canvas Tops on Boats

Cleaning boat canvas covers is difficult unless you know the secrets. Here are some tips to assist your so you can get out on the water where you belong.Dodgers, cockpit cushions, sail covers... Read More

Shape Up and Ship Out

For some, the ideal cruise consists of a lounge chair, gourmet food, and many, many drink umbrellas. And while I admit that sounds wonderfully seductive, there are those whose ideal cruise is a... Read More

The History of Water Sports

Swimming is noted in many of the classics as relating to heroism and religion. Nicolas Wynman's Dialogue Concerning the Art of Swimming (1538) is the first recorded written document on swimming methods. Swimming... Read More

Whos Looking Out For Your Boat When Your Not There?

Over 72 million Americans participated in recreational boating in 2003 on the estimated 17 million recreational boats in the United States. For many Americans, the investment in their vessel ranks along with their... Read More

Shopping for Cruises Online! How?

Are you planning a cruise vacation but don't know where to start? Have you shopped for a cruise vacation? How did you accomplish your shopping? Did you do your shopping for cruises online?... Read More

Bingo At Sea?

Under the "G" for Great Holiday. Bingo players can take their passion for the game to new heights by enjoying play aboard most of the world's finest cruise lines. Now a featured form... Read More

Alaska Cruise Expert Guide

The Alaska cruise is a breathtaking adventure that you'll never forget. Giant snow-capped mountains, sparkling glaciers, thick pine forests rising up from the shoreline and abundant wildlife vie for your attention in this... Read More

Sailing Hints & Tips

I spend almost all my summers sailing around the Greek islands. With this small article I would like to share some sailing hints with you that will help you enjoy the most out... Read More

River Cruises Can be Such a Rich Experience

Exploring Europe can be such a unique experience with a River Cruise. You just unpack once on this floating hotel and there you go cruising with river cruises over magnificent castles, significant towns... Read More

Boat Hull Cleaning; Equipment Needed

How do you clean the hull on a boat when it is out of the water? As a boat cleaner or detailer there are ways to speed up the process of boat hull... Read More

Atlantic Ocean at Great Depths

The Atlantic Ocean is Earth's second-largest ocean. It covers approximately a fifth of the earth's surface. The name Atlantic Ocean came from Greek mythology; it means the "Sea of Atlas".The Atlantic Ocean is... Read More