Is It A Good Deal?
Safety On Board You’ve probably see pictures or even videos of a boat on fire. It certainly is not a pretty sight and one that quite correctly puts fear – or at least caution – into your heart. There is no doubt that the best approach requires a combination of prevention, detection and first line firefighting. Let’s be clear – if a fibreglass boat is seriously on-fire, then ‘abandon ship’ might be your only option. Never put yourself or others at risk Prevention requires a common-sense but methodical approach. Carry out a Fire Risk Assessment – identify what could go wrong; and what you can do to prevent a fire from ever starting. For example, an absolute no smoking policy is the best approach. Also, be very careful of those gas lighters that are used to light a gas ring – they can still have a flame or be hot when placed on a surface or in a drawer, possibly starting a fire. Detection is quite straightforward. There are many low-cost smoke and fire alarms on the market. (Carbon monoxide alarms are also very important.) They are all easy to fit. We have used industrial strength ‘Velcro’ to affix alarms without drilling walls or ceilings. They seem to hold even in choppy seas. Placement is of course important. You need to have one in every ‘room’ in the boat. Don’t assume that fires only start in the galley. First-line firefighting is more complex. Some basic rules apply. Obviously, a pan-pan or mayday (or dial 999 if VHF is not available) is required. To safely extinguish a fire you need to get to it very quickly. It follows, therefore, that you need an extinguisher (even if just a small one) in easy reach in every room that is likely to be occupied (cabins, galley, saloon etc.). Also, always leave yourself an escape route. One risk occurs if you sleep in a forward berth. If a fire starts in the galley, then this may block a possible means of escape. However, opening the forward escape hatch above the berth also has a risk – of encouraging the fire by allowing a draft of air to fan the flames. This reinforces the need to have an extinguisher close to hand. The galley should of course also have a fire blanket. Be sure you know how to use it correctly to avoid burns to your hands. There is, however, one serious, well recognised problem with the common powder type of fire extinguisher. If they have to be used, they make a truly horrendous mess. Unfortunately, they get into all the soft furnishings, they corrode electric and electronic connections, they are potentially toxic if breathed in, they act as a laxative (!!), they can be destructive of engines. The mess can only be safely cleared up using personal protective gear. Go Earth researched this problem and found two ranges of extinguishers (Firetool for inside spaces and Blazecut for the engine bay) that do not suffer from these issues.
How to Future-Proof Your Boat Purchase: 5 Critical Mistakes to Avoid
Buying a boat is a major investment. The wrong decision can cost you time, money, and long-term enjoyment. At Go Earth, we help you avoid the most common traps buyers fall into. 1. Not Understanding Your True Needs Many buyers are drawn in by flashy features or idealised ideas. But does that boat truly fit your lifestyle, mooring location, skill level, or long-term plans? Talk to Go Earth. We take the time to understand your needs, assess your lifestyle, and use our advanced search tools to find a boat that fits your real-world requirements. 2. Skipping the Deep Research A boat that looks perfect on paper can hide serious issues. Overlooked maintenance, mismatched specifications, and surprise costs are common problems. Let Go Earth do the due diligence. We uncover the full picture behind every listing so you can buy with clarity and confidence. 3. Overpaying Without Realising It Most buyers don’t have access to current market data or the experience to negotiate effectively. That can lead to paying far more than necessary. Put Go Earth in your corner. We negotiate directly with sellers to secure the lowest viable price and save you real money. 4. Trusting the Wrong Source Some sellers overmarket poor-quality boats, and many listings don’t reflect real value. Without expert guidance, it’s easy to be misled. Count on Go Earth to source independently. We are not boat dealers. We work solely for you to find the right vessel at the right value. 5. Underestimating the Ownership Experience Boat ownership comes with insurance, storage, and ongoing upkeep. Without the right support, the excitement can quickly turn into stress. Stay supported with Go Earth. We offer services before, during, and after your purchase to keep you ahead of the curve and out of trouble. We specialize in sourcing the right boat for any budget or location. Using our exclusive tools, we find what others miss. We negotiate on your behalf to secure the best price and help you enjoy the benefits of ownership without the common pitfalls. Avoid costly mistakes. Contact Go Earth today.
Deciding What You Want From Your Boat
Deciding what you want from your boat One of the challenges when buying a boat, especially if it is your first boat, is deciding what you want. At Go Earth, we call this process “Requirement Analysis” – a term unceremoniously nicked from project management and software development. Breadth of choice So – you know that you want to buy a boat – but what sort of boat? There are more varieties of boat than, say cars. This means that – if you are to make best use of your money and get a boat that you will enjoy for a long period – you need to give it some thought. Let’s look at some of the variety of choices you need to make. All cars, for example, have 4 wheels – unless you are Del Boy! (And for the younger readers, do a Google search on ‘Del Boy car’!!). Boats on the other hand can have one, 2, 3 or even more hulls. In fact some racing yachts hardly use their hulls, as they are on foils. What about motive power? In cars, the choice is between petrol, diesel and electric. However, they are all broadly similar in that their output is rotary power – turning wheels. The differences between the main ‘power units’ on a power boat (engines) and on a sailing yacht (sails) could not be more stark. What about Price range? Again, the differences are massive. No matter how hard you try, it is really very di ffi cult to spend more than (to take an extreme) £2 million on a car. It’s dead easy to do this for a boat. Trade-offs The main trade-offs to consider when purchasing a boat of any type are: Size Age Price Subsidiary trade-offs are Condition, including service history Brand Other factors, such as the inventory seem to pay only a very minor part. Sometimes, great electronics or the availability of a dinghy and engine may be a minor factor. As a purchaser, you need to decide on the relevant importance to you of these factors. Age matters In respect of these trade-offs, boat are similar to cars. The older the car, the cheaper it usually is. There are exceptions – some classic cars (what we used to call ‘old bangers’!) may appreciate in value. However, the general rule still applies – there is a depreciation curve showing how price falls at the boat gets older. At Go Earth we have records of asking, and sold, prices for many models; so let’s take one random example, the asking prices for a Fairline Targa 48. We did an analysis of average asking prices for this model, and this is what we found. Illustrative Prices – Fairline Targa 48 In the table, the first column is the year, the second is the asking price, and the third is the annual depreciation compared with a model a year younger. These prices may be only approximately typical, but they illustrate that (as with cars) the newer the boat the larger the depreciation hit. We find that once you get to the older boats, and if you buy wisely (using Go Earth’s negotiation services!), you can suffer zero depreciation for several years. Size matters There is, however, one big difference between cars and boats. Cars are all very broadly the same size. Even the largest SUV is probably only twice the size of the smallest micro car. The size difference in boats is immense. This leads to a major impact on price. As a very approximate rule-of-thumb, the price of a boat increases as the cube of its length (as a boat increase its size in all 3 dimensions). So, a boat that is twice the length of an other one, could be 8 times the cost. Given that all boats shrink when you put them in the water (yes, I know that does not literally happen – I just mean that a boat on hard-standing always looks bigger than when it is in the water), deciding on the size of boat is a very important part of the decision making around defining your requirements. Flybridge or Sports Cruiser? Let’s take just one specific example of the sort of decision you need to make. Suppose that you are in the market for, say, a power 38 to 42-footer. Two of the main styles of boat are flybridges and sports cruisers. Which suits you best? If you are going to do this comparison, it may be helpful to know the typical main characteristics of each type. This is a summary: Flybridge Depending on the brand, there may be a limited range of models. By having a flybridge, this usually gives you more overall deck space, as you have a deck on top. Easier to manoeuvre in a marina, as you can see mostly around you from the flybridge. Two helm positions. Arguably, more traditional looking. Need to cover the flybridge with a tonneau cover in inclement weather. Flybridge is a nice space to entertain in good weather. However, the steps up to the fl ybridge can be steep, though. Better view of the scenery and surroundings from the flybridge. Slightly more susceptible to side wind, owing to higher windage. Can make berthing the boat slightly trickier in open marinas with high wind Slightly more susceptible to side wind, owing to higher windage. Can make berthing the boat slightly trickier in open marinas with high wind Cruising in warm weather from the flybridge is very pleasant. At larger sizes, flybridges tend to be the most popular choices. Higher – therefore bridge clearance can be an issue, primarily in inland waterways. More expensive per foot length, owing to an extra deck (i.e. the flybridge); but possibly cheaper per square metre of deck space. Flybridges tend to have better galleys. Sports Cruiser Possibly a more extensive choice. Less deck space. Fixed point to steer from – possibly limited visibility at some angles. One helm position. Sleeker,
Spotlight on Boat Brokers
Who boat brokers represent The majority of the time, you will be buying a boat or yacht via a boat broker. There are some key issues that you need to be aware of. Firstly, the boat broker represents the seller; not you as the buyer. His prime legal and fiduciary responsibility is to the seller; and to sell at the highest possible price he can get. While many brokers are professional, you really must expect them to act for the seller; not for you as the buyer. You may want to ask questions of the broker. Often however, you cannot get the information, or at least the accurate information, that you need. There may be many reasons for this. It could be that the broker simply does not know, as he may have many boats on his books. It is possible – indeed probable – that the owner has not told the broker everything. You may see what looks to be the same boat advertised with several brokers. It could well be. Again, there could be several reasons. In some countries (e.g. Croatia) it is common for owners to place the boat with several brokers. Some brokers operate as a sort of franchise system, where different companies operate under a common name and share data, and boat listings with one another. This can work against you if you happen to go to the ‘wrong’ broker. Paper work and the contract Paperwork is another issue. Often the broker has not got all the paperwork necessary to understand the actual service history of the boat. You also need to ensure that the various invoices support any claim of a ‘VAT paid’ status – in extremis, you could find yourself with a very expensive VAT if this is not properly covered. Note that if anything goes wrong, you have very little come-back against the broker – he is acting only as the broker, not the seller. So it is a case of ‘buyer beware’. There are important issues with the standard contracts that many boat brokers use. Before you sign anything, or pay a deposit, we suggest that you have a word with us. Our view is that many (but not all) of these contracts are unfavourable to the buyer; and can tie you down to a purchase that is not in your interests. Protecting the boat buyer – buyers representative In this complex situation, this is where can assist. Because we understand the system and its complexities and nuances, we can act for you to help protect your interests. In particular, we act to get the boat of your choice at the lowest viable price. This is where our ‘boat negotiation‘ service is so (financially) valuable to you. In a nutshell, we act for you as the buyers representative. Next step? If you desire more information, then feel free to contact us for a no-fee, no-hassle, confidential initial consultation. Simply either complete the enquiry form or phone the experienced team on +44 (0) 33 33 05 8424. We look forward to hearing from you.