Innovation for Boat Buyers and Boat Brokers
Here at Go Earth, we pride ourselves on being innovative and resourceful – and like to ‘think outside of the box’ when it comes to how we approach our products and services. With that in mind, we thought it would be interesting to showcase our latest innovations; The Boating Enterprise Search Tool (BEST) and Boat Simulator game. Brand Ambassador, Blue Davies and Marketing Manager, Jacey Roberts discuss the BEST and the Boat Simulation game created by Go Earth. To kick things off, can you briefly explain what the BEST Software is? Blue: In simple terms, the BEST Software is a tool to enable brokers to have access to more boats, to enable a larger volume of boats to be sold. A straightforward process using the software to quickly locate and identify a specific type of boat and price to meet the buyer’s requirements. What are the benefits for a broker using the BEST Software? Blue: The main benefit is the access to a wider selection of boats to match the ideal boat their customer is looking for, ultimately doing more business. Jacey: We are ultimately eliminating all the hard work for the brokers by adding hard to find data of brokers which sell all types of boats. On average, how much faster do you think the BEST Software is compared to a generic Google search to find the ideal boat? Blue: I would suggest it would reduce time spent finding the ideal boat for a customer in terms of days. Jacey: We got transport providers and surveyors through geo-location, so if a broker is unfamiliar with a location, we have resources to assist with the deal, such as transportation. Who should buy the BEST software? Blue: Simple, any brokers looking to increase their boat sales. You can try the BEST Software and you can make your own mind up to how helpful it is to your own business. Moving on to the Boating Simulation game – Did you have fun playing it? Blue: Yes, I am not a gaming person, but I did enjoy the Boat Simulator and getting a feel for what it could be like trying to manoeuvre a boat. It’s an introduction of what it will be when you get a chance to get on a boat in real life. How realistic is the boat game to real life? Blue: Like any simulator / video game it cannot replicate the real environment, but it does give the user the opportunity in a safe space to try their skills, without endangering anyone or anything. Having answered all the key questions related to the BEST software we hope we have made it clear, what is the BEST software. We would like to thank Blue Davies and Jacey for their valuable feedback on the new and exciting ventures which Go Earth has taken on!
Buying a Boat – Getting the Right Advice
See a boat you like? Fall in love with it at first sight? Immediately reach for your wallet? That’s all fine – however, you want to be sure that it is a boat that you will continue to be in love with even after that first flush of romance. You need to ensure that the boat continues to provide fun, pleasure and thrills for many years to come. That’s why you should take independent professional advice to help you get the best boat and have the best value for your money. Let’s consider the need for, and some sources of, advice. Why is advice needed? You may very well be experienced in your profession or business. Possibly used to negotiating or being part of a project. Maybe you have technical skills. These are useful. However, we believe that buying a boat is simply more complicated. Think of a boat as a combination of a house, a car, and one that (hopefully!) floats on the water. Multiply those complexities together. This is not a problem in itself, provided that you get the right advice to help you make the right decisions. Sources of advice There are of course multiple sources of advice you can use. The internet provides a great variety of advice. Often, however, you need to know what questions to ask, where to look, who to believe. The internet can be useful; but it can also provide conflicting and unreliable advice. Frankly, I have seen some advice on the internet that makes me cringe as the advice has simply been wrong or even dangerous! Surveyors are an essential and important part of boat buying. However, you need to know how to choose a good surveyor, understand the different types of surveyors and surveys, and how to make best use of surveyors to actually save you money. If you are looking at a boat that has had a previous survey done – maybe a year or two ago – we advise you NOT to rely on it for several reasons. Firstly, the survey is the property of the vendor, not you, so the surveyor owes zero responsibility to you. Next, some issues could have arisen since the survey. Also, if you have been given the survey, then you have been informed of any issues identified, and so you have no come back or room for negotiation on those issues. In a nutshell – you need to get your own survey done. Go Earth can recommend the types of survey(s) you need and assist in finding a suitable surveyor. Brokers are of course often ready to be helpful and give advice. However, please remember that their legal, contractual relationship is with the seller, not you as the (potential) buyer. Also, they – naturally enough – want to sell you a boat on their books. That’s what their job is. Further, if you ask the broker for information, they may simply be unable to give you accurate or full information because they may not know all the boats on their books. Also, it has been known for the seller to forget to tell the broker about significant issues with a boat! Solicitors may be needed for large or complex transactions. However, most solicitors are not specialists in marine matters. Your personal solicitor may, therefore, not be the most appropriate one for a boat purchase. We can help you find a specialist marine solicitor. Go Earth is not associated with any boat broker or boat manufacturer. We are independent. Our mission is to help boaters through all the stages of buying a boat. To do this we provide a variety of services. We can act as your professional advisor and procurement agent. The professional advisory element is typically focussed around requirement specification and identifying makes / models of boats that fit your requirements. Note that we are starting from ‘what are your requirements?’; not from ‘that’s a nice-looking boat, let’s buy it’! Of course, it is not always easy to define your requirements; and so we can help with that process. The procurement agent does what any procurement agent in any industry does – tries to get you the best product at the lowest possible price. Go Earth is an example of a procurement agent, and provides a range of services to help you get the right boat at the best (i.e. lowest) price. While of course nobody is going to give a boat away, a procurement agent can negotiate on your behalf to ensure that you buy at the very lowest viable price. In summary, our services include boat search, boat pre-visits, and perhaps most importantly boat negotiation services. We always recognise that it is your money, and so we will do as little or as much as you want. Our Boats for Sale Listing Explore our select collection of boats! Click Here
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.