Pre-Purchase Guidance and Vessel Selection Assist

Within the course of a single week I found myself first in Florida and then in Maine carrying out pre-purchase reviews of boats for a client. The Florida boat was brand new, while the Maine boat, both the same 45-foot model, was two years old with 500 hours on the engines. I carefully reviewed each vessel with my client at my side, detailing for him everything I noticed, which included the defects as well as items that were noteworthy for their value or high quality. Within the first fifteen minutes aboard one of the boats I discovered water saturation around the windlass, while the other boat showed evidence of an exhaust leak. With the input I provided the buyer, he was able to negotiate the price he wanted and purchased the vessel that made the most sense for his needs. He described the interaction as well as the verbal and written information I provided him as, "simply invaluable, I can't imagine doing this without Steve at my side". I then went on to consult with this owner on the installation of electronics, accessories and other gear that would make for a capable, comfortable cruising vessel.

The only opportunity you will have to negotiate with the seller of a vessel, based on its condition, whether it's new or used, is before the purchase. Once that's complete, correcting any problems or deficiencies becomes your responsibility.

The only opportunity you have to project future costs for maintenance, replacement and upgrading of equipment or for determining whether this boat will fulfill your boating dreams is before the purchase. After that, you must live with those costs and lost dreams or purchase another boat.

The services offered by SDMC's Pre-Purchase Guidance plan are those of a seasoned advisor, someone who has observed first hand, over the course of 21 years as a mechanic, electrician, boat yard manager and technical journalist, the myriad ways a vessel and its systems can fail, particularly in ways that are not readily apparent.

How do the services of SDMC differ from those of a surveyor?

We give you the projected labor cost data for carrying out repairs, corrections and improvements you'll need to negotiate a fair price and, if you decide to buy the boat, the information you need to make the necessary repairs.

While a surveyor may point out, if you are fortunate, wet deck core around a windlass, it's unlikely that he will be able to tell you how much these repairs should cost, how they should be properly executed, how to prevent a reoccurrence of the problem and where to go to have the work properly, efficiently and safely carried out.

With few exceptions, we tell you if the existing equipment will do what you expect it to do.

While a surveyor may note in his report that a shore-powered battery charger is present, and he may indicate its output capacity, it's unlikely he will indicate whether its output is properly matched to the capacity of the batteries or if it's temperature compensated (and why this is important) and, if the brand and model of charger is reliable and well supported by the manufacturer?

We take into account your long-term costs and your long-term plans for this boat.

The job of a surveyor is to give you a statement of the condition and fair value of a boat today.

We base our evaluation on your long-term plans for the boat. Will it do what you want it to do? Will the cost to maintain and upgrade the boat to meet your dreams exhaust the funds for that dream? Will it carry you, your family and friends safely and reliably through those dream passages?

If you choose our Captains' Club program, we stick with you to continue to build your confidence in your boat and in yourself as captain of that boat.

Surveyors disappear the moment they deliver their report to you.

SDMC's Vessel Selection Assist program affords you the opportunity of working closely with Steve to determine the right vessel for you based on how you intend to use it and your cruising plans. The interaction ranges from telephone and email Q&A sessions to hosted factory tours and boat show visits. Inquire for additional details on this program.

If you call on SDMC to assist and guide you through this process, you'll benefit from years of experience, attention to detail and industry-wide recognition of professionalism and expertise that will help keep your cruising plans on course.

On-site Pre-Purchase Guidance sessions begin at $3500. Call or email for further details on this and the Vessel Selection Assist services and the benefits they provide.