Buy a YachtTHE AUSTRALIAN SAILING HANDBOOKTHE HANDBOOK · AUSTRALIAN EDITION
A practical reading journey through choosing, inspecting and buying a used sailing yacht. Start at chapter one or find the decision in front of you.
New to the process? Start with the eight-step journey. Researching a specific concern? Search below, then use the evidence table and worked example in each chapter. Save useful chapters to return to them before a viewing.
Buying a new yacht? Open the dedicated new-yacht guide and brand comparison →
Comparing older boats? Explore model history, age and a 2004 versus 2010 Oceanis comparison →
Plan your purchase by Australian location → · Search the guide’s questions and answers →
31 chapters
Write a buying brief around your home waters, usual crew and available time. Accommodation comes after the sailing you want to do.
7 min readSeparate the advertised price from acquisition costs, essential work, recurring expenses and money you keep in reserve.
7 min readUnderstand representation, organise independent checks and put the sale process in writing whichever route you choose.
7 min readCoordinate remote evidence, local inspections and delivery before travelling or committing to an interstate yacht purchase.
3 min readInvestigate charter use through fleet records, machinery histories and a precise included inventory rather than assuming charter history is good or bad.
3 min readCheck dimensions, access, availability and ongoing costs for your yacht’s home before committing to the vessel.
3 min readAgree use, spending, responsibility and exit arrangements before sharing a sailing yacht purchase.
3 min readAssess cockpit layout, reefing, visibility and maintenance access for the crew who will actually sail the yacht.
3 min readFollow a repeatable route, take useful notes and decide whether to invest in professional inspection.
6 min readUse visible observations to brief a surveyor experienced with the yacht’s construction. Know which questions require the yacht out of the water.
7 min readLearn what sail age tells you, what it cannot tell you, and how to get a useful sailmaker assessment before budgeting for a new wardrobe.
8 min readSeparate wire replacement, running rigging, mast work and inspections. Build an evidence trail for the whole rig.
7 min readEngine hours are one piece of evidence. Review the installation, service history and propulsion system with a marine mechanic.
8 min readConnect the specialist chapters with one record of what is installed, included and actually demonstrated.
6 min readCompare a sailing catamaran’s width, payload, systems and inspection access before judging it by accommodation or nominal length.
3 min readCommission a survey for your purchase, your intended sailing and this particular yacht—not simply a document to complete a transaction.
12 min readBring the right people together, agree the scope and understand what could not be tested.
7 min readSort the reports into actions, get meaningful quotes and decide whether the yacht still meets your brief.
7 min readCompare scope, access, reporting and specialist work before choosing a pre-purchase survey quote.
3 min readOrganise identifiers, searches, written terms and handover records. Check the requirements for the yacht’s actual jurisdiction.
12 min readPrepare a clear enquiry about the yacht, your experience and intended use. Compare the actual policy terms, not just premiums.
12 min readPrepare the yacht, crew, handover and timetable for a delivery passage after purchase.
3 min readReconcile equipment, documents, controls and outstanding work at the handover of a sailing yacht.
3 min readPlan improvements around the survey, your sailing and the existing installation. Find Australian specialists through YouSail.
6 min readCreate a usable history of equipment, inspections, repairs and next actions for your yacht.
3 min readCoordinate scope, access, variations and commissioning when several contractors work on your yacht.
3 min readUnderstand the existing electrical installation before adding lithium, solar, refrigeration or other major loads.
3 min readPRACTICAL NEXT STEPS
Start with your intended sailing, regular crew and complete ownership budget. Then read listing evidence, model history and broker-versus-private considerations. The aim is a shortlist with a reason for each candidate, rather than a collection of attractive advertisements.
Read the viewing, hull, sails, rigging and engine chapters before the appointment. Record the limits of a buyer’s own observations and prepare questions for independent specialists. The surveyor chapters explain how to agree the scope and use the resulting report.
Connect negotiation and paperwork with insurance, handover and your first-month plan. Use the upgrade chapters to understand individual equipment decisions, then plan training with your regular crew. Return to earlier chapters when new findings change the purchase.
