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Have you ever wanted to own a yacht? What about a boat that only runs on electricity? If you've thought about it, then this is the article for you! It's no surprise that many people are curious about electric boats and yachts. This trend has recently been growing in popularity. So today, we're going to dive right into it and talk all about it! Let’s start with the basics; what is an electric yacht? Well, it's pretty much exactly what it sounds like – a yacht that is electrically powered. To maximize operational efficiency, electric yacht utilizes the highest quality batteries, such as lead-acid, nickel, lithium-iron-phosphate, and electric motors with durability and reliability. This makes them faster and easier to operate… not to mention cheaper! In maximum cases, yachts and boats must be on diesel-electric, hybrid, or completely electrified versions. For example, diesel-electric yachts use diesel generators to generate electricity, hybrid drive yachts use onboard batteries to power internal combustion engines, and fully electric drive yachts use only batteries. Compared to conventional marine vessels, electric boats and yachts are environmentally friendly, operate silently, and are cost-effective. Why Electric Yachts Are Trending? New yachting trends are emerging as they bring better technical solutions. Transportation by elegance is becoming a popular trend. Even, Electric Yachts (E-YACHTS) don’t require much maintenance or an engine. These yachts are eco-friendly and less expensive to own, because they don’t require fuel for their battery-powered electric propulsion system. Being environmentally friendly is a feature that everyone expects from yacht builders. Many yacht enthusiasts have started preferring options with rechargeable batteries over the ones with gas engines running on fuel. Electric engines have shown to be the greatest solution in the face of growing concerns about climate change and pollutants. Why do more and more people come to the electric boat market? The market is growing due to the increasing need for efficient marine transportation systems across the globe. Furthermore, environmental consciousness among the masses is providing a boost to market growth. Electric yachts and ships are produced with specialized hull and body specifications and light and durable materials to generate minimal drag and optimal propulsion. Other factors, including significant growth in the tourism industry and increasing seaborne trade, along with the implementation of favorable government policies promoting the utilization of sustainable energy systems, are anticipated to drive the market toward growth. The undeniable paradigm shift that is taking place, going from internal combustion engines to 100% electric motors, is now a reality. The consumer market for electric yachts is expected to exceed $20 billion by 2027 (source IDTech). Additionally, various technological advancements, such as the integration of dashboard monitoring, remote monitoring, and warning systems, are acting as other growth-inducing factors. These systems provide an accurate overview of the vessel's overall performance, including battery temperature, voltage, and state of charge, and facilitate immediate shutdown and troubleshooting in case of a threat. According to the boating industry experts, “Electric yachts are the next big thing, and they're here to stay”. Here are a few predictions that will take electric boating to the next level. The battery technology will vastly improve: For a long time, one of the disadvantages of electric boats was their low capacity and range due to poor battery performance. Larger battery banks provided adequate coverage, but this added to the overall weight. After years of ongoing development, high-performance (and lighter) batteries are soon becoming a reality. Battery capacity has increased at a rate of 7% per year (on average) over the last five years. Technology will advance in the next five years, resulting in batteries with density energy close to challenging gasoline. Some of the most challenging obstacles we previously faced, such as battery range, capacity, and weight, will continue to improve, and 100% electric boats will become more common in the following years. Electric propulsion technologies will become more affordable: Initially, new technology is always costly. As corporations develop their products and produce them in larger quantities, the cost will undoubtedly decrease. Also, the cost of electric propulsion components will continue to fall, making electric propulsion more accessible to more people. Electric yachts are no exception, and they are quickly gaining popularity on the sea. Final Thoughts Electric motors are becoming more affordable as battery technology improves. Electric yachts will gain popularity and become the new standard. Electric yachts will take the next step to becoming widespread, similar to how electric automobiles did in the last decade, with improved technology and lower prices. Electric yachts are, no doubt, the future of the maritime industry. They have demonstrated that they have the potential to be as luxurious, as fast, and as fun as any other ocean-going vessel with an engine. "By 2025, we see a number of dual fuel solutions being introduced. Combining diesel with other energy sources, such as batteries and flexible energy storage systems, will enable operators to run an emission-free vessel - at least within territorial waters", says boat expert Göran Eliasson. So, if you plan on purchasing a new yacht in the near future, chances are it will be electric. But not all yachts built to run on electric power are created equally. Some are more environmentally friendly than others and some cost more than you can afford. Choose wisely when picking an electric yacht for sale. You can check one of them HERE. Do you have any more questions regarding electric yachts? Share in the comment.

Do you know the biggest question boat owners have when they are ready to put their boat on the market? It’s how do I sell my boat? Followed by what is the best way to even market a boat? Many boat owners find themselves overwhelmed when faced with selling their boat. While it is similar to selling a house or a car, selling a boat requires different skills and knowledge. There is a much smaller market for boats and many people don’t really know how to tap into that market. Simply put they don’t know where to find the potential buyers. After years of selling boats, we have identified these common goals of our clients: First, owners usually like to sell their boats fast and at the highest price point. Second, they often want to hire a trusted and reliable broker to find them a buyer. Third, sellers desire the process to be easy and convenient for themselves. Fourth, they want the process completed in a reliable manner. Fifth, the owners need to know that the transaction will close safely. And lastly, they refuse to pay a fortune in fees. So whether you are a boat owner with only one or all, of these goals in mind, this article will help you understand your options. We will show you how each method will help you achieve your objective by weighing the pros and cons. It’s Important to Weigh the Pros and Cons When Selling Your Boat THE FOUR MOST COMMON WAYS TO SELL A BOAT 1. Do-It-Yourself (DIY) 2. Appoint an Agent 3. List with a Traditional Boat Broker 4. List with a Digital Boat Brokerage that provides Enhanced Brokerage Let’s begin by breaking down each of your options. Sell Your Boat Yourself (DIY) Selling it yourself is most suitable for boats that are: - Lower value boats, under USD100k. - Easy to sell or likely to sell quickly. - Less complex and propose less risk. And for boat owners that have: - Boatloads of time and inclination to do the groundwork. - The sales experience or closing skills to make the sale. - No desire to pay commissions to brokers. Conversely, do it yourself isn’t well suited for boats that are: - Higher value with more complexity and risk. - Hard to sell, e.g., limited demand or niche, very old, run-down, or is a “project boat.” - Suffering because they have been on the market for a long time. Or for boat owners that: - Are busy or pressed for time. - Don’t have a large network of people. - May lose the sale if they speak with the buyer! Pros of selling your boat yourself (DIY) - Low cost, no fees or commission payable. Cons of selling your boat yourself (DIY) - Labor intensive for the boat owner. - Higher risk of boat deal falling apart at the 11th hour. - Risks from inexperience with paperwork, agreements, or post-survey negotiations. - Boat owner loses the sale due to sales inexperience. A DIY Boat Sale Means You’re in the Drivers Seat of Your Boat Sale Appoint an Agent to Sell Your Boat When owners want to sell their boats—especially if the owners are not well-known within the boating community—they often hire an agent to find a buyer. Many times, the agent has no boat experience or network so the agent reaches out to many boat brokers, hoping one of the brokers has a buyer. Typically, there is a co-brokerage agreement where the agent splits the commission with the boat broker who brings a buyer. Pros of appointing an agent - Boat owners know and trust the agent. Cons of appointing an agent - Agent might have little to no experience selling boats. - Commission split may prevent brokers from bringing a buyer to the table. List with a Traditional Boat Broker The help of a traditional boat broker is fitting for boats that are: - Over USD100k. - Easy to sell or likely to sell quickly. - In the 10% of boats that sell fast, even in a buyers’ market. And for boat owners who: - Don’t have the time, inclination, or deal closing skills. - Have exhausted their own network of buyers. - Are OK to go with the flow and it sells when it sells. Using a traditional boat broker isn’t as suitable for boats that: - Are hard to sell. - Have been on the market for a long time. - Require niche marketing. Or for boat owners who want: - Certainty and a tight timeline to sell. - A fast sale, right now, at the highest price. Pros of a traditional boat broker - You don’t pay for their time so you can change your mind and pay nothing. - If you’re in a sellers’ market, with a popular boat, it may sell quickly. - The boat owner has to put in little effort. Cons of a traditional boat broker - Unless your boat sells quickly, it will sit with little broker initiative. - Brokers typically only are proactive with the 10% of boats that sell quickly. - Quality of service may feel low for the 10% commission paid. - The only plan to stimulate inquiries is reducing the price. - Boats that don’t sell quickly begin to depreciate, deteriorate and continue to incur holding costs. A Traditional Boat Broker may Lose Initiative or Proactivity if Your Boat Doesn’t Sell Quickly List with a Digital Boat Brokerage that provides Enhanced Brokerage There is an elite service called Enhanced Brokerage offered by Digital Boat Brokers. Digital Brokers are specialists in marketing boats. Especially global internet marketing that has more depth and breadth of reach to potential buyers. Different packages are designed to meet your specific goals, as described below. Commission structures are disrupting the traditional boat brokerage model and are driving transaction costs down. Employing the services of a Digital Boat Brokerage is highly recommended for boats that are: - High ticket, fast sale at a good price - Languishing on the market for a long time or requiring niche marketing to reach their buyer. - Hard to sell, e.g., older boat or run-down, or is a “project boat.” And for select boat owners who: - Demand results in a specific time frame. - Are serious about having an elite boat broker sell their boat. - Need a project manager to get the deal closed. Employing a Digital Boat Broker is NOT advised for boat owners who: - Aren’t serious about selling. - Want to test the market. - Don’t mind how long it takes for their boat to sell. - Are okay going with the flow. Pros of Employing a Digital Boat Broker - Guaranteed outcomes and results depending on the selected package. - Certainty in the timeline to a sale. - Best commission structure. - Maximum marketing exposure for your boat. - No exclusive brokerage agreement. - Project manager directing a team according to your specific marketing plan. - Fees paid are 100% offset against eventual sales commission. Cons of Employing a Digital Boat Broker - There is a monthly fee for the exclusive service you receive. - There’s no refund if an owner changes their mind and decides not to sell A Digital Boat Brokerage has More Depth and Breadth of Reach to Potential Buyers Choosing the best option Occasionally the stars align and a boat owner finds a buyer that wants to pay top dollar to buy their boat yesterday and doesn’t have to pay a commission. We call these unicorn deals the “OMG, that’s amazing!!!” boat sale. However, reality is that boat owners are at a loss to know where to find potential buyers. Moreover, many boat owners have an emotional attachment to their boat. This clouds their ability to properly estimate the market value of their boat and the length of time to close the deal. Finally, the process of selling a boat overwhelms some boat owners: the endless calls, enquiries, social media messages, showings, sea trials, regulations, paperwork, etc. So, whether you go DIY or employ a full-service elite broker to handle every aspect of the deal, this is what everyone would love to happen. Happy seller, happy buyer, happy broker. That said, a seller needs to know what the next steps are if they don’t get to enjoy an immediate sale. A savvy boat seller needs to ask their broker, “what is the plan to keep the sale project on track?” A Quick Quiz We advise boat sellers to answer three questions to get clear on the best strategy for selling their boat. The combination of answers will highlight the best option in your situation. 1. What kind of boat sale are you expecting? a. OMG that amazing! b. As fast as possible. c. Whenever it happens. 2. Which statement best describes you? a. I’m in a hurry to sell at the high price possible. b. If someone offers the right price, I’m ready to sell. c. I know what my boat’s worth so that’s what I expect to get for it. 3. There are different levels of service available so which level is right for you? a. High — I want someone to handle all the details and get the results. b. Mid — I’ll get an agent or list with a traditional broker. c. Low — I’ll do it myself. By answering these three questions and understanding your goals and objectives you will be able to select the perfect option. If you want help understanding the next steps to take to put a sold sign on your boat, book a Strategy Call today. About BASCO Boating We provide a Boat Sale Strategy Session (free of charge) to help you understand the exact three things that you should be doing right now to sell your boat faster at a good price. If you want to find out how to triple your boat enquiries, viewings, and offers in 90 days, click HERE to make time to Zoom. BASCO is the most reliable and effective boating platform in Asia-Pacific. We strive to address issues faced by the boating community in the traditional boat brokerage by investing our time to understand our clients and their needs so as to provide accurate information and present our best practices to help them achieve their innermost dreams about life at sea. BASCO consists of 3 divisions, BASCO Connect, BASCO Advise, and BASCO Trade. Here are some of the services we provide 1. We educate boat deciders/searchers about boating and boat buying 2. We help buyers buy boats 3. We help boat owners sell and maintain their boats and 4. We help boat service providers get more work and grow their businesses. Come On Board! We Can Show You How to Sell Your Boat

If you have a boat ready to sell, there’s a good chance that you’re thinking about what it will cost you in order to sell your boat. You see, selling a boat doesn’t always have to be an expensive proposition. The cost to sell your boat range from free as a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) project to paying a boat broker a commission. Boat industry commission rates are about 10% on the sale of a boat. Currently, this fee is more negotiable because boat sales are across borders, sight unseen. This phenomenon means that there may be different services that you pay for other than through a straight commission. Commissions are lower if, for example, your boat broker is in one country and your boat is in another. You can also negotiate lower fees by doing the viewings yourself. Selling Your Boat Can be Free if You Sell-It-Yourself One of the questions we ask boat sellers here at BASCO, is “Are you interested in doing some of the work yourself in return for a lower commission rate?” In particular, this can include taking photos and videos or doing the viewings. If you are interested in a lower commission on the sale of your boat, then we can work with you. Exclusive vs Non-Exclusive Listing Agreements If you choose to list exclusively with a single boat broker, they are more likely to charge a lower commission rate. This is due to knowing their brokerage firm will eventually close the deal and earn the commission. This gives the boat broker more predictability. Therefore, they may agree to negotiate a lower commission rate to entice you to sign a 6 to the 12-month exclusive listing agreement. Signing a non-exclusive listing means you list with multiple boat brokers. Consequently, this also means that there is a good chance that another boat broker will make the sale. So, there is little incentive for the non-exclusive boat broker to do much work on your sale, other than listing your boat on listing websites. These websites could be global boat listing sites or their own website. But then they sit and wait for a buyer to find the boat online and contact the broker. There is little incentive to put in extra effort over and above the initial matchmaking opportunities, neither is there much incentive to reduce the commission rate. You Can Sometimes Negotiate a Lower Commission if You Sign an Exclusive Agreement Are there any other costs or charges apart from the commission? From a traditional brokerage perspective, generally no. Free to list, sit, wait and cross your fingers. The traditional broker will check their networks, hoping to find a buyer and make a quick and profitable “OMG, that’s Amazing!!!” boat sale. From time to time this happens, and to be fair it's exactly what everyone wants, the boat owner and the boat broker. It’s an ideal situation! In the absence of the easy deal (which is most of the time), some boat brokerages offer more service choices to their boat owner clients. The additional services kick into place when the easy deal isn’t happening. We call this Enhanced Brokerage. Along with the above, an enhanced brokerage will include additional marketing services. Choosing enhanced marketing from the get-go often includes marketing with drone footage, for example. The broker arranges for these additional services and offers them at a fee. When the value or attractiveness of your boat is high the boat broker might think there is a good chance that your boat will sell quickly. In this case, the boat broker might offer these services free of charge as an incentive to sign an exclusive listing. Boat brokerages? Boat dealers typically sell new boats and have agency agreements with manufacturers to represent their new boats in a geographical region. Often, the boat dealer will have boats they own in stock as a stocking dealer. This gives them further buying discounts and higher margins in return. A non-stocking dealer will place an order with the factory once a buyer decides to sign a contract. They pay a higher price for the stock item than a stocking dealer. Boat brokers typically sell secondhand boats, similar to real estate agents in the housing market. They don’t own the boats and are marketing and selling them on a commission basis for the boat owner. Second Hand Boats are Sold By Brokers, New Boats are Sold By Boat Dealers Different Types of Brokerages Boat Dealers who have a Brokerage Division The boats listed for sale in these brokerages are largely listings from existing boat clients who upgraded. Clients who bought a new boat and then the dealer lists their used boat in their firm’s brokerage division. If a buyer is looking for a particular boat, for example, a Princess, they can review the Princess dealer’s brokerage pages to find a secondhand Princess boat for sale. Traditional Boat Brokerage Firms A traditional boat broker has no new boats and only lists secondhand boats for boat owners who want to sell. The boat owners look to a broker and their extended network to find a buyer for their boat. These boat sellers don’t have a buyer in their network or don’t have the time, confidence, or inclination to sell their boat themselves. Traditional boat brokers usually operate in a small geographic location. For example, within a city or even at a single marina. In fact, a larger marina may have enough boat sales to keep a small brokerage busy. As a local business, with little social media footprint, they rely on their physical office at the marina or their website for enquiries. Agents and Wheeler Dealers This is a good time to mention self-employed agents or “wheeler dealers” who are in the industry. They are typically individuals who operate on a deal-by-deal basis. Some have been around for a long time and have their own personal network to connect buyers and sellers. Others deal as a side hustle and put themselves into the market on a transaction-by-transaction basis. Unfortunately, many times they are looking for a quick buck. The reputation and business practices of these agents demand due diligence so you are fully aware of who you are dealing with and can manage any risks. Digital Boat Brokerage Firms Digital boat brokers solve the pressing problems of both their boat owner clients and boat buyers. Rather than the traditional “sell, sell, sell” of boat dealers and traditional boat brokers, a Digital Boat Brokerage serves their boat owner clients by solving their biggest challenges. From our years of experience, we’ve identified six common goals boat owners want when it comes to selling their boats: 1. Boat owners want to sell their boats fast and at a good price 2. They want trusted and reliable boat buyers and boat brokers 3. Sellers want ease and convenience 4. They want reliability, the safety of a transaction, and low transaction costs. In the virtual world, Digital Boat Brokerages are well established, with a large social following, and broad reach. In addition to their personal networks and relationships, they enjoy the industry and global connections. These firms may or may not have a physical presence as they operate internationally and across borders. Unlike dealers or local brokers, physical location doesn’t limit digital boat brokers. They run remote teams in addition to local, boots-on-the-ground Senior Boat Advisers. Beyond the benefits of a Digital Boat Broker’s reach, network, and global connections is their willingness to access potential buyers for your boat. They offer a more comprehensive range of services for boat owners who want to sell their boats from Boat Pricing Advisory and Strategy to Digital Marketing Plans. They also offer a Guaranteed Results Package: such as guaranteed enquires, price feedback, and offers. Specialist Boat Marketing Boat sellers that have specific goals and objectives or who are looking for guaranteed results should consider signing up for a Specialist Marketing Service provided by a Digital Boat Brokerage. Sellers pay the fees for this service via a monthly subscription, then refunded upon the sale of their boat. After 3 years and USD50k+ invested BASCO’s audience is 340,000 In summary 1. Traditional Boat Brokerage: it’s free to list, operate on high commissions, a sit and wait for style, or occasionally an “OMG, that’s Amazing!!!” boat sale may happen. Otherwise, it’s fingers crossed for a sale from enquiries generated from the “Pull” marketing strategy, pulled in from the global boat listing websites. Limited reach, but greater than the network and reach of the boat owner. Traditional Boat Brokerage is a Sit and Wait for Buyer’s Approach 2. Enhanced Brokerage: offers lower commissions with paid marketing packages to choose from. Sellers get fees refunded from the eventual sales commission. Using both a “Push and Pull” marketing approach generates enquiries and leads. Digital Boat Brokerage’s use their extended network, reach, and social following. 3. Specialist Marketing Services, offers the lowest commission. The comprehensive service combines the skills of a digital boat broker, a project manager, and a marketing consultant all in one service. This generates maximum enquiries and guaranteed offers/price feedback for your boat for sale in a specified time frame. A “Push, Pull and Promote” marketing strategy and a tailor-made marketing/project plan expedite your boat sale. Sellers pay a monthly fee for the service then offset against the eventual, super low, sales commission. This service maximizes the reach to hundreds of thousands of potentials through paid target marketing. What it costs to sell your boat and the best way to sell your boat depends upon your goals and objectives, when you want to sell your boat or if you are simply testing the market. Search out a Boat Advisory firm in the first instance to help you understand your options and what may be the best approach for your boat for sale. About BASCO Boating We provide a Boat Sale Strategy Session (free of charge) to help you understand the exact three things that you should be doing right now to sell your boat faster at a good price. If you want to find out how to triple your boat enquiries, viewings, and offers in 90 days, click HERE to make time to Zoom. BASCO is the most reliable and effective boating platform in Asia-Pacific. We strive to address issues faced by the boating community in the traditional boat brokerage by investing our time to understand our clients and their needs so as to provide accurate information and present our best practices to help them achieve their innermost dreams about life at sea. BASCO consists of 3 divisions, BASCO Connect, BASCO Advise and BASCO Trade. Here’s the services we provide We educate boat deciders/searchers about boating and boat buying We help buyers buy boats We help boat owners sell and maintain their boats and We help boat service providers get more work and grow their businesses. Come On Board!

Owning a boat can be a rewarding experience—but it can also be costly. And if you don't have estimated data for it, you are going to have a hard time. So, keep reading and I'll show you how to calculate boat costs in only 60 minutes. Let me tell you a quick story about the time that we sent out a survey, with one simple question to our boating community, and what you can learn from it. Some short background first — we do like to get on-the-ground questions and feedback from our first-time boating community (and new to Asia boaters) about their key challenges and questions when it comes to buying and maintaining a boat. Here at BASCO, we’re the Boat Advisory Services Co, so adding this information to our Boat Buyer’s Academy is part of what we do. So, a couple of months ago we sent out an email and did some videos on social media to collect feedback on one simple question about boating: “What’s Your #1 Question About Buying A Boat?” We received more than 100 responses; it was insane! In fact, we were over the moon to hear from so many people about their number one boat buying question. We were also equally delighted to get a lot of valuable input from experienced boaters as well who advised the types of questions that a first-time boater should ask. It was so helpful. For experienced boaters, it’s usually hard to remember all those questions and concerns that are in people’s minds who haven’t yet experienced the joys and exhilaration of the boating lifestyle or owning a boat themselves. So, getting it in black and white from boat dreamers and first-time boaters was invaluable. What’s Your # 1 Question About Boating? We got to work. I compiled the questions and put them into groups or themes and came up with the main things that people were asking, it was fascinating and encouraging and I thought you might be interested to hear what they were asking. The three top questions were: 1. How much does it cost to own and maintain a boat 2. How do I know if a boat is sea-worth and sound 3. How do I know what the boat is worth Additionally, there were lots of other questions about things like, how to stay safe at sea, how not to be deceived by a boat seller or a broker, how to avoid large, unexpected cost surprises and how to maintain a boat and look after it. We were quite overwhelmed by all the questions if I’m being honest, but it gave me the push and the reason I needed to get to work on this topic of boating costs as so many people really wanted to get to the bottom of this one. So, then we came up with something really exciting that’s making a huge difference to first-time boaters. And that huge difference starts right here and is explained in a free 60-minute webinar we created. Here are 3 things you’ll learn 1. How to know WHAT A BOAT’S WORTH so you don’t get taken advantage of (and why new boat buyers are a broker’s delight and a boat seller’s dream) 2. Why NEW BOAT BUYERS PAY MORE than experienced boat buyers 3. The market is so small, so unsophisticated, and illiquid, even the boat brokers CANNOT ACCURATELY SAY how much a boat is going to sell for We decided to call it ‘Boat Ownership Secrets Unlocked’ as the three things mentioned above that you’ll learn at the webinar, they really are open secrets in the boating industry that no-one talks about! The first webinars were a big hit; we were so relieved as doing something like this for the first time is always nerve wracking and hard. Here’s what people said: “I loved it — it was great thanks. So much value in here, definitely.” “Nice webinar. I really enjoyed it, good information.” “That was the best 1-hour boating information I’ve ever received, thanks.” Unlock Those Boat Costs Secrets But the thing I really want you, the first-time boater or new-to-Asia boater, to take away from this, is finding out the true costs and risks of buying and maintaining a boat is an open secret. It is hard to find honest and complete answers to give a level of confidence to move forward. Without this, boaters can remain stuck at the dockside instead of being on the sea! So, what this means to you in your boating life is that spending 60 minutes looking in the right direction could be the one change that alters your course towards your boating lifestyle. It can be that simple and we’re excited to share it. So, here’s your next step as it relates to what you and I just shared: consider registering for my free webinar “Boat Ownership Secrets UNLOCKED” so I can be the one who shows you where and how you can find out the true costs and risks of buying and maintaining a boat, and most importantly, even if you should! By the way, what's your # 1 Question About Boating? Do you have any other questions that I didn't mention in this post?

If you're thinking that a boat is too expensive to own because of maintenance, think again. Anyone can own any kind of boat if they work hard and save money. You don't have to make a million a year by any means. While buying a boat is exciting, you might want to keep in mind the maintenance costs. Maintenance of your boat is not a one-time task. You must do regular maintenance check-ups to make sure everything is working fine. You must maintain your boat in order for it to run smoothly. You need to conduct regular check-ups to ensure that everything is in top shape. The big question you ask is how much will it cost you? Having an idea of the monthly cost of ownership, upkeep and maintenance is critical. So, let’s get into the last question in the 4 Key Questions. And it is: How much will it cost to keep and maintain your boat? Setting aside the finances for purchasing a boat and getting an agreement with your partner or spouse to do so, is one thing. Having an accurate idea of the monthly cost of ownership, upkeep, and maintenance of the boat is the critical fourth key question to explore. Keeping up a boat can be a full-time job. There are many people who are surprised by the amount of time and money it generally costs to keep a boat going for each season. While your exact numbers depend on the size and type of boat you have, the sea region that you're in, and other factors. The last thing you want is an unexpected financial hit to you or your family’s budget or any nasty costs surprises that need to be explained and paid for. Let’s kick off this question by considering what monthly boat expense budget you are anticipating. We all want the lowest possible cost of course! Apart from that, which of the following expense category would be your preferred budget? Less than 1,000 per month (y/n) 1,000 – 3,000 per month (y/n) 3,000 – 5,000 per month (y/n) 5,000 – 10,000 per month (y/n) Above 10,000 per month (y/n) I don’t know (y/n) Ok, thanks for putting a number on. One way to reduce your monthly costs is to do some of the maintenance work yourself. You can reduce your expenses quite significantly if you are “handy” or have some time and inclination towards tinkering with your boat. This could include cleaning and diving the boat yourself or undertaking minor repairs and maintenance. Ultimately, keeping a boat is less about the initial cost and more about the ongoing costs and your ability to handle them. You will have to budget for fuel, dock or marina fees, possibly insurance, and general maintenance. Some of these costs can be reduced by buying a used boat and/or negotiating with your marina or fuel provider. Keep in mind that owning a boat is usually more expensive on a yearly basis than a vehicle and new parts can get expensive quickly if you are not careful. In the end, buying a boat should be treated as a big decision. There are plenty of financial, safety, and practical concerns to keep in mind as you go into the process. With that said, if you've got your heart set on a boat purchase, there are plenty of resources out there to help you make the right choice. But before you run out there and buy your first boat, make sure that you ask yourself these four key questions first. Note: If you want to find the right boat at the right price, with the right experience along the way, to transform your life with boating and friends & family on the water, there is a great way to get there. The framework is proven to help you do just that no matter whether you're an Expat boater, or new to boating. Click here and act NOW, your satisfaction is guaranteed.

Time, health, and money are golden assets, but it's rare to have an abundance of all three at the same time. Often, when you feel like you have a lot of one (say time), you're lacking in another department (like money). What if you have a boat, but your time is limited and you can't go out on the water as much as you'd like? Owning a boat is one of life's great pleasures. But unless you have a lot of free time to spare. Buying a boat is not just a matter of money—you'll also need to consider the amount of time you can reasonably spend on your boat. So when you're ready to buy a boat, ask yourself this question. How much time do you have to use your boat? By deciding how much time you will have to use your boat, you can determine which type of boat is best for you. If you only have weekends and holidays available for boating, then purchasing a live-aboard vessel may not be feasible unless you relocate close to where you'll keep your boat. Also, If you live near the water and can use the boat with relative frequency, a larger boat might be a good choice. If you'll only be able to use it occasionally and for short trips, a smaller boat might be a good option. If you’re working or living in Asia, think about how much time you will have to use your boat. Here are 6 statements, so if you can answer yes or no (or maybe) to these 6 statements. It will help you narrow down how much time you have for using your boat: I have plenty of time or annual leave to go boating whenever I want (Yes/No) I need to travel to my home country during most of my annual leave (Yes/No) Most of my boating time will be on long weekends with public holidays (Yes/No) My family or partner loves boating and usually, we’ll go boating together (Yes/No) During the weekdays I have a lot of available time (Yes/No) Other (State your statement) Now it’s time to put the ‘yes’s’ in order of priority. 1 is the highest priority or most likely time factor in being able to use your boat. While cruising or motoring to Thailand sounds like a great idea, it can take 4 days to get there and 4 days back again. And sailing even longer. So, the question to ask yourself is, how much time do you really have? The reason this is important is that the distance and types of waters that you wish to travel greatly determine the time it will take for the trips of your dreams. When you look at your work schedule and your available time-off, it might be faster and cheaper, and more realistic to fly to Thailand and either take your boat out from there or charter a boat. So, take some time to think about how much time you will have, and how this might change in the next 2-3 years. Click here to read the last part of this 4-part blog post on the 4 Key Questions Before You Buy a Boat – “How much will it cost to keep and maintain your boat?“ Note: You don't need to be rich or spend hundreds of dollars to unlock boat ownership secrets and enjoy a boating life. You can unlock boat ownership secrets that will transform your life (and in as little as 3 days!)– and it won't break the bank. Click here to learn more

In part 2 of this 4-part blog series, ‘How to buy a boat’, we’ll look at question 2 of the 4 key questions you need to ask before you buy a boat. Before we dig right into that question, let’s first do a quick recap on question 1, which was, ‘What do you want to use your boat for?’ It’s important to spend some time thinking about all the ways you want to use a boat, but then focusing by putting those uses and ideas into an order of priority. This is important for two reasons . . . Firstly, it’s natural and normal to want to use your boat for a wide range of things, fishing, family, sailing, business and even living aboard or your dream of one day sailing to far-off places, even around the world! Secondly, buying the right boat for the right purpose at the right time is about gaining boating confidence. But not just gaining confidence, but maintaining your confidence to operate your boat successfully. The number of boats that never leave the docks is quite large. Gaining confidence and then making sure you don’t lose that confidence and become too scared to use your boat or leave the dock, is an example of a costly buying mistake. We don’t want that to happen to you. As we mentioned in the first blog, these questions are not rocket science and are really quite common sense, but we see people fail to take the time to answer them correctly. Did you know the steel-hulled yacht is the most long-lasting yacht and can live up to 100 years? Yes, it is true. As you may know, there are different types of hull materials such as fiberglass, carbon fiber, and aluminum. But the most long-lasting is the steel-hulled yacht which can live up to 100 years if well-cared. In some cases, wooden boats also have a lifespan of 100 years. While fiberglass can survive up to 50 years and aluminum yachts have the shortest lifespan of 15 to 20 years. So the longevity of a boat depends on what material you choose. And, choosing the right material for a boat depends on where you plan to use it. So when you're ready to buy, ask yourself this question. Where will you use your boat? If you are looking to buy a boat, it is important to know what is your main use. For instance, if you plan on using your boat in freshwater lakes and rivers, it does not make sense to invest in one with a motor for ocean use or one that can handle the rapids. Where you are most likely to use your boat may have a large bearing on what you should buy. The reason this is important is that the distance and types of waters that you wish to travel determine the range of your boat. The range is how far the boat can travel with the fuel onboard, or without refueling. Also, how far and where you go are important factors in assessing the seaworthiness of the boat and being safe at sea. If your boat use will be inland, on lakes and rivers that’s quite a different type of boat than sailing at sea for months at a time. Safety is the number one priority and where you’ll travel in your boat potentially has a large bearing on risks and safety at sea. Let’s use Singapore as an example. As Singapore is such a small country, it can be a bit limited for boating destinations as you don’t have to go very far before you must clear immigration. There are pros and cons to having lots of countries around you! But, with these types of limitations, you might have further shores in mind. Consider the following places one by one using Singapore as an example, and answer yes or no to the following question, where will you use your boat? In Singapore waters; St Johns and Lazarus Islands, Changi sailing club, Raffles Marina, and surrounding waters (Yes/No) Nongsa Point Batam, Tioman or greater Indonesia (Yes/No) Sebana Cove or Sibu Malaysia (Yes/No) Greater Malaysia, Langkawi, Port Dickson (Yes/No) Thailand, Phuket, Krabi (Yes/No) North Asia and beyond (Yes/No) Around the world (Yes/No) Other areas (Yes/No) Using the same approach to question 1 in the first blog, putting the ‘yes’ answers into the order of priority is the next step. Make a mental note of the first, second, and third highest priority locations where you wish to use your boat. Where you wish to use your boat might change over the next 2-3 years. If you are new to boating, once you gain more experience and nautical miles under your belt, you may be ready to take on greater journeys with your experience. A question worth considering is whether the boat you purchase today will be the boat that will take you where you wish to go in 4-5 years’ time? A potential mistake could be buying the boat for the 5-year plan, today. If you don’t have a lot of boating experience, then it might make more sense for your boating confidence, to buy for your current level of boating expertise. Getting clear on this dilemma will help avoid costly boat buying mistakes. Now’s the time to think about how you want to use your boat in the next 2-3 years and what kinds of destinations you want to reach over the next 5 years. Don’t be alarmed if this is potentially two boats, not one. It’s better to get a heads-up on this possibility now. Look, boats symbolize freedom for their owners, who enjoy the flexibility of finding an activity or a location that meets their current mood. Some owners make a living out of their boats, Some turn boats into floating homes; while others still use their boats recreationally. When it comes to using a boat, everyone has different purposes and different preferences... This is why it's so important for you to know exactly where you're going to use your boat before you buy one. So that’s the task for today – identify where you’ll use your boat. Remember this; “You will love the ocean. It makes you feel small, but not in a bad way. Small because you realize you're part of something bigger." Now, let’s get onto Question # 3 – How much time do you have to use your boat? Note: I've got an amazing framework for you called "The Blueprint to Unlocking Boat Ownership Secrets!" It makes it EASY for you to master insider info like a Boat Buying Guru so you can focus on exactly the right boat and the right price, and knowing exactly what steps it takes to get there, you can understand the boat market & boat ownership like a Boat Boss. If you've been struggling to understand the market and the non-transparent boat prices and industry practices, then this framework is the answer you've been looking for. Click here to get started

In 2020, the NMMA report shows that there were nearly 320,000 retail unit sales of new boats, up 13% from the previous year. The boat sales are increasing year by year. What is it that attracts so many people to boats? A boat is a freedom… For some, it’s the simple desire for exploration on their own terms with everything they could possibly need at their fingertips. It's an adventure… For others, it’s the whole idea of a family adventure out on the water when space and resources are limited at home. An opportunity for a fresh start… Agree? Buying a boat is an exciting experience, but it’s also a big decision. In this 4-part blog post, we’re going to go through the 4 key questions before you buy a boat. Each day we’ll post the next question in the journey to buying a boat. Here’s William on buying a boat… “In my 30 years of working with boat owners and clients, it’s always been critical to making sure our boat buying clients are crystal clear on 4 key questions. These questions are not rocket science and are really quite common sense, yet it has always concerned me how often these key questions were overlooked or not thought about in enough detail before some people went ahead and bought a boat." It is critically important, as you don’t want to be sold into something just because it’s a boat dealer's inventory and the salesperson needs to sell it, or it’s the boat they have the biggest commission in. By answering these 4 key questions you’ll be more solid in your boat search which will save you time, energy, and money. You’ll be less likely to make a costly boat buying mistake. Over the next 4 blog posts, we’ll cover the 4 questions to answer before you set out on your boat buying journey. Of course, your mind might change along the journey to boat ownership, but each time changes occur, remember to come back and visit these four key questions again. Here’s the first question: What are you going to use the boat for? Knowing what you’re going to use the boat for will help determine whether you should buy a boat or not. Also, This is important to identify as it helps to narrow down the types of boats that will be suitable for your main use. First, identify what's your role as a boat owner? Are you with your family? Are you a captain? A solo sailor? Are you a fisherman? A weekend sailor? The boat you buy should match your plan and role. Let’s now run through 6 key types of boat use. As you go through these, answer yes or no to each one in your mind and it doesn’t matter if you answer yes to multiple uses. Here are the 6 key types of boat uses: What are you going to use your boat for? Business entertaining (yes or no?) Family fun times (yes or no?) Mates or spending time with friends (yes or no?) Sports, such as wakeboarding, skiing, or fishing (yes or no?) Parties and events (yes or no?) Living aboard, more as a floating apartment than a boat (yes or no?) Something else, like sailing around the world (yes or no?) The next step is to put those ‘yes’ areas into the order of priority. What’s most important to you and your family or your current situation? What are you wanting to achieve by buying a boat, first, second and third? For example, if you said yes to business entertaining, sailing, and family times, then think about what is most important, second and third in the priority order of the usage. This is important because you’ll start to focus on what’s most important. The more focus you have, the less likely you’ll make a costing boat buying mistake. The more focus you have, the less likely you’ll make a costly boat buying mistake. So that’s the task for today – identify your boat usage priorities and put them in order. Remember this; “Buying a boat is an opportunity, not a problem” So that’s the task for today – identify your boat usage priorities and put them in order. In Part 2 of the How to Buy a Boat series – “Where will you use your boat“, we clarified what it means and also the important point about boat confidence, check it out here. Note: Are you a First-Time Boater or an Expat Boater and Sick & Tired of Banging Your Head Against the Wall Trying to Access Boating Freedom And Family Fun Times On The Water? Check out The Blueprint to Unlocking Boat Ownership Secrets that will transform your life overnight, in 3 Days

When I was a child, I loved horses. So much so, that I had horse ornaments and books from my birthday and Christmas presents. When I was 10 years old, my mother, just months before she died, showed me the money that she’d been secretly saving up week by week, in a carefully hidden drawer, where it stayed until she finally had saved enough to buy me the horse. A lovely pony to me, but all-in-all a pretty unsophisticated creature, but of course, I loved her so much. Fast forward almost 40 years and I wanted to get a pet for myself and my family say YES, for a few complicated reasons, a horse was what the “doctor ordered”! (a bit like a boat really, often it can be exactly the right thing for the right reasons in some cases). But back to the story. Unfortunately, in the very small, land-scarce island nation of Singapore, not only isn’t there much room for horses, there aren’t many horses to choose from if one wanted to buy. So, I decided to do what many people who are looking for a boat do, and that was to bring “Honey Puff” in from another country where there was more inventory (boats or horses) to choose from. So just 2 days before the tragic earthquake in 2010 in Christchurch, New Zealand, Honey Puff was winging her way to Singapore in style! Pricing a horse for sale from Singapore or from New Zealand had all the same challenges as pricing a boat to be bought and sold among different countries around Asia. Boat buyers in Asia, little like horse buyers can be hard to find and they also require similar considerations such as delivery, taxes, duties, food, and drinks along with way and shipping or airfreight. All this had to be considered when we were making our offer on Honey Puff. So how does this relate to boat pricing secrets and strategies? The thing I really want you to take away from this is the question of how much your boat will sell for is more art than science. When you're trying to figure out how much your boat is worth, it's not always as easy as plugging a few numbers into an algorithm. It depends a lot on where the ideal person that will buy your boat (your boat buyer’s avatar) is located. Yes, you can research the asking prices for similar boats, but ultimately it depends on the market, the country, and the boat itself. So what this means to you in your boat life in Asia, as a boat seller, is with a large number of countries in a relatively small area, the likelihood of your boat being exported to sell it is significantly higher than in places like Australia or the United States. So this adds to the cost for the purchaser which then reduces your boat value into that purchaser or in that market. So here’s your next step as it relates to what you and I just shared: consider three things when pricing your boat for sale 1. Where is the most likely buyer of your boat located? 2. Is your boat going to be hard to sell or easy to sell? 3. What results do you want and by when? When you consider the answers to these three questions, your boat pricing strategy should become clearer. Good luck with pricing your boat for sale or buying a horse to make you feel contented!

Many people all over the world dream of owning their own boat – but few follow their heart and go for it. Even if you’re the one who really wants to buy the boat, it can be hard to convince your other half to be on board. That’s why today, I’m going to walk you through everything you need to know about buying a boat with your partner! We’ve recently held our first couple’s workshop, designed to get partners aligned with the boat ownership conversation. Let me tell you the back story of how this got started and made such a big difference for one ‘boat decider’ who had been wondering and thinking about buying a boat for more than 10 years. It all started with an online post in a boating forum from a boat broker a year or so ago. Domestic Anchor Problem Before you Buy a Boat The post was headed up: “Domestic Anchor Problem” For those not so nautically minded let me quickly explain. A ‘domestic anchor’ is a reference to an issue between partners about buying a boat. Anchor being the holding fast aspect or NO way, and domestic being the partner. It’s most often cited as a woman who is seen to be “domestic anchor”. Buying a boat is, all in all, a pretty complicated & challenging endeavor in many ways. It’s an up and down emotional ride through the five distinct stages of buying a boat. And one of the joys of boat ownership is the sharing of experiences, those priceless boating experiences and creating memories of a lifetime, with family and loved ones. So, having your partner on board is high on the list of priorities for many people! In the next few minutes, I’m going to show you some tips on what you can do to get your partner on board and the exact steps to take in aligning you and your partners’ goals and objectives along the way. Sound good? Help! “Domestic Anchor Problem” and the boat broker goes on to say: The husband had been looking for a boat for more than a year, it’s his first real boat (over 50ft), it’s perfect, he loves it and it’s a fantastic deal but the wife says ‘no way, he’s not getting a boat and she’s not moving from that position’. No Way, Jose She’s Not Moving From The ‘No Way Jose’ Position You’ve probably heard this before, so what to do? And then our social media keyboard warriors weigh in on the debate and provide a limited range of options, by far the most popular is finding a new wife. But seriously, if you think about it, this is not only a pretty common scenario but also one that is an awful position for all parties to find themselves in. And the point of this posting is so that you NEVER find yourself in this position. He’s Super Excited, Thrilled, Pumped Imagine this — the husband will be super excited, thrilled, pumped… and there’s this trepidation in the back of his mind, and ‘wham’ then hugely let down, no doubt angry, and bitterly disappointed. The wife may be incensed, angry and terrified of what might happen, or what she fears is about to happen. She may be scared of family safety or finances. Not a happy household and this isn’t something that will go away quickly. Then there is the boat broker — he’s beside himself, tearing his hair out, seeing his deal and commission going south. Easy Solution — Find Another Wife Now the keyboard warriors are weighing in with their good advice, saying, mostly, and unhelpfully, divorce the wife, leave her behind, and with a nice boat like that you’ll easily find another, and variations on this theme. A few more helpful people say, take them out on the water, convince her of the lifestyle, get some drink into them, take the contract along ( and I’d imagine this is exactly what the wife is terrified of!). Another sensible suggestion to find out her real concerns or needs, but if all else fails, the suggestion invariably goes back to the new wife theme. Another person offers the idea of them buying a boat she is more comfortable with, perhaps a smaller boat. While the comments are mostly lighthearted and said in jest, there is still a serious undertone and implication, and they’re all in a position that none of us would enjoy very much, no matter who you were in this example. So how do we avoid being in this position? Or, how do we ‘convince the wife’ so that the husband gets what he so desperately wants? Don’t Get Into This Position In The First Place! It’s easy to say with hindsight, don’t let yourself get into this situation in the first place… and in this short blog, I’m going to show you how you can do this — avoid getting yourself into this situation in the first place. OK, let’s dig right in! Avoiding getting into this sticky situation in the first place is part of Nautical Know How — what we call ‘Understanding the traps and tricks on the journey to boat ownership, without high stress or costly mistakes.’ The Wife Got Left Behind There are 5 stages that a new boater goes through on the journey to boat ownership. The first stage may take years or decades, and many people may never move from this first stage. That’s OK (and convincing her isn’t going to be the best strategy, neither is hood-winking her with a drink). Ground Breaking First-Time Boat Buyer Research The wife in this situation may be in the first stage, or not even there. On the other hand, the husband is clearly well past the first stage, and in fact, has moved all the way through to the 4th stage, over the last 1 year. For various reasons, that we don’t know, the wife got left behind. And the result is telling… conflict, unhappiness, fighting, potential divorce, anger, and accusations. You can imagine what it would be like, a terrible situation to be in and to have created. How To Avoid Ever Being In This Situation So, if you want to avoid this, here’s a simple idea and a clear step by step path, with 3 simple steps to take now ; Understand who you are, boating wise… what does this mean? It means... What type of boater you are, and yes there are 6 types of new boaters! What type of boater your partner would be (if they were going to be a boater!) Recognise why this is so important (it matters) Find out Where you’re at on the boat buying journey. Where your partner is on the boat buying journey. Understand its critical impact on your (and your partner’s) dreams and goals and how to align them. Simple, But Never Easy! While it might sound simple, and it is, of course, it’s often not easy. But it’s a lot easier to do this at the beginning of the journey than have to deal with the fallout like we see in this example. If you want to find out more, and how all the steps in our ‘Boat Searchers Blueprint to a Boating Lifestyle’ applies to you, drop us an email. Effective Couples Navigation is part of Module 2 of the Blueprint (see below). Effective Couples Navigation is critical for: New boat buyers or those deciding if the boating lifestyle is right for them Partners, men, and women who wish to ‘get on the same page’ with their boating goals Those who have the ‘boat spark’ ignited, and want to cut through information overwhelm with a clear step by step path Partners of those who have the ‘boating spark’ ignited, and want to support, but are not sure how to get that. Boat Brokers Are Not Created Equally The thing I really want you to take away from this is not all boat brokers are created equal and Boat Advisers are a new breed of Digital Boat Brokers. So what this means to you in your boating life is, more and more first time boat buyers need expert help and assistance, such as providing a time and a place for discovery and discussion. This is most useful when there is information overwhelm, long term indecision and complexity in the buying or deciding decision. Boat Brokers of the Past are Becoming Quickly Extinct Finding a boat together can be a thrilling and sometimes stressful process, but it can be rewarding when you're ultimately able to buy one. So we hope our advice has been valuable, and that you have not just enjoyed reading it, but have also come away with some interesting ideas to convince your partner. Note: Want more transparency, neutrality, and honesty when it comes to finding the right boat? We're here to help! We understand that it can be hard to find the right boat for you, especially when there are so many options out there. We also know that sometimes things can get overwhelming. That's why our team of experts is here to help you find your perfect match. We'll guide you through each step of the process so you can find the boat that's right for you, without any stress or hassle. Book a call now.

Let me tell you a quick story about a special Professor I had in Anti-Money Laundering classes who taught me something important about the leisure boat industry… and what you can learn from it I had never been first-in-class in my life before. At school, I was always a solid student, got slightly above average grades, but I always approached my education with the goal of completing rather than excelling. As someone who seems to always have more on my plate than I can deal with (for example, doing full-time university workload after hours while working full-time, not to mention I had 3 babies in 373 days) completing rather than winning was how I got through my life most of the time. When I became fascinated by financial crime and transitioned from a tax accountant to a forensic accountant in my 40’s in Corporate Singapore, it was the perfect opportunity to focus on something I found intriguing — money laundering, financial crime, and corporate investigations. But I was a busy working mum of 3 energetic teenagers at the time, aged 14, 14 and 15, so while I didn’t have much time between working full-time and kids/husband/family, I knew I wanted to study this stuff, find out more and get further qualified. So, I enrolled in a Diploma in Anti-Money Laundering that was designed for the banking industry. I hadn’t worked for a bank up until then and I found myself sitting in night classes surrounded by people from banking. Night classes weren’t new to me, I’d spent 9 years part-time, including many night classes, to become a Chartered Accountant in the 1990s. It was fascinating. They were mostly all in-house banking compliance staff, most of them working in the field already. But because I was from outside of the core industry, and more from the side-lines of the banking industry, I was able to bring a new perspective and fresh insight to the anti-money laundering challenges and concepts that the course taught. I had lots of ideas and unique perspectives on not only financial crime and anti-money laundering but also on how it should be taught! My fresh ideas brought me a lot of success that year. Not only did I complete the Graduate Diploma, but I was also top of the class that year for Anti-Money Laundering. It was such an honour to have achieved this across five assignments and exams. First time ever, top in the class! Finally, I cracked that one, even though that wasn’t my intention. But instrumental to my success was an inspirational leader named Professor David Jackman. He was pivotal in helping guide me, as well as giving me the courage to speak up and write out my insights and ideas that I could see from my unique perspective. He became a valued mentor and still supports me to this day. Fast forward 10 years and after 5 years teaching financial crime compliance at that very Association, I now find myself in a somewhat similar position, this time in the leisure boat industry. Not really a part of it but having been on the side-lines for more than 30 years as the wife of a boat broker (not a position I would recommend by the way, but another blog on that one!). I’ve seen and experienced first-hand the challenges in the industry. To see clearly how clients and customers can be so much better served than the incumbent brokerage and dealership model often delivers. There’s no doubt that the broker’s job in many industries is on the brink of extinction. Real estate agents and boat brokers may soon be disrupted and made obsolete unless there is a significant change in the value they bring to the table. This is where my focus currently is. Bringing more value to the table. From helping boat owners to generate three times the sales enquiries in 90-days compared to traditional methods or do-it-yourself (DIY), to online technologies and Online Boat Shows, through to helping boat ‘deciders’ via a unique and powerful “90-Day Boat Deciders Bootcamp”, it’s a fun and rewarding time to focus on innovative services for the leisure boat industry. I’m more confident today in helping the leisure boat industry transformation as a result of winning in the anti-money laundering space in the banking industry in Singapore 10 years ago. This confidence building has been a long-term project, but has steadily been built upon, one insight after another throughout my career (and has something to do with DNA connections as well — got it from my mother who was herself a pioneer as a Hatha Yoga Instructor in the 1970’s!) For me, it was being recognised as a finalist in the Young Chartered Accountant of the Year Awards in the 1990s for my work creating Business Coaching New Zealand at the time when business coaching wasn’t even on the radar yet. Today it is a tens of billions dollar industry. With the changes to the boating industry, I’ve been waiting for more than 20 years to start on this. From closing down our boat dealership after 11 years of toil and tears and losing everything we had in the 1990’s, it was then that I saw it crystal clearly, the benefits of adding significant value to the boat buyer’s journey. But taking this small-town New Zealand business failure head-on and 7 years later, we took our three young kids and we packed all our belongings into two bags each and moved to Asia where we were successful in gaining good corporate jobs over 15 years to support our family with consistent incomes during their growing years. This was in stark contrast to being a traditional boat brokers wife which had meant many years of income instability and volatility and the challenges that come with this. Now the children have left home, making their own way and all have good jobs of their own, the time is now. And thanks to the lasting impression and confidence from my mentor and professor — he gave me the courage to say it as I saw it, I excelled in one tiny area of the banking industry in Singapore. Now I’m working hard to make a positive difference in the lives of boat brokers families (including my own) and for boat sellers and boat dreamers, boat deciders, boat searchers and boat buyers! Everyone who loves the water, the sea and the idea of a boating lifestyle. There are no ‘tyre-kickers’ in the new business model, there’s plenty for everyone to enjoy and learn. So, the thing I really want you to take away from this is we all have great ideas on how to make things better for clients and customers but you sometimes need someone to motivate and encourage us in those great ideas. What this means to you in your boating life or business is if you love the boating lifestyle or the sea, and you have great ideas about improving the leisure boat industry or improving the outcomes for owners and buyers, we all need to have mentors to help us grow and believe in ourselves. So, here’s your next step as it relates to what you and I just shared: let me know if you have great ideas about how to improve the leisure boat industry. I invite you to join my Facebook Group — become a Boat Boss — and so I can be the one who believes in you and shows you how you can do and be more than you think you can be in this industry. Click here to get started!

We’ve had a surprising number of boat owners contact us in the last couple of months with boats that need work and for a number of reasons, an As-Is-Where-Is boat sale is something they’re keen to explore. Take Leonard for example, he’s an expatriate owner of a 40’ Flybridge boat with two damaged engines. The boat is around 10 years old and otherwise in very nice condition and the engines are now out of the boat. He wants to sell his boat as it is, as it’s becoming an increasing headache for him. By way of background, in Asia, it can be difficult to do a number of things with your boat, problems that may not be as challenging in another location or in other parts of the world. The two main problems that we at BASCO Boating help solve for boat owners in Asia are: 1. It can be difficult to sell your boat in Asia 2. It can be difficult to get your boat repaired in Asia So, Leonard is asking me the inevitable question ‘How much will I get for my boat as it is?’ We had a long conversation to really pin down the options that he has. He agreed that he still needs to get some accurate figures together so he can make a sensible decision about what to do with his boat. But put simply (always easy to say but more difficult to do/expensive/time/money/energy) Leonard needs to know with accuracy: 1. Cost to get his boat operational with new engines 2. Cost with reconditioned engines 3. Cost with repaired engines 4. Cost to ship and import the boat to his home country and either use it there or sell it there 5. What the boat is worth on the market today, as it is And the frustrating and overwhelming situation he’s stuck in hasn’t been for lack of trying on his part. He has been Google-ing flat out along with his mechanically-inclined friend helping. He has even flown his mechanic to a neighbouring country, to visit the workshop that was advertised online, only to find that when he arrived, there was nothing there at the address. It was yet another scam and fictitious setup. It was after this, that he called me feeling quite defeated and annoyed. We chatted some more about his options, and he agreed that getting the information and feedback is really what he needs to do. It’s because only once he has a good idea of this can he really know what the best course of action is. He was heartened to hear that William, my hubby was, in a previous life, a Volvo Penta dealer and award-winning service agent back in New Zealand some 20+ years ago and with deep industry connections and knowledge we can help him with those questions above. At BASCO Boating, we’re a Boat Advisory Services Company and helping client’s problems is at the heart of what we do when helping people buy and sell boats. This guy needs quite a bit of help and assistance to cut through the information overwhelm and the chaos to get the numbers he needs as well as some offers so he can make his best move. We finalised his proposal today for a project to get the answer to the 5 questions above for him. We have an As-Is-Where-Is Online Boat Show happening in April, and we’ll be marketing his boat and this event widely so we can get price feedback for him and even better, a sale at the price he is looking for. He confirmed that having the boat taken off his hands is the best solution. And yes, given the effort, time and energy to do the first four points himself, then selling the boat at the price he would like are ideal. But we don’t know what the market will pay until we ask and we’ll do this by actively marketing the boat for sale and soliciting price feedback and offers. So, the last point — what is the boat worth — would still require BASCO to do that marketing and sales campaign to get those 4 x price feedback/offers for him. It’s not an easy piece of work, especially since we provide a money-back guarantee on our service. But nevertheless, he’s committed to the project, demonstrated by making a payment for the services and so are we. By working together as a team to get the project done and the boat sold, we can be the best value to our client in helping to get his headache solved. The thing I really want you to take away from this if you are a boat owner with a boat that needs work — is the market is often the right one to tell you how much your boat is worth, not a broker. So, what this means to you in your boat-selling life is getting price feedback from the market is always most important, and even more so for boats that require work or are As-Is-Where-Is. So, here’s your next step as it relates to what you and I just shared: if you’re not sure what your boat’s value is, then investigate the methods and means to get 4 times price feedback or offers so you can understand the market and have the required information at your fingertips so you can make your best move, and be able to move on with your life (or boat upgrade), without the worry of how long it will take to get an offer. Note: Are you a boat owner who wants to sell your boat fast? Book a free call now to discuss your fast boat sale.