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Today’s quick story is about a boat owner who said: “Just Get Rid of The Boat” who taught me something important… and what you can learn from it. We’ve had a few calls lately from boat owners who are almost at their wits end with trying to sell their boats; frustrated, pulling their hair out and ready to drop their prices. But having an owner at their wits-end is a very appealing position that many boat buyers find attractive, they can smell a deal brewing. Everyone loves a good deal! Bob called me yesterday and he sounded like he was tearing his hair out “I just need to get rid of this boat” he said. Usually, if you’re wanting to sell, then having some offers are better than no offers. You don’t need to accept a low-ball offer, but sometimes people do want to move on for one reason or another, and if the market is tough and illiquid getting price feedback from the market is an important part of the sales process. The problem is, even dropping the price often doesn’t make much of an impact, unless it’s huge and you throw some money behind it to market the price drop widely. The drop needs to be enough of a ‘wow’ for people to take notice. Otherwise they are simply too busy to focus on this. But if you can create an offer that is much more interesting and impactful, it’s more likely that people will take note and want to talk about your boat for sale. Your marketing costs will go down as dramatically as the interest factor goes up! Here’s the example of Bob. Bob wants to ‘Just Sell My Boat’ and asks me if a price drop will help. I say to him, what will really help, is if the boat buyers know you are at your wits-end! So, we created an offer for Bob’s boat after we clearly identified an “avatar” for his boat. And, his boat is ideally suited to a first-time boat buyer. This is what that avatar looks like: “A first-time boat buyer, a family man, married, in his forties with three kids aged between 5 and 15 years of age. They both work and travel a lot and have little spare time. They are expatriates in XYZ country and earn $400k per annum”. Having done that, we then created an offer that would appeal to that avatar. Things that a first-time boat buyer and an expatriate new to the region, would likely highly value. This is what the offer looked like: “Are you looking for a boat owner who is seriously pulling their hair out? We’ve located one! Especially for discerning first-time boat buyers. This boat owner is so desperate he is giving: 1. Free driving lessons (valued at USD995) 2. Free PPCDL Drivers Licence entry fee (valued at USD200) 3. Free PPCDL Drivers Licence how to pass the exam tips and website access (value priceless) 4. Free berthing for 1 year (valued at USD15,000) 5. Free Boat Maintenance Masterclasses for new boat owners (valued at USD4,997) 6. Free New Boat Owners Coaching and Guidance for 3 months (valued at USD3,000) 7. Free 1-year entry into the elite ‘boat club’ where all your questions are answered (value 1,997) 8. Free access to the secret WhatsApp group (value priceless) 9. Free strategy and plan on how to sell your boat fast if you need to (valued at USD997) 10. Free Access to the Boat Buyers Academy and the 90-Day Boat Buyers Bootcamp (valued at USD5,297) 11. Free Welcome Party at the Boaters Bar (value priceless networking) For the best value, family-day cruiser boat in town for first-time boat buyers or first-time in Asia boaters under USD150k contact us by clicking the “Learn More” button below.” Interesting? We’re running the advertisements at the moment, and engagement and excitement are high. I’ll update you on the final results in a few weeks! The thing I really want you to take away from this is — your boat for sale is ideally suited for a particular “avatar” and do write up a detailed description of someone who suits your boat perfectly. Your boat will probably have 2–3 avatars. Why is this important? It means you can focus on the needs of the particular avatar and create value for them as part of the boat sale deal. Your sale enquiries will skyrocket. So, what this means to you in your boat-selling life, is with a bit of thought, creating an offer for your boat for sale could be a smart move, as your boat appeals to a certain type of boat buyer/avatar. By aligning value and values this can mean a higher sale price for your boat as you give the buyer what they need and value, as part of the deal. Here’s your next step as it relates to what you and I just shared: consider creating an offer to sell your boat rather than just a listing. You can do this by adding value to your boat offer, for example, free driving lessons (if your avatar is a first-time boat buyer) and other value-adds, that through your expertise and experience would greatly assist a new purchaser of your boat. My what: I help boat owners sell their boats 33% faster than traditional methods or do-it-yourself. How: BASCO’s Online Boat Show platform and generating 3 times the sales enquiries in 90-days. In a nutshell — I believe that 3 times more sales enquiries in 90-days, compared to traditional methods or do-it-yourself (DIY), is the key selling boats 33% faster — available through BASCO’s Online Boat Show program. What do you believe? Let me know

What a boyfriend walking out and selling your boat at the highest price in the fastest time have in common. Let me tell you a quick story about the time my daughter’s boyfriend walked out on her without any inkling or notice … and what you can learn from it about selling your boat It was mid-afternoon on a Monday and like typical parents with children overseas, every phone call and message are always tinged with worry about if they are OK. And then one of ‘those’ messages came in, totally out of the blue. It said, “Danny just broke up with me and he’s left”. What! I felt shocked and then worried. I was reeling, I could hardly imagine what my daughter was going through. It was so out of character for this pleasant young man in his mid-20’s to have simply up and left with no explanation and no warning. Was it a case of lack of commitment? This incident reminded me of what it can be like in the traditional boat brokerage business, the one that my hubby had been in for more than 10 years in Asia until he finally quit about 3 years ago, totally worn out and jaded by the brokerage ‘game’. You see, boat owners and sellers come and go, listings in and listings out, brokers do or don’t sell the boat, and everyone seemingly moves on to the next person, sometimes muttering and complaining about the worth or value of the previous. It can be very transient and hit and miss, and opportunistic. No side appears particularly committed to the goal of selling the boat, there’s typically no resource allocated for lead generation or marketing and because no one is putting their hands in their pockets and putting money put on the table, not much gets done. The boat gets listed on a website or two, and then the traditional ‘list it and then sit and wait for a buyer to show up” begins. It’s never seemed like a particularly effective method to me. In my career working with clients as a chartered accountant and financial crime compliance, professional, we partnered with our clients and solved problems and completed projects. In the brokerage “game” it seemed like no one was managing the project to a successful conclusion. Instead, it was more of a case of looking for a quick and easy opportunistic sale, estimated to be 10% of the boats listed, hence the traditional goal to list as many boats as possible, while the rest of the boats for sale, the 90% were left to languish. There must be a better way! And this is something I have been pondering and researching and trying to figure out for more than a decade, but since I left my corporate career last year, I’ve been working practically non-stop, with almost fanatical attention to this for the last year and a half! I get a bit embarrassed by how much I am working on this, to be honest. But the thing I want you to take away from this is that commitment is required to sell your boat at the highest price in the fastest possible time. Resources, effective strategy, single focus attention, and teamwork. So what this means to you and your boat sale is I’m prepared to commit but if a boat owner isn’t prepared to commit to the process, then I’ve learned the hard way that I shouldn’t either, as it’s too easy for an uncommitted person to simply walk away, just like Danny did. So here’s your next step as it relates to what you and I just shared: consider what you are losing out on by not making a commitment; a commitment to join a comprehensive Boat Sales Program, backed by a money-back guarantee and an expert team. Be straightforward and open with your dedicated project manager and boat adviser about your boat sale goals. And be willing to invest; after all its 100% refund when the sale occurs. Click here to discover more

Let me tell you a quick story about a call I had today, with a potential client … Here’s what you can learn from it if you’re thinking of selling your boat. I had two discovery calls booked with boat owners this week. This was on top of another call late last week. Today was exciting and interesting. And so were Tuesdays to be fair; a new to the market boat, recently listed with a broker. I sent out a proposal and hope to confirm with him next week on the project, as we can really help this owner. Today’s call was even more interesting, a bigger boat, and bigger problems so they say! And he was excited and optimistic when we got off the call. A good project for me and some hope for him. We knew his boat had been on the market for a long time as we know the market very well. And because of this, and the fact that getting the price incorrect at the get-go is one of the main reasons that boats don’t sell, I had already sent him a copy of our boat pricing white paper called ‘The 9 Boat Pricing Secrets — 9 Steps to Pricing Your Boat Correctly’. As I was preparing for our call, I was reflecting on another potential client who’d reached out to us again. We’d known about his boat for sale from a previous chat. It’s been on the market for more than a year. The broker said he should list it at USD160,000. He was feeling a bit anxious, as it was now a year later, and he’d reduced the price for the third time to USD80k. He’s selling assets for an estate, as a trusted family friend. Unfortunately, it seems like this one isn’t going to end well, as the price was incorrect from the get-go. A lot of wasted time, energy and costly mistake for that family. He now realises the price suggested and the approach to pricing wasn’t correct from the outset. So, going into my call this afternoon, I started by asking him a few background questions, including how long he’s owned the boat, how long it’s been on the market and how many offers he’d received. That’s when he told me no offers, and only very occasionally would there be an enquiry. He was quick to agree with me that if there hasn’t been any price feedback from the market (or offers) in the last 2–3 years, then it’s very challenging for him to know the worth of his boat for sale. This means it’s difficult for him to know what to do to move forward with a quick sale for his boat. He said he’d researched a bit on the web, but really was unable to figure out what his boat was worth. He was quite confused about the value. I encouraged him because he hadn’t adjusted his price every few months like the previous guy his ‘internet price footprint’ would be small and that does give him a good price platform to step into a new Online Boat Show Sales Program. I advised him we’d be able to get three times the sales enquiries in 90-days compared to traditional methods. (This one won’t be at all hard to achieve given the rather dismal results to date). We’ll also get him four times (4x) price feedback or offers so he can understand the market sentiment on his beloved boat and enable him to make his move more quickly. He wholeheartedly agreed that Stage 1 is Research. I explained the 3 steps in this stage Step 1: Determine what’s for sale Step 2: Identify what’s been sold Step 3: Assess what the market’s doing and the implication for your boat sale It was a good call and real progress was made in a short space of time. Tomorrow, I’ll send him a proposal for how we can help him to price and market his boat for sale. And I’m confident he’ll sign up for our Boat Research and Pricing Service. This is regardless of whether or not we’ll eventually work together on the sales and marketing project. The most urgent thing for him is to know what his optimal pricing point is for his boat and the research items in Stage 1 will put him on the right track to correctly pricing his boat for sale. A productive and satisfying call for both parties. The thing I really want you to take away from this is sometimes we could all benefit by having someone to coach us and help us see boat prices in a different way, indicators we haven’t understood until now. So what this means to you in your boat-selling life is we all need to have a clear step by step path to get from Point A (complicated and unclear) to Point B (confident with a clear pricing strategy) and cut through the overwhelm and confusion. So here’s your next step as it relates to what you and I just shared: consider joining my Boat Research and Pricing Program so I can be the one who researches your boats value, what’s sold, what the price gaps are, where your boat will likely sell, who will buy it (your avatar) and your optimal boat pricing strategy so you can be more confident of getting faster offers so you can make your move. The moral to this story is not about selling boats, here. It’s about pricing your boat right at right time. If you don’t, you're starting off on the back foot. In other words, don't give them an easy excuse to pass on buying from you.

“I can’t afford a boat and the numbers just don’t stack up!” I was a super busy corporate mum of three kids, we’d become expats and moved to Asia ten years before and I was trying to keep up in my job, keep up with my kid’s activities and schooling, keep up with all the bills and payments and be a great spouse as well. I really wanted to have some fun in my life before I turned 50 and it was all too late, so I wouldn’t have to regret that I didn’t get to have some fun back in my life again, after having had 3 kids in 2 years, raising them for the next 17 years. I was scared I might keel over and “drop dead” early because this is what had happened to my brother, my mother, and my father during the first 29 years of my life. I wanted to be able to get some relaxation and fun into my life, and also create more family experiences and memories of a lifetime so I could be a better person, mother, partner and importantly, have no regrets and I could also enjoy reconnecting with friends and family in Singapore, because I had been so busy working, studying and raising our kids, I hadn’t had time to do that during the first 10 years we’d been here. The thing is I was acutely aware that while my hubby had been in the boating industry all his life, we’d never owned a boat before, and simply put, we couldn’t afford it. So, coupled with not having the money to do this and being worried that I was making a huge mistake, it simply screamed out to me that we couldn’t afford this. And it seemingly did not make any logical sense to even try! That meant I wasn’t able to get some relaxation and fun into my life, so I could be a better partner and mother who had no regrets, let alone enjoy connecting with friends and family, where I simply hadn’t had time to do that during the first 10 years that we’d been here. To make things worse, I felt terrible because I could miss out on having the fun in my life and to me, this was important to do, before my life was over, as this had happened to many people in my family already. I felt even worse about the situation because due to my family situation, I had convinced myself that I was going to leave planet earth sooner rather than later and I would regret not moving ahead with the next adventure and — the next stage of my life before it was too late. I felt like an overworked, overwhelmed mother and sub-standard partner whose life was coming to an end soon and I would really regret it, with all the work I had done and still no time left to complete my life with some “me-time” and post-child-raising fun and relaxation. The problem was that we’d taken out an equity loan against our house so that my hubby William could buy and sell a boat or two, and make some money. This meant suddenly it dawned on me that adding the monthly berthing costs as well, we’d be massively increasing our monthly payments, which significantly increased our debt risk and what would happen if the unthinkable came true and I lost my job. Then, as if by chance, something amazing happened… That’s when I realised that I wanted this boating life and this was how I wanted the rest of my short life (or so I believed), to unfold — a change and a reward from the hard work so far and I realised that I could cover my increased costs by renting out our boat or renting out rooms in our house and learned all about how to create the income I needed to cover the monthly boat costs! It was now crystal clear to me how to have my “cake and eat it too”, or how to buy a boat when I couldn’t afford it because I saw how my mission-critical and time-limited “pre-retirement and post-children” days were shaping up to be and it was very important that I immediately take advantage of this time, which like the rest of life, passes very quickly. Getting out there and grabbing those opportunities before they are gone, I knew this to be so true from my experiences. I also learned that I didn’t actually drop dead before I had enjoyed the time and created that awesome family fun! But I could have! We created experiences and memories and I am so happy about that — so, that is why you should review the “I can’t afford it” or “it doesn’t make sense” (life doesn’t make sense; and my mother, my father and my brother all dying young, aged 24, 34 and 54 still doesn’t make sense to me either). Or the “I’m too busy at work”- but you need to create that future, now, to bring your future vision of your boating life into the present, like I was able to do for our family, and make those family memories happen. As a result, we went ahead and bought the boat, and then it all happened. We stayed one night on board and simply put, we rarely ever went home after that, we were hooked, and we found our new community, our new “tribe” within our marina family and Island lifestyle. Our kids loved it! After I did that, I started having so much fun on our boat, with our new friends, on their boats, lots of the fun was even just at the dockside and in the marina community, the BBQs, we had business meetings, amazing family outings, swimming and spending precious time together. Suddenly, I was feeling more complete, more fulfilled, and for the first time, was at peace with my life as I’d had the fun I needed and at the same time, created so many precious family times, memories, and photos, before the kids all left for work, college, and their adventures. Bam! We nailed it, my hubby and I, and that feels so good to this day. Phew, just in the nick of time though, it could so easily have been a different story, like it is for so many people. That’s when I realized that the secret to keeping up in my job, keeping up with my kid's activities and schooling, keeping up with all the bills and payments was that I could have ANYTHING I wanted, but I just couldn’t have ALL that I wanted, that I needed to make choices to get my dream happening, alive, real and underway. That dream of living life on the water, enjoying the fun, and creating those precious, irreplaceable family memories. My plan was to start by searching for a boat that I liked. I really had no idea what that looked like and how to start finding a suitable boat. But I had that spark well and truly lit, I just didn’t know how to put the spark into a sensible plan. There was plenty of information on the internet but it was all a bit overwhelming and there was no clear path from point A (where we were at the dockside, wanting to do this, but not knowing how) to point B, being fully confident of what we were about to do. So I started by doing what lots of people in Asia do, by buying a ticket, hopping on a plane, spending some money on flights, accommodation, and taxi fares to go to Thailand and view a boat that took my eye. But we didn’t stop there. We then started imagining how a boat was going to become part of our life and how we could make changes to afford it. How we could do it if ultimately, we chose to. After that, we went ahead and purchased the boat, not the one in Thailand, but another one, that was closer to home — I fell in love with it pretty much the first time I stepped on board, it was perfect in so many ways, and that was really scary in itself as seemed to happen too fast. We hadn’t looked at the 20,30 plus boats most people do. Then, here we were, on our boat staying aboard overnight and we were hooked. We stayed on the weekends and then we designed how we could make this our everyday adventure for ourselves and our family. Simply put, it was pure magic in more ways than one. But there was still a problem… I really wanted to keep my boat, but the purpose of buying the boat was that my hubby was going to flip it and hopefully make a profit. But now I wanted to keep it and I still hadn’t figured out how we could afford it. I struggled with wanting it all, but that “wasn’t realistic”. The numbers didn’t add up and it just didn’t make financial sense. The monthly berthing costs were an added expense, and the cost to run our boat with two big thirsty engines meant we were hesitant to go too far. Also, we had bought a big boat for our first boat, a 61 footer, and we were both scared how to drive it and park it inside the marina, with the other boats around us as we went in and out, seemed to be drawn to us, saying ‘don’t crash into me’ but at the same time, it felt like they were a magnet and drawing us closer and closer to them. So, we also needed to hire a captain which added to our cost. We ended up getting so frustrated that we decided to map it all out in a blueprint, a clear step-by-step plan to work through all the issues, the ins and outs, the costs, the barriers, the doubts, and the fears of owning a boat. From “I can’t even drive my boat,” to “how to find a boat, to how to align our couple goals, our family goals, and our individual goals”. We ended up solving the practical part by hiring a part-time captain and taking them out with us on our adventures, so we could enjoy the time out on the water without having to worry about being on the watch or berthing it later. We also decided to rent out part of our large house that wasn’t being fully utilised and we generated more revenue to cover the monthly costs. We worked through a 9-step blueprint bit by bit and we made the exact right decision for us and for our family. We chose to call it “The 90-Day Boat Buyers Bootcamp”. We thought if we could create something that would make it possible to help others who are struggling with the same “I’m too busy, I don’t spend enough time with my family and it doesn’t make financial sense” conclusions, but even so, still want to find a way to make those bucket list boat and family dreams come true, that would be truly awesome and super cool! And we’d be really happy to share what it means to achieve that peace of mind and sense of fulfillment that comes from having taken the right risk, given up the right things to achieve the mission of being able to say, yeah we did that right by our family. Bam! After 8 months of building a platform, honing the steps, investing a bunch of my retirement savings, months of testing and tweaking, and 7-days a week of attending to enquiry after enquiry, finding boat after boat, I created The 90-Day Boat Buyers Bootcamp. I can now understand the under USD1 million boat market like a boss, the prices, the boats for sale, the industry practices to avoid, the pros, the cons, the struggles, and the couple’s alignment that’s needed, and have boat information all in one place without having to spend hundreds of hours across more than 30 sites picking through this and that to find what’s available and what’s not. Now it’s now so much easier and faster than hiring a broker and paying their outrageous commissions or worrying about them selling you something that ends up being a lemon, or the wrong thing simply because it had the highest commission for the broker. We then started to let other boat deciders and searchers use The Boat Buyers Bootcamp. As a result of all this we were able to achieve the following: Help boat searchers and deciders become completely aware of common challenges in the first year of the boating lifestyle, so they can connect with family and friends without making costly mistakes Decipher needs vs wants, goals, and objectives with complete clarity so you know exactly what you are looking for, without wasting precious family time Find a clear path forward to a unique family boating lifestyle, without the complicated stress and uncertainty of brokers Demystify the industry jargon and experience options, without suspicion or misplaced trust Anchor your costs with certainty and explore ‘insider information, without risking family safety & finances Quickly find what you are looking for, so you can connect with your family & friends on the water, without frustration and distractions A precise and accurate shortlist of options, so you can involve your family and friends, without indecision, anxiety, or overwhelm. Achieve a powerful & savvy negotiating position so you can make a decision to achieve a unique family boating lifestyle, without fear of losing the sale or overpaying Gain complete confidence in the boating lifestyle decision, so you can create memories of a lifetime, without disappointment to yourself or your family. After creating The Boat Buyers Bootcamp, I was not only able to provide a service to boat searchers that no other firm provides, I’ve also been able to stop worrying about boat buyers having to go from broker to broker and still not finding the right boat at the right price, because we can now help boaters gain complete confidence in the boating lifestyle decision, so you can create memories of a lifetime, without high stress or uncertainty of dealers and brokers. And in the end, all of this means I’m now able to be with my kids at the drop of a hat, and never miss any of the highlights of our lives; spend time relaxing and doing the things I really enjoy, like spending time with my hubby or building our company by serving more and more first-time boaters or new to Asia boaters, aboard our boat all the while, enjoying immensely our life on the water.

What's the worst thing that's ever happened to you on a boat sales? Maybe your boat got rejected, or you were cut off in the middle of your pitch, or they hung up on you or they laughed in your face when they heard price of your boat. If so, You're not alone! Often, it isn’t easy selling your boat. Let me tell you a quick story about a moment where we had to make a split-second decision to stop a boat buyer and seller from walking away… and what you can learn from it. It was late at night around 10 pm and the text messages had been flying all evening. The boat had been on the market for quite some time but with little activity by the brokerage firm that it is listed. We’d been approached by a first-time boat buyer, an expat and his family who were keen to buy a boat and see the world from the sea and he’d seen this one on the internet. So, we were working with them to help them to see whether this boat was going to be suitable for him and his family, as they were first-time boat buyers after all. All had been progressing well, with some lively negotiating between the parties and it really seemed like both the buyer and the seller were keen to do the transaction. The owners had been prompt and helpful with providing boat information as requested; documents, invoices, manuals and inventory, they had been forthcoming, and they had been super helpful The buyer had been courteous and respectful, yet firm in what he was looking for. However, with discussions well progressed, he then raised concerns about his job security which meant he then was hesitant to commit to the purchase. The seller knew this was a serious buyer and a rare opportunity to make a sale, so losing a potential buyer at this stage was something that they didn’t want to happen. The buyer then offered a further discounted the price to factor in the risk of repatriating and having to sell the boat quickly, at a discount. The deal was back on again, a deposit was paid, and the sea trial and survey were scheduled. However, an avoidable error on the sea trial caused a lot of unnecessary complication. The batteries were flat and that batteries meant that some of the systems couldn’t be tested. Never mind that, was the spirit of both parties on the sea trial — we can get new batteries and test those remaining systems after that. Unfortunately, the settlement date was looming, both parties were traveling, and it seemed like the new batteries couldn’t be fitted before the settlement date. The buyer didn’t want to settle before the remaining systems had been tested, and the seller didn’t want to delay the settlement due to what they considered to be a non-seaworthiness issue (a valid reason for pulling out of a deal and getting your deposit back). A conference call that evening ensued. It was all a bit fraught, but progressing OK, even though it was late at night. Then it quickly turned very sour. What was, in our experience a relatively easy situation to resolve, very quickly headed south. The egos stepped in, the buyer didn’t want to settle tomorrow without testing the systems and the seller started saying, the contract says settlement by tomorrow and if you don’t pay, you’re not getting your deposit returned and the deal is off. One thing led to another and quickly it got heated with both parties talking about legal action. We’ve been doing this for a very long time, and so it shouldn’t come as any surprise what people say and do in a boat sale, including how quickly things can turn sour, but this one did take us by surprise. All of a sudden, they were threatening legal action, and as William said: “that while my mind was saying, whoa this is crazy and wow, how did this escalate to this so quickly, I went into my professional mode, almost on autopilot and made a split-second decision to step right in there, mediate and to get them to calm down, but the emotions on the back foot, and get back to what both parties wanted which was to buy and sell a yacht.” So important, but also so hard to keep the emotions out of it, price offers can be difficult, you can feel as though you’ve been offended one time too many and enough! You’ve sometimes had to give away a lot already, and yet you’ll probably be called on to negotiate further which can be very tough and even offensive! But we got there at the end, which was important as both parties really wanted the transaction to get over the line — the owners to sell and the buyers to buy THIS boat, they had seen about 30 boats before this one. So, a good result in the end, and this is what the buyer had to say at the end of it all: “Hi William, many thanks for all your efforts! The great way you handled this throughout really says a lot about your character!!! Looking forward to continue supporting and recommending your business where I can.” Mr MG, First Time Boat Buyer. But the thing I really want you to take away from this is to try not to take it personally, you may well get tried and tested and pushed and pulled unreasonably, on the road to a sale. So what this means to you in your boat life is the importance of having someone on your team that project manages AND can manage all the emotions, the egos and keeps things calm, neutral and moving forward. This is mission-critical to avoid losing a sale. So here’s your next step as it relates to what you and I just shared: consider the value of working with a deal closer, even if you are selling your boat yourself. Someone who has a depth of character, integrity, and empathy and who has the skills to find the way to the win-win, so all parties achieve what they want in a sale. Good luck with closing your boat sale!

Did you just sell your boat? That's a tough one. I know there's a lot of emotion tied up in the sale of a boat. You're abandoning it, and yet you're also breaking away from the relationship you had with that boat because it was such an important part of your life at one point. You might feel a bit nostalgic for it. It's like leaving an old friend behind, but it's also a chance to move onto something new. While there are lots of crazy parts to this boat sale story, it’s the speed from the buyer finding the boat, to the offer made, to pending sale is the focus and its impact on the upcoming, inevitable loss — my boat’s going! It had been a busy week at BASCO Boating and was a Wednesday evening. A new enquiry had just come in on a boat we’d been marketing for sale for about 6-months. We had received a huge interest in this boat so we knew it would sell soon. It is a beautiful boat, about 10 years old, one owner, built from scratch, nicely maintained and a great liveaboard and economical trawler for cruising. It was under 70’ so not a small boat and a really comfortable home away from home. The owner had taken a job a 5-hour flight away and was fly-in-fly -out every 3–4 weeks. He was flat-out busy with his job and knew that he wasn’t going to be able to manage the upkeep, use the boat enough and keep on top of the maintenance. A boat that isn’t used is bad news and the worst outcome, as boats tend to deteriorate quickly when they are not being used. Additionally, it was a time-of-life-change for them both, in their pre-retirement phase of life, building their retirement plan, home and nest egg in a new location. No faster had the enquiry arrived in the inbox and the guy was on the phone to my hubby William. He had been looking for a boat exactly like this for more than 2-years! The problem was, he had paid a deposit on another boat already and was supposed to settle that transaction 2-days later, on a Friday. The next day he flew in to view the boat. He made an offer by the end of the day, subject to sea trial and a few minor things. The offer was accepted by the owner and the sea trial was 3-days later with settlement 10-days after that. So, you could say, it was ‘fast’ for a boat sale transaction. Everyone should be really happy, right? Isn’t the well-worn quote ‘the two happiest days of a boat owner’s life is the day they buy the boat and the day they sell the boat? Well, not really in some cases. And it’s probably something that’s not talked about very much. Tears and grief well up and it can be overwhelming. While the guy is usually the one that is tagged as “the boater” and who is usually the front guy in the whole boating facade, there are partners, spouses, children, and families who all have to adapt to the change that selling your boat and moving out of boating creates. Whether it’s a change of life or age, meaning this is the last boat that you’re selling, or you’re repatriating to your home country and boating isn’t part of that plan, or you have to sell your boat for financial reasons, or your simply too busy to use the boat and it makes financial sense to move it on, the impact of becoming boat-less can be quite significant. So, the owner’s partner was pretty sad at the sale of the boat, and worried about losing all those things she valued so much; her boating community, her part-time home, her adventures at sea, and even maintaining and cleaning the boat was a labour of love for her. And not to mention the loss of a dream. A retirement dream that the boat was built for. While their situation has changed and they have another dream that’s more land-based now, this boat represented almost 15 years of their life and their dream of retiring on the boat. In a nutshell, she was super sad. Her hubby was also sad. On the other hand, was keen to move the boat on for the above reasons. He has had many sad moments as well, but I wonder if the grief is greater for one partner than the other? The thing I really want you to take away from this is sometimes (lots of times), selling your boat isn’t the second happiest day of your life. Spouses, partners, and families can all be at totally different stages and the grief and loss are real. I could really empathise with her. A lot in fact; and in many ways, we’re in a similar situation. We may be selling our boat in the not too distant future and becoming landlubbers again after 7 years. What surprised me though, as I hadn’t yet started to reflect on the emotions that will flood me too when the time comes for us. And I’m not looking forward to that. I do think that life on the water is where I belong. Maybe that will pass. My hubby too has a maintenance burden that he’d like to shift, so we’ll see how that pans out. So what this means to you in your boating life, is if you’re feeling anxious or sad about your boat sale, you’re not alone and this is a natural part of the process of letting go and moving on, which can be so incredibly hard. So, here’s your next step as it relates to what you and I just shared: take time to reflect on the loss of your boat, your lifestyle, your dream or your community and what it has meant to you. While it may well be the “best thing to do” and logically we know this, in my experience, a loss is never an “on balance” thing. So, it’s important to acknowledge the downsides of selling, separately from the upsides of selling. Don’t merge them together to try and come up with an ‘on balance this is a good thing’. Process the downside separately and completely. This will give you the best chance of moving through some aspects of your lifestyle change with the least amount of disruption.

So, you’ve been dreaming and scheming about buying a boat, and now seems like the best time to take the plunge. You feel very excited but then you remember your significant other. You aren’t exactly sure if they’re feeling the same excitement about boating and without their consent, it’s a real possibility that the dream will just fizzle out. If you have been considering getting a boat and would like the approval of your significant other, then this blog is a must-read. Buying a boat is a big purchase and most people often over-think before embarking on such decisions. What if your partner does not agree? What if she or he cannot understand the beauty and tranquility of a boating lifestyle? The onus is on you to help them see the possibilities, from your own point of view. And, if this seems such a big thing to do, that’s why we’re here to help you! Here, are the steps! Real-Life Case Study: Don’t Find Yourself in this Position! The best thing is never to find yourself in a position where your significant other stands in the way of your boat purchase. This means getting them aligned with the goals and vision prior to the point of purchase. Well prior to the point of purchase! You don’t want to do this the hard way like this couple we heard about recently. The man, Ben, had finally found a perfect 50ft boat he’d so much love, but the wife is clearly not interested in the idea of a boat purchase, at least, for the moment. We decided to share this with our boating community online and well, the comments were mostly hilarious and made in jest. Some suggested leaving the wife and finding a new wife with the beautiful boat! The truth is, if Ben had known, things might have been a whole lot better and easier. Understanding the Journey to Boat Ownership The thing here is that there are six distinct stages that new boaters go through to boat ownership. The first step is usually the longest and a person may not progress from here for years, if at all. While Ben is long gone into the latter stages of this journey, for some unknown reasons, the wife got left behind. In a case like this, that are bound to be big misunderstandings. And that is why we recommend not finding yourself in this situation. You should progress through the stages with your partner going along with you. Understanding the Steps to Boat Ownership Confidence We’ve thoroughly explained this in our article on “How to Buy a Boat – the 3 Stages to Boat Buying” and we’ll brief it here again. Here are the three stages involved. It is strictly necessary to have your partner on board with you (literally) and tagging along with the plan so you both can progress at a similar pace. It all starts with the desire and decision-making phase. This is the stage at which you desire to own a boat. Not only that; you go ahead and start to research and explore what you need to help you chart your and your partner’s boating goals, so you can get your plan underway. This first stage with the three sub-steps is very important to help get your partner on board with your boat buying dreams. Both of you will need to chart your goals and objectives with careful consideration of your needs, wants, and expectations. The second stage is the deciphering stage and then the final buying stage The first three steps in this first stage are very critical and will determine how far you will go with your partner on the boat buying journey. You can read our previous article on this for a broader understanding, but this is basically what an ideal boat ownership journey should look like. Getting Your Partner Onboard & Along with You But the first thing you should do is assess yourself and discover what type of new boater you probably are. It should interest you that there are about 6 types of new boaters; The Gear Guys Merry Mates Luxurious Leisurers Water Weekenders Seclusion Seekers, and Nautical Natives The Gear Guys The Gear Guys are young men who like to use specialized equipment to pursue hobbies. They are excited by the technology behind their hobbies and want to know intricate details about products related to those hobbies. When they are ready to purchase a boat, they want to talk with experts who can help them make a smart buying choice. For the Gear Guys, boats aren’t just about getting out on the water—a boat is an item they need for their favorite hobby. Merry Mates Merry Mates is a family-owned and operated business. They enjoy boating with their families, and they especially love to take their boats out for a spin on warm weekend afternoons. For them, boat ownership is the best way to connect as a family. Luxurious Leisurers The Luxurious Leisure lives life to the fullest. The Luxurious Leisure always wants to try something new and is an image-conscious person. The Luxurious Leisure enjoys owning a personal watercraft that has many features and capabilities. The Luxurious Leisurers love to get a boat because it gives them status. Water Weekenders Water Weekenders like to be around the water, but they didn’t grow up boating. In fact, many of them don’t know much about the basics of boating. They are the ones who plan outings for their group on the boat. They love to cruise, fish, and water ski. For the Water Weekenders, owning a boat is driven by their desire to entertain family and friends. Seclusion Seekers The Seclusion Seekers are nature lovers. They live in a hectic, city environment with a lot of stress to get through, and they love escaping from it all. Nautical Natives Nautical Natives have a passion for boating that's in their blood. They're confident boaters and family members who want to keep their love of boats going into the next generation. Take a look at yourself and see which group you identify with the most. And then, see what type of boater you think your partner will be if they were to be a boater? Consider and understand just how critical these differences are and will impact your boating dreams along with your partner’s. Secondly, evaluate exactly where you and your partner are on the boat ownership journey. This will also impact you and your partner’s boating dreams as well. Once you have a broad knowledge of you and your partner’s place on the journey as well as the type of boaters both of you are likely to be, you should then concentrate your efforts on aligning those differences. The last thing you can do is to critically examine and understand how all of these things will impact your boat buying journey. This understanding will get you prepared to handle future challenges and you’ll be right on track to successfully go through the next stages successfully and happily with your partner. Conclusion Understanding the six stages in the journey to boat ownership will basically take you and your partner from unaware to aware, from doubt to clarity of purpose, from being stuck to making actual progress, from being suspicious to being sure, from half-the picture to a full clear view, and, from fighting distractions to staying focused. It seems all too simple but it actually isn’t. Still, it’s a better way when you compare it with Ben’s case. When you’re aligned with your partner from the outset, it’s a whole lot better than running around helplessly in the latter stages. If you are a first-time boater or new to Asia boater, you’ll need more info on how best to handle your specific situation. If you want to find out more about the prices, the costs, the maintenance and the hidden risks of buying and owning a boat, or even if you should, we suggest you and your partner join our FREE webinar – “Boat Ownership Secrets UNLOCKED”. Let us help you get on track with the stages so your partner can be on the same page with you.

Are you thinking about buying a cruiser boat, yeah? All the same shiny blue sky. And the energetic ocean waves…no matter where you go. Freedom and enjoyment at their finest. But what should you look for in a cruiser boat? Which best practices should you follow? Not to worry! I am going to take you through all the things you should consider before buying a boat, we will cover everything you need to know! What are Cruiser Boats? Wikipedia described cruiser boats as a special type of powerboat with onboard accommodation for the owners as well as guests. Cruiser boats are designed for overnight stays and are suitable for those planning to live aboard their craft. These boats have almost all of the comforts of a modern home. They come equipped with a galley, a head, and at the very least, a berth. They come with heating and air conditioning systems, power generators, and a few other amenities you’ll find in a modern home. Cruiser boats range in size mostly from 25ft to about 45ft. They have most of the amenities of larger yachts. Compared to yachts, they cost significantly less and are operable by the owner rather than a special crew. (NOTE: Are you thinking of buying a cruiser boat? You can check out here some boats for sale) The uses of the cruiser boat People buy cruiser boats for lots of reasons. Some people use them as live-aboard vessels. Others take them out occasionally for weekend getaways. Some entertain guests regularly while others just enjoy being out on the water now and again. Some people like going fast while others prefer a leisurely pace. So, it depends on how you use it. The most common use for this type of boat is to cruise on the sea with friends and family, but you can also use it for recreational activities such as fishing, water skiing, and wakeboarding. The 3 Steps Involved In Buying a Boat In our article on “How to Buy a Boat in 3 Stages”, we discussed in detail the processes that would make your boat purchase a trouble-free one. All of the things discussed in that article still apply to buying a cruiser boat as well. In this article, we'll talk about the things you'll need to consider if you want to buy a cruiser boat. Things You Should Know Before Buying a Cruiser Boat Buying a boat is a major decision. It makes sense to plan everything carefully along the way from the decision-making phase to the actual buying stage. If you’ll be buying a cruiser boat, check out these tips below to make your boat buying and boat-owning experience a happy and satisfactory one. 1. First-time buyers should avoid fixer-uppers Boaters commonly buy used boats that require extensive repairs and reconstruction. However, it might not be the wisest choice when starting out. As a first-time cruiser owner, you want to spend your time enjoying your purchase, not working on it. Don't settle for a fixer-upper. New boats, on the other hand, are quite expensive. You’ll also probably have to wait a long time to get your order delivered. The major advantage here is that you’ll expect to get your boat in excellent working condition. 2. Consider the boat type and size If you already know the type of boat you’ll be buying – a cruiser boat, for example – you still have to consider a few other factors that will help determine which particular type of boat will suit your lifestyle. First, size. This depends on how many people you expect to be on board most of the time. Second, features. These will determine what extras the boat has and what features it doesn’t, as well as its overall value. Fortunately, you’ll always find cruising boats with excellent features and specifications you’ll like. Some of these cruising boats can easily pass for luxury yachts. Check thoroughly to see if the boat of your choice has enough features and amenities you’ll need for your time onboard. 3. Consider your budget and financing options You can’t just head over to the market without having a clear budget limit within which you’d operate. If you won’t be paying cash, it’s also better to have a financing option in place. The cost of your purchase will depend on a lot of things. Some of these include the size as well as the features and specifications. The more you want, the more you’ll have to pay. New boats have become more expensive due to the rising costs of production. 4. Running and maintenance costs When buying a boat, plan to take into account the costs for maintenance, mooring fees and other running costs. Don’t forget to factor in the costs of maintenance all through your decision-making process. Maintenance costs are typically 10% of the purchase price of a new boat, but this can vary widely depending on the type of boat you buy, but you can calculate this more accurately with the boat buying costs worksheet, just contact us for a copy of this. Will there be room for this in your budget? These are some of those things you’ll figure out when you’re at the point of buying the cruiser boat of your dream. 5. Conduct a survey or sea trial Surveys, walkarounds, and sea trials can help you determine the condition and value of a boat. Before you buy a boat, consider getting a survey, a walk-through or a sea trial to learn about the boat. You can save yourself a lot of money by figuring out the condition and value of the boat before you commit to buying it. It will only cost you a little to find a surveyor to ascertain the condition and value of the boat. You may also need a sea trial to experience how the boat works as well. All of these will help you to either bolster your confidence in the boat you’re about to buy or perhaps expose some of the flaws and issues you may have to otherwise deal with in the long run. 6. Close the deal Once you’ve found the boat of your dreams and are sure it’s the right fit for you, you can then take the plunge and close the deal. You’ll need to be at your best to negotiate a good price for your purchase. Be sure to ask if there are outstanding liens or bills on the boat too, especially if it is kept at a marina. You’ll also have to take care of all the legalities and then complete the paperwork. Conclusion Buying a cruiser boat is a great way to enjoy the boating lifestyle. You can sail with friends on your local waters. If you want something more, you can even sail away and enjoy the weekend in your favorite spot, beyond your current waters. The cockpit will usually have enough space and the passengers can easily get to enjoy amazing views of the sea while sailing away to the chosen destination. It’s a whole lot of fun if you get a hold of a good one. It just happens that many people end up with the wrong boat due to either being uninformed or misinformed. It doesn’t hurt to talk with an expert to help with your boat decisions. If you need to speak with a credible and reliable, independent professional, don’t hesitate to contact us at BASCO Boat Advisory Services. At BASCO we provide independent and trusted advice that takes risk and uncertainty out of boat ownership. We are well experienced to help you make sense of your boat purchasing process so you can end up a happy and fulfilled boater.

If you are looking for a boat that is easy to handle and is perfect for cruising, then a trawler boat for sale is the right one for you. This type of boat is perfectly suited for long-distance cruising and coastal exploration. This in-depth guide will give you everything you need to know before buying a trawler boat. Using this as a resource will help you determine why the trawler boat is right for you. So what's a trawler boat for sale? Trawler refers to a fishing boat that uses a net called a trawl. The trawl is pulled through the water behind one or two boats, which scoop up everything in its path. Trawlers are usually defined by their slow speeds of about 6–12 knots, often powered by a trawler engine. Although some more powerful displacement hull models can go as fast as 20 knots if you want more power. But normally, "trawler" describes all slow-moving vessels, especially those with displacement hulls that push water aside as they move. These include recreational (or "liveaboard") trawlers and cruising boats. The term "trawler" can be misleading at times because it's often used for both types of boats. Therefore, you should take note of its characteristics before buying one. Many trawlers are designed for comfort and cruising rather than for fishing alone. In this case, it may be called a "trawler yacht." What Are Trawler Boats for Sale Used For? Trawler yachts were originally built for commercial fishing, but they have since become popular recreational boats that are designed to be comfortable for extended time on the water. Most liveaboard vessels have a lot of room for storage and amenities like water tanks and generators. In fact, some people use them as floating homes, living aboard full time or for weeks at a time during extended excursions. Why should I buy a trawler boat? A trawler boat is a great boat for the boater who wants a multi-purpose vessel. The trawler can be used for everything from fishing and diving to cruising, but it is also very good at what it was originally designed for – slow speed, long-distance cruising. Trawlers come in all shapes and sizes, but they all have one thing in common: their ability to cruise efficiently and economically at slow speeds. Today there are many people who use these types of boats for leisure and traveling. If you love the water and want to see more of it, then purchasing a trawler boat for sale may be the best investment for you. What are the different types of trawler boats? Trawlers are motor yachts that are designed to be used for long-range cruising. They can be categorized into three main types: Traditional or full-displacement trawlers: These boats have a traditional hull shape that is designed for efficiency when cruising at low speeds (usually less than 10 knots). They are stable and fuel-efficient, but their slow speed makes them vulnerable in rough conditions. Modern or Semi-displacement trawlers: These boats have a modified hull shape with a sharper bow and more freeboard. They can cruise at higher speeds (upwards of 20 knots) and handle rough weather better than full displacement trawlers. However, these types of trawlers are less efficient and therefore require more fuel than traditional trawlers. Planning trawlers: These are typically smaller and lighter than the other two types of trawlers. They draw very little water and can plane at speeds of 20 knots or more. Planning hulls are less stable in rough seas, but their performance capabilities make them good choices for inshore cruising, fishing, and day boating. They handle better than a semi-displacement or displacement trawler but use more fuel. Different types of trawler boat illustration by mboat.eu How to buy the perfect trawler boat for sale? A perfect trawler boat for sale is one that suits your needs and your wish to use it for a long time. No matter! whether it is a used or new one. If you get a choice between choosing a new trawler boat and buying a good used trawler boat for sale then remember that both of these instances come with a lot of benefits along with their downsides. Ordering a new trawler boat gives you greater flexibility of design and specifications. You can also expect your boat to arrive brand new and in excellent condition. However, this is quite expensive and you may have to wait a long while before your order gets manufactured, shipped, and delivered. Often this is longer than one year. Used boats offer greater value and immediate delivery, but if you aren’t careful enough, a bad purchase will easily ruin your boating experience. You should always try and find a trawler boat for sale in excellent condition and seek expert advice in this regard. Defining Your Trawler Boat Cruising Goals Buying a trawler boat to live the trawler life is a dream that excites many enthusiastic boaters. However, there are a lot of things to consider when combined, that will help to shape your boating experience. As part of your decision-making phase, you need to consider your trawler boating goals and objectives. Answer these important questions that will relate to what experience you want.These include; How much time you’ll have to be spending on board Which places you’ll likely want to go. Some other things include the number of people you’ll mostly have onboard which would greatly determine the perfect size of the trawler boat you’ll need. You also need to be clear on your budget for repairs and maintenance. However, don’t over-analyse these to the extent where you’ll end up confused and not doing anything. Common Trawler Buying Mistakes The world of trawler boats can be a confusing and overwhelming place for those who have never purchased one before. Here are some common mistakes you should avoid when buying a trawler boat: Not doing enough research: This is the most common mistake made by first-time trawler buyers. You wouldn’t go into a car dealership without doing extensive research, so why do it when you’re buying a boat? Do your homework to make sure you’re getting the best deal on a quality vessel that fits your lifestyle and needs. Not considering a used trawler: A used trawler might be the right choice for you, depending on how much time you spend on the water, what kind of features you want in your boat, and how much money you want to spend. New models can sell for upwards of 6 figures or more — that’s not something everyone can afford, so don’t rule out used boats until you’ve taken a look at them. Not being realistic about how much time you spend boating: All boats require maintenance, but trawlers require even more because they spend so much time on the water. It can be hard to find time for maintenance. Important Tips to Help You in Buying a Trawler Boat Set a budget for a trawler boat. Choose a suitable type of boat for its future use. Do some research online and consider various brands. Meet with brokers who have the type of boat you want and schedule appointments to go see them. Make a list of the features you want. Inspect the boat and make sure it has been well maintained and is thoroughly cleaned. Make sure you test it out in person, even if you have already taken it for a sea trial. Try to get as much information about the previous owner and previous uses of the boat as possible incase of a used boat. Buy a boat suitable enough for the crew and passenger size as well as the cruising goals you have. Good used trawler boats have the best value but you should be wary of fixer-uppers. Buy a boat that has an excellent maintenance record. Have a definite budget and financing option before going into the market to buy a trawler boat. Consider several options before finally settling for the most suitable one. Be wary of fixer-uppers, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Be sensible with your negotiations and purchase. It doesn’t hurt to seek advice from boating experts and professionals. Remember that buying a boat is just the first step; you’ll need to maintain it properly and arrange for small unexpected repairs and running costs. Conclusion Buying a trawler boat for sale to live the trawler life is a fantasy most of us would like to experience. Trawlers are great as liveaboards and are also perfect for holiday and weekend getaways. As beautiful as the idea seems, getting things wrong can make it become suddenly ugly and sad. This happens all too often in our experience. However, with the right knowledge, and nautical know-how your trawler boat purchasing experience will go smoothly. If you buy the perfect boat for your cruising goals, you’ll be setting yourself up for relaxing and happy boating experiences. Buying a trawler boat can easily get complicated. That’s just how the marine industry is. You’ll need an experienced hand to guide you through the decision making phase through to the buying phase. If you ever need something like this, check the BASCO Boat Buyers Academy to help you with a bundle of free content on boat buying, tips, online courses, connections, and more. Don’t hesitate to contact us. We’ll always be there for you!

Boating is an activity that can be enjoyed by all ages, and the best part? They are surprisingly affordable. However, before you buy one, it’s important to know the difference between the two types of boats: new boats and second-hand boats. You need to know what they each offer and which one will suit your needs best. This article will help you decide if it’s time for a new boat or a used boat. Is buying a new boat worth it? It’s not something that can easily answer “yes” or “no”. Whether a new boat would be your best option depends on your needs as well as considering a few other things. Regardless of whether you’d be buying a new boat or buying a used boat for sale, there are pros and cons on both sides. Buying a new boat comes with a lot of options and benefits. Likewise, there are cons and considerations you’ll need to carefully iron out. If after considering your options you still find it worthwhile, then you’re good to go. If not, maybe you can consider buying a good quality second-hand boat. And let’s hope you may be lucky enough to find a ‘nearly new’ pre-owned boat at genuine boat buying value. Pros and Cons of Buying a New Boat 1) You get to choose a lot of things by yourself Buying a new boat is like building your own house; you can customize almost everything. You can choose your choice of specs, the latest designs, features, equipment, etc. When you buy a new boat. You can expect everything to work as new, new smell, flourished paint without any sort of blemish or marks. If you go for a new boat, you can often decide what layout you want. You can decide the color of your upholstery and fabrics, your choice of optional extras, and even the hull color, in some cases. Simply put, with a new boat, you won’t have to adapt to someone else’s specifications or tastes. 2) New boats come with a warranty A brand-new boat has the latest technology, installed equipment, and engines, and it comes with a warranty. The boat is guaranteed to be free of defects for a certain amount of time, usually one year. The warranty covers the hull and all major components like engines, equipment, or electronics that are not related to transportation. 3) New boats are more expensive than used boats Compared to a used boat, a new boat will most often be way more expensive. Exchange rates, shipping costs, and commissioning costs can even contribute more to this, especially for imported brands. Although there are always a few exceptions, it’s true in most cases. 4) New boat orders usually have a long wait time before delivery In most cases, you’ll also have to wait before your order for a new boat gets built, shipped, and then delivered to you. Except if you’re buying a stock boat from a dealer, you may have to wait for as much as a year or even longer in some cases. If you accept the stock boat from a dealer, you lose the benefit of being able to customize what you really want in your new boat. 5) You may need to make a deposit to secure your order To buy a new boat, you’ll most likely be required to make a deposit to secure your order and then progress payments throughout the process. This may not be a problem if you’re buying from a credible dealer with a great record, but it can be problematic if an unexpected incident happens to your dealer or manufacturer. This is a risk that shouldn’t be lightly dismissed. 6) It’s usually difficult to test drive since your boat will be unavailable Most people would also like to test drive or sail the boat they intend to buy. If you’re buying a new boat, your boat will most likely be unavailable. Though there may be a test model, slight differences in engine or setup, weight, and size, “may” mean that you will not get the “exact” feel of what you’ve ordered. 7) New boats depreciate faster than used boats New boats, depending on the brand, model, and market will usually depreciate by at least 10 – 20% during the first year of purchase. This is not usually the case if you’d be buying a used boat for sale. 8) You’ll spend time and effort on warranty issues It’s true that while your boat is new, there will be numerous teething issues and defects that take your attention and time during the first year. So, do expect to spend a certain amount of time and effort following up and working with your boat dealer for attention to your warranty issues. The Pros and Cons of a Used Boat The pros of buying a used boat are that you can get a boat for less money. You also won't have to worry about insurance and licenses if your boat is 20 or more years old (as long as it's not powered). Some people may prefer an older boat because it may be better built than newer boats. If you're really interested in boating, this could be a good reason to purchase an older boat. However, the downside is that you don't know what the quality of the boat will be and how well it will work in the future. Boats require time and money to maintain and it can lead to financial stress if you buy a new one, and also require expensive licenses and insurance. Some people may find that their budget does not allow for these expenses. So if you're interested in owning a boat but don't have the funds or time available, you may want to consider buying a used boat instead of a new one. So, will you buy a new boat or used boat? What’s the best option for you? Share your thoughts in the comment box.

So you’ve finally found that perfect yacht or houseboat you’d like to buy after a long while? Congratulations! After such a meticulous search, you’ve found your dream yacht, the only problem right now is figuring out how you can get this beauty delivered to your home port. Well, I don’t know what you know about the yacht shipping process but if you’ll be buying a yacht or houseboat in Singapore or elsewhere, you’ve got a range of options as far as international boat shipping is concerned. Shipping your yacht or houseboat can be stressful, there are a lot of things to consider and it can be difficult to know where to start. Today’s article is dedicated to providing you with a brief overview and what this shipping process entails. Read on! Why Ship Your Yacht When You Can Just Sail Away? As much as you can always find a freight company to handle your houseboat or yacht transport by sea, you may also have been considering sailing your new acquisition to your home port. This is not impossible though, only that there are both advantages and disadvantages therein. Some owners often seek the assistance of yacht delivery professionals to help them pilot the yacht to its new destination. Ordinarily, there’s a lot of joy to be gained in cruising the new craft through new places but there are also a lot of tradeoffs to be made. As it turns out, most international voyages are often long and so the owner considering self-delivery of their yacht would need to commit ample time into the journey. Also, running the boat safely and efficiently on such a voyage would require experienced personnel as well. The yacht’s structure, fittings, and engines will likely take some wear and tear during such a trip. Responsibility for this lies with the yacht or houseboat owner. For most people, shipping the vessel through a freight company or carrier seems the most plausible option. How to Ship Your Yacht Overseas in 3 Methods International boat shipping through a yacht shipping company such as Peters & May Yacht Shipping or Seven Star Yacht Transport can easily help transport your newly bought vessel. You can either initiate this process through yacht brokers, an Independent Boat Buyers Adviser or seek the services of a freight forwarding company directly. Freight companies often use commercial ships for yacht transport by sea. After you might have reserved your space on the carrier, the boat shipping company would need the overall dimensions of the vessel including the cradle or trailer, in the applicable case. Many origin ports in Singapore for example still have equipment in place you should need to ship your yacht overseas regardless of the size. To transport your yacht or houseboat overseas, you can always choose from one of three main options. These include Roll on Roll off (RoRo), Lift on Lift off (LoLo), and the Semi-submersible shipping methods. Roll on Roll off Yacht Shipping Method The RORO shipping method of transporting yachts and houseboats is commonly used for boats on trailers. With this method, they are rolled onto the deck of the shipping vessel to be rolled off at the final destination. Boats on cradles can also be shipped in the same way too. The shipping line would have to provide a rolling flat track on which the cradle will be positioned. The rolling flat track will be used to position the yacht or houseboat on the shipping vessel and then off, at the point of destination. Most shipping lines often restrict RORO service to yachts and boats up to 15ft although there may still be some variations with different carriers. Lift on Lift off Yacht Shipping Method The LoLo is a step up from the RoRo. Yachts and houseboats of larger sizes that can’t be transported via RoRo are usually transported by this LoLo method. These boats are usually lifted onto the deck of the shipping vessel by cranes. There are no size restrictions for this shipping method and the yachts to be transported are usually stored on the upper deck of the shipping vessel throughout the journey. However, the method would attract additional crane fees at both the point of origin and the final destination. Semi-submersible shipping method In this case, your yacht or houseboat is easily loaded from and unloaded back to the water from the points of origin and destinations respectively. This shipping method is the best for large superyachts and houseboats. The shipping vessels used in this case are specially built carriers that can drop their decks below water level. The boats are able to move into position above the deck. After some divers might have helped to secure the boat into position, the vessel then rises from the water, following the same process to unload the transported yacht or houseboat at the final destination. The Cost to Ship Boat Across Country: Factors that Affect Yacht Shipping Prices Yacht shipping prices, as well as the actual amount it will cost to ship a boat across the country, will usually vary from carrier to carrier. In most cases, the factors below would usually affect how much you will have to pay for your yacht transport by sea; The physical location of the yacht or houseboat Where is the final destination you’re headed to? Will the boat need a cradle to be built or will it need to be lifted from the water? What are the overall dimensions of the yacht along with the cradle and trailer? What transport method will you use, RoRo, LoLo, or Semi-submersible? All of these variables will in one way or the other affect the costs of shipping your yacht or houseboat overseas. Tips for Preparing Your Houseboat for Shipping Shipping your yacht internationally, for your utmost good, requires adequate planning and preparation. It is always important and advisable that you discuss these logistics with an expert, such as your BASCO Independent Buyers Adviser for practical and professional insight. Generally, the tips summarised below will help make sense out of the yacht shipping process. Carefully measure your yacht’s dimensions This will impact how much you pay as far as the yacht shipping prices are concerned. This measurement of dimensions should have accurate measurements of the length, width, and height of the yacht as well as swim platforms, bow platforms, and every protruding part of the yacht that cannot be disassembled. Winterize the houseboat or the yacht Antennas, propellers, light, anchor, electronics, and every other valuable item need to be stored securely. Fuel should be removed and batteries should be disconnected. Cabin windows should also be latched and taped while every cargo in the houseboat or yacht should be removed. Clean the boat’s exterior. Drain water out of the yacht, down to the drain plugs and the air conditioner. Consult your freight company’s agent First off, reputation counts so you should endeavour to only select professionals with a proven history, credibility, and reputation. You’ll then need to engage your boat shipping agent in discussions to get details of the rate, type of transportation, boat pick up, and trailer transportation, among a host of other things. Getting the international boat transport documents beforehand Don’t forget to contact the embassy of the country from where you’d be shipping. This should acquaint you with the necessary custom regulations and documentation you’ll likely need. Usually, these will include a bill of lading, a copy of the boat’s title, a bill of sale, and shipping documents from your shipping company. Import permits for the boat or trailer or both may also be required in some countries. Preparing the yacht’s loading and unloading in advance For the country that will be your destination, you’ll want to be sure you’ve put everything in order. You’ll need to get details of customs clearance, taxes, and port fees you’ll have to comply with. Remember that your yacht insurance will not cover the yacht while it is being transported. Still, you’ll find reliable international boat shipping companies licensed and fully insured to reduce your risks. Adhering to these tips, and then following this up with some professional advice or assistance will make your yacht transport by sea much easier. Definitely, this will make it easier for you to buy your dream houseboat or yacht just about anywhere in the world. And there you have it – a simple 3 -step method to Ship Your Yacht or Houseboat Internationally. Now that you know how to Ship Your Yacht or Houseboat Internationally, there’s just one thing left for you to do: take action. So get to it, and soon you too will make memories of a lifetime with friends and family on the water.

What could be more adventurous than occasional beach holidays and vacations on the water? Perhaps living on a houseboat full time is. This type of lifestyle comes with great expectations, lots of fun, as well as a few challenges. If you’re contemplating buying one of the various houseboats for sale to begin life on the waters, then you’ll need to learn a few things that come with this lifestyle. Among other things, you’ll want to learn how houseboats work, the toilet’s system of work, design choices, their movement or floatation, and perhaps the various ways by which houseboats differ from luxury yachts. This article is meant to dive deeper into houseboat design, explaining many of its features and which features make a good design. We'll also look at functionality to help you choose the right home for you and your family. Let’s dive right in. Houseboat: How does it work? There is a whole lot involved in making a houseboat work. A houseboat uses the principle of buoyancy to ensure it continues to float on water. Houseboats are predominantly built out of fibreglass and wood. Because these materials are light, they are able to float easily. They are also less dense and weigh less to ensure they do not sink below the water. Unlike a liveaboard boat, houseboats are not usually designed to be seaworthy. They are instead only able to travel a short distance to make maintenance and repairs possible. They are more of a home than a boat. While the above has to do with the manufacturing aspect needed to make the boat seaworthy, there are also a few things in place to make life on the boat easy and comfortable. Houseboats are designed to offer similar conveniences to landed buildings. While some can be modest, there are also some that can offer luxury convenience and amenities onboard. The parts are named similarly to those in sailboats to contain the berth, stateroom, galley, head, cabin, cockpit, etc. Houseboats are powered by electricity which can either be accessed by hooking up to the marinas or by generators, rechargeable batteries or renewable energy. History of Houseboats Houseboats were first invented in Holland in the 17th century. The Dutch used them as floating houses on canals. They weren’t designed for travelling across the water; they were designed for living on the water! The houseboat is a modern and luxurious way of living. It’s a great choice for people who want to experience the best of both worlds: the freedom of a boat, but with added comforts and luxury. Houseboats are large boats that can be anchored in one place or can be moved around. They are also known as house barges or house yachts. What choice of design makes a houseboat seaworthy? Before you go shopping for houseboats for sale, how about we look at some design choices? While liveaboards such as yachts, boats, and others may be seaworthy, houseboats are usually not designed for the sea. Most houseboats are not usually seaworthy, unlike liveaboard yachts and boats. While certain design choices can make liveaboard boats seaworthy, houseboats on their own parts are usually not seaworthy and can be dangerous and unstable at sea. Can a houseboat be moved? Houseboats are either cruising or non-cruising. Non-cruising houseboats have limited mobility and are usually not meant for travelling around. They would usually have a small engine or sail. These are usually the most common types of houseboats and are usually moored or anchored to a slip or their special spot in the marina. Cruising houseboats, also known as bluewater houseboats have engines and sails to provide mobility. 1997 Cruiser Houseboat 55 “Hakuna Matata” Whether or not you’ll be able to move your houseboat is not an issue. While the cruising houseboats for sale usually come fully equipped with engines and sails that can make every day a voyage and excursion for you, non-cruising houseboats have limited mobility. They’d usually come with smaller engines because of this and so are not designed to be moved around frequently. How do houseboat toilets work? If you’re wondering what happens to the waste on a houseboat, then you’re in the right place to get a better knowledge of this. Most houseboats usually come equipped with marine toilets. Marine toilets draw water either from below to flush the toilet or from the freshwater tank. The water and the waste are then discharged into a tank which also holds wastewater from the sink and shower. Using the toilet, it is advisable to avoid using substances that can easily clog the bowl and wastewater system. Common materials like these include paper towels as well as some common feminine products. It’s also often common to have different tanks holding the waste from the toilets and showers. Although most toilets would often have an in-line macerator that makes a kind of whirring sound, this only grinds the waste on its way to the holding tank. The sewage is usually emptied at a harbour. A sewer hose is used to connect the holding tank to the harbour’s sewage system for disposal. Some other toilet types may also include composting toilets and incinerator toilets although these are less common. What’s the difference between a luxury houseboat and a yacht? Looking at the various houseboats for sale, it’s easy to confuse the idea of a houseboat with a yacht but there are stark differences between both vessels. The focal points of a houseboat’s design are usually comfort and space. Houseboats are meant to fit in as convenient and comfortable homes whether for permanent or semi-permanent use. As the owner of your own houseboat, you’ll have to assume captainship of your vessel. A yacht in comparison has to be driven by a captain you’ll have to hire along with an onboard crew. Also, houseboats are usually designed as floating homes without that much focus on speed as in yachts. Yachts, on the other hand, are built for open waters and are usually equipped with more powerful engines. While yachts are generally a kind of seasonal or holiday entertainment idea, houseboats are manufactured to become permanent homes to provide their owners with a year-round residence as desired. Are you contemplating a houseboat living lifestyle? It’s a fantasy that lots of people share. Aside from the fact that you can check out our collection of houseboats for sale, you can also contact us at BASCO for advisory and consultations for your boat needs. It’s going to be a big lifestyle change with lots of fun and adventures. Still, you won’t want to face the challenges unprepared. Whether you’ve made up your mind or at the planning stage of getting a houseboat for sale, you can always count on our wealth of experience and unlimited options to choose the perfect houseboat to suit your lifestyle.