Fuel Costs Affecting Boaters

Good morning all,

Do you think politics has an affect on us boaters? Read on.

The cost of fuel is affecting the boating industry. Buyers are hesitating to purchase because of the uncertainty of these costs. Used trawlers and sailboats however, are more popular than ever due to their low-fuel consumption.

We hear in the news where want-too-be presidential candidates advocate taxing the profits of big oil. The oil companies are making too much money at the expense of the little guy out there. They want to redistribute those profits to others. That's the most absurd thing I've ever heard.

Why don't we tax Microsoft or McDonald's profits? They have a greater margin than the oil companies.

Taxes are not paid by corporations, you the consumer ultimately pays the cost. Don't let some Washington politician tell you otherwise.

Let's take a look at the cost of producing a gallon of fuel and the profits made from that.

Recent Reported Profit Margins

ExxonMobil - 9.4%
Connaco - 6.9%
BP - 8.4%
McDonald's - 12.0%
Microsoft - 31.6%
GE - 11.4%

Sources: Standard & Poor's Capital IQ
Source: Reuters Fundamentals

The cost to produce 1 gallon of fuel is broken out as follows. Value expressed in % of total cost to produce each gallon.

Crude Oil - 53%
Federal/State Taxes - 19%
Refining/Profits - 19%
Distribution - 9%

So, given these factors, here is the breakdown of one $3.35 gallon of fuel purchased at your local Exxon station.

Cost of Crude Oil - $1.77
Federal/State Taxes - $.63
Refining - $.33
Profits - $.31
Distribution - $.30

Source: US Department of Energy

I see clearly where our problems are! Do you? Try Middle Eastern crude and taxes paid on the fuel. Those account for the two largest pieces of the cost.

Tell you elected officials to cut taxes, start drilling in own own oil fields, and let the free market take care of itself.

Mike

PS: I just sent President Bush, my two Senators and Representative a copy of this posting! Feel free to do the same.

Sunrise Over the Atlantic

Living aboard a boat has a lifestyle all of its own.

But what attracts us to the water in the first place? The feeling of independence,
open spaces, fresh breezes and the smell of the ocean.

Rising at dawn and an early walk on a beach brings it all into perspective. Many dream of the lifestyle; few actually ever achieve it. We have a lot to be thankful for.

First Time Yacht Buyer

If you’re a first-time used boat buyer the choice of used yachts available for purchase can be overwhelming. How do you make sense of all the models and styles out there?

The first time yacht buyer needs to avoid buying on emotion and take a hard look at what they intend on doing with the boat. Making the wrong choice will be a major disappointment in the long run and perhaps cost you thousands.

To start, are you a sailor or a motor cruiser? Some like the romance of a sailboat with the image of tropical islands in the picture; some don’t want the hassle of the sails, rigging etc. But a sailboat is very inexpensive to operate if your plans include traveling to far-away places. Still, power boating is not expensive if you choose the right boat. Powerboats generally come well designed with all of the creature comforts you could every need; generally more so than all but the largest of sailboats. And you don’t need to learn all of the sailing techniques either.

Once you have assessed your yachting preference you can then decide on what you intend on doing with it. Are you going to sail, cruise or fish from it? Of course, you could fish from anything if you wish, but yachts made for fishing are much different than those built for cruising.
How often will you use your new yacht? I always say that there are “boaters” and “boat owners”. Boaters use their boats; boat owners just like to say they own a yacht as their boats rarely leave the dock. Some boaters may be full-time liveaboards using their boats as their home every day. Others may just use their boats on nice weekends when time permits.

Next is the cost of yacht ownership. You must take this into consideration. The purchase price is almost like a down payment. Boating has its costs that you need to be aware of. If you are mechanically inclined, you will find that the costs are not substantial. Most boat owners do the majority of work themselves. I have posting at my Cruising Center website about the specifics of boating costs that breaks it down into each expense. Feel free to take a look.

So thus far we have determined what type of boater we are, so we know what style of yacht generally appeals to us, we know how much we expect to use it and about what to expect in the upkeep of her. So far so good!

Now comes the hard part; how to choose just the right one? I have developed a purchase checklist that I use with my customers to let them specify the critical features of a used boat. This allows them to choose features that they can live without and those that are features that are must-haves. That checklist then becomes the basis for the perfect boat search. When I am working with customers, I then look for used yachts that best meet the customer’s wants recognizing that boat purchases usually involve some compromise. Rarely do I find a used boat with all of the desired features.

In the looking phase, I always say that you’ll know it when the right boat comes along; it will “talk” to you. Any potential boat will have the lines, the feel and the character that appeals to you. Don’t settle for anything less than that pleases you.

But what about the cost of that used yacht? How do you know you are getting a fair deal? Borrowing from another posting at the Cruising Center about the True Value of Boats, good boats always command higher prices, always! A newer boat in poor condition will bring less than an older boat in good condition always! Never buy a yacht based upon the price alone or you’ll be selling it within 6 months.

And should you complete a survey, yes it’s always recommended. Choose a knowledgeable surveyor that has experience with your desired used boat. Ask him for references too. If you are working with a reputable Yacht Broker, he will recommend several top-shelf surveyors but will insist you choose the one you want.

And lastly, locate a Buyer’s Broker to represent you in your search, selection and purchase. It will save you lots of time, money and a lot of disappointment.

The author, Mike Dickens is a veteran liveaboard boat owner, Yacht Broker and owner/operator of Paradise Yachts.

Boats - Vessels of Fredom

Why do people adore boats? Why do people go to great extremes to own a boat? US country singer/songwriter Kenny Chesney has a song titled Boats on his new CD Lucky Old Sun. In the song he sings:

“Boats…. vessels of freedom, harbors of healing...boats, twenty years of a landlocked job was all that Tom could take sitting at his desk all alone and depressed (he) says this just can’t be my fate, went home that night and told his wife (that) you can tell all of your friends it's been real but it ain't been fun (so we are) gonna get us one of them…boats… vessels of freedom, harbors of healing...boats”

I’ve listened to that song a hundred times and it gets better each time. He found the words I’ve always known were there but never could quite find them. Good for him!

As a boater myself it sometimes becomes hard to explain to non-boaters what the love affair is all about. Perhaps it’s a sickness; at least it’s a bug. Some of us use our boats as a home, treating her like a member of the family. I do have a habit of talking to the Patricia Ann; she speaks back but in ways only I can hear. She has become a refuge of sorts, a protected harbor. Sleeping in a motel room when I’m on the road just isn’t the same.

I have friends that use their boats for an escape from life’s stormy weather, relying on their boats to unwind from everyday stress. They take their sailboats, trawlers or motoryachts out to feel the wind on their faces, the sun on their backs. Their boats bring them peace. Others friends, have their boats equipped to make a living from the sea, as do the many shrimpers and charter boat Captains that ply the waters of our Florida coast. Their boats become a life ring, protecting them from the “storm” that waits at the cabin door.

But as a full-time waterman, I can say it’s more than what it seems. Yes, it's a state of mind. Leaving the regular 9-5 world behind, knowing you have everything you need to sustain yourself and your crew for days and weeks on end. If I want to stay, I do; if I want to leave, I can do that too. Oh boats can be trouble and they take tons of work to maintain but us boaters consider it a labor of love. You just can’t place a price tag on the feeling when you are at the helm, everything works as designed, the air is crisp and the sea is calm. It takes only one good sunset to make it all worthwhile.

Mark Twain, an American author eloquently said “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

So ask yourself, do you yearn for that feeling .

Spanish philosopher Jose' Ortegay Gasset once said, "Tell me the landscape in which you live, and I'll tell you who you are."

That pretty much sums it up. Fair winds.

Used Trawler Values - Know Before You Buy

I get calls or emails weekly from individuals that are in their final passage to boat ownership; finding and buying their dream boat. They want my counsel. And more often than not, most shoppers do not have a true understanding of used boat values and the prices they command. Most individuals are shocked to find boats cost as much as houses do. They are often taken back when I try to explain the reason a used boat is priced the way it is.

I want to give you a good idea of why used boats cost as much as they do so let's start from the top.

If you read other posts on my website, you will read about the absence of an official Yacht Blue Book. Yes, that's right, there is no such thing. There is one for automobiles but not for boats. If you call any used car dealer or bank in North America and name any production automobile, they will quote a value of within a few dollars of each other. This is due to the multi-billion dollar, organized wholesale car auction system. And there is also the Powerboat Guide, NADA and others that like to sell you their version of a boat Blue Book.

Read more at How Used Boat Values are Set

Choosing a Bluewater Sailboat

Ocean- sailing is more than recreation; it is a learning platform, observation post, a transportation system for awareness, and a delivery system for understanding. Ocean sailing is often both physically and mentally demanding.

Ocean cruising can be one of the most miserable and enjoyable sports in the world, both at the same time. Ocean cruising people have learned how to manage their lives, including relationships and money, because they must. Ocean sailing presents real problems that require real solutions, that can’t be ignored. Life or death are the only two options.

Ocean cruising is an educational opportunity that has rich potential for the development of knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are difficult to teach in the confines of the classroom. Ocean sailing is a fantastic tool for honing individual and team skills. Bluewater sailing is first, the most wonderful and liberating experience. But it has its own risks that require special care to avoid.

Sailboats were used by the Greeks and Egyptians several thousand years before the birth of Christ. But designs have changes as have the sailors. Designers of bluewater sailboats have taken how boats are sailed today into consideration, considering the extra weight and speed the boats will need. And yes, cruising sailboats are compromises in every sense.
Boats built for speed are much more fragile than those built for durability. But a boat’s seaworthiness has a lot to do with knowledge. Seaworthiness means something very different on sheltered lakes than on vast oceans.

When stability is compromised the boat is not equal to the conditions it is facing. Perhaps the following broader definition is closer to what modern designers aim for; a seaworthy sailboat is one that is able to recover quickly from a 180-degree capsize without serious damage and without sinking. Strong enough to look after herself while hove, free of violent, jerky rolling and pounding, well-balanced, docile on the helm, and easily handled at all times agile downwind and able to beat to windward, or at least hold her ground, in all but the heaviest of conditions. She must able to carry ample crew with good headroom and comfort, plus water and supplies, for extended periods and be capable of good average speeds on long passages.

In Principles of Yacht Design, Larsson and Eliasson note that the seaworthiness of a sailing yacht depends on its dynamic behavior in a seaway; and dynamic effects, naturally, are much more difficult to measure or predict than static effects. (Any boat may be turned turtle by a breaking wave with a height 55 percent of her overall length.

Images of blue water sailboats conjure up names such as Heritage, Contessa, Fisher, Ocean, Tayana and Roberts. So what are the important features to look for in a blue water sailboat?

1. Pleasing to the eye. Can you love the boat--you know there will be issues with her, so she has to make your heart smile while you work through them and accept them or else you'll get dissatisfied and grumpy.
2. 35' - 40' on deck. Big enough to be sea-kindly and safe in bad weather, yet small enough for one to single-hand if you had to.
3. Good survey. Sound condition and structure, and a dry boat. No need to keep everything wrapped in plastic.
4. Good ventilation. . Air conditioning will not be a priority on the high seas.
   Heavy displacement cruiser with a full keel and attached rudder. Able to take care of you in bad weather while you hunker down below.
5. Inboard diesel engine powered at not less than 3 hp/ton. Sufficient power to make your way motoring or motor-sailing when necessary, or to power up and get out of a tight spot.
6. Solid fiberglass hull. Easy to maintain and not laminated.
7. Fiberglass deck (not teak). Easy to maintain, and no leaks.
   Plenty of accessible and well-ventilated storage. This will be your home, so you need enough room for books and other comforts, plus all the spares, tools, etc. for blue-water cruising.
8. Bulwarks with scuppers. Good solid footing while walking around the deck, and good drainage in downpours or shipping green water.
9. Strong through-bolted deck cleats. Strong attachments for docklines and anchor snubber.
   Dual bow anchors, one with minimum of 200' chain. Second anchor for storm conditions, and plenty of chain for normal conditions.
10. 100 gallon fuel tank. Enough to give you a range of at least 500 n miles under power.
11. Large water tanks. Enough to last the crew 3-4 weeks without rain catching, or watermaker.
12. Small aft cockpit with drains and strong pad eyes for attachment. Comfortable and safe for whoever's on watch, and safe in a seaway, with ability to drain fast if much water is shipped.
13. Aluminum keel-stepped mast. Minimal maintenance and more support than deck-stepped.
14. Good handholds and foot space on deck for moving around. Essential for safety.
15. Good handholds and headroom below. Headroom for a 6' person, and solid handholds for moving around below when the seas are up.
16. Sails: Jib with roller furling. Easy to handle from the cockpit.
17. Sails: Staysail that hanks on. Bulletproof system, no furling gear to jam, and easy to remove and switch to storm jib.
18. Sails: Storm jib. For use on the inner forestay (replacing the staysail) in storm situations--the Tayana 37' heaves to well with this configuration.
19. Sails: Storm trysail with separate mast track. For use in a storm, without having to remove the mainsail. Also, useful for stability while sailing downwind.
20. Dodger, splash cloths, and bimini. Dodger with easy visibility forward to keep the wind out of the cockpit, and along with splash cloths keep crew in the cockpit dry when water is shipped, and Bimini to shade us from the tropical sun.
21. V-berth with double bed on one side, all berths accommodating 6'. Good space to snuggle, and comfort for tall crew.
22. Refrigerator. Minimal electrical requirements but yet enough space to keep stuff cool, a freezer would also be good.
23. Starting battery separate from house batteries with a battery monitoring system. Enough electrical storage to light and cool the boat, plus run our basic electrical equipment without excessive recharging requirements. Easy way to tell the condition of the batteries (input, output, voltage, status)
24. Autopilot. To relieve the helmsman when under power.
25. Wind vane. To relieve the helmsman while sailing without draining the battery.
26. Swim ladder An easy to drop and retrieve swim ladder on the side of the boat.
27. Lee cloths for the cabin berths. Comfort and security for the off-watch crew to sleep below. 3-burner propane stove with oven. Able to cook pretty much whatever we want.
28. Instructions for all the equipment. So you can figure out how to fix things, or find out where to go for advice and spares.
29. Maintenance record. To know how old the rigging is, what the service record is for the engine, hull, plumbing, and electrical system, etc.
30. Diesel cabin heater. To keep you warm on cold nights.
31. Life raft, MOB module, flares, fire blanket, propane and CO detectors, and fire extinguishers. Essential safety equipment.
32. Radios--marine SSB with ham bands and GMDSS VHF. Essential communication equipment.
33. Dinghy with motor. Ability to get around when at anchor.
34. Radar. Essential for navigation at night when near land, or in shipping areas, or of course in fog. Also a tremendous assist when approaching an unfamiliar harbor with a hard-to-find entrance, or entering or leaving an anchorage at night.
35. Wind instruments (vane and speed) and depth sounder. Depth sounder essential, wind instruments very helpful.

Well there you have it,

The First Mate’s Role – A Woman’s Perspective

My wife Mary is the First Mate of the trawler, the Patricia Ann. I jokingly call her the Admiral because any decision by me, the Captain, can be overruled by her but we are usually a good team and in agreement.

A yacht is a small city afloat. There are at least two power generation systems, both alternating and direct currents and maybe a wind and solar system on some used boats, a waste treatment system, hotel accommodations to allow the crew to sleep and rest, food preparation systems (electrical or propane), food storage systems (freezers and refrigeration), water systems to allow for bathing and cooking, navigational systems to allow the yacht to move about and even entertainment systems with movies and concerts.

Yes, a yacht is a rather complex system. And running a boat is a team effort – it would be very difficult for one person to handle and monitor everything.

A First Mate’s role is to do anything that the Captain cannot, either determined by skill, preference, availability or all three. The First Mate's role is absolutely critical for safe and enjoyable cruising.

As First Mate, Mary stows everything down below when we are getting ready to cruise (anything that can fall and break while underway). She also handles the lines when leaving the dock. She makes sure to hang those lines in their proper place once we get underway. Our trawler, the Patricia Ann is always ship shape and clutter is NOT an option. While we are cruising to our destination, she is tasked with reading paper charts while I am operating the boat and navigating with the electronic chart plotter and radar. Her role is to navigate and confirm the paper chart’s data for the Captain who’s using the electronic version; call it a backup system. We rarely go without both paper and electronic charts.

When we reach our destination, she handles the anchor, allowing the Captain to set the hook (anchor) at which time she fastens the bridle. If we take our dinghy ashore, the Captain runs that the same as he does Patricia Ann and the First Mate handle the lines. It’s just a lot easier on a 10’ boat than a 44’ boat! When we are ready to leave our anchorage, she again handles the hook, washes the chain and anchor off and secures the security pin. When we arrive back at our slip, she again handles the lines while the Captain guides Patricia Ann right where she should be.

I guess another way to look at it is the First mate is actually the Captain’s assistant. Some women might have a problem with that but my First mate doesn’t. We know couples whose roles are reversed – whatever works!

Another very important first mate duty is to plan meals and provision as small yachts don’t have dedicated chefs. We both do the actual shopping but my First Mate gets to plan everything. She does enjoy that part and loves the shopping even more! We both enjoy cooking – I am the grill-king and Mary is the galley slave, just kidding. She plans healthy, tasty and easy meals as we don’t want to spend hours in the galley when there are islands to explore! You can read some of our favorite recipes on the website.


In a clam shell, the Captain on our boat is responsible for maintaining and operating the boat; the First Mate is responsible for keeping a clean living environment and for the welfare of the crew.

Mike is President of Paradise Yachts, located in Florida USA and Mary is First Mate of the motor vessel Patricia Ann

Should You Use a Yacht Broker

Introduction

The other day I returned a phone call left on my voice mail from a man inquiring about a used boat I have for sale. When the caller answered I identified myself and asked what I might offer regarding the used boat he had called about. The caller immediately responded that he did not want to buy a used boat through a Yacht Broker and hung up. I shrugged my head and wondered why he would NOT want to buy a boat through a Yacht Broker.

If you are considering buying a used boat, here are some things to consider.

Finding a Good Used Boat

A yacht broker will have access to information you will not have or be able to get.
A yacht broker with integrity will be honest about used boats. If there is something wrong with a used boat, he will inform you. I use a disclosure to inform buyers about problems with the boats I represent. If you are using a buyer’s broker, he/she will investigate other used boats for you, and help determine which used boats are worth visiting or considering. He’s going to be able to speak to other brokers about their used boats asking the right questions, and find out information that you would not likely get on your own. He’s going to have access to information than you will have making the search process easier and faster.

What’s a Fair Price?

Once that potential used boat is located, what is a good and fair price to pay? Using data found at soldboats.com, he’ll give you the prices of similar used boats bought in recent months. Remember, a boat is only worth what you are willing to pay and the seller is willing to take. Most importantly, he’ll know the motivation of the seller and guide you in making an offer that will allow you and the seller to negotiate to a satisfactory selling price.

Who Holds the Money?

Professional yacht brokers write purchase contracts that specify each step in the buying process; the length of time for the seller to accept the offer, the date by which you the buyer will either accept or reject the used boat, any specific conditions that the offer is contingent upon, and the anticipated closing date. The contract will also specify your getting your deposit back if you change your mind.

And oh yes, an offer requires a good faith deposit. Who will hold that deposit if a transaction involves you as a buyer and the seller without a third party? Buyers beware!

Lien Checks

When we assist in the sale/purchase of a boat, yacht brokers complete checks to make sure you get clear title to the boat. Any existing ship’s mortgages are paid in full. In addition, documentations are transferred and Bills of Sales are prepared. When working with a yacht broker, you receive the necessary legal documentation identifying the used boat as yours. Buying used boat from an individual can be hazardous if these checks are not made.

Getting her Home

You have found the perfect used boat and got her for a good price; but handling a 42 foot boat has you intimidated. She’s a pretty big boat. But not to worry, when dealing with full-service yacht brokers nothing is left to chance.

Be sure you select a yacht broker that will agree to help you with learning your new used boat as well as getting her home. I do this with all my customers.

Choose Your Broker Carefully

Most yacht brokers are very responsible and treat their customers accordingly. I’ve heard many horror stories from my customers about their dealings with less than professional yacht brokers. Many of them are out for the quick buck and could care less about you as a customer. I have even had dealings with them myself and often wonder how they have ANY customers. They don’t return phone calls or emails, don’t seem to know much about used boats and don’t show up to work until lunch it seems.

Be sure your chosen broker is very knowledgeable about the used boat you think you want. For me, powerboats, especially trawlers are my forte.

Choose your broker carefully. Do bit of research to determine the character of the person you are dealing with. Ask for references.

Mike Dickens, the author, is a liveaboard boat owner and owner/Broker of Paradise Yachts in Florida USA.


Paradise Yachts offers used quality yachts to customers worldwide.


Visit the Paradise Yachts website to view our selection of Used Trawlers, Used Motor Yachts, and Used Sailboats for Sale


National and international sales. We ship Used Yachts and Used Boats worldwide. Located in Florida, USA. 904/556-9431

Men at Sea

Originally published by my friend, Brian Ratcliff, in American Airlines inflight magazine.

If you are reading this magazine chances are that you are far from home on a business trip with a little time before your next appointment. If you look out of the window and you are in a coastal city then you probably see the waterfront as that’s where they put the hotels. If you are in a plane than you probably don’t see anything but sky or on a clear day if you look down you may again see water. Let’s face it there is just so much more water than land on this planet that it’s a surprise that the dominant life form on Earth is not a fish.

Man retained that position a long time ago when he invented the boat and since that time going to sea has been synonymous with bravery, virility, adventure and romance. In fact, many of the greatest stories ever told involve someone venturing out onto the water for some reason. So if you plan a life of adventure, even if only on weekends, you are going to need a boat. They come in all sizes and shapes and range from hollowed out logs to floating palaces fit for the pickiest princess so you are going to need some help in choosing the right boat for you. Let’s leave the princess out of it for the moment and find out what would suit you.

Your first decision should be power or sail. If you want to make it difficult we can talk about motorsailers but that’s a different subject altogether. For now let’s keep it simple, power or sail.

Power boats are any boats not intentionally moved by the wind. Sailboats are boats whose main propulsion is by wind even though they may have an auxiliary engine for when the wind is not blowing, is not blowing in the right direction or is blowing too much. Power boats give you the independence to go where you want to in spite of the wind and with a good deal less effort on your part than a sailboat. They may take you quickly or slowly depending on the type of hull and the engines you select but one general rule is the faster you go the shorter the range and the slower you go the greater the range.

The next choice should be fishing or cruising. If you plan on going out and doing battle with marlin or other large fish then a boat rigged for this purpose is essential. Here you have the sportsfisherman, a used boat designed to get you to the fishing grounds quickly. It has a large cockpit at the rear of the boat and a fighting chair as the center of activity surrounded by all the accouterments a well armed protagonist needs – a bait and tackle center, bait freezer and somewhere to put the fish when you land it.

You may also have seen these boats with long poles sticking out from either side, well these are called outriggers and allow you to put out several fishing lines at one time to increase the chances of a fish noticing one of the baits you are dragging through the water.

You will also need some refrigerated space to keep the drinks you are surely going to need after all that hard work of landing that fish. This cooler should contain a cross section of healthy juices, soft drinks and high carbohydrate sports type beverages that will fortify the crew when it comes time to help haul in that three hundred pounder you are one day going to catch and a few beers to celebrate afterward. Getting this formula backward can lead to reduced encounters with fish and increased encounters with submerged objects. Contrary to popular advertising ideas the amount of fish you catch does not depend on what brand you drink but could be affected by how much you drink. Not that this is a lecture on temperance, just make sure the one driving the boat is not the Designated Drunk.

Should you decide that fishing is too much like hard work and what you want to do instead is visit tropical islands where the natives are friendly and the water just made for diving into, then cruising is the way to go. This you can do with either power or sail but if time is limited then a cruising power boat is for you. The limiting factor here is do you want to go with just you and the family or are you taking all of your friends and their relatives too?

If its just you and your loved ones, the number of which can diminish the more time you spend on a boat with them, then you will need something you can handle yourself. If you will be taking out more people you will need to train them to help with the boat or hire a crew to take care of your guests. Either way you are going to need more cabins and heads (nautical for bathrooms) and an even larger refrigerator.

At this point it starts to get complex because the moment you leave the dock the umbilical cord that has kept you connected to civilization is severed and you must now provide your own electrical power to keep the refrigerator working. Not only the fridge but the television, water heater, video player and all manner of other things which we take for granted will work when we plug them in. You need a generator. These come in various sizes according to your power requirements and should be carefully matched to the equipment on your vessel. How many air conditioners you have can greatly affect your comfort while anchored off that tropical island and will definitely affect your choice of generator.

It is not unusual to have to turn off one air conditioner to use the electric stove and even then if someone turns on a hair drier or coffee pot the “genny” can make loud groaning noises just before the main circuit breaker blows. So one more general rule here, chose a generator with 20% more power than you need with everything on the boat turned on. You never know who’s going to bring along an electric toothbrush.

If the romance of sailing (using sails) and the gentle slapping of the waves against the hull the only noise you want to hear as you leave the dock and the rat-race behind, then for you the old fashioned way of getting there is indicated. You will need a lot more time to get where you’re going but if you are only getting away from land and traffic headaches then the more time the better. You will enjoy it all the more knowing that you are in harmony with nature and using the power of the sun to move you and the boat along. That is of course if the weather cooperates. In sailing there is an old adage that “the wind is always blowing from the place you are trying to get to,” not very helpful when you need the wind behind you or at least from the beam (side).

You will need to know how to tack and jibe to keep both the wind and your destination in balance and at this point you may discover why the large horizontal spar that holds the bottom of the main sail is called the boom, especially if you forget to duck as the sail moves to the other side of the boat as you change direction. Depending on the rig of the boat, be it a sloop, ketch, cutter, yawl, or schooner, you are going to have to learn the names of all the sails, where they go and how to tell which one is which while it's still in a bag.

You will also need to know the names of the lines (ropes) and what they should be attached to. If they are not attached to anything you could already be in trouble. Of course with modern aids to sailing such as roller furling sails and even power winches a lot of the work has been taken out of handling the boat itself and an auto pilot can not take you from anywhere to anywhere when linked to a GPS (Global Positioning System). The only thing to remember here is that all this stuff runs on batteries and if you don’t keep recharging them they have a nasty habit of running out of juice just when you need them the most. The generator of which I spoke earlier will do it but it is noisy and can detract from that idyllic peace that you have so recently found. Of you can have a wind generator which is basically a windmill attached to an alternator. A third alternative is solar panels that convert sunlight directly to electricity.

Personally I am working on a device that will convert sea water directly into pina coladas.

©Brian Ratcliffe 2008
http://boatacguy.com/

Used Trawler Cooling Systems - How to Service

Most used boats with inboard engines are provided with fresh water cooling systems. These fresh water systems in conjunction with the raw water system cool the engine during operation. The fresh water circulates within the engine and transfers the engine heat to the raw water system as it passes through heat exchangers.

Want to see how to clean the system; look at Servicing Your Trawler's Cooling System

Yacht Broker in Your Future Employment?

Frequently I have clients or friends say to me, “ It must be a lot of fun being a Yacht Broker; being on boats all day, you are on holiday all the time”. Yes, I do enjoy it but its a lot of work if you want to be successful. Let me explain what it takes to make it function. If you think you have what it takes, give me a call.

Trawler Brightwork Varnish Selection

Marine varnishes have been used to protect and maintain exterior teak on yachts for hundreds of years. History bears witness that varnishes used in the 1700s are very akin to those used nowadays. The coatings provide for the rich beauty of the teak to be seen while offering protection from rain and sun. The finish achieved after careful application will vary from a soft patina to a high gloss finish found on fine furniture.

Assuming you want to protect and embellish your used trawler or sailboat exterior brightwork, how do you select among the incredible assortment of finishes? Recognizing full well that this is as big a deal as debating the differences of power vs. sail, we nevertheless provide the accompanying observations.

Read more on Choosing the Varnish for your Boat's Brightwork

Trawler Diesel Engines - How Do They Work?

You have just bought that beautiful used 1985 Labelle sundeck trawler and she is everything you wanted in a yacht. The huge sundeck, the owner's quarters and the big fly bridge are perfect. She also has twin Volvo diesel engines and a Westerbeke genset also. But you’ve been thinking, how do those engines really work? You have never owned a diesel engine.

You can read the entire article on the website at How Does a Marine Diesel Engine Work

Bayliner Motor Yacht

Survey went fine on boat today; a few things were found by the surveyor but thats normal. The boat ran well and everything operated normally. It sure was cold out on that water earlier too.

Used Trawlers - Selection Tips

On a recent used trawler survey, I got into a conversation with the surveyor regarding the accuracy of moisture meters. The surveyor explained that he uses the device simply as a tool, but does not regard its measurement as one of absolute certainty.

To evaluate his theory, I placed the meter upon my hand; a reading of 86 was obtained because my hand is mostly water anyway. That makes sense.

Next, I placed the instrument upon dry fiberglass and a reading of 8 was given. We then placed the instrument upon an area of the deck suspected of having water intrusion, same result. We then splashed some water onto the deck, wiped it away and checked it again, a reading of 22 occurred.

So in theory a higher than normal reading suggests moisture within a deck but in reality, the higher than normal reading can be from air humidity or surface moisture. The suspect area must be tapped with a hammer to search for evidence of moisture; the only sure way to determine if there is trapped water is to drill a plug. A good surveyor uses his experience to make that final determination.

A good surveyor will not reply simply upon electronics to determine if there is hidden moisture. Be sure to ask a potential surveyor about this before selecting a surveyor to survey your used trawler.

Used Trawlers - Selection Tips 2

Good afternoon everyone,

I usually help 6-10 customers with buying a good used trawler each year and those boats are not typically in my inventory. So when I go on the search for a specific boat, it is a "new" used trawler or motor yacht to me. I've got to inspect it in such a manner as to find problems with it if there are any. Think of it as a pre-survey.

One of the things I use is called a See Snake; it's a lighted camera with a 5' flexible shaft on it. I use it to look behind fuel tanks and beneath engines where needed. More often than not, I can find rusting tanks or corroded struts where without the See Snake, I'd never had been able to find the problem.

With this device, finding a good used trawler makes the task easier. I wonder why I never see surveyors using it?

Reasons for Boat Ownership

I'm sitting here looking out the starboard side glass on my trawler today; just poured an espresso. No music, no radio playing, quite. I've got some emails to respond to, but they can wait.

Sometimes its hard to explain to others what the fascination really is about boating.


There are many reasons for owning your own used trawler, motor yacht or cruiser; rest and relaxation, spending time with friends and family, and enjoying the great outdoors. But owning a boat also adds to the quality of life; once aboard all cares disappear and the world takes on another meaning. Boating gives you an independent, resourceful and adventurous feeling.

With the earth covered 2/3 by water, there are countless waterways, rivers and oceans to explore. So cast those lines and explore.

Take advantage of all that boating has to offer; I sure intend to.

Trawler Living Aboard Tips - Galley Knife Rack

Good morning all,

Many years ago Mary and I were struggling with where to store our galley knives. We have a nice collection of Chicago Cutlery that we use for our on board cooking. And these knives are kept very sharp.



So we came up with a magnetic strip that mounts on the bulkhead behind the cook top. The knives are not in drawers where they could cut us and the are within easy reach.

See if you could use this idea on your new trawler. Read more of our tips at Trawler Liveaboard Tips

Trawler Air Conditioning Water Flows

Just a few days back I noticed the salon HVAC water flow was not what it should be aboard our trawler, the Patricia Ann. The flow was down considerably. The last time this happened was back in 2008.

So I went about taking everything apart assuming what the problem was. What I found inside the intake hose from the thru hull to the strainer and from there to the pump was a growing cluster of grass and barnacles. The strainer has caught some but not all of it.

Picture a doughnut for illustration purposes. The inside diameter of the hose is the outside diameter of the doughnut. I found grass growing inside the hose reducing the opening to the size of the doughnut hole, roughly 1/2 the original size of the hose. The hoses on the upstream side of the pump were clear.

I removed the hoses on the trawler and literally beat them on the dock finally using the dock hose to flush them clear. Here is a photo of how your flow should be when everything is clear.

So be sure to visually check your intake hoses for partial blockage if you suspect a water flow issue. Purging with the water hose will not remove the grass that may be there.

This condition will likely occur every couple years depending upon the nutrients in your water. I am about 1/4 mile from an inlet to the Atlantic Ocean so ours is very rich.

Look at your water flow and make a mental note; when you notice a drop in flow it will be time to do some troubleshooting.

Mike

ElectroScan Repair Tips

Well its been a busy week. You know, I am a Yacht Broker, captain, navigator, chef, painter, plumber, electrician, mechanic; yes to own a boat you have to be a jack of all trades.

Earlier in the week, our ElectroScan waste treatment system began to act up. The system would not pull the necessary amperage to complete its cycles necessary to treat the waste.

So after a call to Raritan in Ft. Lauderdale, and with the help of a very knowledgeable technician, I finally had the trouble identified. It seemed like the electrode pack had failed. A new pack was ordered and it arrived on Wednesday.

But getting the new electrode into the unit would be a challenge.

You can see what the electrode looks like in the photo to the left. It measures about 10 x 10. The threaded posts are where to electrical connections are made; the 3 red plates are the electrodes themselves.

Now where the unit is placed inside the Patricia Ann made it clear that I had to remove the entire unit from the trawler to make the repair. That meant disconnecting both plumbing connections along with the electrical hookups.

Without going into a description of how difficult it was to remove the existing sanitation hoses from the ElectroScan, I could not have done it with out a heat gun and about 2 dozen shop towels to mop up the spilled water.

To install the electrode simply required the removal of the blue top to the treatment tanks and sliding the new electrode inside. But I got it apart and installed the new electrode without any trouble.

I guess that qualifies me to be called a waste treatment plant operator now too huh?

Choosing a Trawler

Think a trawler might be in your future? But where do you start the search?

A trawler is not to be confused with fishing vessels although the idea originated with the seagoing fishing vessels.

A trawler is in general a boat with a long, deep keel to prevent running gear damage in the event of grounding, boats with top cruising speeds of 7-10 knots, and boats with large panoramic windows for good views.

Typically a trawler has a large fuel and water capacity to enable extended cruising and have crew creature comforts that will match any vessel afloat. The primary draw of a trawler is the traditional salty lines that turns heads at every dock

Continue reading more about trawler styles and designs

Trawler Selection Tips - Brightwork

When I am assisting customers looking for their perfect trawler, one of the things I coach them on is how to judge the care given to the boat by her present owner. There are simple things I use to judge the care given with even boarding the vessel.

Most trawlers have exterior brightwork. This teak, if kept to a high level of gloss, is what gives the boat its character; it gives her that salty look.

The photo is a handrail on my trawler, the Patricia Ann. I started her spring commissioning last weekend and managed to sand her teak hand rails down and get three coats of Cetol on them. Looks pretty good so far huh? The rest of my trawler looks just as good. You can read how I maintain the brightwork on my trawler here.

So when I am with a customer and we are looking at a trawler for the first time, I suggest to my customers that generally, you can tell how the rest of the boat looks by how the brightwork looks. If the brightwork is in great shape, you can almost assume the rest of the trawler will be the same.

Here is a photo of the finished product with high gloss top coat.

The arrow is pointing to a small piece of metal, probably steel embedded in the wood. Based upon its shape, I suspect it was a piece of shrapnel that hit the tree in the 1940s.

Used Trawler Blisters and Hydrolysis

If you are searching for your first used trawler you've very likely heard about blisters. Most boaters with in-the-water boats are aware of them. But what are they, how do they form and most importantly, what do you do about them...if anything? I've been involved with numerous surveys over the years and every time a boat was hauled from the water, blisters are the fear from the prospective buyer. You have no need of panicking, however, the issue is easily managed.

Our trawler, the Patricia Ann had a number of tiny blisters on her hull for some years and I've known about it. I just watched them and evaluated them each time I pulled her out of the water. I finally decided to tackle the problem.


To help you better understand the cause and what to do about it when you are searching for and evaluating your next boat, I chronicled my project with descriptions and photos. It's my intention that you will have a much better understanding of the issue when your surveyor says, "this boat you wish to buy has blisters".

Go to our Paradise Yacht's website to view the full set of photos and detailed description of what we did to correct the problem

Trawler Liveaboard Tips - Add Freezer Space

One of the issues that used to always comes up aboard the Patricia Ann was cold storage; specifically freezer storage space. Typical 40 - 43' class used trawlers are only provided with a built in Norcold refrigerator/freezer. Larger trawlers, like a 44 DeFever, are often built with built-in freezers.

And the freezer space in a Norcold is much smaller than those found in your household variety. So storing away frozen meats and vegetables in quantities needed for long cruises was an issue.


I contemplated installing a freezer under the dinette but decided that it would be to much of a project. Instead, we solved the problem by finding a stand alone freezer available at leading marine dealers. It's a little larger than a 48 qt. cooler, actually it is 112 qts. It also has a small refrigeration compartment where we store 24 canned cokes etc.

You can operate it by either AC or DC power. I have it connected to an inverter on the back deck.

It holds a lot of frozen foods for us so a trip one a month to Sams Club is worthwhile. And when we get out for a cruise, we have what we need to eat in style.

So if you are looking for that used trawler and have thought about freezer space, you can easily get it after you find her.

Trawler Liveaboard Tips - Fuel Polishing

The sound of a diesel to a trawler or motor yacht owner is like music to our ears.

But problems can occur with diesel fuel stored in your trawler or motor yacht fuel tanks, affecting those diesels?

It is important to know what diesel fuel is to begin with. Diesel fuel is refined from crude oil. In oil refineries, crude oil is heated, and various hydrocarbon molecules are extracted to create the fuel. Diesel is much heavier than gasoline and evaporates much more slowly. It's often referred to as "fuel oil" because of its consistency. Often forgotten, diesel is an organic matter.

Today as part of our continuing Spring commissioning, I had our trawler, the Patricia Ann, fuel polished or simply cleaned.

It was a rather simple task actually with Steve bringing a large pump and a centrifugal cleaner and 5 micron filter system. The system will polish about 1000 gallons per hour or 16 gallons a minute.

The polishing process is simply pumping the fuel out of the trawler tanks, cleaning and filtering it and then returning it to the same tank. Steve likes to circulate the fuel about 10 times constantly checking the filter for contaminants.

I had purposely let my fuel level fall to about 100 gallons so the process would go much faster; even so, Steve was at my trawler for 5-1/2 hours. So by my calculations, we ran the fuel through the filters 55 times. Steve recommends NOT polishing a full tank of fuel.

As it turned out, the fuel was not very dirty after all and the tanks are rust free and in good shape.

We found only some small asphalt droplets, about the size of pencil lead which are always found in old fuel. The fuel in our tanks was over 2 years old and the tanks had not been cleaned in over 8 years.

So all things considered, we could have lasted much longer without any trouble but now we have piece of mind.

You can learn more about understanding and caring for your diesel fuel at this post.

Trawler Live Aboard Tips - New to the Lifestyle

Good morning everyone.

It was a good weekend around the Patricia Ann. I finished her brightwork and applied a new coat of paint to 3/4 of her decks; I must turn her around next week when it is safe to walk on the paint to allow me to complete the project. It takes 4 days for the paint to fully cure.

I got an email from Steven telling me he found the Paradise Yachts website and he and his wife were retiring and considering entering the live aboard trawler lifestyle. I responded that I would be honored to help them with their goal.

But to adopt a completely different lifestyle that you have known for years take some guts; hey I know, Mary and I did it almost 10 years ago. And that was before there was an Internet and people like me writing articles on how to go about doing it.



So I got to thinking, what would be the pearls of wisdom I would wish someone to share with me if I were starting out? Here is my list to help you determine if this is right for you.

1. Do you wish to wake up everyday and see the sun rising over the water; we do it everyday. It's great!
   
2. If you don't like your neighborhood, you just untie the lines and move.
3. No it's not a full time Jimmy Buffet lifestyle but it comes close. We do enjoy our cocktail hours aboard. Cooking on the grill on our sundeck is heavenly!
   
4. If you do not know, don't be afraid to ask us veterans out here. We all had to learn from someone or from our mistakes along the way. And mistakes can be costly!
   
5. Trawlers and motor yachts require lots of work to keep them healthy; you must have a ton of money or have a knack for fixing things.
6. There is always something to do on a boat.
   
7. To live aboard you must be a Captain, navigator, plumber, painter, electrician, mechanic, chef, and much more I probably cannot remember.
8. Learn to live aboard using all of your senses. Every boat has its own set of noises; learn to recognize what they are and what they mean
   
9. You cannot know everything about your new trawler or motor yacht when you get her; its taken me 8 years to slowly trace every line, and every hose to figure the Patricia Ann out. Plan on spending time doing just that.
   
10. Listen to the sounds the boat makes; if you hear the bilge pump or battery charger come on more than once during the night, that's your signal to investigate.
11. How about that popping noise under the boat you hear while in bed; no the boats not sinking, its only shrimp feeding.
12. If you smell something that's unusual, like diesel, its time to take a look in the bilge
13. While underway, if you feel a vibration, you may have some growth on the running gear; better get a diver down below to see if there is anything.
14. Make sure your spouse is in it for the long haul and not just along for the ride; if Mama ain't happy nobody is happy
15. Be willing to make some sacrifices like a washer and dryer
    
16. Boaters in general are very good people; I rarely meet one I do not like.
    

Well that ought to give you a good idea of what to expect. As I think of more, I'll add them to the list.

Mike

Trawlers 101 - A Buyer's School

Welcome aboard to the Paradise Yachts trawler school; the trawler school designed specifically for the new trawler buyer. Trawlers are Paradise Yachts bread and butter; each year we help many new trawler buyers locate and buy their used trawler. And in most cases, in the beginning, we find that these shoppers had little working knowledge of the types of trawlers on the market, the different operating systems to choose from and how the formal buying process works. But we helped those customers buy their boats simply through trial and error. Thus, this trawler school was born. in addition, if you can't decide between a trawler, a motor yacht or a cruiser, we can adapt this school for you too.

There are plenty of trawler schools out there that let you "drive" a trawler to see how you like it, but none that provide you pre-purchase instruction. The goal of this trawler school will be to provide you a step-by-step guide on how to choose and buy your trawler. Oh and we'll try to let you steer the Patricia Ann too weather and time permitting.

This trawler school is a hands-on process, We will be in class aboard the Patricia Ann, our 40' sundeck trawler. We'll be looking at real examples of a real trawler and her systems throughout the day. You'll also receive a reference guide to take back home with you.

And to customers that choose us to assist with finding and buying your trawler, the school is free.

So visit our Trawlers 101 - A Buyer's School today!

Trawler Selection Tips - Service After the Sale

Yesterday I spent the better part of the morning with new customers, Pat and Monica.

They bought a nice 36' Sabreline trawler from Paradise Yachts some time back. And as always, I offered to assist them in learning their new boat as part of the transaction.

If you have worked with other Brokers, you probably know by now that most of them sell you a boat, toss you the keys and are gone. But we do it differently here at Paradise; as we say in our Boat Buyers Guide, we offer to help you choose the best boat, get her at the best price and learn all about her once you have her.

Now Pat and Monica are not rookies within the boating community, they are seasoned sailors. But Pat wanted some hands-on training on handling a twin-screw boat as all he had operated previously were single-screw sailboats. And yes, they do handle differently.

So I got her out of her slip and made a few demonstration maneuvers and handed her over to Pat. For next 4 hours we practiced docking in open slips. Pat got the technique down pretty quickly too. And when we took her back to her "home" slip, Pat laid her in there as good as I would have; well done Pat.

On our next session in a few weeks, we'll begin her trip north to New England for the summer. I'm going to accompany them part of the way simply giving Pat and Monica some encouragement in operating their new boat.

Mike

Trawler Selection Tips - Marine Insurance

Selecting an insurance policy and agent to protect your trawler or motor yacht can be very confusing and complicated. Marine insurance is a highly specialized field, and a far different product than that which you buy for your house and automobile. Incidentally, marine insurance is the oldest form of insurance and governed by its own set of Maritime Laws.

Hull coverage usually addresses the hull and all items on the trawler or motor yacht that are permanently attached or are on the trawler or motor yacht and used in the regular operation of the vessel, i.e. electronics, TV’s etc.

Your hull insurance bought at an Agreed Value means you and your insurance underwriter "agree" to the value of the boat. if your boat is a complete loss you will be covered for that amount on the Declaration Page of the Policy. Your trawlers value will remain at the price at which you originally began the coverage.

There is also, Actual Cash Value (ACV). This means that if your yacht was totaled in a loss you would be tendered a depreciated settlement – the going market value of trawler or motor yacht. Many people may not be fully aware of what they are purchasing. Keep in mind that your trawlers value will decline every year as she matures.

Most losses are partial losses and you could expect a depreciated settlement on that as well. But be careful with choosing Actual Cash Value, beware, you may also find that if you have a claim you are getting far less than you bargained for.

Be certain to talk to your agent about how your loss would be settled for both a total loss and a partial loss and what would be subject to depreciation. Often items like canvas, cushions, engines etc. are subject to depreciation. Some policies actually exempt canvas from wind storm damage.

You will also need to make sure that the policy you buy covers salvage, environmental cleanup in the case of fuel spills, and shipwreck removal. Often the recovery of a vessel could exhaust your policy limits were it not for these additional coverages often included in the better marine policies.

Recreational marine insurance polices will always include cruising boundaries. It is usually a guarantee of the policy and therefore extremely important that it is correct on your policy. A warranty is strong language in an insurance policy and if you venture outside those limits noted on the declarations page, you will not have any coverage is you were to sustain a loss while cruising. Make sure you speak with your agent about this matter and make sure you have the coverage you need; keeping in mind this is a crucial factor in determining the premium.

Lay-ups are something to review with your agent.

If you are in hurricane prone areas, a layup will often be covered by the policy to protect the trawler from harm by an active storm. Your policy may even prohibit your boats presence in these areas during active months or have higher premiums. Be sure to discuss your cruising preferences with

You may be entitled to some premium reduction if the trawler or motor yacht is hauled out of water during the winter months too.

Some other things that could result in a reduction in costs are boating classes,a Coast Guard Captain License, and equipment on your trawler or motor yacht such as anti-theft devices.

In addition, many yacht policies will have Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation which would cover you should you become legally bound under the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act for any bodily injury arising out of the ownership, maintenance or use of a yacht. Jones Act coverage would also be necessary if you hire crew or have a full-time professional Captain.

In addition, look at the Exclusion section of the policy so you understand what is not covered.

Since maritime insurance is a different animal, you will want to work with an Agent that has experience with trawler or motor yachting and knows the marine insurance business, so they will know how to advise you.

So, when you are ready to buy that trawler, keep your insurance options open.

in addition, check out our list a marine insurance providers.