How to buy your first boat
A practical guide for first-time buyers
With more first-time buyers committing to a new yacht — often with less experience — what do you need to consider to make the biggest purchase of your life a pleasure? We partnered with the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron to bring you this practical guide full of tips, tricks and expert advice.
Download the guideChoosing the right
boat for you
Buying your first boat starts with understanding what you want and what you need. Once you’ve determined what type of sailor you want to be, it’s time to look at the different boat types to suit you. Whether it’s a cruiser, racer, liveaboard or catamaran – there are four key considerations to be mindful of.
Finding your boat –
where to look
Once you’ve decided on the type and size of boat you want, it’s time to start a shortlist of potential makes and models. Thorough research will help you understand market pricing, available options and model-specific considerations. Once you’re ready, you can actively start looking for your first boat. But where? We put together a list of options and advice.
Budgeting and important
costs to consider
The initial purchase price represents only the beginning of boat ownership costs. It’s crucial to factor in all the extraneous costs of owning a boat such as insurance, financing, slip fees, club fees, launch and haul out fees, marine surveys, upgrades, and regular maintenance. Let’s dive deeper into the actual numbers.
