Selecting a boat can be a bit of a lottery. Especially if it’s getting on a bit. If you are looking at a brand-new model you can of course ask the dealer for a trial sail. But this won’t necessarily tell you the full story. If the test is on a sunny day with light winds, what will she be like in a blow? Or vice versa? Reprints of test reports can also provide extra useful input (although they’re not so easily available these days) and help you to build up an overall picture.
You can also study owners’ opinions by visiting class association websites and YBW forums. Either way, you need to tap into the experience of as many people as possible to build up a picture of any older boat’s good and bad points.
When it comes to second-hand boats, trial sails are the exception rather than the rule. Even the best brokers are unlikely to take you for a spin on one of the many boats on their books. The owner – if it is a private sale and the boat is afloat – may offer a trial sail. But again, this cannot be guaranteed. Your surveyor might also chuck in a general comment such as ‘great boats’ or ‘I wouldn’t dream of owning one of those’.
You should also ask yourself the same three basic questions that we encouraged our Hunter clients to consider. These are: ‘where are you going to sail it; how often; and with whom?’ It was interesting that clients often decided on something a bit smaller once they’d gone through this self-cross-examination.
And then there is the expectation of what you want from a sailing boat. Some sailors relish top performance and a design that will slice upwind in fair weather and foul.
Others are less fussed about speed or close-windedness and are happy with a boat that will trundle along satisfactorily and safely. On the comfort stakes, some are happy with adequate if spartan accommodation, while others want maximum space and comfort down below. The field is wide and sometimes confusing. What’s more, some boats represent better value for money than others. Buying a tired example of an obscure model can mean ‘throwing
