To help you successful chart the used-boat-buying process, we have waded through our experiences over the years and compiled a list of 5 tips to help guide you through the process so you can navigate it like a pro, avoid the rocky shores, and reach your destination under sunny skies.

Tip #1: Determine your criteria

While it may seem obvious that you should start by setting up criteria for your target vessel, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of shopping for your dream boat and end up off course. There are just so many used boats for sale of such a wide variety of specifications and uses, so diving in without a clear set of criteria will simply leave you drowning in information. You must consider boat size, uses, features, and of course price.

Your criteria will establish both what you want in a boat and what you are willing to spend. While the basic style of boat you desire may be obvious (power or sail, day or cruising, racing, trailerable, etc.), other details are important to specify as well. For example, if you are purchasing a cruising boat, how many cabins do you need? For a racing sailboat, do you want to be in a large one-design class? For a trailerable boat, how much can your vehicle tow? Do you need features that make a boat easy to single hand? Are domestic items such as generator, TV, or microwave necessary? There are many many options these days so you want to determine exactly what you need and what you don’t.

Consider how you are going to use the boat. Who and how many will be boating with you? How often will you be staying aboard? Will you be entertaining, cooking, fishing, skiing, or sunbathing? How far would you like to venture? Honest answers to these questions will help narrow down the potential boats to a manageable number. A good dealer can help you identify criteria as well and offer advice that can help you avoid a costly mistake.

Once you have established criteria regarding your target boat, you next need to determine what you are willing to spend. This is a bit more than just the selling price of the boat. You should determine what you want to put down as well as what you can afford as a monthly loan payment. Also consider operating costs such as insurance, dockage, and maintenance. There are many options that can keep the cost of boating quite affordable. A knowledgeable broker can assist with estimating operating costs specific to your budget and location. They can also recommend ways to enjoy boating within your budget, from inexpensive dockage at yacht clubs to finding the best interest rates to performing some of your own maintenance.

With your criteria in place, you now have a clear target and can begin researching boats on the market.

To receive the entire guide “5 Tips to Buying a Used Boat and Getting a Good Deal”, contact us. And best of luck on your search.

Advantage Yacht Sales
Phone: 978-463-3663
Email
Website

Advantage Yacht Sales, a dealer of new and used sail and power boats in New England, will now offer Gemini Catamarans to their expanding list of brands. Advantage is the first dealer of cruising sailboat catamarans in Massachusetts, and will also serve Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont. Gemini has been building catamarans for 27 years and has delivered over 1000 boats, more than any other single-model catamaran ever built.

The popularity of multihull sailboats has increased dramatically over the last few years. This growth has been most visible in the Caribbean charter fleets, where catamarans have grown to make up 22% of all charter boats. As sailors have enjoyed their experiences on a fast sailboat that doesn’t heel while on vacation, they have gravitated toward catamarans for their own vessels at home.

The stability of a multihull is a big draw for many. While many sailors enjoy the feeling of excitement when a monohull heels under the strength of the wind, others prefer a stable platform. While sailing at speeds significantly faster than a monohull, a catamaran allows you to set down your drink without fear, offers sure footing for young kids, and stays flat in any wind conditions. These can be an especially strong draw for those converting to sail from power boats, those with young families, and seasoned sailors who just want a relaxing day on the water, no matter the weather.

In addition, the upcoming 2013 America’s Cup will be contested in 72 foot catamarans, which will surely increase awareness of and desire for sailing cats. The America’s Cup World Series, a precursor to the main event, has already begun, using 45 foot catamarans with winged sails that can reach speeds of over 20 knots. The World Series will visit Newport, RI this summer. The Extreme Sailing Series — an international inshore racing series sailed in 40 foot catamarans – visited Boston this past summer an wowed shore side crowds. These high-profile events have increased the awareness of catamaran sailboats to both sailors and non-sailors alike.

One issues that to date has accounted for the slow growth of sailing multihulls in the northeast is the limited availability of slips and yards that can handle boats as wide as most catamarans. While most large slips in New England are 15 or 20 feet wide, most catamarans carry a beam of more than 20 feet. End docks and double-slips are available for such wide boats, but they are limited in number and come at a higher price.

The Gemini 105Mc catamaran is only 14 feet wide, allowing it to fit into a standard slip. And with the volume of a catamaran and smart layout of the Gemini, the boat boasts much more room than a similar-sized monohull along with rock-solid stability. The Gemini represents a perfect balance for cruising sailors in the northeast.

“Our customers have been telling us how much they enjoy the catamaran experience when they vacation in the Caribbean, so we are excited to be able to offer them the same experience here in their home waters,” commented Jack Wasson, co-founder of Advantage and head of new boat sales. “The American-built Gemini fits so well here, and the value it offers is unmatched by any other builder.”

Advantage Yacht Sales expects delivery of their first Gemini catamaran in January, and will have it on display at the upcoming New England Boat Show in Boston this February.

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Advantage Yacht Sales sells both new and used sailboats and power boats, plus offers service, parts, and storage. Advantage represents Hunter Marine, Gemini Catamarans, Albin Boats, LaserPerformance, and AB Inflatables. They sell boats and yachts from 8 – 50 feet from two locations in Newburyport, MA and Boston, MA, serving Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine. To learn more about Advantage Yacht Sales, visit our website at http://www.AdvantageYachtSales.com or call 978-463-3663.

To learn more about Gemini Catamarans, visit http://www.performancecruising.com/.

Consumers are becoming ever-more careful of where they spend their money, especially with big purchases such as cars and boats. They are no longer content to choose between price and service, but rather expect to get both a great value and exceptional care. In addition, for these large purchases that require extended relationships and continued service, consumers will only consider those dealers that are proven trustworthy and professional.
The Top 100 Dealers list recognizes the best marine dealers in North America. Editor-in-chief Liz Walz describes the list as “a resource for consumers looking to have the best boat ownership experience, from boats, parts, and accessories sales to service, storage, and more.”

The Top 100 recognizes those dealers that distinguish themselves with a strong commitment to customer service, a consistent consumer experience, and a dedication to planning to execution. Boating Industry magazine evaluates all applications in an extensive research process to identify those exceptional 100 dealers. The application includes 75 questions that cover all aspects of the business including sales and profits, service and customer satisfaction, training and education, and marketing. Applicants are encouraged to provide with their answers the relevant documents, processes, plans, scores, and logs that prove and demonstrate their answers.

“We couldn’t be more proud and excited about this tremendous recognition,” says co-founder Douglyss Giuliana. “But while we are flattered to be in such an elite group of boat dealers, we conduct business the way that we do because we value our customers and employees, and want to be proud of our efforts every day.”

Co-founder Jack Wasson described the joy the team gets from the relationship with customers. “We sell a very fun product that leads to an enjoyable family lifestyle. We love helping our customers make their dreams of time on the water come true. They are counting on us to deliver years of happy memories with their family and friends, and we take that very seriously.”

Since its founding in 2007, Advantage Yacht Sales has built a strong reputation for delivering a quality experience to customers. They have been recognized by Hunter Marine with Gold and Platinum Customer Service Awards for the last 4 years. In addition, in 2009 they received Marine Industry “Five Star” Certification, which is designed to ensure that buying and maintaining a boat are pleasant experiences, and the dealer is committed to customer satisfaction. This dedication to customer service has also contributed to their 3-time recognition as a top dealer in sales for Hunter Marine.

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Advantage Yacht Sales sells both new and used sailboats and power boats, plus offers service, parts, and storage. Advantage represents Hunter Marine, Albin Boats, LaserPerformance, and AB Inflatables. They sell boats and yachts from 8 – 50 feet.

To learn more about Advantage Yacht Sales, visit our website at http://www.AdvantageYachtSales.com or call 978-463-3663.

To learn more about the Boating Industry Top 100 Dealer program and complete rankings, visit http://www.boatingindustry.com/top-100/about-top-100/.

Sail World Review of the Hunter e33

The interior is too different and beautiful to describe, so we have made a video tour available. You can see the full interior video tour of the Hunter e33 here: AYS: Hunter e33 Interior Video Tour.

2011 Show Dates:
September 15-18, 2011
Thursday: 10am – 6pm
Friday: 10am – 6pm
Saturday: 10am – 6pm
Sunday: 10am – 5pm

Boats exhibiting at the show include both sail and power boats, racing dinghies, daysailers, catamarans, fishing boats, canoes, trawlers, and inflatables. In addition, you’ll find sailing schools, vacation charters, electronics, clothing, gear, and service providers of all types. Plus, you can enjoy lovely downtown Newport with restaurants, shopping, and historic sites.

Location:
Newport Yachting Center
4 Commercial Wharf, Newport, RI
Directions to the Show

Advantage Yacht Sales will be exhibiting Hunter sailboats at the show. AYS is pleased to be showing the newly released 2012 Hunter e33, along with the new Hunter e36. These two new models display Hunter’s latest modern design with a flush deck profile, beautiful interior woods, double-ended mainsheet, and huge drop-down swim platform. Hunter has continued to push forward with these new, modern designs, maintaining attractive styling and incorporating the latest performance, comfort, and ease-of-sail innovations. In addition, the Hunter 45DS and Hunter 50AC will be on display. The 45DS will be sporting some new equipment on-board that you won’t want to miss.

Site Plan

For complete information, visit http://www.newportboatshow.com

Check back for more details…

Raymarine has been selling AIS systems for years, but recently released information on their latest models, the AIS 350 and 650. The Raymarine AIS350 is a receieve-only system, meaning that you can see other boats but you do not broadcast your own data. The AIS650 is a true Class B transceiver, offering both send and receive of AIS data. These new models are smaller, offer increased performance, and simplify installation with both new and legacy Raymarine displays.

Further details on these new Raymarine AIS systems can be found on the 2011 Raymarine AIS Product Brochure.

As a Certified Raymarine Dealer and Installer, Advantage Yacht Sales sells and installs these new AIS products.

The new Hunter e33 offers a large fold-down swim platform, sleek deck, double-ended mainsheet, and all new interior layout. Advantage Yacht Sales is expecting delivery soon of one of the first hulls off the line. Call us to see the latest sailboat from Hunter Marine, or to receive pricing and complete details.

Marine Industry Dealer Certification is an industry standards program focused on delivering an excellent boating experience. The program provides dealers with a set of criteria designed to create continuous improvement across all departments and, in turn, develop processes for meeting and exceeding customer expectations.

Certification also includes a commitment to adhere to a “Consumer Bill of Rights.” This document, posted in our dealership, lets AYS customers know what to expect and outlines how they will be treated. It is our commitment to our valued customers.

Come in and experience the “Five Star” difference. We’re better, and we’ll prove it.

For starters, while at the dock, take a look around the cockpit. Stand at the helm and imagine yourself in a rough sea with challenging wind. Can you easily reach the mainsheet without leaving the helm? What about the traveler?

A number of the upgrades and modifications he suggests are standard on many Hunter cruising sailboats, from accessible traveler sheets to dedicated rope clutches to a mainsheet at the helm. But David goes beyond rigging to discuss safety and convenience as well. If you ever sail without a full complement of crew, the article is definitely worth a read.

http://www.sailingmagazine.net/how-to/technique/1029-how-to-optimize-for-shorthanded-sailing