A sea trial is the equivalent of a car test drive. Whether you are considering the purchase of a new or used model, or if you are dealing with a brokerage or private seller, it is perfectly in your right to insist on a sea trial before you commit to a purchase.
Why a sea trial?
For many boat buyers, a sea trial is simply a final verification and check for seaworthiness. Especially when dealing with a broker, you want to ensure everything is as it has been described by the sales description before you buy it.
If you are buying through a broker, a deposit will most likely be required. With a motorboat brokerage, you are sure to get a refund on your deposit. However, it is wise to make it clear what you expect in regards to the refund, whether you choose to buy the boat or not.
A sea trial remains the best way to test the actual performance of the boat on the water. This includes the steering, noise and vibrations of the boat.
What should you know when embarking on that sea trial?
Know what you want.
Use your sea trial to examine the things you can’t achieve ashore. This involves helming the boat, navigating every walkway and climbing every staircase while the boat is moving around at sea.
You want to make sure the decks are flat and grippy and the guardrails are adequate. Concentrate on the specifics rather than checking cabinets and closets.
Cruise your boat
If you don’t know what to look out for, it’s recommended to bring an expert with you to check.
First, pick a day when the weather is not totally perfect, then check the pace and the angles to assess how fast, how comfortable, how dry and how composed the boat is in each situation. This way you are able to assess how the boat responds to control, how comfortable it is and how it maneuvers through the water.
Think about your passengers
Your comfort on your boat is just as important as the people who will be making trips with you. Take one or two of them along on your sea trial to see what they think.
If you can’t get anyone to join you on the sea trial day, try to imagine what it would be like for a passenger rather than a driver. You want to check how safe and reassuring the boat feels while it is moving.
Consider the seating arrangement and ability to communicate while the boat is moving. Understand that your sea trial is not so much a fault finding mission as an experience. Treat the boat with respect as it is not your boat yet. Understand that a sea trial is a valuable supplement to, not a replacement for, a professional marine survey and engineer’s report.
If you take all these precautions when having a sea trial, you should be more clear about its condition and will be able to decide whether you want to make a purchase or not.
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