PROCESS AND DECISION
Are you thinking of how to purchase a catamaran for sailing and cruising? You are already one step further, if you are reading this article, because you already know at least the type of the yacht you want to buy – a catamaran. You probably are connected to the yachting world by your passion for sailing and you have probably made some sailing experiences on catamarans before.
We call the process of buying a yacht a “romantic journey” and, indeed, your feelings and your passion will play a big role when choosing the right yacht for you. But a yacht is a big investment. You should rather compare it to buying a house than a car or another luxury product and relying only on your gut could be tricky.
Get started
Buying a catamaran is a complex project and here are some key decisions to make:
The type of boat
We have mentioned at the beginning that, since this article is about catamarans, you have probably already decided for yourself that you wish to become a catamaran owner. This decision should be based on questions like:
How and where will I use my boat?
Do I want to live aboard for longer periods or only spend a few nights or holiday weeks?
What is the main purpose of my future boat ownership – leisure, discover new parts of the world, entertaining guests, water sports with family and friends?
Will I want/ have to charter the boat out?
Take time to answer these questions for yourself and your family or the ones who will be using the boat together with you. Once you have clarity about it, you will be able to decide about the boat type (monohull or multihull), size, configuration and equipment. Make a list of your key features and preferences. Once this is done, the next step is to look at your budget. The options that you will be closely looking at should ideally adapt both to your budget and your preferences list. Remember that it is always about finding the best possible compromise.
New or used catamaran
There’s no one right answer to this question, since the choice will depend on all the above preferences and the balance of the yacht features and your budget.
Initially, you could save up money buying a used boat. There are a lot of used boats available for much less than the same models that are new. Besides, second-hand boats are usually available immediately.
Depending on your ownership goals, we recommend to compare and consider both used and new options. But always remember these 2 important tips:
Always hire an external expert for the boat inspection! Do not rely on the information from the seller or broker.
Always go on a sea trial!
And the question you need to ask yourself: Do you want to head out sailing now or are you willing to wait?
Browse your options and go to catamaran shows
Start searching online for boat offers based on the criteria from your list. Make sure to compare models and prices and pay attention to main features and special advantages of each boat. To become more aware of what to look at, we recommend to read and watch boat reviews.
Going to see the boat personally and attending boat shows is always a good idea. By doing this, you will gradually get more and more familiar with your own boat project and aware of more details.
Especially if you are a first-time boat buyer, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. Don’t hesitate to ask for help and speak to a boat broker or purchase advisor. A professional approach is much more systematic and you will get your results much faster.
BOAT INSPECTION, FINANCING & PURCHASE
Survey
When you have left the stage of the thought of how to purchase a catamaran and finally reaching the point when you have no more doubts about your boat type, size, configuration, equipment and offers you want to consider depending on your budget, it is time for boat inspection.
Surveying the boat is necessary before buying – you want to know what you’ll get and avoid unpleasant surprises. The inspection is critical with used boats, but you should do it properly with new ones too.
Never settle for what the seller tells and shows you. This is a major investment, so it’s better to dig deeper. Start with a walk-around and then arrange a sea trial to see how the boat feels like.
Sea trials are an important final part of your boat purchase journey. Once you have a decision in mind, you will feel confirmed in it after a sea trial.
Financing
You may want to use yacht loan or leasing for a number of reasons. Either you may not have enough cash to pay for the yacht in full or may not want to spend that much out of pocket. Yacht loans have a number of benefits in helping achieve your dream of yacht ownership.
Some of the pros are:
- Less cash required upfront
- No need to spend your savings or liquidate your stocks
- Invest the money you would have used to purchase the yacht outright
- Have more money available for repairs, maintenance, and other yacht-related costs
- Plan your budget with fixed monthly payments
- The lender ensures a smooth transaction and takes care of all the details for you
Watch here a short summary of how to approach yacht financing presented by our co-founder Viktor. We also have a separate article about yacht financing and financing through charter management, but we strongly recommend that you arrange an individual meeting with us to speak about your project.
Making the purchase
The purchase procedure includes several steps starting from placing the order with the shipyard, scheduling your payments, meetings about configuration and equipment and ending with the handover and after-sales options.
Before you sign the papers, make sure to read the paperwork carefully. Be aware of what’s included in the deal and what’s not. Be prepared for possible extras later on.
Moreover, if you are buying from a private person, double check that the owner actually owns the boat and if there are any outstanding bills.
When you’ve checked everything looks good, sign the papers and congratulations – you’re about to enjoy a new lifestyle as a boat owner!
Here’s how Yacht-Match can help you:
If you are at the beginning of this journey: book your individual free consultation with our purchase advisors.
If you are close to decision, but have some final doubts: have a look at our current Cruising Catamaran Offer with close delivery time and some great boni on top like our Serenity Program training you on your catamaran, free sailing holidays while you wait for the delivery of your catamaran and 5% discount on all after-market options.
