boating information

For those handy with their hands and plenty of DIY experience, an alternative to buying a new boat is the sailaway. At its most basic it will consist of a primed shell with engine, ballast, floor, doors and windows fitted, so that it can be moved on the water and is protected against the elements. Various additions to this can also be specified, including insulation, lining, electrical cables in place, water tank fitted etc, right up to an almost ready boat.

It is a satisfying and cost-effective way of buying a new boat, but there are two important factors to consider. The first is time. It will take a lot longer than you think and it requires a significant amount of commitment. For an amateur it will take six months to a year of full-time work to complete which equates to two to three years of evenings and weekends. Even the most enthusiastic starter may find their passion waning during that time and there are many part-completed sailaways around the system as testament to that fact. The second factor is your skill level, both with joinery and technical aspects. A poorly finished interior may render a boat unsaleable when you come to move on and it is vital to get things like the wiring correct.

If you do go ahead, then you could save £20,000 upwards when compared to a similarly specified new build, but of course this doesn’t include anything for your own time. If you are not absolutely sure of your own abilities you would be better off going for a used boat that is perhaps three or four years old.

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