Customer Reviews

How to Buy the Best Sailboat: An Updated Edition of the Leading Consumer Guide With a New Chapter on Selling a Boat

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Clearly considers a broad selection of information for one to consider in purchasing a sailboat. Including your personal values and anticipated use, construction,performance,self-survey, equipment and more. Spends to much time talking about outdated rigs (schooners,cats), hull materials (ferrocement, wood). Overall Good value for the price of the book. Would I buy again. Yes.

A woman that loves the water and sailing the Chesapeake Bay in her Dufour 35 writes this review. I purchased my boat without any research or knowledge of sailing or sailboats. I don't recommend this method to others. I was very fortunate that things didn't go badly. I have heard many horror stories at the marina and wanted to learn more, even though it was after the fact. That is the reason I purchased this book.

This book covers many aspects of the sailboat acquisition that had never occurred to me, even after going through it once. I found this book to be very complete from both the perspective of the prospective sailboat buyer and the current sailboat owner.

The book is subdivided as follows:
1. Learning from other's experiences
2. Sailboat selection prerequisites
3. Self-survey criteria for the engine and electrical systems
4. Self- survey criteria for below decks
5. Self-survey criteria for other equipment
6. Evaluating the designer, building, dealer/broker
7. Making the decision
8. Finalizing the sale
9. Other aspects of the decision
10. How to sell your boat

Appendix A: Sea Trial Checklist
Appendix B: Starter List of Tools and Spare Parts
Appendix C: Performance Criteria Checklist
Appendix D: Self-Survey Criteria Checklist
Appendix E: Summary Data Format
Appendix F: Pricing Worksheet
Appendix G: Long Term Costs Worksheet
Appendix H: Sailboat Evaluation Checklist

This book is written from the perspective of a day sailor that is compulsive about construction and fast sailboats. Given that I agree on all fronts, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Even though it is out of date, it still contains a lot of valuable information. I wouldn't consider getting rid of this book until a suitable replacement came along.

If you are serious about buying a sailboat, this book has much information to offer. I highly recommend this book. It does reflect a very accurate picture of what sailboat ownership is all about. I only wish that I had purchased this book before my first boat, and not after the fact.

This is a neat little book with lots of wisdom Gustafson apparently learned through experience. Some "how to buy a sailboat" books seem to be written by naval architects or good writers with limited experience. But this one combines experience with science. I have quite a few years experience sailing all sorts of boats in several locations and have owned several boats, but I still found myself taking notes while I read the book. You will too, I think, enjoy this little masterpiece. When purchasing or researching a sailboat to purchace this book will save you time and help you make an informed decision.

I found this book to be an excellent way to spend fourteen dollars. It is a 0.3% investment if you're thinking of a $5000 boat, and worth every penny. It's accessible to the novice, as it includes a glossary of salty terms and details many of the fundamentals of boats, yet it is also useful for the experienced sailor who could use a good review of the topic before making an investment. It is full of information that can save you much frustration should you buy a boat not completely informed. It is well written and organized well. It's photos are in black and white, and they're a little dark, but still effective.