The yacht industry in China has been developing for over a decade, and the "yacht craze" is gradually heating up. Due to various factors such as budget, many buyers choose to purchase second-hand yachts.
On the other hand, many new interested shipowners come from the middle and upper classes, and they are more rational in yacht purchase.
Many of them may also want to start with second-hand boats, so they don't have to worry about causing too much damage during the use of yachts.
When the domestic yacht market is not yet mature and people are not yet familiar with new boats, buying second-hand boats can be a dangerous situation for buyers.
Today we are going to talk about the "advice" that old yachtsmen give us when buying second-hand yachts.
Firstly, before purchasing a second-hand yacht, it is necessary to clarify the purchasing requirements: is it for commercial operation? Or for business reception? Or do you just play on your own?
Different types of yachts are chosen according to different needs, such as business yachts, sailboats, fishing boats, sports boats, etc.
After clarifying your needs, it is important to see if the budget of your wallet can meet your needs.
With a rough selection range, you can avoid blindly choosing yachts.
As for the demand for cheap, beautiful, and relatively new boats, it is time to test one's character.
Once you have determined your needs and budget, you can start searching for yachts that meet the requirements!
Yachts are highly specialized for most Chinese buyers, and Chinese people do not know much about yachts!
How to view and choose a yacht when purchasing it for the first time?
1. Take a look at the certificate
If the place where your yacht will be moored has strict requirements for yacht driving qualifications, then it is important to check if the yacht's certificate is complete and whether it can be transferred.
Certificates refer to three certificates: ownership certificate, nationality certificate, and ship inspection certificate.
It should be noted that second-hand yachts from abroad cannot be declared for entry into China, and even if they enter the country, it is difficult to license them.
Of course, if the local management of yacht driving qualifications is not strict, it is up to you to consider whether the certificates are complete.
2. Brand new second-hand boat
There are also some yachts in China that are not actually second-hand, but agents or sellers sell new yachts as second-hand yachts in order to recover funds.
Such yachts generally do not have three certificates, but it is necessary to verify whether they have been declared and taxed, otherwise it is also a troublesome matter to be unable to license after purchase.
It should be noted that if it is a domestic yacht that has not undergone ship inspection during the manufacturing process, and there is no ship inspection certificate after it is built, it will be very troublesome to reapply for the ship inspection certificate.
3. Investigate whether there have been major accidents on the yacht
Generally, we can conduct investigations through insurance companies or by hiring professional personnel for inspection, such as hiring a suitable surveyor.
I am not referring to an official surveyor (usually specialized in merchant ships and rarely familiar with yachts), but rather a person who lives at sea and has practical hands-on experience.
Ideally, someone who has worked in the yacht industry for many years and has done yacht testing and after-sales service knows all the tricks and will provide you with a complete report on the condition of the yacht.
Including whether it has been repaired and telling you what needs to be replaced, repaired or improved to return the ship to perfect sailing conditions.
If you are inexperienced, unfamiliar or unfamiliar, you can also entrust a third-party professional investigation. For the sake of the overall situation, don't pity a little money to save trouble.
4. Personally inspect the current boat and inspect it
It is best to have a professional conduct a professional evaluation and inspection. The appearance, interior, engine, generator, and electrical components of the yacht are mandatory inspections.
If it is a power boat, the launch time and engine usage time of the yacht are key indicators.
Less than 500 hours should be almost brand new; Over 1000 hours, there should be obvious wear and marks; Over 2000 hours, the engine may require a major overhaul and the cost is relatively high.
Of course, it's not that the less time the engine is used, the better. It mainly depends on the maintenance and upkeep of the engine.
5. Price positioning
At present, the Chinese yacht market is not yet fully mature, and the second-hand yacht market is even more immature.
In the absence of a professional second-hand yacht evaluation agency, buyers can compare the model, usage, and maintenance status of the yacht with the sales prices of similar yachts in the current market, in order to determine a price that both buyers and sellers can accept.
But one thing is certain: a well maintained yacht is definitely more valuable, and the price is also higher.
Unless you are more professional and have enough patience to repair and refurbish a second-hand yacht, it is recommended to prioritize a well maintained yacht and prioritize the price.
6. Certificate changes after purchase
After purchasing a second-hand yacht, according to the regulations of the Maritime Safety Administration, it is necessary to change the registration of the relevant certificates of the yacht, that is, the registration procedures for second-hand yachts by the Maritime Safety Administration, rather than transferring ownership. The requirements of various local maritime safety bureaus are similar. But it is recommended to conduct necessary and sufficient consultation before purchasing boats.
7. Other key points
See if you can check the log book (unfortunately, many small boats do not have a log book).
On sailboats, it is important to remember that if the ship frequently participates in races, the sails and rigging may become severely deformed after several races and may need to be replaced.
Try to request sea trials as much as possible.
Check if the safety equipment on board is updated.
The most important thing is to create a list of costs that can estimate the cost of repairing all problems.