Let’s take a look at one of the most important parts of the boat-buying process

Just like taking a car out for a test drive before purchasing it, so too a boat should be taken for a sea trial before she is bought. It is not just a highly encouraged part of boat buying. A sea trial is vital to ensure that you did not just make a very expensive mistake and that you know most, if not all, of the risks that may come with the purchase. However, what to look for and do during the test may be hazy to new boaters, and so hopefully this short article will help you out.

We also encourage you to bring a knowledgeable and experienced friend along on the trial, as their perspective will definitely help. Having said that, hiring a third-party marine surveyor is still the best way to ascertain the condition of the boat without bias.

Replicate a typical day

The most effective way to start a sea trial is to perform it on a ‘regular day’ that you can see yourself using the boat. Plan to use the vessel as a weekend coastal cruiser? Then schedule the trial on a normal weekend morning and bring her out along the coast. Is the vessel going to be a sport fisher? Then head out earlier and go further out into the sea.

If practical, have the vessel filled with fuel, and bring some friends along. Fuel, people, water, gear – all these adds weight significantly to the vessel and will affect how she performs.

Push her

By her, we mean the boat, and by push, we mean all the way to full send. Bring her engines across the rev range, and stretch her legs. This will give you a full picture of her behavior across her capable speeds. Perform a couple of hard turns at a high speed to see if she pulls cleanly and powerfully through the bend. Should conditions permit, test her in rougher waters as well.

If the vessel is a new one, do ask the dealer about horsepower options that will meet your use of the vessel. Base engines are enticingly cheap as they should be and may be enough during trial, but if all guests are on board and she’s fully stocked, you may just regret the decision to go with the cheaper option.

Drive, and be driven

As the driver, take note of overall visibility, especially the captain’s forward vision as the yacht accelerates to plane. Is she easy to place in the water? Is she easy to dock? Are the controls intuitive?

As the passenger, sit and relax in the different social areas when the boat is both moving and stationary. How does it feel? Move around when the boat is going at a safe speed and feel your way around the vessel.  Are you always reaching for handholds? Are the engines loud? This is important, especially if you plan to bring guests on board. Having only the viewpoint of a driver or captain will create a myopic perspective.

Keeping her line

At no-wake-speeds, centre the yacht’s wheel and see how well she keeps its line. This will tell you how well her engines are aligned, and while it may seem like a small thing, having to constantly oversteer to correct this can be quite irritating. Trimming an engine up will minimise this effect, but of course it’s best if the boat can keep her line without finagling.

Drive into and away from the sun

This little test will show if there are any surfaces reflecting the light and affecting your visibility of the sea ahead and the instrumentation. There will inevitably be some glare at certain angles, so just make sure that it isn’t excessive.

Press all the buttons

Flip every switch, press every button, and turn any control on and off to see if they are working. Certain things are cheap to replace, while others may not be. Get to know them, and negotiate the price of the vessel accordingly.

Let’s end

As a potential owner of a new boat, a sea trial is exciting and fun. However, keep your wits about you as this is your best opportunity to drive the boat and see how she hosts guests, as well as properly feel out how your future together may be. Use the time astutely, and you may just be compensated with many years of trouble-free happiness.

Aside from this, you can also purchase the vessel through trusted brokers like Pen Marine. After all, we have over three decades of experience in this industry, which has given us the skill and knowledge to assess the condition of boats and negotiate a fair price for both the seller and the buyer. You can get in touch with us here.