Before buying a yacht, it is very important to use the yacht for a sea trial, it is not only about safety while sailing but also affects the overall experience of the yacht. You can either sea trial the yacht yourself or hire a professional marine surveyor to help you do so, and learn about the overall condition of the yacht during the trial before making a purchase choice. This article will take you through a detailed discussion of what to look for when sea trialing a yacht, to help you start a safe trial journey.
Assessing the structural condition of the yacht
Before you buy a yacht, you will need to sea trial the yacht, whether it is a new or used yacht, to check the yacht and assess its structural condition. This includes the following basic checks:
1. Walk around on the yacht and knock on the hull on both sides of the yacht with your hand or fist, if the yacht is structurally sound. Then the sound when you knock on the hull should be a solid thump and you can feel that the hull is very sturdy.
2. checking the transom area of the yacht's hull is very important because when a yacht takes on water it starts at the transom. if you feel that the yacht is taking on water, you can use a hygrometer to measure and gather more information.
3. Check the overall condition of the gear that is underwater. Check the exterior of the yacht to see if the paint is intact? Is the leading edge still straight and true? Does the yacht have any dents in the hull from hitting rocks or sandbars? Are all anodes in place and in good condition?
4. Touch and test the handrails and other amenities on the boat with your hands. Shake the handrails to see if they are loose. See that the seats are securely mounted in the cabin and cockpit. Open and close lockers and make sure all chains are securely fastened to the lockers.
5. Check all the structure and fittings of the yacht, including the transom and longitudinal beams, and where the hull is attached to the deck. If you find any structural problems during the sea trial, be sure to contact the relevant people to solve them.
Checking the mechanical condition and electrical system
Sea trial is the best way for you to check the mechanical condition and electrical system of your yacht. During the sea trial, listen carefully for any unusual sounds in the mechanical system of the yacht while sailing, and observe whether the yacht engine smells when it is running; generally, you may smell gasoline when the yacht is running. For older yachts, if you are not sure, you can hire a professional mechanic to help you check. Check the yacht's mechanical and electronic equipment for corrosion or deterioration, and make sure that all of these equipment and systems are functioning properly and without problems.
Check the yacht's performance on the water
Whether you are buying a new or used yacht, sea trials are a key part of checking a yacht's performance. The following are some of the main points to check a yacht's performance on the water:
Engine check
When starting the engine, you need to carefully observe any abnormal sound, if the engine is on the inside of the boat or the stern, open the hatch to listen to the sound, the normal start of the engine sound should be the vibration of the humming sound and the flame arrestor hissing sound.
Shifter test
Be aware of how the shifter works, as the shifter moves to the detent you need to check that the forward and reverse engage properly, look out for any binding or sticking of the shift cable.
Yacht Handling Performance Test
Push the throttle to test how hard the yacht is to start and how easy it is to maneuver, and consider whether you can handle the yacht properly. When you start the test sail, set the yacht's cruising speed to see if the yacht can remain stable, and if so, slowly reduce the cruising speed afterwards.
Yacht Steering Test
While cruising at high speed in a safe area, test the yacht for ease of steering, including left and right turns, slalom and full circle turning maneuvers, while keeping an eye out for squeaks and rattles.
