BOAT SELECTION
CONSULTATION & MENTORING SERVICE
Since 1976 I have professionally consulted with and mentored over 12,000 people seeking cruising boats. My experience in the marine industry is unique; 408,000 miles and 51 years worldwide ocean sailing experience plus boatbuilding, surveying and previously owning a yacht brokerage. I’ve also owned and maintained four ocean cruising boats.
Although 2025 will be my final year of offering sail-training expeditions, I plan on continuing to offer this consultation service until 2030.
April 26, 2025 MARKET UPDATE from Oban, Scotland:
I’ve never had more consultation clients closing on boats worldwide than now. The new record is six sets of clients closing within three weeks on boats located in France, The Netherlands, Mexico and the US. Historically (I’ve been watching this market for 51 years) in times of financial or political instability, more people want to take off on cruising adventures.
Many new clients are purchasing boats in Europe where prices and availability are considerably better than in the US and Canada. The last three clients have gotten into multiple offers to the seller at the same time scenarios, so the market for well found offshore capable boats is absolutely heating up again, as it did during COVID.
December 3, 2024 MARKET UPDATE from Rarotonga, Cook Islands and New Zealand:
I’ve been meeting with cruisers who have just arrived in Opua, NZ from Europe and North America and several are needing to sell their boats quickly to return to jobs or to help aging parents. From everything I’ve heard, the NZ economy appears to be in recession, having not recovered from COVID. I’ve seen some excellent values in cruising yachts and the three bonus factors here are:
1. Currently the US dollar is at near record levels against the NZ dollar, but that strength may erode.
2. NZ is tied with the west coast of Sweden for having the best refit/offshore outfit facilities in the world for cruising boats.
3. The world’s most spectacular cruising grounds of Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Australia are just one weeks sailing away.
Interestingly, a continued strong market does not appear to be the situation in Europe where boat prices are generally lower.
I am ready and keen to help you find your dream cruising boat.
$2000
Unlimited Email Consultation & Mentoring Service
There is NO time limit on this consultation/mentoring service which is conducted by email and includes:
- An initial 40-minute video conference call, after which the consultation is conducted by email.
- Analysis of your total overall cost of ownership: purchase, outfitting, maintenance, and resale value.
- A discussion of what you will need to do to become insurable and an introduction to the most appropriate insurance agent(s).
- Analysis of the boats you are currently considering, focusing on design, quality, safety, seaworthiness, speed and comfort.
- Suggestion of additional boats for you to review.
- Listing and selling prices of sisterships utilizing information from soldboats.com.
- Assisting you in formulating an Offer to Purchase.
- Referral to qualified and unbiased marine surveyors worldwide.
- Review of the survey with recommendation on post-survey price negotiations.
- Advice and referrals regarding, registration, offshore flagging and tax implications.
- Assistance with referrals for qualifying for two levels of insurance, initial and offshore.
- Evaluation of current gear including sails and communications equipment with recommendations of additional equipment needed for safe extended voyaging.
- Overall voyage planning assistance, plus recommendations of specific weather routers.
- Recommendations of safe boatyards worldwide for refit or storage while you return home.
- Assistance selling you boat years later, potentially in a higher market than where you are considering purchasing.
- If you prefer consultation by telephone (after the initial 40-minute video conference) the price is an additional $250 per hour.
$750
Unlimited Outfitting, Voyage Planning & Mentoring Consultation
- This service is offered if you’ve already ordered or purchased your cruising vessel but need advice and recommendations on gear replacement and additions plus overall voyage planning.
Consultations are conducted by e-mail as this allows me to research answers and keep track of the boats we’ve discussed. I reply Monday – Saturday. Sunday is my day off.
- Fill out and return the Boat Consultation Questionnaire.
- Contact me with your Visa or MC card details. Phone: mobile 360-378-7344. Note, while on expedition, I’m focused on teaching and unable to take phone calls, so email is best during those dates. I will always reply to email within 24-48 hours.
- Download a .pdf file of the Questionnaire. Please email me your completed questionnaire: sailing@mahina.com
Please note I am a professional consultant. I don’t sell boats or receive commissions of any type from anyone. My only interest is in helping you find the boat which will allow you to realize your cruising dreams safely and comfortably, while maintaining as much of your investment as possible.
