Advice for boat buyers, owners, and sellers

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I have been sailing since my childhood in the sixties, beginning with dinghies. Since the mid-seventies open keel boats such as Dyas and Cruising Square Metre Boats type Lotus, since 1980 Swede 55. At the end of the eighties, I also specialized professionally in boating topics, at the beginning of the nineties focused on classic yachts, meter classes, yacht measurements, yacht restoration, Skärgårdskryssare/Skerry Cruisers and Cruising Square Metre Boats. You find details in the article about Swedesail.

“There are two lucky days in an owner’s life: when he buys the boat and when he sells it”

After decades sailing dinghies, keel boats and Swede 55, I remember this from moments when I questioned the challenging and time-consuming boat operation. Having put rose-coloured glasses aside, I show you how to make the most of the time between buying and selling. I can advise you:

  • before the purchase with straight ahead questions
  • after the purchase, with a path for your first season (avoiding common mistakes)
  • operating the boat regarding maintenance, repairs, and conversions
  • finally in the upcoming sale with preparation, successful advertising, filtering clients

Yachting know how since 1980

You are considering buying an S30 cruising square meter boat, a Swede 41 or Swede 55? You need to know where to be careful and where a closer look is necessary for your personal safety and ease of mind? Perhaps you just purchased one and need advice. You are considering a repair job and require guidelines on how to begin? Which tools are needed, which accessories or suppliers are helpful? Should you keep the existing engine or to replace it? A decision resulting in costs and work. Perhaps you inherited a boat, or it is time to prepare the sale.

Usually, most time spent for a job aboard goes into preparation. How is it done? Where to start? Which tools, materials and spare parts do you require? What should you do yourself, and what is wiser to have done by a professional? When is the right time?

Save time, material, and money

So save time, material, money, plus added lesson money spent for learning. Use my decades of experience in maintaining, repairing or optimizing the last Fisksätra manufactured Swede 55 named Gamle Swede. In addition to operating my boat, I have advised numerous sailors over the years. I took care of several new builds. I transferred used and new boats. As a sailor and from the technical side, I know well what matters. I am familiar with all kinds of boats, from cheap ones to Nautor’s Swans and large custom yachts. In this regard, please note that I publish on the subject with a professional view committed to the reader/user instead of the industry. I don’t care for the usual press claptrap.

Two kinds of advice for boat owners

I help you with targeted answers to your questions, usually being clarified in 1 to 1 ½ hours. This gets you as buyer or owner a decisive step ahead. Or I will support for a longer period of time.

  • Version A: You have a few questions regarding purchase, a job aboard or the sale of your boat?
  • Version B: You need repeated advice during a time span when buying, refurbishing or optimizing a boat? Then you book advice for 1, 3 or 6 months. You get replies to any questions that are coming up in that time span. Typically, within a day or two.

I supported boat builders, brokers, and owners in South Africa, the United States, the Netherlands, England, Hungary, Italy, Mallorca, Switzerland, and Germany.

Initial advice

Having worked for the German Yacht magazine for decades, I have been publishing regularly in Boat24 since 2014. Here you find some German language articles providing initial guidelines:

If you like to find out more on my work as a professional writer, check my website.

How I can help

Please let me know your requirements with your billing address via E-Mail and you will get an offer. After payment of the agreed fee, I will help with inquired advice due to variant A or B. Kindly note that I am solely working on a prepaid basis. Please accept I do not provide free advice beyond the contents of this website.

Photo on top: Wooden Boat article 1993, circulation 102,000. Updated June 30, 25. → Subscribe the free Newsletter and you won’t miss future articles.

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