Paradise Yachts Blog

The First Mate's Role

2012-02-10T06:22:00.000-05:00

My wife Mary is the First Mate of our trawler, the Patricia Ann. I jokingly call her the Admiral because any decision by me, the Captain, can be overruled by her but we are usually a good team and in agreement.

A yacht is a small city afloat. There are at least two power generation systems, both alternating and direct currents. There might also be a wind generator and solar system on some used boats, a marine waste treatment system, an inverter, a watermaker, hotel accommodations to allow the crew to sleep and rest, food preparation systems (electrical or propane), food storage systems (freezers and refrigeration), water systems to allow for bathing and cooking, navigational systems to allow the yacht to move about and even entertainment systems with movies and concerts.

Yes, a yacht is a rather complex system. And running a boat is a team effort – it would be very difficult for one person to handle and monitor everything.

A First Mate’s role is to do anything that the Captain cannot, either determined by skill, preference, availability or all three. The First Mate's role is absolutely critical for safe and enjoyable cruising.

As First Mate, Mary stows everything down below when we are getting ready to cruise (anything that can fall and break while underway). She also handles the lines when leaving the dock. She makes sure to hang those lines in their proper place once we get underway. Our trawler, the Patricia Ann is always ship shape and clutter is NOT an option. While we are cruising to our destination, she is tasked with reading paper charts while I am operating the boat and navigating with the electronic chart plotter and radar. Her role is to navigate and confirm the paper chart’s data for the Captain who’s using the electronic version; call it a backup system. We rarely go without both paper and electronic charts.

When we reach our destination, she handles the anchor, allowing the Captain to set the hook (anchor) at which time she fastens the bridle. If we take our dinghy ashore, the Captain runs that the same as he does Patricia Ann and the First Mate handle the lines. It’s just a lot easier on a 10’ boat than a 44’ boat! When we are ready to leave our anchorage, she again handles the hook, washes the chain and anchor off and secures the security pin. When we arrive back at our slip, she again handles the lines while the Captain guides Patricia Ann right where she should be.

I guess another way to look at it is the First mate is actually the Captain’s assistant. Some women might have a problem with that but my First mate doesn’t. We know couples whose roles are reversed – whatever works!

Another very important first mate duty is to plan meals and provision as small yachts don’t have dedicated chefs. We both do the actual shopping but my First Mate gets to plan everything. She does enjoy that part and loves the shopping even more! We both enjoy cooking – I am the grill-king and Mary is the galley slave, just kidding. She plans healthy, tasty and easy meals as we don’t want to spend hours in the galley when there are islands to explore! You can read some of our favorite recipes on the website.

In a clam shell, the Captain on our boat is responsible for maintaining and operating the boat; the First Mate is responsible for keeping a clean living environment and for the welfare of the crew.

Mike is President of Paradise Yachts, located in Florida USA and Mary is First Mate of the motor vessel Patricia Ann.

Another One Sold by Paradise Yachts

2012-02-07T05:02:00.001-05:00

We were approached some time back from a couple from Delaware asking for our services in locating a used trawler. As always, we searched the market for just the right boat and found a nice 42 footer in Manteo, NC; we closed on her last week.

If you are contemplating the purchase of a yacht, call on us to help you find the best one.

You can see additional photos of her at 42' Fu Hwa.

Preparing Your Boat for a Marine Survey

2012-02-03T05:40:00.001-05:00

Good morning,

Mike wrote an article about preparing your boat for a marine survey because many used boat sellers do not understand the significance of the survey.

You have received an offer for your boat; the boat buyer is now setting up the survey. The survey is a detailed inspection of your boat and can be the make or break the deal. So preparing for the actual survey should be taken seriously.

Marine surveyors look for a spotless well maintained vessel; it sets the atmosphere for the survey. I have had more than a few surveyors tell me that the can usually tell what they are going to discover by how the yacht looks from the dock.

A surveyor is going to find those things that do not work and tell the buyer. If it does not operate, any prospective buyer will presume the worst and most likely want an allowance for new equipment. It is much easier and less expensive to fix everything prior to surveying the boat than to pay to have it done later.

Read the entire article about Preparing Your Boat for a Marine Survey.

Visiting with Customers

2012-01-31T05:41:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone,

Our customers from Charleston purchased a 36' Krogen Manatee last June and have been cruising the Intracoastal waters ever since. They headed north in the summer and now are heading south to unknown destinations. They stopped at our marina, Tiger Point Marina and Boatyard, for a few days' R and R. It was great seeing them again and seeing all the improvements they have made to their trawler. We enjoy following their cruising adventures by reading their blog; they are very good about keeping it updated. Safe cruising Mark and Linda!

Surveying a Used Trawler

2012-01-27T05:58:00.001-05:00

Good morning everyone,

A few weeks ago, our Delaware buyers fell in love with a 42' Fu Hwa trawler located in Manteo, NC and the marine survey and sea trial were scheduled for Tuesday. Mike and I left Monday and drove to Kill Devil Hills for the night. That was a LONG drive, especially since it was raining all day. We woke up Tuesday morning to a chilly but clear morning. Off to the marina where we met the buyer, seller and marine surveyor. It was a good day; only a few minor items were found to be in need of repair.

Wednesday morning we woke up early and headed to Oriental, NC where we previewed a 36' Monk trawler for another customer. Nice boat but we have a few others to look at before we make recommendations to our boat buyer.

After that we headed to Cary, NC to visit with my Dad. My brother and his family came over for dinner; it was a great visit with my family. We are now back home for a few days before heading out again to look at boats with another customer on Tuesday. Life is good!

January 2012 Cruise

2012-01-23T09:01:00.000-05:00

Good morning everyone,

Mike and I have been working a lot lately which is a VERY good thing. However, like everyone else, we need time off to recharge our batteries. Our greatest pleasure is taking our trawler, the Patricia Ann, out for a few days on the hook. We are going to our favorite anchorage, Cumberland Island. The weather is beautiful for mid-January -- mid 70's and sunny. I never tire of Cumberland and would like to spend weeks on the hook but the business right now won't allow for that. There is such a sense of freedom; it's hard to explain to those who have never done it.

The great thing about technology these days is that Mike and I are able to work while on the hook. We received all the acceptances on the trawler in Manteo and were able to wire money out while on the hook, thus closing the deal. Life is good!

We slept like babies last night with no generator and no heat. It was wonderful; the best rest either of us has had in weeks. Today we will go explore Cumberland, as we always do, and I am sure we will see something new; we always do.

I just wanted to post a fun post so that you know we do allow for some "down" time when weather and business allow.

Mike made a video of our latest visit to the island ... enjoy!

Yacht Broker Discounted Sales Commission Schedule

2012-01-20T06:05:00.001-05:00

Good morning everyone,

2001 46' Nordhavn

Both Mary and I watch the worlds financial systems carefully and follow the developments here at home closely.

We are well aware of the difficulties this economy is having with used trawler and used motor yacht owners wishing to sell their boats.

Therefore we are going to discount the commission sellers are required to pay us by up to 37%

Paradise Yachts is pleased to announce our new commission schedule effective immediately.

Read more about this exciting, aggressive new yacht broker commission schedule.

Mike

45' 1985 Chung Hwa Trawler Price Reduction

2012-01-16T05:58:00.000-05:00

Good morning everyone,

Our seller has reduced the price of this beautiful 1985 45' Chung Hwa trawler to $109,000. This boat was built by the Chung Hwa yard in Taiwan. A rare cruising trawler, it is a deep protecting keeled, heavy craft, well suited for rigorous coastal cruising. The 600-gallon fuel capacity with a 5-6 GPH burn rate and her cruise speed of 9 knots allows a very comfortable ride with range of over 900 nautical miles.. I'll rate this boat Average.

The trawler has a full teak interior customary of Asian -built boats. She needs a few things to make her ready to go: repair of a soft spot on the foredeck and new bottom paint.

To view all her specs, photos and You Tube video, visit her page at the Paradise Yachts website. We also have other used boats for sale that might be of interest to you.

Choosing a Used Trawler

2012-01-06T08:27:00.003-05:00

Think a trawler might be in your future? But where do you start the search? A trawler is not to be confused with fishing vessels although the idea originated with the seagoing fishing vessels. A trawler is in general a boat with a long, deep keel to prevent running gear damage in the event of grounding, boats with top cruising speeds of 7-10 knots, and boats with large panoramic windows for good views.

Typically a trawler has a large fuel and water capacity to enable extended cruising and have crew creature comforts that will match any vessel afloat. The primary draw of a trawler is the traditional salty lines that turn heads at every dock.

Continue reading more about used trawler styles and designs.

Cruising the Waters Vicariously

2012-01-03T05:15:00.000-05:00

Good morning everyone and Happy New Year!

My favorite aspect of this business is meeting new people and keeping in touch with them. We help make their cruising dreams come true. What's more rewarding is knowing they are following their dream and actually living it.

One couple just finished the Great Loop on their 36' Monk trawler. Another couple from France is almost done with the Great Loop trip and then they will head over to the Bahamas for a month. Our South Carolina customers just left home and are heading south on their 36' Krogen Manatee. They maintain a blog on a regular basis so I can follow the adventures of the good ship Hazel Ann. Our New Zealand customers are now in the Bahamas living their dream. They too have a blog and update it when they have internet access. Our Canadian customers are in the Bahamas cruising on their 52' Jefferson cockpit motor yacht as well and we receive occasional emails from them. Our Idaho customers are cruising south on their 66' Cheoy Lee and again, I read about their family travels frequently.

Mike and I must continue to work so we cruise all these waters vicariously through our customers. Thank you to all!

Happy New Year 2012

2011-12-30T06:39:00.005-05:00

Good morning everyone,

As we enter the new year, here are our top ten 2012 boating wishes:

We wish not to be hassled by a storm that has a name,
We wish to be on the hook without encountering a 34 foot Sea Ray throwing a 4 foot wake,
We wish to cruise the ICW and have all fast boats give us a slow pass,
We wish that fuel prices will remain as they are....or perhaps drop?
We wish to sell more boats....:),
We wish to cruise our trawler, the Patricia Ann, to the Florida Keys,
We wish that the recently applied Cetol Natural to our teak rails looks as good this time next year,
We wish that we can get more than 24 months out of our Sea Hawk bottom paint,
We wish for crabbing to improve,
We wish for calm seas and fair winds.

We wish you and your family all the best for 2012.

Mary and Mike

Maintaining Teak

2011-12-27T07:56:00.000-05:00

Good morning everyone,

We typically work on our trawler teak each year in September, however this year for some reason we didn't get to it until December. We decided to strip the rails all the way down to bare wood and start over. They previously had pigmented varnish on them. We used Dad's paint stripper to remove the old varnish. Step by step instructions can be found in our Cruising Center. It's not a difficult process and the finished product is so pretty.

Due to the unpredictible winter weather, this project took almost two weeks to complete. First we had to roll all of our sundeck isinglass up so we could access the rails. Then we had to wait for a cold front to come through, bringing with it lots of rain. Then we had to wait for the wood to dry thoroughly. It took a few days to dry out the sundeck too.

Sure looks pretty, doesn't it? We're done until next fall!

Twas the Night Before Christmas

2011-12-25T06:04:00.001-05:00

Merry Christmas

2011-12-20T06:06:00.000-05:00

This is the time of year when we traditionally pause and reflect on all the good that has happened during the past 12 months. One of the best things has been our association with you, our valued reader. We extend our warmest wishes for a Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with peace, joy and success. We wish all the best to you and your family.

Mike and Mary

Fuel Tank Equalization

2011-12-16T06:49:00.002-05:00

Some weeks ago, I found that I needed to replace some fuel lines so I chose to replace all of them at the same time. During the process, I did a complete inspection of the fuel system aboard our 40 Labelle. I found several needed-replacing lines.

I found, much to my amazement, that the generator fuel return did not go to the center day tank as I thought but fed to the port tank. So when we ran the generator often, the vessel would develop a slight list.

So with some careful planning, I devised a crossover series of valves and lines to connect both the starboard and port saddle tanks together; now the fuel is always equalized.

If you would like detailed information on how we did this on our trawler, just let me know.

Mike

Yacht Buying - Vessel Rating Guide

2011-12-13T06:17:00.000-05:00

Buying a used yacht can be difficult. Interpreting the listing specifications can be confusing as to the actual condition and operational status of the vessel; most listing yacht brokers would rather not tell you the exact shortcomings of a boat. The reason for this? Most yacht sellers take a dim view of their broker saying anything negative about their boat; the listing is supposed to attract a boat buyer, not turn them away.

But we think a bit differently. We had rather you know what you are going to look at up front; after all, you will discover the issues upon inspection anyway. But when we disclose shortcomings up front, we can validate the asking price of the vessel.

Read more of Mike's Vessel Rating Guide.

Jimmy Buffett

2011-12-11T17:31:00.009-05:00

We had a busy weekend for Paradise...trip to the panhandle, two offers written, but it has otherwise been a wet and looooong week for us; not much to do aboard except to watch Jimmy. Of course boat drinks were necessary.....come along.

The weather has been so bad we can not get the Patricia Ann from the dock; but it will happen soon when weather breaks..

Life is good....enjoy!

Hope you enjoy.

New Zealand Customers and Friends

2011-12-09T06:56:00.001-05:00

Good morning all,

Mary and Lance

Delicious dessert provided by our guests!

Our New Zealand boat buyers (and now our friends) have been at Tiger Point Marina and Boat Yard for almost three weeks now getting work done on their motor yacht. All is done now and they will continue their journey south tomorrow. Their ultimate destination is the Bahamas where they will cruise around until April.

We had them over for a bon voyage dinner last night; Mike made his delicious Brunswick stew and they brought delectable custard eclairs for dessert. They also gave us a beautiful print of New Zealand as well as a key chain from their country. These gifts will be treasured.

It has been a pleasure getting to know them and we will truly miss them when they are gone. I will follow their blog on a daily basis so I can cruise vicariously through them. Safe travels, Mary and Lance!

Selling Your Boat in a Down Economy

2011-12-06T06:04:00.000-05:00

We Yacht Brokers are very knowledgeable on promoting the lifestyle benefits of boat ownership. And those of us Yacht Brokers that actually own a yacht have a distinct advantage. But what we do not particularly like, are the difficulties associated with marketing a boat in a down market; it’s brutal to say the least. But it must be done.

A boat, like cars and houses, takes a beating in a down economy. Values can plummet overnight simply as a result of supply and demand. If you find yourself in these circumstances of wanting or needing to sell your yacht, you will appreciate the circumstances. All at once it appears that there are many despairing boat owners, all of whom seem to have a vessel better than yours, at a lower price than you are prepared to accept.

At the same time there seems to be fewer genuine boat Buyers. Those Buyers that are out there are looking for a better-than-good-deal. It seems that the only way to sell a boat is for the seller to take a beating and make the sale at a considerable loss. The irony is that very often, that loss is needless. To a considerable extent, those losses in the boat marketplace are often attributable to the Seller's lack of preparedness. Let me elaborate with several points.

Read more about selling your boat in a down economy.

1988 34' Sea Ray Express Price Reduction

2011-12-02T07:01:00.000-05:00

Good morning everyone,

The seller of this 1988 34' Sea Ray Express cruiser has reduced her price to $22,500. She is priced to sell!

This 1988 Express cruiser is perfect for a weekend getaway. She has a roomy interior which combines a large forward stateroom, full sized galley, convertible dinette and generous storage.

Big single level cockpit includes large helm and companion seats, transom door, removable stern seat. Cockpit hatches provide good engine access.

You can view all her specs and photos at the Paradise Yachts website. We also have other used boats for sale that might interest you.

2003 65' Grand Harbour Motor Yacht Price Reduction

2011-12-01T06:35:00.001-05:00

Hello everyone,

The sellers of this beautiful 65' Grand Harbour motor yacht have just reduced her price by $49,000 to $800,000. She has very low hours and has been lightly used.

She comes complete with a watermaker, full reverse cycle heating and air, complete electronics package, Jacuzzi, Vacuflush heads, bow thruster, ice makers, inverter, satellite TV and phone and much, much more.

To view all her specs, photos and a You Tube video, visit her page at the Paradise Yachts website. We also have other used boats for sale that might interest you.

1991 66' Cheoy Lee LRC Trawler For Sale

2011-11-30T14:35:00.003-05:00

Hi all,

We just listed this beautiful 1991 66' Cheoy Lee LRC. This boat is an above average boat.

The seller bought this trawler in April of 2011 on the east coast of the US and had her shipped to Alaska. After performing many upgrades to her, she was cruised all summer. The owner has now decided that perhaps she is too much boat for he and his wife to safely handle; a smaller boat is desired.

She comes complete with 5 staterooms, two water makers, full reverse cycle heating and air, complete electronics package, stabilizers, new bow thruster, ice makers, inverter, satellite TV and phone and much, much more.

We have a hull survey and an engine survey completed in April 2011 that we will be happy to provide to serious buyers.

To view all her specs, photos and a You Tube video, visit her page at the Paradise Yachts website. You can also view our other used boats for sale.

1985 45' Chung Hwa Price Reduction

2011-11-29T05:53:00.000-05:00

Good morning everyone,

The owner of this beautiful 1985 45' Chung Hwa sundeck trawler has reduced her price to $120,000. This 1985 45 River's Edge trawler was built by the Chung Hwa yard in Taiwan. A rare cruising trawler, it is a deep protecting keeled, heavy craft, well suited for rigorous coastal cruising. The 600-gallon fuel capacity with a 5-6 GPH burn rate and her cruise speed of 9 knots allows a very comfortable ride with range of over 900 nautical miles.

The trawler has a full teak interior customary of Asian -built boats. She needs a few things to make her ready to go: repair of a soft spot on the foredeck and new bottom paint.

To view all her specs, photos and a You Tube video, visit her page at the Paradise Yachts website. You can also check out our other used boats for sale.

43' 1986 Albin Classic Trawler For Sale

2011-11-27T07:01:00.000-05:00

This used 1986 Albin trawler was built in Taiwan during the height of the trawler building era. A very popular boat, it is a deep protecting keeled, heavy craft, well suited for coastal cruising. The 500-gallon fuel capacity with a 5-6 GPH burn rate and her cruise speed of 9 knots allows a very comfortable ride with range of over 700 nautical miles.

Overall, this boat is clean and in pretty good condition; she simply needs a new owner ready to give some TLC. I am not aware of any active water leaks on this boat. All previous leaks were identified, stopped and repairs made where required.

To view all her specs and photos, visit her page at the Paradise Yachts website. You can also view our other used boats for sale.

Happy Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-25T06:14:00.000-05:00

Good morning,

We did not take our trawler out for our second annual Thanksgiving cruise this year due to weather and our work schedules. The winds have been howling for the past four days and believe it or not, we have boat buyers in town.

We enjoyed the company of our customers from New Zealand and we did prepare our traditional fare: grilled fresh ham, collards, deviled eggs, corn bread, cranberry salad and Brunswick stew. Yummy!

We hope all of you had a happy Thanksgiving!

More International Boat Buyers

2011-11-22T07:24:00.000-05:00

Good morning everyone,

It was late spring when Mike had an inquiry about one of our used boats for sale from a couple from New Zealand. Unfortunately, the boat had already sold but Mike told these folks he would be more than happy to find them a boat that suited their needs. They knew exactly what brand boat they wanted so Mike began the search. He found a good boat in Baltimore and suggested to the buyers that they make an offer, sight unseen. Mike and the marine surveyor flew to Baltimore to survey and sea trial the boat. It turns out the Maryland broker was accurate and this was indeed a very good boat. The buyers went through with the sale, again, sight unseen.

Our customers arrived in the United States in early October and were pleased with their purchase. They spent several weeks getting to know their new boat and getting her ready for the cruise south. Their ultimate plan is to cruise the Bahamas for six months -- how's that for a life!

They contacted us a few weeks ago and asked if we knew a good yard in our area that could do some work for them. Of course we recommended our yard, Tiger Point Marina, to do the work. They are very reasonably priced and always do a superior job. Mike made arrangements for them to have a slip for a few weeks while they get the work done. They arrived on Saturday and invited us over for cocktails and a tour. They do indeed have a beautiful boat -- Mike did good! It was wonderful to finally meet them; I've been following their cruising adventures by reading their blog on a daily basis so I felt like I already knew them.

We had them over for cocktails yesterday afternoon and will be spending quality time with them for the duration. They are wonderful people and I am so glad we had the opportunity to meet them. Mike has volunteered his after the sale services to help them learn how to maneuver in close quarters and will begin that training soon.

Stay tuned!

Long Weekend

2011-11-20T17:16:00.001-05:00

We just got back home...long weekend. Mary and I worked all weekend for our sellers; two boat showings. But that's what we do to get the job done. Now is that a nice sunset to end the week?

2002 43' Mainship Classic Price Reduction

2011-11-19T06:46:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone,

The owner of this beautiful 2002 43' Mainship Classic has reduced her price $10,000. This 2002 Mainship trawler is a very popular boat, it has a deep protecting keel, well suited for coastal cruising.

The boat is very clean inside and shows well. The boat has very low hours and is in good condition with no rotten wood or water damage to be found. The owner tells me that he is not aware of any issues or non working equipment. I have a 2005 survey when the owner purchased this boat that I will share to qualified buyers.

To view all her specs, photos and a You Tube video, visit her page at the Paradise Yachts website. We also have other used boats for sale that might be of interest to you!

2005 42' Cigarette 42X Racing Boat

2011-11-18T13:51:00.001-05:00

This is a one-owner boat. The boat was purchased new by the owner in 2005 and has been lightly used. She sports a custom paint job. The boat is remarkably clean in every way; engines, cabin and cockpit. If a boat with speed is your cup of tea, let's get you aboard this boat.

To view all her specs and photos, visit her page at the Paradise Yachts website.

For the Love of Boating

2011-11-18T06:09:00.000-05:00

Boating is a lifestyle that thousands of Americans enjoy.

Boating is fun for people who like being out on the open waters. Boating is fun but does require more information and knowledge than just jumping behind the wheel and starting an engine. While boating is fun, however, it is also a hobby where you need to pay a lot of attention to safety. There are some things to take into consideration before you get your boat on the water. Do you know how to operate a big boat in close quarters? How about reading charts; these are some requirements before venturing out on the water.

Read more about the Love of Boating.

Cruising On Our Trawler Again!

2011-11-15T06:56:00.000-05:00

Good morning all,

It's been almost two months since we left the dock on our own trawler, the Patricia Ann. Weather and business prevented us from leaving prior to yesterday. We had to have our boat hauled out in order to replace the exhaust covers. That took about an hour and then we were on our way to our favorite anchorage, Cumberland Island.

It's the height of transient season and this is a popular anchorage. When we arrived shortly after noon, there were six sailboats anchored up. Before we went to bed there were 15 of them, many from Canada. They are slowly making their way south, probably then heading off to the Bahamas. What a life! Our day is coming....until then though we will enjoy our local scenery.

When we get back tomorrow, it will be time for me to start planning our second annual Thanksgiving cruise! Stay tuned for that fun adventure.

Your Boat is Listing -- Not a Good Thing!

2011-11-11T06:17:00.000-05:00

Good morning everyone,

Mike and I have owned our trawler for almost 10 years now and we are constantly learning something new about her. Last weekend we turned her around as Mike wanted to repair the gel coat and paint the port side. We noticed she had a terrible list to port.....never saw it when she was tied up starboard side, nor did we see it while we were on the hook last. It was so bad that our thru hulls were under water and as a result we had water seeping into the boat....not a good thing. We immediately realized we needed to re-distribute some weight on the boat so I went to our forward berth which doubles as our pantry. I moved ALL the canned goods from the lockers (on the port side) and put them on the berth which is on the starboard side. The result -- a perfectly level boat.

So we both got busy reorganizing the dinette, moving dishes and tupperware to the forward lockers and stowing all the canned goods in their place.

We never realized what a huge impact the weight of those cans had.

Selecting a Seller's Yacht Broker

2011-11-08T06:14:00.000-05:00

The decision to sell your boat is a very emotional event. You have had many hours of pleasure with her and painstakingly maintained her. You have made memories that will last a lifetime. So how do you select a yacht broker to market your boat?

Interestingly, I find that most owners just choose the broker that happens to be at the local marina; no research is ever done to make sure he is the best.

When it comes to boat sales, the trusted name is Paradise Yachts, your full service Sellers Broker, a leader in used boat sales and marketing boats for sale.

At Paradise Yachts, we are an independent Brokerage that sells used boats and yachts. We don't deal with new boats which would create a conflict of interest. We specialize in providing you and your boat, personal service. We principally serve customers in Florida and Georgia but do travel to Alabama, and South Carolina for a good boat.

As a boat owner myself, I know exactly what you are going through. We are so confident in our abilities, we have developed a free checklist to guide you in selecting a seller's yacht broker to represent you.

Solar Cell Phone Charger

2011-11-04T06:41:00.000-04:00

Over the past few months, Mike has had several instances where he lost all power on his Droid while assisting a customer move his new boat. In this age, a smart phone is indispensable. There are phone calls, emails and the internet that he uses daily.

So we began to wonder if we could find a small solar cell to charge up the phone.

A bit of looking online produced several that might work. But a trip to the local Radio Shack produced a unit for less than $70.00 and it works great.

On our recent trip to Ft. Lauderdale aboard a new owner's 52 Jefferson Motor Yacht, Mike could give his phone a charge in less than 2 hours while underway.

Isn't technology amazing? What will they think of next!

Electro Scan - Installing a Salt Tank

2011-11-01T06:05:00.003-04:00

Earlier in the week, our Electro Scan waste treatment system began to act up, again. The system would not pull the necessary amperage to complete its cycles necessary to treat the waste.

So after shipping the unit to Raritan in Ft. Lauderdale, and with the help of a very knowledgeable technician, I finally had the trouble identified. It seemed like the electrode pack had failed, again. The technician said that the unit had been deprived of enough salt to make it work properly. I authorized him to repair it and send it back. In the meantime, I installed an extra unit we have on standby.

The technician further told me that I should consider installing a salt feed tank to supplement the normal operation of the unit. The Electro Scan computer monitors the salinity of the water inside the unit and if more salinity is needed, it signals the pump to provide some from a tank of saturated salt water.

The problem with that idea is that we had no room to install one, but it was necessary so we began to do further study. I located a spot beneath the vanity sink that might work but the 4 gallon tank was about 1-1/2 inches too wide. But Mary suggested that we build a tank ourselves, good idea, why not?

So off to Walmart to search for anything that might work. We found a 2 gallon container that might do the trick and bought it and it did fit the spot. A quick trip to Lowe's to find a small piece of tubing and we were set.

I called my contact back at Raritan and ordered the salt pump and fittings necessary to complete the system.

All said and done, the entire setup cost us about 1/2 of what the kit would cost from West Marine. So if you are considering installing an Electro Scan salt tank but if the room is an issue, you can make one yourself. If you wish, I can give you more details on how I built it.

Kudos to Raritan in Ft. Lauderdale. Their technicians are very customer service oriented -- the best we've seen in the marine industry.

52' Jefferson Motor Yacht - Lantana, FL to Dania Beach, FL

2011-10-28T07:07:00.000-04:00

Good morning,

After waiting on the Loggerhead South Lantana staff to arrive, we finally left the dock at 8:10 a.m. We made the 8:30 a.m. opening of the first bridge. From that point on, we had 17 bridges we had to go under, most of which we required an opening. They have different scheduled openings so needless to say, it was slow going. The ICW is beautiful and narrow down there with mansions on either side. What should have taken 4.5 hours actually took 7 hours due to all the bridges.

We arrived at the final destination around 3:00 p.m. yesterday. Mike and I took a taxi to our hotel and we left our customers so they could relax and tidy up their boat.

We will head to the Ft. Lauderdale Boat Show this morning where we will hopefully meet up with some friends. We are staying at Lauderdale By The Sea, our favorite place in this area. You can walk to many restaurants and shops and they often have live entertainment in the streets. Mike and I will make the next two days our "mini" vacation where we will have no stress!

'Til next time.

Mary

52' Jefferson Motor Yacht - Vero Beach, FL to Lantana, FL

2011-10-28T06:51:00.001-04:00

Good morning,

We left Vero Beach at first light and headed south. Mike had added hydraulic fluid to the steering system and did his best to get all the air out and his quick fix worked quite well. We had beautiful weather again although there was quite a breeze blowing. We had little traffic this day so that was a good thing. The beautiful thing was the dolphins swimming in our wake. They were jumping in and out; quite the sight!

We made it through West Palm Beach where we saw multi-million dollar homes and boats. Makes me wonder why someone needs such a huge house? We got near Lantana and our new owner tried to call Loggerhead Marina by phone, as they had instructed. The dockmaster was very vague with instructions on where our slip was but I finally saw someone on the bow waving. We got the boat into the slip where there were two dock hands waiting for us. In South Florida, docking is typically done differently than what we are used to. We backed the boat in, secured the stern lines then looped lines over pilings to hold our bow in place. I don't like this way of docking but that's how they do it.

We then had some power issues but the marina staff had already left for the day. Our folks called the emergency after hours number but nobody returned their call.

We were all a bit stressed so we had dinner and hit the hay. Up early as usual and expecting the dock hands at 7:30 a.m. to bring us our credit card receipt and we needed to return the key they gave us to use. We had an 8:00 bridge opening we wanted to catch. They finally showed up at 8:10 a.m. full of lies and excuses. We will not recommend staying at this marina again. Very unprofessional and very unhelpful.

52' Jefferson - Titusville, FL to Vero Beach, FL

2011-10-26T07:08:00.000-04:00

Good morning everyone,

Tuesday's run from Titusville to Vero Beach was a good run. We are back on schedule so we could relax a little bit. The skies were partly cloudy and winds were light when we first left the anchorage. Halfway through our journey the big, inconsiderate, go fast boaters were all around us. They were going to pass us at full throttle (60' Sea Ray)...can you believe that? I'm sure you can if you are familiar with south Florida boaters. Fortunately we slowed down to idle speed and flagged them down and they finally did come off plane. This happened about four times and I am sure we will encounter that today as well.

As the day passed, the winds started blowing harder, as is typical. We arrived in Vero ahead of schedule and got fuel and pumped out. It was tricky getting to the fuel dock and into our slip but our captain did a great job. Wind is not your friend when you are in a big motor yacht with a lot of windage.

Cocktails and a great dinner then off to bed we went. We slept like babies last night -- first time in two days! Today we will head to Lantana, FL which is about 10 miles south of West Palm Beach, FL.

52' Jefferson - St. Augustine, FL to Titusville, FL

2011-10-25T06:44:00.000-04:00

Good morning all,

We left St. Augustine at 7:15 a.m. yesterday morning and headed to Titusville, FL. It was a beautiful morning and not much traffic on the ICW. We ran the motor yacht between 11 and 14 knots in an effort to make up for lost time on Sunday. The sun was shining but the winds were blowing quite a bit in the afternoon. We did get to Titusville around 4 p.m. and dropped the hook. We drifted too close to the channel so we had to pull it up and re-set it again. Got the hook set and had a few cocktails while dinner was cooking on the grill.

Another good day on the water with our wonderful customers. Today we will head to Vero Beach. Forecast calling for 15-20 knot winds so I imagine it will be a choppy cruise. More tomorrow!

52' Jefferson Motor Yacht - Jacksonville, FL to St. Augustine, FL

2011-10-24T06:45:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone,

Dames Point Bridge, Jacksonville, FL

We arrived at our customer's 52' Jefferson motor yacht Saturday afternoon to find an electrician making last minute refits to the electrical system. He didn't finish until 4:30 p.m. when Mike and I then got all our gear and stowed it away. We were up early Sunday morning, ready to get underway when there was a problem with the inverter system the yard had installed. We called the yard manager and he sent the electrician back out to the boat on a Sunday morning. Long story short, we finally got things right around 11:00 and left the dock shortly thereafter. Our trip was altered slightly as we couldn't make it as far as we originally planned. Once we were underway all systems were a go. We made it to St. Augustine around 5 p.m. and filled up with fuel. Our captain did great; docking her at the fuel dock and at our slip.

We were all ready for bed after a long day on the water when we had toilet issues. Another hour trouble shooting and all was well.

We are now waiting for daylight where we will cruise from St. Augustine, FL to Titusville, FL.

1992 40' Jeantot Power Catamaran Price Reduction

2011-10-21T10:12:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone,

We just had a $50,000 price reduction on this beautiful 40' Jeantot Power Catamaran. This power Cat has undergone a major refit in the past few years with a remanufacture of engines, new transmissions, complete interior rework, engine room overall, new AC/DC systems and Awlgrip paint job. Over $400,000.00 has been spent. Less than 50 hours have been put on her since that time. All of her systems are in ready to use. The boat is clean inside out. I'll rate her above average for her age.

You can view all her specs and photos on her page at the Paradise Yachts website. We also have other used boats for sale that might be of interest to you.

Boat Christening Ceremony

2011-10-18T07:44:00.002-04:00

Hello everyone,

Last Thursday we were invited to the christening ceremony for the 52' Jefferson motor yacht our boat buyers recently purchased. They did a beautiful job of it too! They did the denaming cermony on the bow and we enjoyed a small libation after offering the gods of the sea theirs. Off to the stern we went to do the renaming ceremony. It was a fun time and I am confident the vessel will not be cursed by Neptune.

We will be cruising to Fort Lauderdale with them in the very near future so stay tuned for that adventure. In the meantime, if you want to learn more about the denaming and renaming ceremony, read the rest of Mike's post on our Cruising Center.

2003 37' Wellcraft Martinique Price Reduction

2011-10-14T07:50:00.000-04:00

Good morning everyone,

We've just had a $5,000 price reduction on this beautiful 37' Wellcraft motor yacht.

This well styled boat is as good as new, with a spacious interior made for cruising. Powered by the new 8.1 380 h.p. Mercruisers with V-drive inboards, and designed with a deep-V hull for superior cruising, the Martinique is the most modern express cruiser around.

To view all her photos and specifications, you can visit her page at the Paradise Yachts website. You can also view our other used boats for sale that might be of interest to you.

Painting Your Trawler - Roll and Tipping

2011-10-11T07:16:00.000-04:00

When purchasing a pre-owned trawler or motor yacht, it is very easy to be disappointed by the exterior cosmetics of the yacht. I'm not suggesting that it be dismissed but I tell boat buyers to judge how good the used yacht has been kept up by how she looks. If the exterior finish is all scratched up and the brightwork is in terrible shape, I normally find everything else in the engine room the same way. It's merely an indicator.

But a dull outside isn't a bad matter either. The exterior gel coat on a used trawler or used motor yacht is there for a single purpose, to make the yacht look beautiful. It has no other function. The gel coat's worst enemy is the ultraviolet rays of the sun. After 5-10 years exposure in the Florida sun, almost all gel coats begin to show their age. Not even extreme polishing will bring the gel coat back to the luster when it was brand new. So when you find a used trawler or motor yacht that has a lack of luster outside but the rest of the boat is good to go, there is a way to bring her back to her factory-fresh appearance with a little work.

How you ask, by painting her?

The cost of painting a boat yourself will be MUCH less than if you had a yard do it.

Check out this web page to read the details and watch a video on how to Paint Your Trawler.

Marine Toilets - A New Use

2011-10-10T07:46:00.001-04:00

I was talking to a friend and past customer yesterday; we were talking about problems with marine toilets. He proceeded to tell me about a replacement he made some time back, replacing a manual unit with an electric toilet.

Now, to get the full effect of this article its important that you start the YouTube video before continuing to read.

Mike and I continued to talk but he assured me that the old toilet did not go to waste, in fact it was in use by another boater on his dock.......do what I asked? "Yes, its sitting right down here; I see it everyday"

I couldn't quite catch on as to what he was trying to describe to me so I asked him to snap a photo for me.

When I opened the photo I laughed so much I cried. They have even added some autumn decor

Now keep in mind, the photo was taken in Mississippi; yachtsmen over there do things a little differently than we do.

Gel Coat Repairs Made Simple

2011-10-07T06:38:00.000-04:00

Most boats and yachts built today are built of fiberglass. A fiberglass boat is composed of resins and synthetic glass plastic matting fused together to give it strength. The exterior yacht surfaces are made of layers of colored resins called gel coat. Gel coat is the material used to provide the high-quality finish on the visible surface of the reinforced material beneath.

What is gel coat?

The most widespread gel coats used with today’s yachts are based on polyester resin chemistry. Gel coats are resins which are sprayed into molds in the fluid state. The manufactured module, when satisfactorily cured and removed from the mold, provides the gel coated surface. Over time, these gel coated surfaces can be scraped and dinged from use. The sun can also create hairline cracks, but repairs can be made.

Read the rest of Gel Coat Repairs Made Simple.

BBQ

2011-10-06T16:00:00.001-04:00

Nothing like good southern BBQ cooked aboard a boat

1992 40' Jeantot Power Catamaran For Sale

2011-10-04T05:54:00.000-04:00

New Listing!

This power Cat has undergone a major refit in the past few years with a remanufacture of engines, new transmissions, complete interior rework, engine room ovehaul, new AC/DC systems and Awlgrip paint job. Over $400,000.00 has been spent. Less than 50 hours have been put on her since that time.

All of her systems are ready to use. The boat is clean inside out. I'll rate her above average for her age.

To view all of her specs and photos, visit her page at the Paradise Yachts website. You can also view other used boats for sale that might be of interest to you.

2000 46' Navigator Motor Yacht For Sale

2011-09-30T06:21:00.000-04:00

Good morning everyone,

We just listed this beautiful 2000 46' Navigator motor yacht for sale. She's well equipped with only 700 hours on her Volvo engines. Both staterooms boast a queen size berth and both baths have separate stall showers.

You can view all her specs and photos on her page at the Paradise Yachts website. We also have other used boats for sale that might interest you.

A New Search for a Used Motor Yacht

2011-09-27T08:47:00.001-04:00

Hello all,

We go to great lengths to find the perfect boat for our customers. This blog entry details a recent search for a Canadian customer.

We just returned from a three day trip with customers searching for the perfect used boat for sale. We started in Savannah where we found a nice Californian cockpit motor yacht. Unfortunately, this was not the boat of their dreams so our next stop was Palm Beach Gardens, FL. We looked at a 52' Hatteras motor yacht there. It was a pretty boat but had a lot of interior water damage. On to the next boat which was in Marathon, part of the Florida Keys. For those of you who have never been to the Keys, the water is absolutely beautiful. This photo does not do it justice.

In Marathon we looked at a beautiful 57' Hyatt motor yacht. She was on the hard which made for a very HOT showing. This was a gorgeous boat in great condition. Our buyers fell in love with her so off we went to grab some lunch and talk about making the offer. We explained the Purchase and Sales Agreement they would sign so they understood exactly what they were getting into.

We cancelled our plans to look at the Tampa boat so after lunch we started the long drive back to Fernandina Beach. We made an offer on the Hyatt that afternoon. We ended up staying in Stuart for the night.

The next morning on our way home the listing broker called and said the owner was firm on his asking price. Our customers talked it over and decided they would not pursue this boat after all.

We started back on our search and as luck would have it, we found what seemed to be a great boat just 25 miles from here. The four of us met in Jacksonville to look at a 52' Jefferson motor yacht. She was a beautiful boat in really good condition.

Our buyers knew this was THE boat so once again, they made an offer. After a counter offer by the sellers, they were able to come to terms. A few days later we did the survey and sea trial. No major issues were discovered so yesterday we prepared the final acceptance document.

Once the transaction has been completed, we will assist our customers in learning how to operate their new boat. Stay tuned for that adventure!

What Are Those Cracking Noises Beneath My Boat?

2011-09-20T05:57:00.001-04:00

As a boater we encounter many different and sometimes unusual circumstances; often they are not what we think they are. We had these dock mates a few years back that were complaining to me about the galvanic corrosion on their boat’s underwater zincs while visiting a local marina. “It was so bad, you could actually hear the corrosion taking place; we’ll never go back to that marina again.” I just smiled and nodded my head.

As a cruiser, when you get to the warmer waters in Florida and further south, you may hear noisy crackling sounds coming from beneath your boat’s hull at night. The noise can be shocking if you do not know what you are hearing; is the boat breaking apart you think? The sound may be described as bacon cooking in a frying pan, the crackling of dry wood burning or Rice Krispies in a bowl of milk.

To learn more about this phenemenon, read the rest of the article on our cruising center.

2000 46' Sea Ray Sundancer For Sale

2011-09-16T10:56:00.000-04:00

This is a beautiful well equipped 460 with less than 700 hours on 430 Hp Cummins 6CTA 8.3's.

Loaded with extras including Hydraulic Transom Lift, Color Radar, Autopilot, Cherry interior with custom fabrics, stereo system, all chain windlass; GPS, and much, much more. Nice boat, in good condition. To view all her specs and photos, you can visit her at the Paradise Yachts website. We also have other nice used boats for sale that might interest you.

65' Custom Built Motor Yacht Price Reduction

2011-09-15T05:46:00.000-04:00

Good morning,

The owners of this beautiful 2003 65' Grand Harbour motor yacht have just reduced her price by $50,000. This boat is a true 10. Very low hours and lightly used.

This one owner boat was designed by New Zealander designers and built in Asia. This one-of-a-kind yacht is a true work of art. She is crafted with high gloss cherry woods down below and finished as stunning as a fine piece of furniture.

She comes complete with a watermaker, full reverse cycle heating and air, complete electronics package, Jacuzzi, Vacuflush heads, bow thruster, ice makers, inverter, satellite TV and phone and much, much more.

To view all of her specs, photos and You Tube video, visit her page at the Paradise Yachts website. We also have other used boats for sale that might be of interest to you.

Hardin Ketch Price Reduction

2011-09-14T07:37:00.000-04:00

Good morning all,

The price of this 1979 45' Hardin Ketch has been reduced by $18,000 to $99,000. She's a sturdy, seaworthy sailboat in need of a new owner. You can view all her specs and photos at the Paradise Yachts website. We also have other used boats for sale that might interest you.

1990 25' Grady White Sailfish for Sale

2011-09-09T05:41:00.000-04:00

1990 Grady White Sailfish 25' walk-around hardtop with twin Yamaha 200 hp outboard motors. All new electronics and stereo, new isinglass and canvas, new gunwales vinyl padding. Replaced 100 gallon and 50 gallon gas tanks in 2001. Motors have low hours (430), well maintained, offshore ready.

To view all her specs and photos, visit her at the Paradise Yachts website. We also have other used boats for sale that might be of interest to you.

New Hatteras Owner - Cattle Pen Creek to Savannah, GA

2011-09-07T07:01:00.000-04:00

Good morning,

Saturday night I didn't sleep too well on the hook aboard our customer's beautiful Hatteras motor yacht. I was concerned about dragging the anchor since his is a different anchor type than ours. Aboard our trawler, the Patricia Ann, once I set the hook I am confident it won't drag so I sleep like a baby.

Sunrise over St. Catherine's Sound

Hell's Gate

We pulled the anchor up at 6:45 a.m. and headed north. There was a light breeze again and it was cloudy so that made for comfortable cruising. The scenery was beautiful at most times although we did witness a forest fire. Made it to Hell's Gate where we approached at idle speed and with extreme caution. Unfortunately for us, it was pretty close to low tide but the good news is the lowest depth we recorded was 4'2" under the keel. We made it safely through and all expressed a sigh of relief.

This leg only took us 4 hours so we arrived at the marina late morning. Got the boat secured and headed to the office to check in and wait for a cab. Got a cab to take us to the airport, rented a car and drove two hours home to Fernandina Beach.

It was a lovely cruise and we hope our customer enjoys his Hatteras motor yacht! Stay tuned for the next adventure!

Mary

New Hatteras Owner - Fernandina Beach, FL to Cattle Pen Creek

2011-09-06T08:55:00.000-04:00

1989 40 foot Hatteras

Good morning,

The Hatteras motor yacht was repaired at Tiger Point Marina and Boat Yard in Fernandina Beach and was ready to make the final journey to her new home, Isle of Hope Marina in Georgia.

Mike and I arrived early on Saturday so we could make good headway. Filled up with fuel and headed north. It was a beautiful day with light winds and sunny skies. The boat ran beautifully thanks to the talented staff at Tiger Point. We went through St. Andrews Sound with no problems thanks to those light winds. Cruised past Jekyll Harbor Marina and waved at our customers and friends, Brad and Karen who have their boat docked at that marina.

St. Marys River Inlet

I had picked out two anchorages for the night near Sapelo Sound. We decided to give the second choice a look but when we got close to it, there were many small boats going in and out. We nixed this idea so we continued to cruise north. Mike found what looked to be a good anchorage on the chart so we cruised another five miles north. Got to Cattle Pen Creek and indeed, it was a nice anchorage ... and deserted too. I was on the bow with the new owner and showed him how to drop the anchor and set the hook. By the time we had it set, we had been at it for ten hours.

Sunset at Cattle Pen Creek

Time for a cocktail and dinner. I was exhausted so I went to bed early; Mike was able to stay up to watch the sun set.

More tomorrow...

If It's Too Good to Be True.....Watch Out!

2011-09-01T06:30:00.003-04:00

It is a known fact that most if not all boats and yachts are purchased via the internet these days. You can surf the net on dozens of websites that offer boats for sale. Many of the sites are for sale by owner sites as well.

And as I surf the net on some popular trawler and liveaboard websites, the issue regarding buying from an individual always comes up. As a broker, I urge caution.

40' Heritage East Trawler

Buyer beware! Buying a boat from an individual can work but it is not without risk; buying a boat from a yacht broker works every time. Here is a story reported by Boat US recently.

It seems a new York buyer had found a 2005 24’ fishing boat in California. He found the boat on a for sale by owner site listed for $22,000.00; the photos looked good, everything seemed in order and the price was the best anywhere. What a deal he had found! The buyer called a wireless phone and discussed the boat with the seller and an offer was made and accepted, sight unseen. At the seller’s request, the money was wired to an escrow company, AOL Money and Finance. A date for an inspection and sea trial were agreed upon and the buyer set out to hire a surveyor.

On the agreed upon date, the buyer and surveyor arrived at the designated location; no seller and no boat. It was not until much later did the buyer find out that there was no AOL Money and Finance company and that the money was actually wired to a bank in Georgia. The bank told the buyer that the funds had already been withdrawn and could not recover the funds.

So what went wrong?

The seller was an imposter,
The seller was a con man,
The seller did not have a boat to sell,
The buyer did not have his guard up; red flags were not recognized.

So how can you keep this from happening to you? Do your homework.

Paradise Yachts is a Florida corporation, registered with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. We are licensed by this agency. Our license number is 5822; you can find us at this State of Florida website

Why use a professional yacht broker to buy your boat?

We know that a real boat is being offered, no smoke and mirrors,
We have already taken the time to check on the boats status, so you will know what you are getting,
Your money will be held in our safe registered escrow account,
If you do not complete the purchase, your money will be cheerfully refunded

Marine Apps for Your Android

2011-08-30T09:27:00.002-04:00

Good morning everyone,

Mike and I have found the following Android free apps very helpful while cruising on our trawler and while helping our new buyers aboard their new vessels.

To find them just go to your "market" icon and use the search feature. Type in exactly as I have them posted here:

Tide Chart Free - this will give you a graphic of the tide location you select using GPS.

FCN Wx - a Florida based weather radar system overlaid on Google Earth.....will locate to your position with built in GPS

Marine Weather by Bluefin - gives you marine weather wave heights using offshore buoys

Windfinder - offshore marine forecasts

Isn't technology amazing?

1981 49' Grand Banks Classic For Sale

2011-08-25T04:22:00.000-04:00

Good morning everyone,

We just listed this beautiful 1981 49' Grand Banks Classic trawler. She has had many upgrades recently and is ready for a new owner. You can check out all her specs and photos on her page at the Paradise Yachts website. We also have other used boats for sale that might interest you.

New Hatteras Owner - Daytona Beach to Fernandina Beach, FL

2011-08-22T06:22:00.000-04:00

Good morning everyone,

We were up early on Saturday and had time for the new skipper to practice some docking maneuvers with his new motor yacht. We finally left Halifax Harbor Marina around 6:50 a.m. heading to Fernandina Beach. We had many bridges to go under but fortunately with the antennas down we only had to have two open for us. It was another hot but sunny day. Once we left Jacksonville, we kicked the throttle up so we could make up some lost time. We had just entered Fernandina Beach and were approximately one-half mile away from Fernandina Harbor Marina when we had some mechanical problems. Mike took over the helm as we only had one engine which makes for difficult maneuverability but I'll tell you what -- he laid her in her slip just as pretty as you ever saw. You never would have known we only had one engine.....he's my hero once again!

We decided to come on home to our trawler, Patricia Ann and we both slept like babies Saturday night. Yesterday we played catch up on some things and today we will head back to the downtown marina to get the boat. Mike will bring her to Tiger Point Marina where they have an excellent yard and talented mechanics. They will assess the damage and the estimated time for repair and we will take it from there.

Of course now there is Irene out there and as of today, they are predicting her to come ashore right here. NOT GOOD!

Stay tuned.....

New Hatteras Owner - Melbourne, FL to Daytona Beach, FL

2011-08-20T05:59:00.000-04:00

Good morning everyone,

We left the dock yesterday morning at first light. Our new captain took her out of the slip and did a fine job. It was another long day....many no wake zones along the ICW. We've read on Cruisers Net that law enforcement officials have been known to board vessels in New Smyrna Beach. I held my breath as we cruised through but we had no problems. We've had dolphins swimming in our wake along the way which is a beautiful sight....we don't get that often in our cruising grounds.

We were having some issues with the Vacuflush heads not working properly. We don't have that type on our trawler but Mike studied the situation and was able to fix the problem this morning -- thank goodness. He's my hero! I cannot imagine not having a functioning head for two more days.

Today we are headed to Fernandina Beach.

New Hatteras Owner - Stuart, FL to Melbourne, FL

2011-08-19T05:29:00.001-04:00

Good morning everyone,

Just a quick update on our travels yesterday. We left the dock at 7 a.m. and filled up the fuel tanks. Had a lovely cruise north with the sun shining, there was a light breeze but it was a little bit HOT! The boat ran great and the new captain did a great job.

We pulled into Melbourne around 4 p.m. and Mike and I enjoyed an ice cold beer. A bit later we all went to dinner at Ichabod's then it was back to the boat and I went right to bed. I slept like a baby for once after all that sunshine!

Today we will head to Palm Coast, FL. Stay tuned.

2001 46' Sea Ray 4600 Price Reduction

2011-08-19T05:18:00.000-04:00

Good morning folks,

The owner of this beautiful 46' Sea Ray 4600 just lowered her price by $10,000. This Sundancer is in great condition. She is very clean both inside and out. The owner has maintained her very well. The boat was purchased new in the Northeast US and was stored out of the water, in a storage facility each year from November to April until 2006. Equipped with 3208TA Cats, a $38,000 premium option over stock Cummins, and at 355 hours, they are not even broken-in yet.

To view all of her specs, photos and a You Tube video, visit her page at the Paradise Yachts website. You can also view our other used boats for sale.

New Hatteras Owner -- Fernandina Beach, FL to Stuart, FL

2011-08-18T05:27:00.000-04:00

Good morning all,

Mike and I begin another new adventure helping our customer bring his 40' Hatteras motor yacht from Stuart, FL to Savannah, GA. We left Fernandina Beach in our rental car early Tuesday and arrived safely in Stuart by lunch time. The previous owner was giving the new owner a review of the vessel and her systems. The three of us then went to lunch, provisioned and returned rental cars. After a delicious dinner at the restaurant at Sunset Bay Marina, we went to bed as it had been a very long day.

Today we will leave at first light, fill up with fuel and head to New Smyrna Beach, FL. Stay tuned!

Mary

How Do Trawler Diesel Engines Work?

2011-08-16T07:25:00.000-04:00

You just bought that beautiful used sundeck trawler and she is everything you wanted in a yacht. The huge sundeck, the owner's quarters and the big fly bridge are perfect. She also has twin Volvo diesel engines and a Westerbeke genset. But you’ve been thinking, how do those engines really work? You have never owned a diesel engine.

You can read the entire article on the website at How Does a Marine Diesel Engine Work.

New Zealand Boat Buyers

2011-08-12T06:03:00.001-04:00

I often am asked if we can assist customers outside the confines of the State of Florida. Yes, we can and do. Buying a boat is not restricted by boundaries; we can go anywhere to find a boat.

About 8 weeks ago, I received an email from a man from New Zealand; he had found Paradise Yachts from a search on the Internet.

He explained in the email that he and his wife had plans to buy a motor yacht here in the US and cruise her on the east coast and the Bahamas. He asked if I thought it was possible. I responded that yes, it was possible and could be done without difficulty; I currently have 2 other foreign customers that are enjoying their boats in the US now.

He said he had his eye on a specific brand and model of boat and could we find him one. Of course, our reply was yes we can. So the search began and after a short while we had located 6 boats; 2 of which were in Maryland and the rest down in the southeast USA. We evaluated each boat's equipment and called to get an idea of her condition from the listing brokers. After a bit of research, we concluded that a particular boat in Baltimore was the best equipped and seemed to be in the best condition. An offer was made and accepted.

My Buyer authorized me to hire a surveyor for him and take him to Baltimore with me to check her out. I chose probably the best marine surveyor in the State of Florida; you can check him out here. So we spent two full days surveying and sea trialing the boat; and yes she turned out to be in great shape.

My Buyer and his wife are very excited about their new boat. They will not be disappointed. You can read their cruising blog about their plans and how the buying process through Paradise Yachts worked out for them.

The boat is now dry docked in Baltimore until my Buyer can come over in a month or so to officially take possession of her. He and his wife will then embark on their adventure of a lifetime; we can't wait to meet them along the way.

Mike

Selecting and Installing a Wind Turbine Aboard Your Trawler

2011-08-09T05:49:00.000-04:00

/cFor some time I have been exploring ways to produce energy without the aid of my trawler’s generator. It does not take very long to use 100 hours of genset time, enough for another oil change. First it was a solar panel, and then came an inverter, and now, the latest is a wind turbine.

Wind has been used for producing energy for centuries; first in Persia (present-day Iran) as early as 200 B.C. However, the first known functional windmills were developed by the Dutch in 1300, by means of cloth sails stretched across wooden frames. In some designs these sails could be trimmed to take advantage of unpredictable wind speed conditions. The large windmills of the Dutch design remained in use all across Europe until the introduction of the steam engine in the 1800s.

Read more and view a video about Selecting and Installing a Wind Turbine Aboard Your Trawler.

Mike

2003 65' Custom Grand Harbour Motor Yacht - Price Reduction

2011-08-04T05:00:00.000-04:00

Hello folks,

The sellers of this beautiful, custom built 2003 65' Grand Harbour motor yacht have dropped her price by $51,000. This boat is a true 10. Very low hours and lightly used. This one owner boat, designed by New Zealand designers and built in Asia. This one-of-a-kind yacht is a true work of art. She is crafted with high gloss cherry woods down below and finished as stunning as a fine piece of furniture.

Check out all her photos, specs and a You Tube video on her page at the Paradise Yachts website. You can also view our other used boats for sale.

Used Trawler Cooling System -- How to Service

2011-08-02T05:26:00.000-04:00

Most used trawlers with inboard engines are provided with fresh water cooling systems. These fresh water systems in conjunction with the raw water system cool the engine during operation. The fresh water circulates within the engine and transfers the engine heat to the raw water system as it passes through heat exchangers.

Want to see how to clean the system; look at Servicing Your Trawler's Cooling System.

On the Hook

2011-07-30T11:17:00.003-04:00

Hi everyone ...we have taken a few days to get away from the dock....will post more photos later

How Values of Boats and Yachts Are Set

2011-07-29T05:58:00.000-04:00

I get calls or emails weekly from boat buyers that are in their final passage to boat ownership; finding and buying their dream boat. They want my counsel. And more often than not, most shoppers do not have a true understanding of used boat values and the prices they command. Most individuals are shocked to find boats cost as much as houses do. They are often taken back when I try to explain the reason a used boat is priced the way it is.

I want to give you a good idea of why used boats cost as much as they do so let's start from the top.

If you read other posts on my website, you will read about the absence of an official Yacht Blue Book. Yes, that's right, there is no such thing. There is one for automobiles but not for boats. If you call any used car dealer or bank in North America and name any production automobile, they will quote a value of within a few dollars of each other. This is due to the multi-billion dollar, organized wholesale car auction system. And there is also the Powerboat Guide, NADA and others that like to sell you their version of a boat Blue Book.

Read more at How Used Boat Values are Set.

Mike

Air Conditioning Water Flow On Your Trawler

2011-07-25T06:37:00.000-04:00

This weekend Mike and I were sitting on the sundeck and I noticed our salon HVAC water flow was not what it should be aboard our trawler, the Patricia Ann. The flow was down considerably. The last time this happened was last year.

Mike went about taking everything apart to troubleshoot the problem. What he found inside the intake hose from the thru hull to the strainer and from there to the pump was a growing cluster of grass, mud and barnacles. The strainer had caught some but not all of it.

Picture a doughnut for illustration purposes. The inside diameter of the hose is the outside diameter of the doughnut. He found grass growing inside the hose reducing the opening to the size of the doughnut hole, roughly 1/2 the original size of the hose. The hoses on the upstream side of the pump were also in need of flushing.

He removed the hoses on the trawler and literally beat them on the dock finally using the dock hose to flush them clear. Here is a photo of how your flow should be when everything is clear.

So be sure to visually check your intake hoses for partial blockage if you suspect a water flow issue. Purging with the water hose will not remove the grass that may be there.

This condition will likely occur every couple years depending upon the nutrients in your water. We are about 1/4 mile from an inlet to the Atlantic Ocean so ours is very rich.

Look at your water flow and make a mental note; when you notice a drop in flow it will be time to do some troubleshooting.

'Til next time,

Mary

Mike

Finding the Perfect Motor Yacht for our Customer

2011-07-22T08:15:00.001-04:00

Good morning everyone,

We went to Port St. Lucie last week to preview a beautiful 40' Hatteras Motor Yacht for one of our customers. This boat had just recently appeared on the market and a Hatteras is the top of the line.

When we go to preview boats, Mike technically performs a mini survey, checking for water leaks, looking in the engine room to inspect the condition of the fuel tanks, checking the condition of the rudder posts, among many other inspections. As a buyer's broker, Mike is your devil’s advocate, helping you make the best decision and help decide if the boat is just right for you. He will tell you if he thinks a boat is worth considering.

Mike and I were impressed with this vessel; she was clean inside and out, had a beautiful paint job and obviously was well maintained by her current owner. We took numerous pictures and videotaped the boat, then sent them off to our customer.

He liked what he saw and based on Mike's recommendation, he made an offer on the boat, sight unseen. The offer was accepted by the seller. The boat had only been on the market a few weeks and we did not want someone else to have a shot at her before we did.

Yesterday we met our customer in St. Lucie and gave him the grand tour. He liked what he saw and agreed to take it to the next step which is a survey and sea trial. We will do that next Tuesday.

We have been looking for the perfect motor yacht or trawler for this customer for quite some time. In the looking phase, Mike always says that you’ll know it when the right boat comes along; it will “talk” to you.

Well, none of the boats we looked at previously "spoke" to him but the Hatteras yesterday did. It's all a matter of finding that perfect boat for your buyer, no matter how long it takes.

Choosing A Water Maker For Your Trawler or Motor Yacht

2011-07-15T06:13:00.000-04:00

Over the past few months, we have been working to improve our trawler’s ability to operate independently from shore. Soon, we hope to be cruising to the Bahamas where being independent is a necessity. First there was an inverter, then solar panel, now we have installed a water maker.

Today’s water makers use a moderate amount of power to turn undrinkable salt water into clean fresh water. A well-made, properly maintained water maker can drastically improve comfort while cruising. A water maker is a piece of equipment that requires a little upkeep for its constant operation. But when you become knowledgeable with the function of the device, use it regularly and keep it in proper working order, a water maker is in fact a wonder to behold.

Read more about Choosing a Water Maker.

Is Yacht Broker In Your Future Employment?

2011-07-08T06:16:00.001-04:00

Frequently I have clients or friends say to me, “ It must be a lot of fun being a Yacht Broker; being on trawlers and motor yachts all day, you are on holiday all the time”. Yes, I do enjoy it but it is a lot of work if you want to be successful. Let me explain what it takes to make it function. If you think you have what it takes, give me a call.

Read more here: So You Want to Be a Yacht Broker?

Mike

4th of July Five Day Cruise on our Trawler

2011-07-01T06:21:00.022-04:00

7/1/2011

Good morning everyone, this blog post is going to span the next few days as we gunk-hole eastern Georgia so check back each morning for an update.

Yesterday we left the dock at 7:30 a.m. and headed to Cumberland Island. It was a beautiful day; calm waters and light winds. We toured the Sea Camp part of the island late morning, just to walk over to the beach side of the island, then came back to our trawler, the Patricia Ann. The afternoon sea breeze kicked in and our new wind turbine was spinning away, generating power for our use.

Mike is still getting used to the wind turbine and how much power it can produce. One thing we have figured out is that it does not begin to generate until we have at least 5 mph winds.

Despite being on the hook and on "mini-vacation", Mike negotiated a deal for one of our international customers and this morning he received an offer on one of our listings, a 40' Viking Sedan Motor Yacht. We will present this offer to our customer this morning and will then head to a new anchorage. That's the wonderful part of our life aboard -- we are mobile and can work from anywhere!

Last night we had to start the generator as it was about 80 degrees and high humidity; but we slept like babies.

More to come tomorrow

Mary

7/3/2011

Good morning all,

We pulled the hook early Friday morning and cruised north. We were going to anchor at Shellbine Creek but decided at the last minute to proceed to Brickhill River; the creek looked to have little protection from any winds that might come up. We were the only trawler in the anchorage until late afternoon when another motor yacht joined us. It was very peaceful and we did virtually nothing. We had very little cell signal so we couldn't do any computer work.

Brickhill River morning

Saturday morning we decided to pull the hook and head back to Cumberland, our favorite anchorage. We passed by Plum Orchard but chose not to stop. There was virtually no wind blowing and the water was flat. There are always boats coming and going at Cumberland and there's always something to see here. There are currently four other boats with us now; all sailboats! We will stay here today and figure out tomorrow when tomorrow comes!

Brickhill anchorage

Cumberland anchorage

cress, broccoli and onion sprouts...fresh veggies!

Brickhill anchorage

7/4/11

Goodnight from Cumberland Island!

Happy Fourth of July to all! We had a good day at Cumberland Island yesterday. As always, we took our dinghy ashore at the Dungeness dock and we walked around. We did not see our white deer but did see some wild horses and turkeys. We were heading back to the dinghy dock when we spotted a baby deer -- he was only about 15" tall -- what a cutie! Made my day. I couldn't get a picture as Mama got spooked and took off quickly. We had a friend over for a chicken fajita lunch and then I took a nap!

Today we will go to Fernandina Harbor Marina which is totally out of character for us. We will fill up with fuel and then move to a slip for the evening. We decided to go in and watch the fireworks from the marina, rather than at anchor. Tomorrow morning at first light we will head back to our slip and back to work.

It's been a lovely cruise and I can't wait for another one!

7/5/11

Good morning everyone,
We are back at the dock after 5 days on the water -- it truly was, a beautiful mini vacation. We filled up with fuel yesterday and got in our slip at the Fernandina Harbor Marina mid-morning. From that point on, we were socializing. We love our marina but there's not a lot of activity. At the downtown marina, there were people walking by, boats cruising by, lots going on. We had friends coming and going. Grilled Mike's wonderful baby back ribs and corn and had Neal over for dinner, then more friends came over. We watched a spectacular fireworks display and then went to bed. Up early this morning to catch the tide right and we were back at our slip by 6:30a.m. Now I'm going to clean the boat inside and out and Mike has brokerage work to do.

We had to run our generator each night as it was too hot to sleep without air conditioning. Now it's time for another generator oil change .... one of Mike's favorite chores!

Hopefully we'll be back on the water before too long. 'Til next time!

Following Your Boating Dream

2011-06-28T05:47:00.001-04:00

Good morning folks,

We recently had some customers who wanted to go from being sailors to cruisers. They are both retired and love cruising but craved the creature comforts of a trawler as opposed to their sailboat. They attended our trawler school to learn about trawlers and within a week, had decided on a 36' Krogen Manatee. Mike and I drove down to Ft.Lauderdale to personally inspect the boat; we took numerous pictures and made a video of her features. Our customers liked what they saw so they made an offer.

Survey and sea trial a week later and two weeks after that, they were the new owners!

They are currently cruising from Ft. Lauderdale back home to South Carolina. You can follow their adventures at http://hazelannmanatee.blogspot.com.

1988 34' Sea Ray 340 Express for Sale

2011-06-24T05:38:00.000-04:00

This 1988 Express cruiser is perfect for a weekend getaway. She has a roomy interior which combines a large forward stateroom, full sized galley, convertible dinette and generous storage.

Big single level cockpit includes large helm and companion seats, transom door, removable stern seat. Cockpit hatches provide good engine access.

This is a freshwater boat and is priced to sell. Current owner is moving up to a larger boat.

You can view all her specs and photos on her page at Paradise Yacht Sales. We also have other used boats for sale that might interest you.

Understanding How LED Lights Work

2011-06-21T06:43:00.000-04:00

I have been monitoring our energy usage aboard our trawler as we anchored out recently and was shocked to learn just how much energy a standard incandescent light bulb uses. Our mast light drew 2 amps while lit, drawing a total of 18 amp hours on any given night.

The Edison light bulb that has lit up our boats since 1879 is formally on its way out. The inefficient incandescent, which loses nearly all of its energy as heat, has fallen in disfavor. Early in 2012, U.S. residents won't be able to purchase one even if they wanted to. The government is going to prohibit their manufacture to save energy.

The major replacement for the incandescent light bulb is the higher-efficiency fluorescent bulb. The fluorescent, though, has its own problems, mainly the presence of toxic mercury in the design and a weird color that many people dislike.

Now enter the LED, or light-emitting diode. LEDs have been around for many years. Many drawbacks have kept companies from manufacturing them in standard, replacement-size light bulb form, primarily the cost to the consumer. But in the last few years, these LED replacement bulbs have become much more common and prices have dropped.

Read more about Understanding How LED Lights Work.

Yacht Market Update June 2011

2011-06-17T07:07:00.000-04:00

Year to date, U.S. brokerage sales remain 4 percent lower than through the first five months of 2010. At Paradise Yachts, our sales are up 37% over what they were at this time in 2010. With the recent month’s increase in the total sales value, year-to-date sales are now valued at $1.45 billion, an increase of $106 million over the same period in 2010.

In most size ranges, sales were slightly lower or even with the previous year, but among the largest boats, over 55 feet in length, sales increased 39 percent, from 82 to 114, and the boats that were sold brought much higher prices. The total value of those 114 boats was $317 million, compared to $93 million for the 82 boats a year ago.

The average time to sale for brokerage boats climbed to 308 days in May, which was 3 percent higher than May 2010. The biggest increase came in powerboat sales, which moved from 297 to 309 days. Sailboats’ average time to sale dropped 5 days from a year ago to 301. Year to date, sail is still taking longer to sell than power — 302 to 278 days. Buyers are still buying boats and still finding bargain prices.

Caribbean Barbeque Sauce

2011-06-16T07:13:00.000-04:00

As you might already know, Mike and I love to cook -- and eat -- aboard our trawler, the Patricia Ann. We grilled a jerked pork tenderloin over the weekend and poured a Caribbean barbeque sauce over it. It was delicious!

Here's the recipe: (yields 2 cups)

3/4 cup ketchup
2 T Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup pineapple juice
2 T melted buter
juice of 1 lime
1/4 cup vinegar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 minced garlic clove
1 (2 inch) piece peeled and minced fresh ginger
1 tsp salt
1 tsp dry mustard
1/2 tsp minced Scotch Bonnet chile
1 T tamarind pulp
1 tsp chili powder

In a medium saucepan, add all ingredients and cook over medium low heat for 30 minutes. Let cool to room temperature and process with a blender or food processor until smooth. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

We went to all of our local grocery stores in search of Scotch Bonnet chile peppers and could not find them. We finally asked the produce manager at our favorite grocery store if he could get some in for us. He told us he could and told us to check back in three days. Sure enough, he had a big box (probably 3 pounds) waiting for us to pick up. We cut them in half and put them on the flybridge, in the sun, and dried them out for about a week. Then Mike put them in the blender to grind them up. Now we have a nice supply of Scotch Bonnet peppers to use in all of our Caribbean cooking!

We also have many other great recipes you can try.

Why Should You Buy From A Yacht Broker?

2011-06-10T05:58:00.000-04:00

Introduction

The other day I returned a phone call left on my voice mail from a man inquiring about a used boat I have for sale. When the caller answered I identified myself and asked what I might offer regarding the used boat he had called about. The caller immediately responded that he did not want to buy a used boat through a Yacht Broker and hung up. I shrugged my head and wondered why he would NOT want to buy a boat through a Yacht Broker.

If you are considering buying a used boat, here are some things to consider:

Finding a Good Used Boat

A yacht broker will have access to information you will not have or be able to get. A yacht broker with integrity will be honest about used boats. If there is something wrong with a used boat, he will inform you. I use a disclosure to inform buyers about problems with the boats I represent. If you are using a buyer’s broker, he/she will investigate other used boats for you, and help determine which used boats are worth visiting or considering. He’s going to be able to speak to other brokers about their used boats asking the right questions, and find out information that you would not likely get on your own. He’s going to have access to more information than you will have making the search process easier and faster.

What’s a Fair Price?

Once that potential used boat is located, what is a good and fair price to pay? Using data found at soldboats.com, he’ll give you the prices of similar used boats bought in recent months. Remember, a boat is only worth what you are willing to pay and the seller is willing to take. Most importantly, he’ll know the motivation of the seller and guide you in making an offer that will allow you and the seller to negotiate to a satisfactory selling price.

Read more about Why Should You Buy From A Yacht Broker.

The Integrity of a Yacht Broker

2011-06-07T09:08:00.006-04:00

6/7/2011

Integrity is defined as adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.

Character is defined as the aggregate of features and traits that form the individual nature of some person or thing. In layman’s terms, doing the right thing when no one is looking.

This past weekend we received a call from a prospect very interested in one of our used trawlers for sale. She and her husband are making arrangements to travel from Canada to South Carolina to view this boat in two weeks. If they like the boat and it is found to be as we have claimed, they will make an offer on the spot. The conversation that took place prompted this posting.

Less than an hour thereafter, we received an email from another customer wanting to make an offer on the same used trawler, sight unseen; very unusual coincidence. Mike told this prospective buyer how the process worked and she said she would get back with us. I got another email last night and she and her husband are still mulling it over.

In the meantime, Mike called the Canadian buyer to let her know another offer might be coming in. Mike wanted to give her an opportunity to make her own offer, contingent upon personal inspection of the boat, survey and sea trial which would essentially pull the boat off the market for the time being. He did not want the customer to lose her money on non-refundable airfares if the other offer was accepted first. In the brokerage business, those that have money on the table first, go first in line.

The customer appeared to be a bit taken back by Mike's call, suggesting that Mike was fabricating the second buyer to "force" them into making an offer on the boat. That of course, was not the case.

She chose not to take Mike's advice but rather take her chances.

At Paradise Yachts, we pride ourselves on our integrity and character.

If we say we are going to do something, we do it.
If we tell you that we'll help you learn your new boat, that's what we'll do.
If you need to know something, we tell you like it is.
We tell you what you need to know, not what you want to hear.
If we make a mistake, we admit it.
If you can't buy a boat at the price you are suggesting, we'll tell you.
If we tell you that we have found you a good boat, we mean what we say.
If you ask us if a boat we are selling has any problems, we'll tell you the truth.

Thanks for reading this post.

Mary

40' Heritage East Sundeck Price Reduction

2011-06-03T06:39:00.001-04:00

Good morning folks,

We have a $10,000 price reduction on this beautiful 40' Heritage East Sundeck trawler. She's a clean boat in great condition and her owner is motivated to sell. You can view all her photos, a video and her specs at the Paradise Yachts website. We also have other boats for sale that might be of interest to you.

Early Morning

2011-05-30T07:17:00.003-04:00

We are anchored out at our favorite anchorage for the Memorial Day weekend. And yes, as always, have a bit of brokerage work to do. But we will still have some R and R.

We took a walk on Cumberland Island this morning and actually saw TWO white deer this time, a buck and a doe. It is always such a thrill for us to see them. We also saw a baby horse grazing along the shore.

We got back to our trawler, Patricia Ann, and conducted business. Mike was negotiating a deal between a buyer and a seller and in the end, received an official signed agreement.

After lunch we went over to a friend's boat and got the grand tour, then sat and visited with them for a few hours.

Tomorrow we will head back to the dock as we have work to do that can't be done on the hook....but we'll be back as soon as we possibly can!

Marine Survey on 36 Krogen Manatee Trawler

2011-05-27T16:55:00.001-04:00

May 27, 2011
4:50 PM

Mary and I are now in West Palm Beach Florida after a full day on the water. We had a good day but a 12 hour day got the best of us; tomorrow we'll make the final 4 hour drive home.

Today we were in Ft. Lauderdale, FL all day conducting a marine survey on this 36 Krogen trawler I found for a customer. Everyone was on time, the surveyor showed up as planned, the yard was ready for the haul out and the boat was ready to be inspected. We stayed last night in Lauderdale and the day got going for us about 5:00 AM, and by 8 we were aboard beginning the survey.

She is a sweetheart of a boat, take a look.

So just for a moment put yourself in these customers shoes; we have found that perfect used trawler for you, should you survey her; what is a marine survey anyway? A marine survey, in its simplest form, is an appraisal and inspection similar to that performed on real estate or other items, but more detailed.

For starters, if you are dealing with a reputable Yacht Broker such as me, he will guide you through the process of what to expect, how it works and what to do with the results. I know several marine surveyors that I will recommend as I’ve had experience with them in the past and I know their capabilities. I will not choose one for you however, as I don’t want any suggestion of a conflict of interest. The surveyor works for you.

I suggested a surveyor I have worked with in the past, Bill Gladding, and he did a superb job today. He found some issues with the boat and explained to my customers what he found and how he interpreted the findings. My clients had a number of questions which is exactly how it works.

There are several types of surveys but for you the buyer, the Pre-Purchase Survey is the one you will want. It will be the most comprehensive type of inspection, and is usually requested by lenders and insurance companies when purchasing a used vessel. Condition and overall operation of the used boat will be examined. The value of the yacht will also be estimated by the surveyor.

A thorough inspection will not be rushed and will depend on the type of survey required based on vessel size, equipment and on-board systems. There may be additional services available such as engine surveys, oil analysis, galvanic and corrosion testing, ultrasonic testing, moisture testing and other non-destructive tests. There may be additional charges for these and other services. We pulled oil samples for analysis on this boat too.

Well conducted surveys can provide good information on the vessels' condition, but they are not guarantees. The surveyor reports the condition in accessible areas only as it exists at the time of inspection. It is his professional opinion of the condition of the vessel.

Read more about what to expect from your marine survey.

First Time Yacht Buyers -- What You Need To Know

2011-05-24T08:07:00.005-04:00

If you’re a first-time yacht buyer the choice of used yachts available for purchase can be overwhelming. How do you make sense of all the models and styles out there?

The first time yacht buyer needs to avoid buying on emotion and take a hard look at what they intend on doing with the boat. Making the wrong choice will be a major disappointment in the long run.

To start, are you a sailor or a cruiser? Cruiser refers to trawler and motor yacht boaters. Some like the romance of a sailboat with the image of tropical islands in the picture; some don’t want the hassle of the sails, rigging etc. But a sailboat is very inexpensive to operate if your plans include traveling to far-away places. Still, power boating is not expensive if you choose the right boat, trawlers in particular. Powerboats generally come well designed with all of the creature comforts you could every need; generally more so than all but the largest of sailboats. And you don’t need to learn all of the fancy sailing techniques and customs either.

Once you have assessed your yachting preference you can then decide on the type of yacht you are likely to need. Are you going to sail, cruise or fish from it? Of course, you could fish from anything if you wish, but yachts made for fishing are much different than those built for cruising.

How often will you use your new yacht? I always say that there are “boaters” and “boat owners”. Boaters use their boats; boat owners just like to say they own a yacht as their boats rarely leave the dock. Some boaters may be full-time liveaboards using their boats as their home every day. Others may just use their boats on nice weekends when time permits.

Read more about First Time Yacht Buyers.

Understanding How A GPS Works

2011-05-10T09:49:00.000-04:00

If you are considering buying a new GPS for your trawler and are not sure how it works or how to even use it, no problem. The devices built these days are easy to operate.

Where do We Start

What is a GPS? GPS stands for Global Positioning System. Designed for the military, a GPS can work anywhere in the world. It uses satellites in orbit to give you the latitude and longitude for your exact location on the ground or water. There are a number of brands on the retail market; Garmin, Raymarine, Furuno to name a few. They all do the same thing, but some have more features. It’s all about your personal preferences.

If the GPS has a built-in antenna, it is ready to operate once you hook up the power connections. You must have a clear view of the sky as a boat hardtop will prevent the GPS from receiving satellite signals. If your GPS has a remote antenna, mount the antenna on the hardtop, radar arch or rail. Since a GPS antenna is "looking" up, there is no advantage to mounting it high. In fact, mounting it high can cause course and speed variations due to the boat rolling.

Read the rest of Understanding How a GPS Works.

$20,000 Price Reduction on Cigarette 42X Racing Boat

2011-05-06T04:49:00.000-04:00

If a boat with speed is your cup of tea, let's get you aboard this boat. The owner is MOTIVATED-- just reduced her price by $20,000. To view all of her specs and photos, visit her page on the Paradise Yachts website. You can also view our other used boats for sale.

Oh Those Marine Toilets!

2011-04-26T04:12:00.001-04:00

I got a call from a recent customer of mine who wanted to know how to maintain his toilets on his used boat; specifically, what needed to be done to keep the lines free? His call prompted this posting.

Toilets are an issue we rather not talk about but they are a requirement on our boats for sure. On the Patricia Ann, they have never been a real nuisance but I have heard the horror stories from others. So what can go wrong with marine toilets?

There are basically three type of toilets, the manual flush, the electric flush and the Vacuflush. Manual type heads have valves that need servicing or replacement occasionally, electric toilets have macerator impellers that can fail and Vacuflush heads can have water flow or vacuum pump issues.

Several common issues exists.

Salt water flush toilets have issues with urine reacting with sea water that must be dealt with.
Impellers may fail
Electric motors may seize up
Vacuum pumps may fail

The rest of this article is found at Servicing Marine Toilets.

Boating - There's Nothing Quite Like It

2011-04-19T11:39:00.000-04:00

Good morning all,

Mike and I just returned from another wonderful stay at our favorite anchorage, Cumberland Island. We left Sunday morning; it was a little chilly but there wasn't a cloud in the sky. Our trawler, the Patricia Ann, ran beautifully and we dropped the hook at 9:00 a.m.

The anchorage was a little crowded with 8 other boats there.

We were on island time now; we ate lunch at 11:00 a.m. We pulled out a package of 8 hamburgers and decided to use our Foodsaver to package the remaining burgers to prevent freezer burn. I plugged the gadget into the outlet which is wired to our inverter and solar panel and bingo -- it worked; using a favorite household device powered by the sun! What a great improvement that was to our trawler; I didn't have to crank up the generator just to seal a few bags.

We have some wonderful customers from Naples that are headed north on their Great Loop adventure so they joined us Sunday afternoon. We assisted them in purchasing a 36 Monk back in September of 2010 and we were excited to see the improvements they made to their trawler. Their outboard motor was in the shop for emergency repairs so we loaned them our dinghy so they could take their puppy ashore.

We invited them over for dinner; ribs, corn on the cob and potato cake were on the menu. I pulled out my salad shooter to shred the potatoes and once again, plugged into the inverter outlet and had plenty of power.

Monday morning we were up early, as usual; the full moon on the calm water was absolutely beautiful.

After breakfast we ferried everyone over to the island in our dinghy and Mike gave a wonderful historic tour of the island. After that we walked to the beach and they were in awe; rarely do you see such a big stretch of beach with absolutely nobody on it. After four hours of walking and talking, we were tired and hungry so we ferried everyone back to their respective trawlers. They headed back to Fernandina to get their repaired outboard motor so Mike and I decided to head back as well.

There's nothing like the feeling of freedom we experience every time we cruise. We'll be back out on the open water as soon as we can!

Used Trawler Buyer's Guide

2011-04-16T06:25:00.000-04:00

In looking for the right powerboat, consider that they come in a variety of styles and configurations. They are all generally the same, all having staterooms, salons, heads, etc. In choosing the one that best fits your needs I think it is important to determine what you will do with it. Will it always stay at the dock or will you do some island hopping on her? Is a fast moving boat the right one for you or do you like to take it slow and easy. Do you like to use 4-8 gallons of fuel an hour or can you handle 40 gallons per hour? How about construction? A wooden boat has her charm but requires more bottom maintenance and insurance may be an issue. All of these must be considered.

If taking it slow is your cup of tea, looking at used trawlers may be just for you. Taking it slow and easy, stopping to smell the salty air and watch the osprey soar overhead. So why choose a trawler? The modern trawler is comfortable, roomy, stable and seaworthy coupled with reliability and economy of operation.

Go to the Paradise Yachts website to learn more. You can also view how we assist Buyers with locating their dream boats.

Used 1984 49' Grand Banks Trawler For Sale

2011-04-07T05:43:00.000-04:00

The epitome of a classic long-range trawler known for their superb engineering and top notch build quality. Offering the optional floorplan with her double cabin configuration and galley down it gives her an expanded main salon and places the emphasis on entertainment and cruising comfort. She has undergone numerous updates and is held to a strict maintenance schedule performed by a leading south Florida maintenance company. Recently completing an extended round trip voyage from Florida to New Orleans she made the trip completely without issue.

A new electronics package was installed prior to the trip in May 2009 and offers her new owner(s) a truly "Ready to Go" dependable long range cruising vessel.

To view all her specs and photos, check out the Paradise Yachts website. We also have more boats on the market; you can check them out at Used Boats For Sale.

Crab Pot in Your Propeller -- Are You Prepared?

2011-04-01T06:02:00.000-04:00

It was early December; we were nearing our chosen anchorage, Shark River, on Florida’s west coast at the western most point of the Everglades. The seas were calm; the weather has been partly cloudy and warm all day. A nice cool cocktail on the fantail of the trawler watching the sun set over the Gulf would be great. In just another hour or so we would be there. Suddenly, thump, thump and the port engine died. What happened? A quick look down below by me produced nothing amiss. But our First Mate’s watchful eyes spied a crab trap float, suspended from a line attached to the yacht.

We had been avoiding these floats all day; there were thousands on them in the gulf set by the local crabbers. But we obviously missed spotting one and now had the line and the crab pot wrapped in our prop. We were miles from civilization and we didn’t have a mask and fins, much less any dive gear. There was neither cell phone service out here nor any VHF reception. Things didn’t look good, not at all.

Could that hypothetical scenario happen to you? Think again! Most of us boaters don’t think about it often as it is rare that things like that do occur. I have actually made the same trip I described numerous times representing Paradise Yachts, praying that we could avoid those traps and we always did. But the possibility is there and it’s best to plan and be prepared for the worst.

Read the rest of crab pots in your propeller.

There's Nothing Quite Like Messing About on Boats

2011-03-28T06:10:00.003-04:00

Good morning all,

We left last Friday for a 3 day cruise; just to be out on the water. We have spent the last three days on the hook at our favorite anchorage, Cumberland Island. We have just been messing about on boats.

We took our dingy out each morning exploring...and just riding.....just being out on the water away from the dock is pure heaven to us. We have been checking for washed up treasure; didn't find any of course. We rode over to the beach to look for a reported dead right whale but didn't find him either.

We looked at the historic Greyfield Inn from the water, just for kicks. We relaxed on the bridge in the afternoon and enjoyed a delicious cheeseburger in paradise for lunch. The weather has been perfect with temps in the high 70s and lows at night in the 60s. Not a drop of rain has fallen.

We tend to eat better on the hook as well. Saturday nights menu was Mike's delicious world famous baby back ribs accompanied by my potato cake cooked on the sundeck with my induction stovetop. And of course, anything cooked aboard a boat is always better.

And last night we had grilled salmon on a cedar plank with grilled marinated asparagus; yummy! The winds and tides played into our favor as the Patricia Ann turned into the winds at just the right time to light the grill.

Mike has been monitoring our new solar panel each day and has kept a log of daily energy usage. Seems we use more power at night due to the mast head light powered up at 2 amp; about 40 amp hours each night. Mike is going to look into replacing the lamps with the new LED lamps. But the good news is during the day the battery bank holds it own at a full 100% charge; the solar panel allows us to keep up with power usage. What a great investment that was.

On Sunday our neighbor was dragging anchor so we decided we would change the scenery and we anchored off downtown Fernandina Beach. We took another dingy ride into town and pretended to be tourists. It was a little breezy but the sun was shining and it was another beautiful day.

It is Monday morning now and we are up early as usual. We will be heading back to the dock at daybreak....but we'll be back!

Trawler Living Aboard Tip - Exploration

2011-03-22T07:30:00.003-04:00

We recently took our trawler, the Patricia Ann, on a 4-day cruise over to Cumberland Island, our favorite anchorage. I wanted to look for the white deer and walk the deserted beaches at dawn. We saw the white deer several years ago...actually we just caught a brief glimpse of them in the distance. Ever since, I have gone in search of white deer! They are not albinos but real white deer.

We were up at 5 AM each morning as usual; the coffee was just beginning to brew and the aroma was delightful. And just a little while later, with coffee in hand, we watched from the bridge as the sun began her climb over the horizon. A beautiful day was beginning with not a cloud in the sky.

As we began our day with showers and breakfast, it dawned on me just how fortunate live-aboard boaters really are. We can leave the dock for days on end and truly understand the term "freedom" and "independence".

Having lunch on back deck

We took our dingy over to the island to do a little exploring. We do this each time we visit but each time we see and learn something new. The wildlife is in abundance; wild horses, deer, turkeys.

This particular morning, we were walking along Grand Avenue when we ran into some park rangers. We asked if they had seen the white deer recently and surprisingly, they told us they had just seen them near the dunes. We hightailed it over there only to be stopped in our tracks by a large black stallion messing with two mares. We re-routed and snuck up on the deer. Mike was able to get many good photos of the deer so we can prove to all those disbelievers that they really do exist! I was thrilled; after several years of no white deer sightings, here they were right in front of us. According to the park ranger, there are 3 bucks and 2 does.

In dingy doing some exploring

It is getting to be the time of year when the transient boaters head back north so I am sure we will share our favorite anchorage with many of them in the next few weeks. We are heading there again this coming weekend to do more exploring. You never know what you will find!

Mary

One of 125 wild horses on the island

White deer in herd

White deer

Beautiful sunrise

Utilizing a Bridle to Secure Your Anchor

2011-03-18T13:10:00.000-04:00

Hi folks,

Mike and I have a set procedure for setting and securing the anchor on our trawler, Patricia Ann. We utilize a bridle which is actually a 25' piece of line with a 3/8" stainless steel shackle attached through the eye. The bridle acts as a shock absorber so a passing boat's wake won't jerk the chain and it also secures the chain from jumping out of the windlass gear. This video demonstrates how we do it.

Installing a Solar Panel Aboard Your Boat

2011-03-15T06:12:00.000-04:00

After a recent 5-day cruise aboard our trawler where we had to continually power up the generator to supply electricity to the 115 volt ac freezer to maintain temperatures, we began to consider alternatives. We put over 90 hours on the boat generator in just 5 days; time for another oil change! We installed an inverter shortly afterwards and that improved the run time for the generator significantly, but there was still work to be done. We still needed to keep the batteries charged to operate the inverter. Then it occurred to me, why not explore solar panels for use aboard our boat.

Solar Panel on Patricia Ann

Solar panels have been successfully used since the mid 1950s, originally used in manned space exploration. They have been dropping in price since about 2004 when their popularity really took off. And now with the Green movement afoot, solar panels are as popular as ever. So we set out to research them and determine how to buy and install one; were we in for a shock.

You can find many retail suppliers online that will sell you a solar panel but nowhere could we find a detailed description of how to determine what to buy and how to install it; much less aboard a yacht. So this article was born as we made my way through the process; thus was a truly a learn-as-you-go article.

Click here to read Mike's full article on installing a solar panel aboard your boat.

Vessels of Freedom - Harbors of Healing

2011-03-10T07:06:00.006-05:00

As a boater it sometimes becomes hard to explain to non-boaters what the love affair is all about. Perhaps it’s a sickness; at least it’s a bug. Some of us use our boats as a home, treating her like a member of the family; others use them to earn a living on the sea. I do have a habit of talking to our trawler, the Patricia Ann; she speaks back but in ways only I can hear. She has become a refuge of sorts, a protected harbor.

So what are the 10 reasons to go boating?

Boating is Just Plain Fun

There are scores of activities to investigate when it comes to getting out on the water, whether you like to deep sea or inshore fish, snorkel and dive, cruise, get away for the weekend, throw a party, gunk hole, explore or simply enjoy relaxing on the water.

You can do one of them or all of them, the choice is yours. Boating is fun, enjoy!

Boating is an Affordable Pastime

Do you think that leisure boating is too pricey for your budget? Well think again. Boating is no more costly than belonging to the local country club.

If financing is desirable, many boats can be financed at very good rates. Professional marine finance brokers will work with you to get you the best rates among a host of lenders. They will help you save cash and get you the top financing package to be had.

Visit our cruising center to read more about Vessels of Freedom - Harbors of Healing . You can also visit our Paradise Yachts website to learn all you need to in order to live the lifestyle!