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    Quality first; quantity second.

    These days, many consumers opt for price and quantity rather than quality. This is most unfortunate since you can never tell a product’s quality by its price alone. And bigger doesn’t always mean better.

    A common mistake that many first-time buyers make is to buy the biggest vessel they could find for the least expense. This is just wrong on so many levels.

    First, remember that yachts float on sea water. Second, sea water is one of the most corrosive liquids on earth. And third, yachts are exposed to all the worst elements: sun, ice, snow, rain, rough oceans, lakes, bays, etc. To make it short, yachts go through the most hostile conditions.

    If you want your yacht to last a long time, quality, therefore, comes first. Instead of buying the biggest yacht for the least cost, buy the best quality you can get with what available money you have. That should be your primary consideration.

    The marketing fads of today too often call for the sacrifice of certain aspects in boat building. Thus, it is not uncommon to find a yacht that is perfect in terms of appearance and style but not in function and safety.

    It does not help that the more inexperienced boat-buyers prefer stylistic appearance over substance. In an effort, therefore, to get more people to buy their boats and yachts, boat builders are increasingly turning to designers of fashion in order to give first-time boat buyers the illusion that they are keeping up with the Joneses if their yachts feature the latest in stylistic gizmos.

    Yet, this is a costly mistake to make. Because once the years have passed and the trend today has gone out of style in the future, what is left of the showroom glitz and glamour that you bought is rot and rust. And rot and rust it will for that is bound to happen, no matter how rich and elegant your yacht is, under the harsh effects of the sea.

    So how do you know if what you are buying is going to last? The best way to go about it is to go down a boat yard or the marina and have a look-see. For the most instructive place to see how boats look like after the years have taken their toll, this is the place.

    But, what should you look for? The rule is to look at the yacht’s hull number on the stern because that’s how you can tell its age.

    And now for some tips:

    Check the finish.

    It is likely made of gelcoat. If so, then see if it has turned chalky after only a number of years.

    Check the fancy graphics.

    Is it taped-on or painted? If the former, look for signs of peeling. If the latter, check to see if the paint has faded.

    Check the molded plastic parts.

    Look for cracks, signs of chipping, and broken parts.

    Check the window moldings.

    Are they painted? Be sure also to check the metal under the paint for any signs of corrosion.

    Check the hardware.

    What is it made of? The ideal is stainless steel as this is the most durable. The cheapest is cast aluminum. And the worst is “pot metal” parts that corrode badly after only a few years. Also, check the paint on the hardware, if any, and see if some of the paint is coming off in some parts.

    Check the rub rails.

    Are the rails distorted or loose? Are they all bent up or corroded in various parts? Watch out for cracks, particularly along the hull-to-deck joint. If these flaws are present, the yacht is likely to leak. Leaking could cause excessive damage to the interior of your yacht.

    Check the outsides of the window frames.

    Are they smeared with caulking? Are they made of aluminum specifically designed to withstand marine conditions? Or are they made of aluminum for regular recreational vehicles? If the window frames are weak, this could lead to leaking.

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