The Perfect First Boat Costs Next To Nothing By Len Bose

By Len Bose

I received a sales call this week from a prospect who was not sure if he wanted to purchase a power or sailboat. He just wanted to get on the water and start yachting.

I asked, “Do you know how to sail?”

"No."

“Have you owned a power boat before?”

"No, I just want to get on the water!"

All right then, I have just the boat for you! It's called the School of Sailing & Seamanship at the Orange Coast College sea base at 1801 W. Coast Hwy Newport Beach” I then brought up the school web page and started to tell my future prospect to sign up for beginning sailing.

As I glanced through the web page I noticed that the sailing base has a lot more to offer than when I learned how to sail there some 30 years ago. I then informed my prospect of all the different powerboat classes that are available along with the weekend trips to Catalina and the Channel Islands.

The school offers everything from first aid and CPR classes to sailing to Hawaii. I found myself eyeing the marine electrical systems class imagining how much money I can save on my boat if I understood my AC and DC systems better.

When I heard my prospect over the phone asking, “Are you still there?”

I told him that the school will place him on the proper course in deciding just what your needs and desires are.

"Once you have accomplished that I will find the proper yacht for you,” I said.

My prospect asked if the classes are expensive? No, a beginning sailing class works out to be about $7 an hour. Now that's value.

"Well, thank you, Len," he said. "That’s good advice. Looks like I can sign up online. Perfect!"

"Just don't forget me," I said.

OK, time for Len's Lessons.

Lesson #543: When you bring a boat down to Ensenada, make sure you tell your credit card company you are headed out of the country. After I placed a month’s slip rent at Cruise Port Marina, my card company turned off my card.

Lesson #544: Make sure your credit card works before you get to window #2 at the port captain's office. This caused me about a two-hour delay.

Lesson #545: I also noticed the owner of a sport fishing vessel from Long Beach, who had been in line longer than me, trying to purchase nine fishing licenses. He should have called Joan Irvine Travel at (949) 548-3481. Joan will save you a ton of time from everything from a Mexican fishing license to your temporary import permit and port entry papers and don’t you dare forget about your LLC maritime letter of permission. I would have saved about three hours if I had called Joan first.

Next week I will report on Balboa Yacht Clubs Sunkist and CHOC regatta/series this weekend. Get your boat out and help The Children’s Hospital of Orange County bysigning up for this regatta! I will also be competing in BCYC Double Handed series this Saturday and I will be sailing around the bay checking in with all my friends.

Website of the week is the Stern Scoop. Look through this page for your yachtsmen holidays gift ideas. Then go shop on ebay like I do.

Sea ya.

Len Bose is the owner of Len Bose Yacht Sales.