This 12-Minute Video Will Save You $50,000 on a Sailboat
I charge $500 for a 90-min boat consultation. Today, for free, I’m giving you the forensic audit process I’ve developed over 24 years on the water, from nuclear submarines to offshore sailboats.
Why this matters:
* The Forensic Audit: How to list every system and calculate its true remaining lifespan.
* The 16-Year Rule: Why standing rigging is a $20,000 bill waiting to happen.
* Hassle Tax: How to negotiate 20% off the price when inheriting deferred maintenance.
* Bronze Truth: Why “beautiful” through-holes might actually be pink, brittle, and dangerous.
Get the Book:
If you want the full breakdown on vetting offshore vessels, I’ve dedicated an entire chapter of my book to this exact subject. We have less than 200 copies left of the first edition cowhide cover before the second printing arrives.
📖 Grab “Be The Captain” here: https://bethecaptain.com/ ⚓
Book a Private Consultation: https://bethecaptain.com/pages/private-offshore-decision-session
Contact Chris (rigger): https://www.cc-rigging.com/
Video Chapters
0:00 — The Reality of Buying a Used Boat
Introduction to why most buyers go broke by treating a boat like a car. The stakes of a breakdown 100 miles from land versus the side of the road.
1:45 — The “Interior Trap” Exposed
How shiny cushions and pretty cabins blind buyers to UV damage, soft decks, and leaking fittings. Why you must vet the exterior before stepping inside.
2:38 — Forensic Audit: Systems vs. Features
Shifting the mindset from “what does it have?” to “how much life is left?”. A breakdown of the 30–40 different systems you must catalog.
3:39 — Rigging & Engine Lifespans
The 16-year rule for standing rigging and why a $20,000 bill might be waiting for you. Why engine hours over 4,500 are suspect in a caustic marine environment.
5:15 — The Truth About Marine Electronics
Why boat electronics are obsolete after five years and why they add very little to the actual resale value of the vessel.
5:58 — Water Makers & Through-Hulls
How neglect kills water maker membranes and why pink-colored bronze through-hulls are a life-threatening danger.
8:06 — Market Comps & The “Hassle Tax”
How to use broker data to determine true value. Why you should negotiate a 20% discount on top of repair costs for inheriting the previous owner’s problems.
9:32 — Buy Once, Cry Once Philosophy
The high cost of buying cheap gear. Why “prosumer” gear used by professionals is always cheaper than replacing consumer-grade junk twice.
11:00 — Amortizing Your Ownership Costs
How to calculate what a boat will cost you over a 5–10 year ownership cycle. Balancing the pragmatic numbers with the “heart cost” of loving the boat.
12:02 — Be The Captain: The Field Manual
How to get the first edition cowhide cover of Be The Captain (less than 200 left) to master boat vetting in Chapter 2.
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I charge $500 for a 90-min boat consultation. Today, for free, I'm giving you the forensic audit process I’ve developed over 24 years on the water, from nuclear submarines to offshore sailboats.
Why this matters:
* The Forensic Audit: How to list every system and calculate its true remaining lifespan.
* The 16-Year Rule: Why standing rigging is a $20,000 bill waiting to happen.
* Hassle Tax: How to negotiate 20% off the price when inheriting deferred maintenance.
* Bronze Truth: Why "beautiful" through-holes might actually be pink, brittle, and dangerous.
Get the Book:
If you want the full breakdown on vetting offshore vessels, I’ve dedicated an entire chapter of my book to this exact subject. We have less than 200 copies left of the first edition cowhide cover before the second printing arrives.
📖 Grab "Be The Captain" here: https://bethecaptain.com/ ⚓
Book a Private Consultation: https://bethecaptain.com/pages/private-offshore-decision-session
Contact Chris (rigger): https://www.cc-rigging.com/
Video Chapters
0:00 — The Reality of Buying a Used Boat
Introduction to why most buyers go broke by treating a boat like a car. The stakes of a breakdown 100 miles from land versus the side of the road.
1:45 — The "Interior Trap" Exposed
How shiny cushions and pretty cabins blind buyers to UV damage, soft decks, and leaking fittings. Why you must vet the exterior before stepping inside.
2:38 — Forensic Audit: Systems vs. Features
Shifting the mindset from "what does it have?" to "how much life is left?". A breakdown of the 30–40 different systems you must catalog.
3:39 — Rigging & Engine Lifespans
The 16-year rule for standing rigging and why a $20,000 bill might be waiting for you. Why engine hours over 4,500 are suspect in a caustic marine environment.
5:15 — The Truth About Marine Electronics
Why boat electronics are obsolete after five years and why they add very little to the actual resale value of the vessel.
5:58 — Water Makers & Through-Hulls
How neglect kills water maker membranes and why pink-colored bronze through-hulls are a life-threatening danger.
8:06 — Market Comps & The "Hassle Tax"
How to use broker data to determine true value. Why you should negotiate a 20% discount on top of repair costs for inheriting the previous owner's problems.
9:32 — Buy Once, Cry Once Philosophy
The high cost of buying cheap gear. Why "prosumer" gear used by professionals is always cheaper than replacing consumer-grade junk twice.
11:00 — Amortizing Your Ownership Costs
How to calculate what a boat will cost you over a 5–10 year ownership cycle. Balancing the pragmatic numbers with the "heart cost" of loving the boat.
12:02 — Be The Captain: The Field Manual
How to get the first edition cowhide cover of Be The Captain (less than 200 left) to master boat vetting in Chapter 2.
Sailing Zingaro
Join James Evenson of Sailing Zingaro as he documents his 2026 technical refit of his Crowther Spindrift 38 in Colombia and his 'Sailing Truth' mission.
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