Bill Day - CPYB Crusader Yacht Sales

When is the best time to buy or sell a boat?

2011-01-08T11:21:00.009-05:00

The easy answer to that questions is: NOW! It is mid-January and although you see snow flurries and it is hard to get out of bed in the morning, many others are thinking of 15 knot winds, bright sunny skies, and quiet coves.

If you are thinking of selling your boat, do not miss the spring market. January and spring doesn't seem to go together, but the fact is the spring boat market starts in January and often times the best boats at the best prices get sold by March. You hear that buyers? MARCH. That is not to say that there are not great boats available all year, but by the time people wake up from the winter doldrums and start to think about finding a great boat to for this upcoming season, many of the truly great boats have been sold.

Experienced buyers are out looking for boats in the winter. They are counting on the competition to be asleep and often they are right. These same experienced buyers are also experienced sellers. They know the serious buyers are out looking right now and they will do whatever it takes to get their boat in front of that audience, for many reasons.

Don't miss the market! If you are thinking of selling NOW IS THE TIME TO GET THE BOAT ON THE MARKET! If you are a buyer, whether working with me or anyone else, YOU NEED TO BE OUT RIGHT NOW LOOKING FOR A BOAT. Crusader Yacht Sales has an Open House each spring, usually in early April. We always have great boats available for the event, but the BEST boats, the ones everyone wanted to see? They were sold weeks before to experienced buyers counting on your long winter's nap.

Tartan Yachts Introduces the New Tartan 4000!

2010-10-22T13:04:00.005-04:00

Tartan Yachts has introduced a new design to their line-up. The Tartan 4000 is a hot new design by, Tim Jacket. The Tartan 4000 will be a great yacht to fit the needs of the modern sailor, while still being easy to handle. The yacht will feature twin helms; an epoxy hull and deck, with 15 year warranty; carbon fiber mast, boom and rudder; "Cruise Control Rig (CCR)"; and lead keel with a centerboard option. The Tartan 4000 will be available with either a 2 or 3 cabin arrangement.
Please, call me if you would like to know more about this exciting new yacht. You can reach me at 484-576-0804 or bill@crusaderyachts.com .

Bill Day - CPYB Crusader Yacht Sales: Tartan Yachts Introduces the New Tartan 4000!

2010-10-22T12:45:00.000-04:00

Bill Day - CPYB Crusader Yacht Sales: Tartan Yachts Introduces the New Tartan 4000!

Tartan Yachts Introduces the New Tartan 4000!

2010-10-22T11:56:00.008-04:00

Please, call me if you would like to know more about this exciting new yacht. You can reach me at 484-576-0804 or bill@crusaderyachts.com .

Legacy Yachts is now represented by Crusader Yacht Sales in Annapolis!

2010-10-19T23:24:00.001-04:00

I am pleased to report Crusader Yacht Sales has been appointed the Mid-Atlantic dealer for Legacy Yachts. Legacy, having elegant Downeast charm and very strong brand recognition, is expected to roll out in early 2011. Legacy was acquired by Tartan Yachts and the brand will be built in Ohio.

OK, so I do have a soft spot for my Alma mater's home of Rhode Island. It is likely the folks in Painesville, OH don't know much about chowder, never met Anne and Hope, and probably never slid on cafeteria trays down the lawn of New York Yacht Club's Harbour Court. They do know about boat building and they have been at it for 50 years. The salt of Legacy's designs will go a long way.

As a yacht broker who speaks Downeast, I really appreciate Legacy designs, mostly from the iconic designer, Mark Ellis. I am confident Tartan will build a new generation of Legacy Yachts, which will be unmatched in the yacht building world. All you have to do is look at the recent developments in Tartan and C & C building and design to get the picture. The competition should take careful notice: You better step-up your game - Epoxy hulls, long warranties, and the best building and design practices money can buy.

Information about the new Legacy line is hot off the press! Please, contact me to talk about Legacy and placing your order for one of the first boats to roll out. You can always reach me at bill@crusaderyachts.com , or by cell at 484-576-0804.

http://www.crusaderyachts.com/

Bill Day: Your New Souce for Tartan and C&C Yachts in the Chesapeake and Mid-Atlantic!

2010-10-19T20:12:00.000-04:00

I am excited to report I now represent Tartan and C & C Yachts in Annapolis and the Mid-Atlantic region!

Tartan and C & C is the only yacht built in the United States offering a stick-built interior, which is able to be customized to your tastes; the best building techniques and cutting edge marine design. Tartan and C & C moved beyond 1965 boat building technology and tired design, which most other companies still use. In a nutshell, you can expect BPA epoxy hulls with a 15 year hull warranty, carbon fiber rigs, E-Glass, lead keels, and vacuum building methods.

Tartan and C & C is under the new direction of Steve and Steph Malbasa. Steve spoke at Tartan's 50th anniversary party, held in Annapolis, during the 2010 US Sailboat Show. He spoke clearly and plainly about the new direction of the company and he said the highest priority for Tartan and C & C would be customer satisfaction and build quality. The crowd of more than 150 owners, marine trade professionals and press erupted in cheers and applause.

It is obvious: Tartan and C & C made some bold moves to ensure their next 50 years of success. The hallmark of the company remains legendary designer and all around good guy, Tim Jacket. The good karma continues with sales manager, Andy Drumm. They sought out the best dealerships in the US, such as Crusader Yacht Sales in Annapolis, McMichael Yacht Brokers in New York, and East Coast Yacht Sales in New England. You can be sure of the highest standards in new and used sales, commissioning and service. It is an honor to work with such highly regarded brokerage professionals in Tartan and C&C's next generation.

The line-up of Tartan and C&C Yachts is, in a word, astounding. From the Flagship Tartan 5300, the exciting new Tartan 4000, to the performance sailing machine that is C&C 115, this revitalized company offers a yacht for every taste and use. From my inspection of the yachts, American quality and craftsmanship is alive and well.

I look forward to helping you discover, or rediscover, Tartan and C & C Yachts. Please, contact me anytime at bill@crusaderyachts.com , by cell at 484-576-0804, or swing by Crusader Yacht Sales, in Annapolis, to see a Tartan or C&C Yacht first hand.

http://www.crusaderyachts.com/

PRUDENCE, Southern Cross 35 is NOW on the market (2/17/10)

2010-02-17T16:08:00.000-05:00

I am pleased to announce the 1985 Southern Cross 35, PRUDENCE, is now on the market as of February 17, 2010.

She was built by CE Ryder in Rhode Island. You can see my story about her in previous blog posts. Also, her previous owners' blog is still up and is one of the best detailed accounts of how a Southern Cross 35 sails and what they are capable of. See: http://www.sailblogs.com/member/ashiya/?show=fulltoc

Now, I will say it again. DO NOT WAIT TO CALL ABOUT THIS BOAT! The last time she was offered for sale, she was on the market one week and never made it to Yacht World. I have a great deal of information about PRUDENCE and I have sold her 3 times so far. All of her owners are fantastic people and are more than willing to share their knowledge about the boat. You may say she has her own cult following! This boat has been all over the Caribbean and Atlantic and is probably the best known Southern Cross 35 in the world.

CALL or email me RIGHT NOW! 484-576-0804 or Bill@crusaderyachts.com

See our Newest Listings on YouTube

2010-02-02T15:24:00.000-05:00

You drive a day to go see your most recent marine love interest, roll into the marina at the appointed time and meet your broker. Then, it hits you. The boat you"re going to see is not in the water, it's on land. AND, there is a huge ladder that you have to climb up, before you get to see it. Sometimes, seeing a boat on land is a necessary evil and sometimes pictures on the the various yacht listing sites look much better than real life. It's pretty hard to get any idea how a boat will behave underway, unless you have already been on a similar boat. We"ve taken some of the guessing out of the equation by starting to put many of our boats on YouTube.com . Like this Beneteau 50, 2 cabin owner's version, in Annapolis now.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIVTkW7cY-c

The New Bruckmann Yachts 34e Express Cruiser Arrived in Annapolis Today!

2010-01-13T16:09:00.000-05:00

I am pleased to announce the new Bruckmann Yachts 34e Express Cruiser is now at Crusader Yachts Sales and she is stunning! She is available to show immediately.

If you are in the market for a Downeast-style yacht, like Grand Banks, Sabre, or Legacy, the Bruckmann 34e should be at the top of your list, beacause you will quickly realize this is not a run of the mill production boat.

I can honestly say the Bruckmann product is at least on the same finish and build quality as Hinckley, Morris, and Lyman Morse, if not better. Yes, I know, they are big shoes to fill, but the Bruckmann 34e does so with ease.

The 34e offers a large cockpit and swim platform, spacious helm deck with plenty of seating around a teak table, which converts to a double berth. The one thing that immediately strikes you about the 34e is the remarkable visibility from the helm. The forward wind screen is full size and the visibility is unrestricted. Everything about the fit and finish on the 34e is superb. The example here in Annapolis offers a high gloss Mahogany finish on white panels, and is tastefully classic in every sense. Her galley is quite large for a 34 foot yacht and it features tons of storage, with marbled, solid surface counter tops.

The 34e has wonderful engine access to a Yanmar 440hp diesel. The hull design, flat in the after stations, allows it to plan with ease. You will be interested to know that this is the very same hull mold as the Legacy 34, (R.I.P. Freedom/Legacy). The nice thing about this Mark Ellis design is you can just as easily crawl along the creeks at 6 to 8 knots, if you like. Her single engine is appealing for long distance cruising and getting her in and out of tight quarters is easy with her bow thruster.

If you are in the Downeast market, you owe yourself to look a this boat.

Just Sold: Tayana 55, Tayana 52, and Nordhavn 46!

2010-01-12T12:25:00.000-05:00

Well, 2009 ended with a bang! I am happy to report that I just settled 3 boats that had been members of an exclusive club, until now.

Preceeding November 2009, only 5 sailing yachts over 50 feet sold in the entire US. Now, make that 7 in all of 2009! I had the great opportunity to transact a beautiful 1998 Tayana 55 and a spectacular 1987 Tayana 52 aft cockpit. How's that for momentum? The Tayana 55, which is one of the nicest cruising boats I have ever had the pleasure to list, is going to go back to what she does best: wander the sea! She was exceptionally maintained and I am happy to say, she is going to an experienced owner who will love her just as much.

The Tayana 52 was purchased by one of the nicest gentleman with which I have ever worked. She was another yacht that had original owners and she was perfectly maintained for all of her life. She will be headed to Virginia to live, then outbound ports. Kudos to Robert Noyce and her two very prominent, previous owners for making it an easy transaction.

Rounding out the year was what I think may have been the best buy in the entire power yacht market: A 46' Nordhavn Trawler. She had been lingering around for a while in Annapolis and suddenly, a buyer presented himself with the foresight that this boat was a great deal. Mind you, these trawlers are designed for expedition style cruising, in most of the world's oceans. These boats are brought to us by PAE, Pacific Asian Enterprises, which are the same folks responsible for the iconic Mason sailing yachts. You should check out Nordhavn's website as soon as you get the chance. On it you will find video of what these owner's do for giggles: jaunt across the Atlantic to Portugal, stopping to water ski and have a cocktail party in the middle of the Sargasso Sea! There is other info on the website about owners taking off across the Bearing Sea, ala Deadliest Catch, in search of better sushi in Japan! These are boats that will go wherever you have the guts to travel!

Jump on in! The water is perfect!

Power Yachts lead the comeback!

2009-11-19T15:41:00.000-05:00

In an amazing twist in the yacht brokerage marketplace, powerboats, especially trawlers and downeast yachts have lead the comeback. I wish I could say the same for new power yacht sales. I recently worked with several clients in the power market and what I observed truly caught me by surprise.

I wrote months ago that prices seemed to have had bottomed out and were remaining steady, with sellers remaining consistent on pricing strategy. Today, it appears many choice offerings in the power market have been sold or are under contract! I called broker after broker only to find many of their listings were surveyed and ready to go to closing! If you are a consumer, sitting on the sidelines, and you are going to buy something, I wouldn't wait too much longer. This is November ( '09) and where many folks are putting boats away and boat yards become sleepy, business on the Chesapeake has become brisk!

Getting a Downeast Education at Lunch!

2009-04-07T15:28:00.000-04:00

The president of Crusader Yachts, Nancy Cann, Scott Taylor, and I rushed out of the office today to get from Annapolis to Kent Narrows for what was supposed to be a normal lunch meeting. Always trying to squeeze every minute to get two back, we finally made it across the bridge and to our destination. We were meeting prominent Eastern Shore yacht broker and yacht yard owner, John Shannahan, to tidy up arrangements for our annual Spring Open House. Sounds boring, huh?

Well, it would have been, except we had a guest: Jarvis Newman! I have read dozens of books about Downeast boat building and design, but, nothing is better than eating fish and chips with the master of the craft!

When one thinks of Jarvis Newman boats, I am not sure what your visual is, but for me, it is the rocky Maine coast, a light house or two for background and a crisp American yacht ensign flying from the stern of a perfectly built lobster yacht.

What a great opportunity of a career to have lunch with him!

S/V PRUDENCE - a Southern Cross 35: Clients (and a Boat) to make a Yacht Broker Proud!

2009-01-31T13:59:00.000-05:00

Southern Cross 35 Hull

Southern Cross 35 to Windward!

Southern Cross 35 in Antigua

ANNAPOLIS - You meet a lot of people in the business of yacht brokerage. When I met Doug and Sheryl Mayle, in Annapolis, they were just starting to look for a "cruising sailboat." Like many folks getting ready to buy a cruising boat, Doug & Sheryl had many questions, but, there was something different about them.

It was obvious, Doug & Sheryl were focused, and had planned a long time to pursue their dream. They didn't have thousands of ocean miles under their keel, and hardly could be considered old salts. We saw a lot of boats when they came to visit. Obviously, Annapolis is a supermarket of yachts, so they could see just about anything ever made to float.

They set one foot over the rail of this wonderful Southern Cross 35 and it was all over. Love a first sight! A canoe stern, sensible sail plan, honest construction, and excellent price make the Southern Cross 35 one of my favorite choices for a cruising sailboat.

Doug & Sheryl did a good job of trying to hide their blushing enthusiasm, and really had a good look at her. I remember Sheryl asking, "Do you think this is worthy of blue water sailing?" She asked in such a way that it was clear the underlying question was: You wouldn't sell us a boat where we are going to certainly die, would you? Of course not! S/V Prudence had a secret: She had been sailed to Europe from Annapolis and back through the Caribbean already! S/V Prudence would take good care of them, indeed!

As I write this, Doug and Sheryl are on their 35' Southern Cross, S/V PRUDENCE, in Antigua!

If you are thinking about slipping the lines and really going cruising, you owe it to yourself to see how Doug and Sheryl got themselves prepared. They are a text book case on how you put dreams into motion. Take a look at the journey of Doug & Sheryl on S/V Prudence on their Blog here

Yacht Prices Reach Bottom...3 months ago!

2009-01-26T23:37:00.000-05:00

Bristol 51.1 Sailing

ANNAPOLIS - It is no secret the economy has been pretty tough on yacht sales the last 6 months or so. At the US Sailboat Show in October, you could see dismay on the faces of the show attendees as the stock market took another several hundred point plunge. Sales were few and far between. Several attendees confided they intended to purchase a new boat this year when they made their plan to travel to Annapolis, but, quickly changed course as the clouds of the economic situation clearly appeared on the horizon. Even the sales machines of Beneteau, Jeanneau, Hunter, and Catalina were off by all accounts. Many folks realized their dream needed to be deferred.

Fast forward to January 2009. The phone started ringing when we returned from our holiday slumber and it hasn't stopped! This time last year, I was in Florida for two weeks, because it was a welcome break during a traditionally slow time. As I write this, there is no way I could take the time off due to the demands of my business and my clients needs. Trust me, I am definitely not complaining.

Two months ago, I was seeing many, shall we say "overly hopeful" offers on yachts. Many buyers thought, surely the average boat owner would be practically begging for them to buy their boat. The end result: many rebuffed buyers who still have no boat and a lot of sellers effectively selling their boats to reasonable buyers, at market price.

If you know anything about sailboat owners, they are not the type of folks who go out and buy a boat on a whim, because they had a few extra bucks to burn. Sailing is in their soul and sailing is a necessary part of their life. They made the sacrifices in other part of their lives to afford their boat. I know folks who debate whether to buy a pizza on Friday night or save the money for a mooring at their favorite port, in the upcoming cruising season. Consequently, most sailboat owners are not in a position where they are required to get rid of the boat at any price.

If you are seriously in the yacht market and looking for the bottom of the market to get the best deal, you may have already missed it. The recent activity I've seen suggests there are more serious buyers in the market and prices have begun to stabilize. Every broker in my office has at least one boat under contract. My polling of other brokers up and down the East Coast suggests the micro-markets of New England and Florida are moving too.

Don't get me wrong, there are great deals out there and you should move swiftly to take advantage of them. Many sellers are not rejecting reasonable offers and they are engaging serious buyers in negotiation. Although, it is natural to want the best possible deal and maybe a pound of flesh too, it may take a year for prices to completely stabilize and for you to realize you got exactly that by buying now.

You can search for great deals by clicking here.

Bill Day - CPYB

Crusader Yacht Sales

Annapolis, MD

http://www.crusaderyachts.com/

Bill@crusaderyachts.com

Downeast Lobster Yachts - the "graduation" from sailing

2009-01-23T15:17:00.000-05:00

Lobster Boat Hull

Many sailors reach a point in their sailing careers when their bones tell them to it may be time to “retire” from sailing. It is a hard notion in which to come to terms. Sailors are usually dyed in the wool when it comes to their affection and need to feel the breeze and enjoy the quiet that only a sailboat will offer. Most keep on sailing, but the aches and pains that result from a weekend or a day on the water start to diminish the enjoyment.
Yes, there are many happy memories. The good news is: There are more to come. All you need to do is simply “graduate.”

It is hard to imagine spending time on the water any other way, than sailing. Certainly, “graduating” to a plastic looking, contorted excuse for a boat is unacceptable. Why, there is no way you would ever join the wake throwing, sometimes rude, obviously not able to navigate crowd.

Rejoice! Many people have retired from sailing and have found the perfect way to continue their enjoyment of the water. Not all power boaters are rude or incompetent boaters. In fact many of them are just like you, sailors, and were in the same shoes. Often, our old clients find their yachting careers can continue in a yacht quality Downeast built boat. They often appeal to sailors because of their very sailboat like feel. In fact, true Downeast built yachts owe their very existence to sailboats. The other appealing thing is they are often slow going, with lower powered, economical single diesel engines, like a sailboat.

Downeast boats were built to be tough work machines and not for the light of heart. These time-tested designs have carried lobstermen to the grueling Maine fishing grounds for decades; usually all winter long! Many places, it could mean going miles offshore, by yourself, in the worst possible weather you could imagine. A small craft warning will not stop you from returning home after a weekend out in a Downeast built boat. Imagine the seafood store telling you they had no lobster or fish today because it was too rough!

After folks discovered the typical Downeast built workboat was so tough, a great idea was born: Turn it into a yacht. When you combine the elements of a tank-like hull with a sexy sheer line, and traditional New England yacht-like finish and joinery, you have the answer as to why these boats appeal to sailors. Try to imagine a plastic production powerboat with a Herreshoff interior, bronze ports, teak and holly sole, highly varnished teak cap rails, cherry and mahogany cabinets and lockers. In reality, your vision is probably more like a Las Vegas hotel room from the 70’s.

Downeast built boats is a study unto itself. These boats were not built in mass production facilities, but, in many cases, in single-bay sheds belonging to builders you have never heard of; generally hand built. To complicate matters, the hull is useless without an honest design, generally done by another obscure gent. Later, the boat may have been finished by a yard, complicating the matter more. Well, don’t worry, because, with a little research, you will soon discover some of those folks are rock stars of Downeast boat building. They are generally known by the names of the folks who were responsible for their birth. A Royal Lowell, Jarvis Newman, Lyman Morse 36 footer? You have a tri-fecta winner! A Spencer Lincoln designed, Young Brothers built, Cabot Lyman finished hardtop you say? Bingo, another class act! Ralph Stanley, the fiddle-playing guy with the ball cap, suspenders and flannel shirt? Rock Star! The list of names will quickly resemble a Norman Rockwell era, very Yankee sounding phone book.

With Downeast built yachts, it’s all about pedigree. The people who build them didn’t pick up an easy boat job to avoid “real” work. Many of these folks build boats because their father, grandfather and great grandfather built them, sometimes with the same design over decades, of wood then glass. Downeast boats were built out of necessity. Your neighbor had to make a living lobstering or your mail and groceries had to be delivered to the island on which you lived, miles offshore. Maybe, your child had to get to a doctor on the mainland. Building boats was as important and absolutely necessary to the Maine way of life and culture as a farmer growing feed corn for dairy cows in Wisconsin. So, building a solid, safe boat for these builders was not only a matter of pride and tradition, it was for the protection and safety of their brother, uncle, neighbor and child.

The real beauty in a Downeast boat is in the hull. Sailors understand this all too well, because these boats were built to be displacement boats. They move through the water, rather than on top of it. Over the years, as friendship sloops, used for recreation and work, received auxiliary power, the boats used for work had their keels reduced. Today, if you look at the two main types of Downeast built boats, they will have a keel and a skeg hung rudder. While the study of Downeast built boats and their distinct keels and designs deserve an article of its own, the two main types of hulls are the “built down” hull and the “skeg built” hull.

The “built down” hull provides a gently curved turn at the bilge, then transitioning into the keel. In fact, if you lengthened the keel draft, it would more resemble a sailboat, than a powerboat. While underway, the “built down” boat will behave much like a sailboat. The ride will generally be comfortable, with minimum motion. Due to the intent to have the “built down” boat move through the water, maximizing the use of the keel, engine sizes can be minimized, which translates into fuel economy. They make an excellent choice for a powerboat to go cruising, over long distances, in open water.

The “skeg built” boat came into being for many reasons, but the main one was the need for speed. During prohibition, many of the people on the Maine Islands found it was easier to make a living “rum running” than fishing. Of course the government didn’t like it a whole lot and there was a constant game of cat and mouse being played on the Maine coast, between the Coast Guard and moonlighting lobstermen. With Yankee ingenuity, larger engines were placed in these boats and the hull was changed to provide more of a planing action, where the boat moved over the water. The look of a “skeg built” hull has a sharper, angular turn in the bilge, providing a flatter surface on the hull. Many folks credit the Young family for being on the forefront of the “skeg built” boat. The family is still around and known as Young Brothers. They build some of the most beautiful and powerful hulls available. Spencer Lincoln, the designer of the venerable Duffy 35, is one of the most prominent designers of the “skeg built” hull.

Downeast built boats, lobster boats to many, are an excellent choice for the retiring sailor to go cruising once again, in relative comfort. If your bones are telling you it’s time to retire from sailing, you owe it to yourself to have a look at a Downeast built boat. It will appeal to the sailor in you, in many ways. This article only mentioned the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the study of Downeast built boats. I suggest working with a knowledgeable yacht broker, who has spent a great deal of time learning about these boats, to find one that suites your needs. Once you find one and fall in love with boating all over again, it may cure all that ails you.

To find a Downeast-style yacht or "Lobster yacht," Click here