Member-only story
Buying a Boat During the Pandemic
Finding a boat that suits your requirements and budget has never been easy. During the pandemic, it’s even harder to kick the proverbial tires.
I’d just finished writing an article and eased myself on the sofa next to my husband, his back arched over a laptop screen. Glen was searching for the perfect boat to take us around the Great Loop; a counterclockwise, coastal, and inland circumnavigation of the eastern United States. The boat needed to be seaworthy, comfortable, and possess twin diesels with low engine hours that sip instead of gulp… The computer screen eerily lit up Glen’s face and turning to me, “Take a look at this one.” Back-paging a few clicks, he handed me the laptop and I saw a not-so-new white trawler on the screen before me.
Months of social distancing and holing up in our mountain cabin had us yearning to go out into the world. After all, what could be safer during a pandemic than cruising friendly waters of the eastern United States in our own floating bubble? America’s Great Loop had been on our list of life desires ever since we finished an around-the- world sailing voyage. Living landlocked put that dream to sleep, and shopping for the a suitable Loop Boat was our first step toward dusting off the cobwebs. Burning the midnight oil, we read articles from other Loopers to weigh the pros and cons of various boats and designs; trawler or…
