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Written by Dave
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Tuesday, 17 June 2008 20:53 |
The Best Used Boat Notebook
by John Kretschmer
With 70% of boat sales, sales of used boats, it's no wonder that used sailboat reviews are popular boating magazine features. As new boat prices move into the six figure range, most of us look at used boats for our first or next purchase.
The Best Used Boat Notebook is a compilation of 50 used sailboat reviews written by John Kretschmer and originally published in Sailing magazine. Kretschmer is a noted and frequently published bluewater sailor with over 250,000 miles in his wake.
His reviews cover boats of all sizes, from the 19 foot West Wight Potter to a 52 foot Irwin. Reviews are grouped in two parts, "Forty Great Used Boats" and "Ten Great New Boats to Sail Around the World." Kretschmer's reviews follow a standard format, one often used in boat surveys. Beginning with his first impressions, he moves on to construction and "what to look for." He finishes with conclusion and discussion of the boat's value on the market and a value guide, in which he rates different aspects of the boat using a five-boat rating system. Ketschmer's reviews are thorough and often include information directly from current and past owners of the model being reviewed. By virtue of reviewing used boats, he is relieved of any pressure to soft sell a boat's weaknesses, improving his credibility.
Of obvious value to a sailor in the boat market, The Best Used Boat Notebook offers great value to those simply interested in sailboats. Embedded in Kretschmer's reviews is a history of the modern boat building industry. His reviews include information on the design history, construction history, and boat builder's history. Comparing the reviews of similarly sized boats is a tutorial in boat design considerations, purposes, and construction. Kretschmer provides a wealth of information to mine.
Written with clarity and authority The Best Used Boat Notebook lives up to its name.
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Last Updated on Thursday, 10 July 2008 11:35 |
