Where and How to Buy the Right Second-Hand Equipment for Your Boat
- BoatOn
- Nov 30, 2021
- 4 min read
Owning a boat, whether sailing or motor powered, quickly becomes costly. Maintenance, insurance, parts to replace, mooring... all of this represents a significant budget. Today we're talking about second-hand equipment for your boat. Buying second-hand has become an increasingly popular solution and is no longer reserved for die-hard bargain hunters. Let's look at the options for reducing your boat budget.
Safety Equipment
Life jackets, life rafts, first aid kits — all these items can be bought second-hand to save money. Some of them are mandatory depending on your type of navigation. You can consult our dedicated article to find out what safety equipment you must have on board: click here. Don't be afraid to buy second-hand safety equipment, but always check the expiry dates and condition of the equipment.
Deck Hardware and Fittings
All the fittings on your boat wear out over time and with use. Some parts need to be replaced regularly and you can find them second-hand in very good working condition. Specialist websites exist where you will find numerous classified ads that match your search. Here are some examples of specialist and non-specialist websites where you can find second-hand equipment for your boat, from the smallest to the largest item (boat gangways, etc.):
Le Cargo (at last check, Le Cargo no longer exists)
Feel free to share your favourite addresses in the comments!
Nautical Leisure Activities
Fancy a tow tube ride, water skiing, or wakeboarding? These activities are expensive but there are ways to find great deals at reduced prices. You'll find a wide variety of models on the various classified ad sites and at all price ranges. For skis and wakeboards, check the bindings and the condition of the board to make sure it has no cracks. For tow tubes, try if possible to do an inflation test on the spot to check it hasn't been punctured. This is difficult to spot with the naked eye.
Practising these nautical activities remains dangerous — don't hesitate to consult our dedicated articles on best practices for towing behind your boat. A quick reminder:
For fans of wind and downwind sailing, we've also just discovered a company specialising in the purchase, sale and renovation of light dinghies (specially suited to nautical trekking). Based in Finistère, Puffins Trek only has a Facebook page, but its founder Diego is very dynamic and full of ideas! Feel free to share your tips or thoughts in the comments.
labonnevoile
Your sails will also wear out, eventually tear, or be on their way to doing so. You'll need to replace them. We've spoken with Lorraine from the site labonnevoile. Don't know this site? Let us introduce you.
labonnevoile is a site created by private individuals, adopted Bretons, passionate about sailing, boats, sails, the wind, travel and the sea. labonnevoile is the first platform for listing and searching classified ads dedicated to sails in the nautical world.
labonnevoile.com aims to facilitate the sale, donation and purchase of second-hand sails (pre-owned or new ready-made sails) between private individuals, or between professionals and private individuals. labonnevoile wants to enable sports enthusiasts and boaters to find THE right second-hand sail and pay less than for a new one. labonnevoile wants to connect the person selling a sail with the person who can reuse it!
labonnevoile is aimed at private individuals, sports enthusiasts, boaters, sailing fanatics, professional or amateur sailors, or dreamers who wish to sell, donate or buy a second-hand sail.
To sell a second-hand sail, simply create your account and listing. Interested people will contact you by message or phone.
To buy a second-hand sail, simply search for the sail, create your account and contact the owner.
Further exchanges take place directly between the seller and the buyer.
This site is a great find if you are looking to buy or sell second-hand sails. It is highly likely that you will find what you're looking for on www.labonnevoile.com.
You now know a bit more about buying second-hand equipment for your boat. We haven't covered all equipment categories but you can find everything on the classified ad sites referenced in the middle of this article.
Organise and Optimise Your Expenses
Now that you know the tricks for finding great deals, it's time to think about properly managing and optimising your expenses. To do this, you can try the BoatOn Book for free, a new boat maintenance and management software developed by the startup BoatOn. Categorisation of your expenses and income, invoice recording, receipts, quotes and contracts, automatic charts and personalised advice allow you to manage your budget in 1 click.
The BoatOn Book was designed by sailors for sailors. It allows you to:
Record your expenses and income
Benefit from categorisation by specialist nautical categories
View charts created automatically based on your expenses
Attach documents or other attachments to your expenses and income
Filter your searches by category or period
Find a chronological record of your expenses and income
And other features such as maintenance tracking, spare parts stock management, purchases, etc.
You now know how to make the most of your boat and ensure you keep control of your annual budget. Share the tip with your boating friends if the tool seems useful to you!
Feel free to share your tips, advice and experiences in the comments or by email at paul@boaton.fr
