Cruising boat selection
with John Neal | Team MahinaBuying a cruising boat is exciting, but it’s also one of the most expensive decisions you’ll make on the water. This online class gives you a clear, practical framework for evaluating boats, avoiding common traps, and choosing a cruiser you’ll still love after the honeymoon phase.
There’s no such thing as a “perfect” cruising boat, but there is a right boat for your cruising plans, budget, and comfort level. In this online class, you’ll learn how to assess design, construction, and real-world livability so you can shop with confidence, ask better questions, and make a purchase you won’t regret. We’ll also walk through current pricing realities and what to expect from today’s market.
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ONLINE Class OVERVIEW
This online class is a structured, no-fluff guide to choosing and purchasing a cruising yacht. You’ll learn the design tradeoffs that affect comfort, performance, safety, and maintenance. You’ll also get a practical construction checklist, a set of “must-have” cruising qualities, and a straightforward buying roadmap that covers where to look, how to compare options, how the purchase process works, and what to plan for after closing (repairs, upgrades, and outfitting).
Who is this online class for?
This online class is for sailors who are thinking about buying their first cruising boat, upgrading to a more capable cruiser, or narrowing down a shortlist in a crowded market. It’s also ideal if you’ve been boat shopping and feel overwhelmed by opinions, online debates, and conflicting advice. If you want a calmer, more logical way to evaluate boats and make a smart purchase decision, you’re in the right place.
What Will I Learn?
In the online class, sailors can expect to learn how to evaluate the big decisions (design and construction) and the real decisions (comfort, payload, maintenance, and resale). You’ll leave with a set of criteria you can apply to any boat, plus a buying process that helps you stay objective, avoid costly surprises, and make confident tradeoffs.
List of Topics:
- Boat Design Essentials: 10 types of cruising boats and what they’re best at
- Design Red Flags: negative design aspects to avoid before you fall in love
- Keels, Cockpits & Control: keel types, aft vs. center cockpit, helm position, transom choices
- Rig and Power Choices: sloop vs. cutter vs. ketch, plus engine considerations that matter offshore
- Construction Checklist: hull and deck construction, hull-to-deck joint, bulkheads, tank materials, mast support, chainplates
- Steering and Structure: steering system design, load paths, and what to look for in critical systems
- 20 Qualities of an Ideal Cruising Boat: comfort, safety, performance, payload, maintenance, and resale value
- Buying Smart: when to purchase, market pricing trends, where to look, purchase options, and the post-purchase refit/outfit plan
BUY SMART. SAIL FAR.
From Dreaming to Deciding
Buying a cruising boat is one of the most significant investments you will make, and excitement can easily overshadow logic. This online class provides a structured framework to evaluate boats objectively, helping you assess design, construction quality, and real-world livability so you can narrow your options with clarity instead of confusion.
Understanding What Truly Matters Offshore
Not all cruising boats are built for the same purpose. This online class explains how keel types, cockpit layouts, rig configurations, structural components, and steering systems influence comfort, safety, performance, and maintenance. You will learn how to identify red flags early and apply a practical construction checklist to evaluate any boat you are considering.
Making a Purchase You Will Not Regret
Beyond design evaluation, this online class walks through market realities, pricing trends, where to look, how the buying process works, and what to expect after closing. You will leave with clear criteria, a logical decision-making process, and the confidence to make smart tradeoffs that align with your cruising plans and long-term goals.
YOUR HOST
JOHN NEAL
Author, Log of the Mahina
John Neal’s 400,000 offshore miles include six Cape Horn roundings plus expeditions to Antarctica, Africa, Australia, and Spitsbergen. Since 1976, John’s passion has been sharing his ocean cruising knowledge through 204 sail training expeditions aboard Mahina Tiare III, a Hallberg-Rassy 46 and various other yachts. John is author, co-author or contributing author of 17 books including Log of the Mahina. When John’s not at sea leading sail-training expeditions he teaches Mahina Offshore Cruising Workshops and offers boat purchase consultation services.
ONLINE CLASS REGISTRATION
@ 4:30 PM PT / 7:30 PM ET (90 min)
Regular Price
$39
ASA Member Price
$29
ON-DEMAND ACCESS
All registrations include unlimited on-demand access to the recordings of the live online class. So if you are unable to attend live you can still register and watch at your leisure.
ASA MEMBER DISCOUNT
American Sailing Members can claim their discount in the Member Portal. If you're not a current member then for only $59/year you can join or renew today!
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