BoatFools Sailing & Captain Kew (yes, that one!)
BoatFools Buyer Concierge
Real Boats. Real People. Real Experience
Buying a Sailboat Is Easy.
Buying the Right Sailboat Is Hard.
The internet has made it easier than ever to find boats.
The challenge is figuring out which boats deserve your attention — and which ones deserve a hard pass.
Every year, sailors spend thousands (and sometimes tens of thousands) of dollars fixing problems they didn't see coming. Others buy boats that simply don't fit their experience level, cruising plans, budget, or expectations.
That's where we come in.
The BoatFools Buyer Concierge is a personalized advisory service designed to help you navigate the often-confusing world of sailboat ownership and purchase decisions.
Whether you're shopping for your first daysailer, a coastal cruiser, a liveaboard, or a serious bluewater passagemaker, we'll help you make informed decisions and avoid costly mistakes.
Our mission is simple:
Get more people sailing and keep older sailboats out of landfills.
Free Discovery Call
30 Minutes — Free
Every successful boat search starts with a conversation.
We'll discuss:
Your sailing experience
Budget
Cruising plans
Desired boat characteristics
Timeline
Expectations
This call helps determine whether we're a good fit and how we can best assist you.
No pressure. No obligation.
FREE
Buyer Concierge
$1,295 — Six Months
Think of us as your personal boat-buying advisory team.
For six months, you'll have access to experienced sailors who can help guide your search from the first listing to the final purchase decision.
Includes:
Personalized boat search guidance
Listing reviews and market analysis
Recommendations tailored to your goals and budget
Email, phone, and Zoom support
Assistance evaluating candidate vessels
Guidance on making offers
Survey planning and preparation
General ownership and cruising advice
Whether you're considering one boat or twenty, we'll help you focus your search and avoid expensive mistakes.
Before you spend $15,000, $50,000, or $250,000 on a sailboat, it pays to talk with people who have owned, rebuilt, surveyed, raced, delivered, and lived aboard hundreds of them.
$1,295 for 6 Months
For six months, you'll have access to experienced sailors who can help guide your search from the first listing to the final purchase decision.
Includes:
Personalized boat search guidance
Listing reviews and market analysis
Recommendations tailored to your goals and budget
Email, phone, and Zoom support
Assistance evaluating candidate vessels
Guidance on making offers
Survey planning and preparation
General ownership and cruising advice
On-Site Vessel Assessment
$795 Per Day + Travel Expenses
Sometimes you need experienced eyes on the boat.
Our on-site assessments provide a practical, real-world evaluation of a vessel before you commit significant time and money.
We can inspect a vessel with or without the buyer present.
Includes:
Detailed vessel inspection
Extensive photographs
Identification of obvious concerns and deficiencies
Assessment of overall condition
Discussion of ownership considerations
Honest, practical feedback from experienced sailors
This service is not a substitute for a professional marine survey.
Rather, it helps determine whether a vessel is worthy of further pursuit before investing in travel, surveys, haul-outs, and negotiations.
(Note: this is not a professional survey.)
$795/day + Travel Expenses
This can be done with or without the buyer present.
We will inspect the vessel in detail, providing initial findings, our opinions, and an exhaustive set of photos documenting our observations.
Detailed vessel inspection
Extensive photographs
Identification of obvious concerns and deficiencies
Assessment of overall condition
Discussion of ownership considerations
Honest, practical feedback from experienced sailors
You’ll receive an honest assessment — the kind of real-world insight that only comes from sailors who’ve been there, bought that, and sailed it hard.
(Note: this is not a professional survey.)
Project & Refit Consulting
$150 Per Hour
Led by Jason DeShay
Major refits, repowers, system upgrades, and restoration projects can quickly become expensive and overwhelming.
Jason DeShay brings more than twenty years of professional experience in yacht operations, engineering, construction, refit management, and offshore cruising.
His experience includes:
Yacht captain and engineer
Refit project management
New-build supervision
Carbon-fiber yacht construction
Offshore vessel operations
Electric propulsion projects
Long-term liveaboard cruising
Whether you're evaluating a project boat, planning a major refit, considering an engine replacement, or assessing the feasibility of a dream cruising boat, Jason can provide practical guidance grounded in real-world experience.
$150/hour
Major refits, repowers, system upgrades, and restoration projects can quickly become expensive and overwhelming.
Jason DeShay brings more than twenty years of professional experience in yacht operations, engineering, construction, refit management, and offshore cruising.
His experience includes:
Yacht captain and engineer
Refit project management
New-build supervision
Carbon-fiber yacht construction
Offshore vessel operations
Electric propulsion projects
Long-term liveaboard cruising
Why work with boatfools?
The BoatFools team brings together a unique combination of experience from every corner of the sailing world.
Collectively, we have:
Sailed, raced, cruised, and delivered yachts throughout North America, the Caribbean, and offshore waters.
Owned, restored, maintained, and lived aboard a wide variety of sailboats.
Evaluated and filmed hundreds of sailboats for the BoatFools Sailing YouTube channel.
Worked in yacht brokerage, project management, vessel construction, engineering, and refit supervision.
Helped countless sailors navigate the journey from dream to ownership.
Most importantly, we're independent.
We don't work for the seller.
We don't work for the broker.
We work for you.
ABOUT THESE GUYS:
Captain Alan Kew
Captain Kew has spent more than seventy years sailing, racing, cruising, brokering, and studying sailboats. A lifelong student of yacht design and craftsmanship, he has raced everything from local regattas to offshore classics and remains one of the most knowledgeable sailors you'll ever meet.
Tristram Coburn
Founder of BoatFools Sailing, yacht broker, appraiser, racer, cruiser, and lifelong boat addict. Tris has reviewed and filmed hundreds of sailboats and is passionate about helping sailors find the right boat for their dreams and budget.
Canadian Ken Chipman
Racer, cruiser, adventurer, and trusted BoatFools co-conspirator. Ken brings decades of practical sailing experience and a sharp eye for what works—and what doesn't.
Joshua Ledwith
Sailor, racer, and hands-on boat owner whose practical perspective helps keep the team grounded in the realities of ownership and maintenance.
Jason DeShay
A veteran yacht captain, engineer, project manager, and offshore sailor with more than two decades of experience in yacht construction, refit management, vessel operations, and technical consulting.
