Courses

Boat Buying Basics: A Liveaboard-Cruiser’s Guide to Choosing the Right Sailboat

  • Instructor:
    Melanie Sunshine Neale
  • Level:
    Beginning 101
  • Date:
    Wednesday, October 8, 2025
  • Time:
    12:30p - 2:00p

Dreaming of casting off and living life under sail? Buying the right boat is the most important decision you’ll make as a future liveaboard cruiser—and it can also be the most overwhelming.

In this short, focused course, author, cruiser, and yacht broker Melanie Sunshine Neale brings her book Boat Buying Basics to life with practical guidance, insider tips, and real-world experience tailored specifically for people who want to live aboard and go cruising.

Whether you’re shopping for your very first boat or trying to figure out how to turn your sailing dream into a floating reality, Melanie will walk you through the process—from vision to purchase—with clarity, honesty, and humor.

In this course, you’ll learn:

  • How to narrow down your boat choices based on your cruising goals and lifestyle
  • What to look for (and what to avoid) in a liveaboard-friendly sailboat
  • How to navigate the search, survey, and sales process like a pro
  • Common mistakes first-time buyers make—and how to avoid them

Who Should Attend:

  • Aspiring cruisers and future liveaboards
  • First-time boat buyers feeling overwhelmed by choices
  • Anyone looking to buy smart, avoid costly surprises, and start their cruising life with confidence

Taught by someone who’s been there, done that, and literally wrote the book, this course offers a rare chance to learn directly from Melanie Sunshine Neale and get your questions answered by an expert who understands both the dream and the details.