On Tue, 07 Mar 2006 23:44:50 GMT, "Thomas Wentworth"
wrote:

How long should it take for a purchase to be completed when buying a
cruising sailboat.

Based on my own experiences buying various boats over the years, I'd
say that 4 to 6 weeks is probably typical, sometimes a bit longer.

It can go a lot quicker of course if you hurry the process along but I
think it's to the buyers advantage to take your time, negotiate a good
price, write up a solid contract with lots of time and an airtight
escape clause, do the survey and sea trial, digest the results,
renegotiate the price, etc.

It's a buyers market, take your time, and be prepared to walk away,
maybe twice. It is a powerful negotiating strategy.