Buying
an Amel


Pre-Purchase Consulting is very important for new buyers of resale Amels. I am an Amel Yacht Specialist and I understand the complexities of selecting the right Amel yacht and the issues in the purchase process. I have developed a system which combines my experience and the use of common technology to remotely perform an evaluation of the Amel you may want to buy. I review hundreds your photos (I give you a list of what to photograph), owner/broker's photos, and I ask the owner hundreds of experience-prepared and pointed questions. I also provide you with the "Amel Survey Checklist" to give to your surveyor. This is a list of items that are commonly missed by many surveyors. The combination of all of this information gives me a unique perspective and allows me to provide you with a qualified summary of advantages and problems with the proposed purchase. More information on exactly how Amel Pre-Purchase Consulting works.

With this information, the buyer can make an informed decision and negotiate with accurate information on his side. I have helped a large number of people with their purchase of an Amel. I am neither a broker nor a surveyor, but I am a non-conflicted knowledgeable consultant to future Amel owners. I have already saved my clients hundreds of thousands of dollars in their selection, negotiation and purchase of their Amel.

 I am frequently asked, "what is the BEST Amel to buy? Is it the one with the least engine hours?" The BEST Amel to buy normally has very little to do with engine hours. Remember the cost of 4 sails the same quality as original for a 54 will be near the cost of an engine overhaul. Some sailors will "flog" the sails to save engine hours. The best buy for any Amel will be more about the owner and his attention to maintenance procedures and the care he has provided to his Amel, and especially with replacement of Amel OEM equipment with the same or similar equipment. NEVER, take the owner's word for how good things are! Together, we will prove how good they are!

  • I see far too many Amels with a 200€ freshwater pump replacing the original 1,200€ pump. 
  • I see too many Amels with running and standing rigging needing replacement. 
  • I see far too many Amels with poorly made Chinese sails. 
  • I also see too many Amels with engine rooms full of rust. 
  • I have had too many clients who did not use me for Pre-Purchase Consulting...and when I arrive for the Yacht School Course, I find 10,000 - 50,000 euro in needed repairs. 
Pre-Purchase Consulting includes:
- Before the Amel is selected to be reviewed, and during the Pre-Purchase Review Process, I will provide you with experienced unconflicted answers to your many questions. 
- "List of Specific Photos" to be taken like this one of rigging date of mfg.
- "List of Questions" to ask the owner before the survey
- "Amel Survey Checklist" to ensure a complete survey
- "Historical Search" to uncover additional information
- "Review and Report" on the advertised listing material & photos
- "Written Comments" on each of your photos of the proposed Amel
- "Optional Summary Estimate" to return the proposed Amel to Above Average Condition
- Yacht School Preferred Vendor Discounts on Amel OEM and quality OEM substitute systems and parts.

 It is not uncommon to receive misinformation from the current owner and/or broker. Recently I reviewed an Amel Super Maramu. The broker said, "The boat is not like "new" and would need some expense to be refreshed as per example: polish on the hull, renewed of the leather on the wheel, some repairs on the brown hull protection on the starboard side, renewed of the bumper on the aft, renewed of the deck light on the mast, and about 2500€ of refitted in the engine locker (seecocks need to be replace, large service of the engine, replace of the water pump)." My estimate was 42,000€ to 50,000€ with the new owner providing most of the labor. You need to be careful. For more information on exactly how Amel Pre-Purchase Consulting works Click Here.

If you are not sure if Pre-Purchase Consulting works for you, or if you have any questions regarding anything Amel, I offer free 1 hour consulting on any subject. Ask anything you may want to ask and get experienced answers. Text me at 1-832-380-4970 to set a time for your 1-hour phone call.

PRICES of Pre-Purchase Consulting and All Yacht School Offerings & My Calendar

Example of 1 photo out of 275 for an Amel 54 Pre-Purchase Review:
Pre-Purchase Review of Amel 54 - Photo #37 of 275
Do you see the grease stain in the middle-bottom of the photo under the outhaul line winch? Click the photo to enlarge. I made a note to the buyer that the grease had likely leaked out of the outhaul gearbox and to check it closely.

In fact, the gearbox had no grease and the gears were worn so much that they did not last another week. Cost of replacing the gearbox was $800 paid for by the seller.

The line for the outhaul was out of the Line Tender on top of the gearbox. Everyone noticed that. What nobody else noticed was that the line needed replacing. Cost $275.

I will see small things like this grease stain that will generally not be noticed by a buyer or a surveyor. After my review, my client bought this 54 for tens of thousands less than the asking price. The gearbox was one of many issues I found.

Would you miss these?
All of these photos indicate serious issues, some costing thousands of dollars to repair. They were all missed by the owner's inspection and the surveyor.
What do you see in the photo to the left? Click the photo to enlarge. You probably see some rust. The surveyor noted that the rust needed to be treated.

What I saw was evidence that the engine room had flooded. A flooded engine room can cause tens of thousands of dollars in repairs. Some of the damage isn't immediate and will occur after you close the sale. The seller had hidden the engine room flooding from the buyer and the surveyor didn't catch it.
Click on the photo at the left to see the rust inside the red circle. Also, note the arrow. Everyone thought this accumulator tank needed replacing. Truth is not only the tank needed replacing, but the pump to the right of the accumulator tank needed replacing or rebuilding. The 12mm mechanical seal was leaking on the AC saltwater pump. The spacer/shield on the pump axle was slinging saltwater onto the accumulator tank in an undetectable very light spray.



Cracked and leaking exhaust hose
Low C-Drive oil








 Dangerous knot
In-boom bungee was incorrectly rigged outside the boom








C-Drive seals were sealed with spray-on foam. This is very, very wrong!

The surveyor did not comment on this, nor did he ask any questions. 
This is a closeup of the Hydraulic Propellor Shaft Brake.

 Can you find the wood clothespin used as a shim on the hydraulic ram to the brake caliper on the shaft brake? Can you also find the baling wire with some green paint on it? This photo was taken after the accredited surveyor checked the boat and found basically nothing.


This is a Mizzen Sheet Traveler Car with an end made out of JB Weld. The ball bearings were falling out.



Surveyor guidance by me during a Pre-Purchase Review and prior to survey.











PRICES of All Yacht School Offerings & My Calendar