Seawind 1370 Owner Q&A
We sat down with the owner to talk about what drew him to the Seawind 1370, why he chose to put a brand-new boat straight into charter, and his long-term plans. He’s also generously donated one of Sidetracked’s first charters to raise funds for a local family in need.
Originally, you had a Beneteau monohull, which was in the Whitsunday Escape fleet, and a Fountaine Pajot, which you were cruising on privately. How did you come to own one of the very first Seawind 1370’s?
I saw the Seawind 1370 online and I got addicted. Do not YouTube it! You might buy one!! There was nothing really that wrong with the Fountaine Pajot but I knew this would sail even better, so it was definitely an upgrade.
What was it about the 1370 that you were attracted to?
Its size, its volume, and the fact that it’s at the higher end of the spectrum of performance production catamarans with fixed keels. And it was about its sailing ability. It has more slender hulls so it’s sleeker. It’s quicker through the water and it’s slightly lighter, but without detracting from the living space side of things. It’s been very well designed, hence it hit a spot in the market.
How did you land on ‘Sidetracked’ specifically?
When Seawind released the 1370 it went ballistic. Their order books blew out to five years. Someone else’s order fell over right at the time I was looking and I picked up the baton and ran with it.
Why put your new pride and joy straight into a charter fleet?
A boat like this will cost you about $50,000 a year to keep it wet, and that’s before you even put a litre of fuel in it, or use it. But you can flip that by chartering it. And the 30% diminishing value and capital gains advantages are the real kick along. Basically, putting it into charter works financially. Now it will hopefully return 6-7% per year instead of costing 6-7% of its value in maintenance and everything else you have to do just to keep it in the water.
What advice would you give other boat owners thinking of become an investor in a charter fleet?
My business was equipment rental, so I’m used to the brutal facts of what people can do to things! I know the boat will work hard but I also know that Whitsunday Escape will look after it. Your engine hours at the end of it are going to be higher and there’s going to be stuff that happens from time to time, but at the end of the day it’s a good way to get yourself into ownership. In fact, there’s no other way you can do it sensibly, when you think about the fact that next to aeroplanes, a boat is about the most stupid thing to buy! But if you’re like me and you’re a slow learner – well this is a good way to do it! If you were going to buy one purely from an investment point of view you would probably buy one secondhand, that’s under five years old, so you’ve let someone else take that initial big hit. Then your numbers are really going to work because you’re starting from a lower base.
Why did you choose Whitsunday Escape?
They’ve got good staff and they retain them, which is a good sign that a business is well managed. And they’re a known quantity, with a good reputation and that’s important.
Even though this is a financial decision, you’ve agreed to donate one of your very first charters to a charitable cause. Why did you do that?
I knew that Whitsunday Escape wanted a boat to put up as a prize for a family in need. Since it coincided with the arrival of this boat I just said, “what a great idea, yes, I’d love to do that!” It felt good to be involved in that.
A lot of other people are also about to get the benefit of your brand-new shiny boat, so what would you say to someone who is looking at chartering her?
You’re going to be getting a beautiful sailing boat! Its sailing capabilities are exceptional and you’ll still get the volume and all the luxuries of the latest, greatest, new boat. It’ll definitely have wow factor!
What’s your plan for the boat long term?
It’ll be in the Whitsunday Escape fleet for four years and then we’ll take it and finish my sailing dreams. I’ve got to get up into the Kimberley, so I’m going to circumnavigate Australia anti-clockwise, take at least one year, do it with favorable conditions, at the right times of the year, and do the full lap!
Owners aboard their brand-new Seawind 1370 Sidetracked
Thanks to the generous support of this investor, and in order to support a local family in need, Whitsunday Escape has launched a raffle for a five-night charter aboard ‘Sidetracked’.
All proceeds are going to the Scarrott family, whose four-year-old daughter, Lucy, has been diagnosed with medulloblastoma – an aggressive form of brain cancer.
Only 1,000 tickets are available at a cost of just $50 each, with the winner set to sail away on a charter worth $11,000, and priceless in terms of the experiences it will deliver that money simply cannot buy.
The raffle runs from today until 10.30am on July 31, tickets available here.