Episode #84: Andrew Vik on Buying a Boat Sight Unseen

This week’s host, Monica Grant, is joined by Andrew Vik to chat bold boat buying. Andrew’s a San Francisco native who took up sailing over 20 years ago, and has spent the last 15 years sailing his Islander 36 Geja all over the Mediterranean.

Hear his multi-year dream of buying Geja, lessons learned from buying sight unseen, his favorite sailing stories from the Mediterranean, why more people should get involved in sailing, and a cruise down Latitude 38 memory lane.

This episode covers everything from Mediterranean islands to controversy. Here’s a small sample of what you will hear in this episode:

• What are Andrew’s Viking roots?
• How often does he sail the Mediterranean?
• What’s the biggest lesson he learned from buying Geja?
• How is it sailing in the Mediterranean?
• What does Andrew enjoy about the sailing community?
• How often does he upload to YouTube?
• What is an Islander 36?
• Short Tacks: Is Andrew more of a cruiser or racer?

Learn more about Andrew on YouTube @SailGeja and at http://sailgeja.com/2015/Home/Home.html.

Check out the episode and show notes below for much more detail.

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and your other favorite podcast spots – follow and leave a 5-star review if you’re feeling the Good Jibes!

This episode is brought to you by Svendsen’s Spring Fling. Don’t miss Svendsen’s Spring Fling Boat Show on April 15 & 16. For more information, visit SpringFlingBoatShow.com. We hope to see you there!

Show Notes

• Andrew Vik on Buying a Boat Sight Unseen
  • [0:22] Welcome to Good Jibes with Latitude 38
  • [0:26] Monica Grant
  • [0:32] Subscribe to Latitude 38 at Latitude38.com
  • [0:50] Learn more about Andrew on YouTube @SailGeja and at http://sailgeja.com/2015/Home/Home.html
  • [1:27] Episode #78: “Trailer Sailors Cruise the Channel Islands and Geja (Latitude 38 Verbatim)”
  • [1:50] What are Andrew’s Viking roots?
  • [2:34] How old was he when he first started sailing?
  • [3:22] Does he consider the Mediterranean to be home?
  • [3:57] How often does he sail the Mediterranean?
  • [6:04] How did he decide to buy his own boat?
  • [8:09] How do you pronounce Geja?
  • [10:43] How did he discover Geja?
  • [12:22] What was going through his head when he bought Geja?
  • [15:01] How long did it take him to repair Geja?
  • [16:46] What’s the biggest lesson he learned from buying Geja?
  • [19:23] What is an Islander 36?
  • [20:22] This episode of Good Jibes is brought to you by Svendsen’s Spring Fling. Come down to Svendsen’s on April 15 & 16 for the annual Spring Fling Boat Show. This event is free and open to the public. Meet top sailing brand representatives and receive the best deals of the year on your boating and sailing gear. There will be raffle giveaways all weekend long, open boats to tour at Marina Village, seminars, food trucks, and more. For more information about Spring Fling and to pick up your free tickets, visit SpringFlingBoatShow.com
  • Sailing the Mediterranean
  • [21:07] How is it sailing in the Mediterranean?
  • [22:04] Does Andrew ever find himself lacking a crew?
  • [22:53] What was the controversy around the photos in Latitude 38? 
  • [25:42] What does Andrew enjoy about the sailing community?
  • [29:03] How often does he upload to YouTube?
  • [30:06] Come down to Svendsen’s Spring Fling and meet the crew from Latitude 38. On Saturday, April 15, we will be hosting a crew party at our booth from 4-6pm. Meet other sailors and get out and do more sailing. We will be pouring beer donated by our friends at Almanac Brewing and celebrating all things sailing. We hope to see you there!
  • Short Tacks
  • [30:42] What is Andrew’s dream boat?
  • [31:02] Is he more of a cruiser or racer?
  • [31:27] What’s his longest voyage?
  • [33:23] What’s his biggest fear on the water?
  • [35:04] How often does he find crew on the Latitude 38 Crew List?
  • [39:18] What’s a story that shaped him as a sailor?
  • [40:41] What final thoughts does he have?
  • [41:05] Baja Ha-Ha
  • [41:29] Learn more about Andrew on YouTube @SailGeja and at http://sailgeja.com/2015/Home/Home.html
  • [42:58] Make sure to follow Good Jibes with Latitude 38 on your favorite podcast spot and leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts
  • [43:09] Got a great sailing story to submit? Do so at [email protected]
  • [43:16] Subscribe to Latitude 38 at Latitude38.com
  • [43:24] Email [email protected] to advertise on this podcast or in Latitude 38 sailing magazine
  • [43:32] Check out the March 2023 issue of Latitude 38
  • [43:43] Don’t miss Svendsen’s Spring Fling Boat Show on April 15 & 16. For more information, visit SpringFlingBoatShow.com. We hope to see you there!
  • Theme Song: Pineapple Dream by SOLXIS

Thanks for listening to Andrew Vik & Monica Grant on Good Jibes with Latitude 38. Subscribe here to receive Latitude 38 to your home each month.

This episode is brought to you by Svendsen’s Spring Fling. Don’t miss Svendsen’s Spring Fling Boat Show on April 15 & 16. For more information, visit SpringFlingBoatShow.com. We hope to see you there!