Testimonials

We highly recommend Yacht sales West who we engaged to sell our classic 1987 Mason 33 sailboat. Richard Hargreaves managed and coordinated the entire process in an efficient and professional manner, including the export and delivery to the USA. We are highly satisfied with the service we received. Richard has the experience, the expertise and the energy to get the job done!

I bought a used C&C 44 from Richard late last Spring. Problem: I am in Seattle, the boat was in Vancouver, and the border was closed! This was not a million-dollar sale, but Richard gave it all the time and attention as if it was. If he couldn’t pick up my call, he would promptly return it. He went out of his way to help me find some of the most reputable and well-credentialed surveyors in Vancouver.

We had to take a virtual sea trial. Richard and the seller took the boat out to English Bay, with video cam in-hand, unfurled the sails (spotless), cranked the engine, operated the autopilot and electronics, showed me around the boat, all the while joking with one another and enjoying a beautiful sail – Richard clearly had a great report with the seller, as well.

At every juncture, Richard was a consummate professional, handling every detail. He arranged the customs brokers, escrow agents, and even a guy to deliver the boat to Friday Harbor Customs during COVID. By the end of our process, I really felt that I knew exactly what I was getting and felt really lucky to have been paired up with Richard.

I could not have imagined getting hooked up with a more honest, professional, and careful broker.

Upon the recommendation of a friend I recently purchased a Dufour 360 from Yacht Sales West and I am delighted with the purchasing experience and the sailboat.

Richard Hargreaves the yacht broker was a great help in ensuring that I got the right boat and that it was set up just the way I wanted it.

He was always available and helpful.

David Bossu the service manager listened to my specific requests (there were many!) and delivered each of them quickly with meticulous quality. He kept me fully informed at each stage of commissioning.

David Bonar, the owner, kept an eye on things and wanted to know that I was happy with the purchase.

Thanks also to Pat Stewart who handled the paperwork with professionalism.

Even now, after all the payments have been made, I find the staff at Yacht Sales West eager to offer their assistance with any follow up questions.

I highly recommend this business.

The care and attention we have received from the Yacht Sales West team has been truly wonderful. We were given excellent information and support as we decided on which sail boat to order. Once the boat arrived the team worked tirelessly to get it ready and they took care to review all the systems with us. Throughout the first year we have been impressed by how quickly they have responded to questions. Richard Hargreaves has been incredibly professional and responsive. The relationship we have with the team, long after taking possession of the boat, is very much appreciated.

Max Shaw assisted us in finally purchasing a BlueWater cruiser that was located in St Croix USVI.
Our search involved boats in a lot of places (BC, USA, Mexico) and was made to be productive and enjoyable largely due to his involvement in the process.
Max is very knowledgeable and thorough and diligent and straight up honest.
Our purchase process was quite complicated and his advice and calm demeanor was key to a successful outcome. Thank you Max – you are a credit to the cruising community and YSW!
Cruising Meraki 2
Kevin and Shawna

We ended up purchasing our boat through Max at Yacht Sales West, we had a very smooth experience all the way through. We did not encounter any pressure, or undue guidance at all. In fact it was just pure honesty, and helpfulness that we encountered. We dealt with a few members of the team and were always greeted with warmth and respect. Nothing bad to say from our experience and would recommend this company for any selling or purchasing needs! As an aside, after the sale completed, it was noticed that the refrigerator didn’t actually work, they fixed it for us before they let us take the boat. Still works!

We bought a boat through Max. He was really helpful from the first meeting even when we said we probably weren’t going to buy for a couple of years (haha). He gave us a lot of great advice and didn’t ever pressure us to choose one boat over another, even when we were contemplating a boat from another brokerage. He arranged his coworkers to show us a boat in Vancouver when he wasn’t able to make it as well.

During the sale, he helped us find surveyors and assisted us with getting some mechanical work sorted out before we could come pick the boat up. The sale was complicated and he was quick to respond to all our emails quickly and got all the answers the different parties involved needed. He even sorted out some instruction for us on the new boat.

The entire team at YSW was helpful and friendly throughout the process.

Max helped us to purchase our boat from private seller. Max was very professional and super responsive through the whole process. we are happy we choose to work with Max he is great!

We purchased a Bavaria sailboat with the help of Max Shaw. Max was an incredible help figuring out what we needed and then helping us find a boat. Max is very experienced and knows his way around boats which incredibly helpful when making a significant purchase. We have no hesitation in recommending Max Shaw for your next purchase. We look forward to working with him and Yacht Sales West on our next purchase.

We sold our boat with Max Shaw of Yacht Sales West as our broker. Couldn’t have asked for a more professional and smooth experience. Max knows boats and people. He navigated us through the emotional process of selling while also balancing our desires with reality. Couldn’t have asked for a better broker!

We had the pleasure of working with Max Shaw to purchase our floating home. Max is a wealth of knowledge, extremely hard working, authentic and kind. The whole process was seamless and we’re so thankful for all that Max did to help kick start our adventure.
Thank you Yacht Sales West! Thank you Max!

I bought my boat there. Mike and Max in Sidney are the ones to see. 1st rate customer service.

Had the pleasure of working with YSW to purchase our sailboat. The team was very professional, knowledgeable, accommodating and just nice to deal with. Glad we had the opportunity to work with such a great team. Max Shaw was especially great to work with. He is very knowledgeable and well connected in the area and is a great person to know. If I ever buy another sailboat I hope it is with YSW!

Max Shaw did a fantastic job selling my sailboat. He put a lot of time and effort into the process, and kept me updated throughout. I cannot recommend selling with Max enough. Do yourself a favor and give him a call.

We had the pleasure of working with Max Shaw as a buyers broker on two separate offers. The first with another brokerage’s listing that ended up falling through, and secondly with a listing at Yacht Sales West with Mike as the seller’s broker. Both of whom were great to work with and provided a wealth of information. Max was truly exceptional; knowledgeable, forthright, and always in communication at each step. He went above and beyond helping to organize additional surveys and estimates, import to the US, temporary moorage, and delivery as our primary residence is some 2,000 miles away. I would highly recommend considering YSW for their extensive knowledge and outstanding customer service, and they will be at the top of our list for any future sales or purchase

My experience purchasing our boat through Max at Yacht Sales West could not have been better. Max listened to concerns and always helped by bringing people and resources and his own rich knowledge base to the table. I found him invaluable and highly professional. Max is a true sailor and I recommend him and trust him absolutely.

We listed our sailboat with Max Shaw of Yacht Sales West in Sidney in the fall of 2021. Max was very professional, exceptionally helpful with any concerns that we had, and a pleasure to deal with. Max was efficient in the sale of the boat and paid great attention to communication in all aspects. We have no hesitation in buying or selling another boat with Yacht Sales West again.

We purchased a Bavaria sailboat with the help of Max Shaw. Max was an incredible help figuring out what we needed and then helping us find a boat. Max is very experienced and knows his way around boats which incredibly helpful when making a significant purchase. We have no hesitation in recommending Max Shaw for your next purchase. We look forward to working with him and Yacht Sales West on our next purchase.

Max made acquiring my beautiful Pacific Seacraft 34 a relatively seamless process. He’s extremely knowledgeable, personable, and very accessible. I thoroughly enjoyed working with him, and learned a lot during the process.

I highly recommend Max on all levels if you’re thinking of acquiring a boat.

Many thanks again, Max!

Max made the sales process so easy and smooth for us. I would have no hesitation in recommending Max Shaw and Yacht Sales West for selling and buying boats.

In 2020, we decided it was time to upgrade our sailboat. In 2021, when we looked at our first used sailboat, we met Yacht Sales West broker, Richard Hargreaves. In spring 2022, we looked at several boats in Victoria with YSW broker, Max Shaw. Finally in fall 2022, we successfully purchased a 2002
Nauticat 42, working with YSW broker Mike Carkeek. At the same time, Richard quickly sold our previous 1986 Nauticat 40.
Having looked at a lot of other boats with a lot of brokers over our two year search, we have very high regard for the service and support we received from all three YSW brokers. Their combined knowledge of sailboats, their understanding of the complexity of the sale process and their TLC towards us as they helped us through this process is commendable. They really rolled up their sleeves and got to work for us. We always felt that our concerns and desires were heard, challenges were quickly addressed and good humour prevailed! They pampered us and our old boat buyers, making sure all was in good order. Whether you are selling or buying, new or used, we recommend Yachts Sales West as your brokers of choice.