Choice of a new boat.
How does a sailing boat behave in waves and relative rough water?  Obviously bigger boats will have a  more pleasant seaway than a small boat, as the waves are relatively smaller. But what if boats have the same size.
It is obvious that a ‘heavy’ displacement boat will resist the force of the waves better than a light displacement boat. But also the beam of the boat is important.  A beamy vessel is more stable (less likely to capsize) and will roll less than a narrow beamed vessel that will find its way through waves more easily than a beamier boat.  But too beamy might not sail well (especially upwind). If a boat has small or no overhangs (meaning the length overall and the waterline length are about the same) there is no or hardly an increase in water displacement when the boat pitches in the waves, hence there is no 'cushioning' effect. Such a cushioning effect of a boat with relatively big overhangs will be even more if the bow of the boat is relatively round.
So if you are looking for a boat with a good 'motion comfort', she should be relatively heavy displacement, not too beamy and have a reasonable amount of overhang. Unfortunately such a boat will be slower and less lively to sail than a light displacement boat with small overhangs (and thus a long waterline for its lengths). Also a narrow beamed boat will have less volume, making it less comfortable (but potentially faster) as cruising boat. There are more factors that determine speed, stability and motion comfort of a boat, and hull design, type of keel as well as sail area are very important. 
It makes sense to ask yourself how you want to sail if you plan to buy a sailing boat, be it new or second hand, simply to avoid disappointments and waste of money. The most expensive boat is the 'wrong' boat!
If you only want to race around buoys for a couple of hours in the weekends 'motion comfort' is not important as you and your friends will be macho enough to withstand the pitching and rolling in case of bad weather. Thus, you go for a light displacement boat with lots of sail area if you are keen to win races.
If you want a boat for an occasional club race and for short weekend sails with family only, a racer will not be the best choice. The lack of comfort (both 'motion comfort' and 'living comfort') does not go well with family cruising and to get a racing boat going you need more hands than just two pairs. A boat that has a little less sail area, and some more 'body' (weight and beam) should be the target when looking for a suitable boat.
A serious cruiser, especially if he wants to make passages, is not so much interested in speed, but more in comfort as a comfortable boat is less tiring to sail. The boat will also be his/her home for an extended period of time. As he might encounter heavy weather he also wants a stable and solid boat. Thus he will opt for a  'heavy' displacement boat, most probably with a long keel.

So what is light and heavy displacement, what is speedy  (in terms of maximum speed and also acceleration) and when is a boat too beamy to be able to sail well? 
There are formulas that allow comparing stability, motioning comfort and speed potential of various boats. It might be a good idea for any potential boat buyer to look as these figures, once the goals are set. Click here how we decided for  Mei Poh.

We can help you in choosing your boat (be it new or pre-loved) in giving an objective advice on what suits you most based on sailing characteristics. There are other factors important as well, as ‘looks’, price, availability and interior lay-out. On some of them we can also give you pros and cons. The final choice will be yours of course, but after consulting us you are sure that you made an 'informed choice'.

Upgrading your boat.
If you have a boat that sails well and fulfills all you wish for, you are a happy sailor. Many times, however, there are small wishes for additional equipment, some (small) interior changes, a paintjob for the hull, a teak deck, a new set of sail etc. We can act as a sounding board for your wishes and ideas before you contact a contractor who might be too happy to get you as a customer. Once your idea is discussed we can offer you a list of contractors who would be able to do a good job.

Personalized sailing classes.
You might be a sailor for years and still have some questions or doubts about your skills. Without going to the hassle of taking expensive general courses, we can discuss with you the need for specific training or skill upgrading on your own boat

Navigation courses.
Of course you can find your way and you even have a 'back up' GPS in case the default one breaks down. But could you find your way without and can you calculate the height of tide at any given time and port? Or you want to understand why your compass sometimes but not always gives a different reading from the GPS course you are sailing? Or even, you want to learn how to make a proper passage plan and a pilotage plan as required by law in some countries. We can share our year-long experience with you.

Troubleshooting and simple repairs on your engine.
You are planning that trip that brings you much further than you ever have been in your boat. Do you realize that out there there is no AA that you can call in case of an engine failure? Fortunately marine engine are reliable today but there is always the possibility of a clogged fuel filter, a broken fan belt to name a few. We can advice you on what spare parts you should bring along on longer trips and teach you how to diagnose a problem and to solve it. You do not need to be a mechanic to be able to do that.
If you have a sailing boat, we can also advice on spare parts for that.