'85 Hunter 31 construction question

[Jecemis]

Hi all,

I'm new here. I just got my first boat (1985 Hunter 31) last September. Recently I was considering having her surveyed for insurance purposes, but after pricing local surveyors it's going to cost nearly 20% of what I paid for the boat. So I'm considering going without insurance.

In hindsight I should have had a value/condition survey before purchasing her to know its actual condition. The next boat I purchase I will definitely do this before buying.

Anyway, something I've been wondering and haven't found an answer to via google, etc: Is there cork sandwiched in between the fiberglass of the deck or hull in these Hunters?

If there is, is there a way to check if it's getting soft from absorbing moisture? I know at least for the last few seasons she's been left uncovered during the winter seasons.

There are some small hair-line cracks on the plates that attach the shrouds' rigging to the deck. I'm hoping water hasn't been slowly leaking through there to the cork, softening it.

Are there any other things I could check on my own to get a better feel for the condition of her? I've gone out 15 or so times and a few times out into the Atlantic and she's always performed well. I've not noticed anything myself that would make me question her seaworthiness, but I'm a complete noob when it comes to boat ownership...

 

[rgranger]

You should be able to get liability insurance without a survey. I have liability through StateFarm. I just give my guy the HIN and O.B serial number over the phone.... easy peasy. Many marina's won't let you berth the boat without proof of liability insurance. My insurance is just a little under $50/mo. and covers any damage I might cause to another vessel or physical property and environmental damage and there is also coverage or personal injuries. I don't have towing but I have a swing keel so getting grounded is not a concern for me. If my boat gets trashed, I'm out of luck but at least I won't be on the hook for someone elses boat.

 

[Jecemis]

Hey thank you. ...
It makes sense to at least get liability insurance. I'll do that!

 

[Nick]

Do get insurance and looks like you will now look to getting it. Allstate is another company that does not require a survey... I pay $340 a year for my Hunter 28... that includes full liability, loss of the boat (fixed agreed amount), sea towing, loss of the engine, and other items in the boat. I would definitely not go with out insurance and at $28 a month break down... it is cheap assurance and piece of mind.

 

[whatfiero]

On the core thing all glass below water line I believe balsa core on your model above water line but it's marine plywood at all structural points ya got push around spider cracks real hard with ya thumb to feel for spongy spots if so get rot or other product to get in there if good calk up joints and around windows

 

[whatfiero]

O yea there is aluminum sandwiched under some hardware on deck also but I found plywood under my traveler post which I would assume has some of the heavest loads

 

[kloudie1]

1985 H-31.. hull is going to be solid glass up to the deck joint.. Deck (and cabin sides and top) is cored with marine plywood. Aluminum encapsulated in the glass under the mast step and under the winch mounts and rope clutch mounts. Some pictures of the chain plate mounts (cracks in the rigging attachments) would help ..
Welcome to the forum ! The 31 and the 34 from that time are very similar .. you can search on "Tie Rods" or "Chainplates" to get some more construction info on the boat.. also check out "Owners Mods" sections for the 31

 

[Mark48]

American Family also sells very reasonable insurance in my area.

 

[Jecemis]

1985 H-31.. hull is going to be solid glass up to the deck joint.. Deck (and cabin sides and top) is cored with marine plywood. Aluminum encapsulated in the glass under the mast step and under the winch mounts and rope clutch mounts. Some pictures of the chain plate mounts (cracks in the rigging attachments) would help ..
Welcome to the forum ! The 31 and the 34 from that time are very similar .. you can search on "Tie Rods" or "Chainplates" to get some more construction info on the boat.. also check out "Owners Mods" sections for the 31

Hi~

Thank you. That was exactly what I've been trying to find out. The plywood flooring near the bilge are really soft from rot at this point, as well as the wood behind the sink and under the companionway by the electric control panel. I'm wondering if that could be a sign that some of the sandwiched plywood is getting soft. I couldn't find any spots by pushing around the fiberglass that felt soft.

I've read about people injecting polyurethane into soft plywood as an easy fix. I'll read up more about that to see if it's an option.

Attached are pics of the chainplate mounts that have small cracks on the glass surrounding the mounts.

 

[CloudDiver]

There is a lot to say here without much info to go on, so I'll try to be as brief as possible;
- For Insurance, I think the best advice was already given. Shop around for a Surveyor who will give you a more competitive price if you want the survey to get full coverage in the future.
- For moisture, Surveyors usually have a moisture meter. Good news that the boat you purchased has no core material in the hull, but the decks will give you trouble if they got wet. Moisture readings are the most accurate, but you can also 'feel' around for soft spots. If you have any extensive core rot in the decks it is repairable but a royal pain in the butt. Do some research and you will find many threads on this forum and others of folks doing deck repairs on soft spots.
- If you don't want to pay a surveyor for moisture readings it is possible to find a moisture meter elsewhere to rent or borrow (but you need to know how to use it and that unit is properly calibrated). For example, if you have a friend at a major university in the science or engineering department I'll bet they have a good unit, that's where I got mine when I needed one.
- The cracks you show in the pics are called 'spider cracks' or 'crazing', this is where the gelcoat cracks when the fiberglass flexes under it. You'll find this most often in high stress areas. The fix is to grind out the crack with an engraving bit on a dremel tool, then fill the crack with color matched Spectrum Gel Paste (about $25 for a 2 oz jar, a little goes a long way).
- Is your boat on the hard right now? If you want to fix those cracks you'll have to de-rig... I'm fairly certain the Hunter 31 is deck-stepped so you'll have to take everything down to work on those chain-plates.
- Judging from the rust on your chain-plates you might need to replace some standing rigging. Do you know if it is all original? If the P.O. never got new shrouds or stays at any point since 1985 it is probably time for new wire.
- BTW, according to this article the Hunter 31 is balsa cored on the decks. If any wet or rotted areas are not too extensive, you can repair them by injecting epoxy, not polyurethane (that's paint).
http://sailingmagazine.net/article-1464-hunter-31.html

 

[HMT2]

Hey thank you. ...
It makes sense to at least get liability insurance. I'll do that!

We use Progressive and just do an agreed upon value. No survey required. I crashed it trying to leave a very narrow slip in 25 knot breeze. My 3,700 fiberglass and paint repair job was covered...... my cost? 100 deductible, they have a disappearing deductible. Annual cost of insurance about 750. They were super quick and helpful in paying my claim.

 

[Nick]

Agree with Clouddiver... I had those spider cracks eventually show up on my Hunter and I used a V-shaped stone to my dremel tool to remove a fair amount of each crack and filled them in with new gelcoat filler, sanded smooth, primed, then painted the entire deck.
Regarding the rigging, I would have a rigger come check it and have him decide if they need to be replaced but from what I see it is a small price for having piece of mind knowing you have new secure rigging.
Allstate insurance by far is the lowest quotes I've had and I've had several other insurance in the last 2 decades of owning this boat..

 

[shemandr]

Older sailboats are not popular with insurance carriers. Don't expect open arms or cheap rates.

 

[kloudie1]

Those spider cracks don't look bad but be sure to carefully inspect the tie rods that connect the plate to the angle iron in the beams behind the settees..
There may be a little rust on the carbon steel angle iron anchor that the rod screws into, but a lot of rust is not good.

 

[Steverhnm]

Say, does anyone know the color for the 1990 Hunter 35.5 Legend. Its white, but there are 250 whites..
http://www.spectrumcolor.com/Items.aspx?key=search&code=__ALLCATS__&searchval=hunter&cat=K&incl_m=T