'80 36 footer, pre-purchase questions...

[shibbershabber]

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1980/Hunter--2189513/St.-Helens/OR/United-States

So after a deal on another 1980 36 fell through, I came across this one even closer to home!

So I am told that the deck needs to be replaced, there was a quote of $8k to do the job. It sounds a little low to me, what do you all think?

Below are some pictures I took of the cracks where the deck meets the cabin...

Okay, and then there was some water with a slight oily film in the bilge, see below...

I also found some standing water, a very small amount, less that 1/8" deep pooled around the mast at the floor.

So, I am new to sailboats here... my question is, are all of these related? Obviously the deck is failing and likely leaking water into the cabin, but what is your assessment?

I am prepared to make my offer based on replacing the decks and whatever else comes up in the survey, but I am concerned about the amount of moisture inside, will the deck replacement likely remedy this?

Thanks!

 

[rardiH36]

Dear Shibbershabber:

You might also want to post the pictures of the separation between the cabin top and the deck on the "Ask all Sailors" forum. Not that those of us that lurk on the Cherubini forum aren't good for an opinion, but you'll get a wider group of experienced boat owners.

My 1980 H36 had/has not hint of the deck defect your picture shows. What could have caused such a failure? Maybe a defect in the FRP layup at the factory that showed up years later? Besides just the deck, water has probably wicked up the core of the cabin sides as well. What other FRP problems might this boat have? With those cracks along port/starboard side, water may have migrated everywhere/anywhere. The 110V wiring runs between the deck and the interior liner just under the cracked area along the cabin sides port and starboard. Years of water engress might have cause corrossion to the wiring. Be cautious.

 

[Ed Schenck]

First I think most of us use "New Posts" so everyone will see this that does enter that way. The water in the bilge can come from so many places. Unless taken care of the toerails will leak for example. That water will find its way to the bilge. Deck and cockpit scuppers with cracked hoses are a common source. My boat had a crack in the bilge pump hose, right at the outlet which is behind a teak box.

There were two H37Cs in the yard when I bought mine. I had the "other" one surveyed because it had nicer canvas and the bigger Yanmar. They quoted me $6000. to do the deck in 1999. Someone else bought that boat and sailed it for years, no deck work. $8000. sounds reasonable. You could cut the cost by doing a lot of the dirty work yourself maybe. There is a good view of this in "Hunter Owners Mods".

 

[shemandr]

The rub in boatyard estimates is that they don't really know what they are going to get into when the deck is opened. And then there are the "Might as wells..." Even with a benevolent yard that number, while not unreasonable, could go up a lot.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Just now checked out the YachtWorld ad. Beautiful boat, looks just like mine. But seriously overpriced I think. Even with the dinghy and an outboard and NO deck problem you should get it for around $20K. Now with the wet deck estimate they are really going to have to come down. Makes me wish I lived close to the water and had the time. I would love to tackle a project like that. But I cannot find that deck rebuild that I mentioned. And I just saw it the other day looking for something else. But here is a good article on the subject: http://www.cncphotoalbum.com/doityourself/rotrepair/rotrepair.htm . And I think Maine Sail might have written about this.

 

[Paul F]

I hate to be a downer, but pass on any boat with extensive deck leaks as there are likely many more problems under the deck which will be much harder to fix. I have a friend with a '79 Valiant 40 who is redoing his bulkheads because of rot and chain plate leakage. It is likely this Hunter 36 has the same chain plate and bulkhead problems. Yes, anything can be repaired but why buy a problem. Here is a discussion of the problem on a similar boat an Endeavor 33, not pretty.
http://www.endeavourowners.com/dscsn/deck/chnplt1.html

 

[shibbershabber]

Ive passed this one up, potential repairs will exceed my budget.

Thanks for all of the responses!

The search continues...