I was talking to a sailing instructor today - and he recommended a Marine Survey. So, I made some calls. It is relatively cheap for a 23' boat, so I am thinking about it. They tell me they go over every inch of the boat and itemize the parts, and tell you if there's anything wrong with it. I was thinking this was maybe a good idea, but then, perhaps the sals pitch went a little too far, when they said that I would need a survey to have the boat insured. I hadn't even thought about insurance, actually. Guess it would be good if it sinks and it has to be dredged out. What are your thoughts on a survey? And, BTW, I saw an ad on Craigslist for a very nice looking 1983 O'Day 23 in Stony Point, NY (asking price $1750, which is less the one I am looking at), but my Joe thinks it is too far a distance to go to fetch a boat, particularly since the one we're looking at is literally around the corner.
Mary,
I think that a marine survey of a boat you are interested in is a good idea. Especially if you're not sure of what to look out for. I'd like to believe that I could be successful in being able to check out a strange boat that I am interested in buying but sometimes we fall in love with a boat and be totally blinded in the process. I've been guilty of that one a couple of times, believe me.
Whether you need to purchase boat insurance really depends on the requirements of a boatyard or a private yacht club.
Our yacht club requires that members with boats who use the boat ramp, docks, or mooring field, purchase liability insurance and most insurance companies in my state will provide a rider under your homeowners insurance for a sailboat up to 26' with an outboard less than 50 hps. I think that my premium is about $20 extra on my homeowners insurance. It sounds like I'm getting away cheap right? Wrong! My insurance company like most of them, have a dangerous pets category and because of the fact that Penelope is part Pit Bull, I had to switch to Safety Insurance which is $100 more on my premium. Go figure!
$1750 for a 1983 O'Day 23 sounds very suspicious to me. Then again, it could be on the up and up. Sometimes money is owed for storage and the yard or owner lets it go for cheap money. The guy in Wisconsin is asking $5500 for his O'Day 23 and he will get it.
A couple of years ago, one our club members bought an old O'Day 27 for about $2000 that way.
Several years ago, one of my friends gave away his 75 O'Day 25 keel/centerboard sloop! What a great boat! she sails like a dream. Not only that, but the boat was fully found. It came with an Autohelm autopilot like mine, stereo, CDI Roller Furler, fiberglass pram, and braid mooring pendant line w/ pick up stick! I sailed it up from the Cape to our club on the river and the guy who owns it right now loves that boat with a passion. We call it, the "free O'Day." Who'da thunk it?
