Price for 88 H23
I paid $5200 with the trailer and a 5hp Tohatsu outboard in 1999. The sails were the original, stock UK main and 110 jib and they were in decent shape. The interior was clean, dry and in excellent shape. However, the hull was extensively blistered and I didn't find out for five months because the trailer was on loan to the seller's friend 100 miles away. A year ago I also discovered that the port bulkhead where the chainplate is bolted was rotted and had to be replaced. I doubt the previous owner knew about these problems. I replaced the outboard (8hp Nissan), all the running rigging, halyard sheaves, two 12V batteries, VHF, depthsounder, compass, both side windows, the chainplate bulkhead and aft running light. Then there were new tires, hubs, wiring, lights, bunks and receiver for the trailer, plus the blister repairs on the hull followed by four coats of epoxy barrier coat and three coats of new antifouling. Add modifications to the stock traveler and backstay, new deck organizer, turning blocks and cleats to run the vang and cunningham to the cockpit, new jib tracks, sliding genoa blocks, new steaming light, new Hella fans and a few other things that are really optional improvements rather than necessities (like a tillerpilot and 15W solar panel). At some point I also need to sandblast, fair, barrier coat and refinish the keel and purchase a cruising spinnaker and second anchor with rode. With all these mods (not cheap) I still doubt I could get $8000 for the boat (which is about the highest asking price I've seen for an H23) because she still looks just like all the other 15 year old boats and that's what most people go by. Luckily for me, she's not for sale...hey, wait a minute...maybe THAT's why there are so few for sale!! Nobody wants to part with them! Peter H23 "Raven"
