Check the compression post. Walk the deck, and check for any soft spots or obvious damage.Take it out if the engine runs, check for vibrations and leaking at the stuffing box. If you have a mask and fins. take a swim under it , and look at the condition of the keel rudder, strut, shaft, any thru hull screens, speed and depth transducers and propeller. How badly is the hull fouled with marine growth? Turn on the water pump, and check pressure and water flow to the head and galley. Check the water heater, Does it work? Check plumbing on the head, and make sure the waste lines are run to current requirements. look at the opening ports. Are the seals ok are the ports leaking? Do the instruments and radio work. Take a look behind the breaker panel. does the wiring look neat and organized, or has it been spliced to hell? Does shore power work? Is the battery charger working? What condition is the standing and running rigging in. Are the sails OK, and what sails come with it. What kinds of spare parts are already aboard? and many many more.
We have been restoring a Free 1983 H31 The for over a year now, and as a free boat a lot of these items needed attention Our compression post had already been fixed though, and we had no soft spots on the deck.
Looked like this when we got her.
Looking like this after 1 year of fun.
Check out the link below for information on our ongoing restoration.
