Boat inspection recomendations

[Gegam]

Hi I sent a offer for Hunter 320, 32F, 2001. In Marina Del Rey, CA.
Can you recomend me the most important things to check in boat before final signarure?
Thank You.

 

[David in Sandusky]

Hire a good surveyor! If it’s written into your contract, he will earn you more than his fee in owner repairs or price reductions. Even if it’s not in your contract, his report will give you a maintenance list for the first few years with the boat, negotiating points with the seller, and is probably required for insurance.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Absolutely hire a surveyor. Not doing so, particularly if you are inexperienced with boats, is the worst thing you can do .

 

[Kings Gambit]

The offer should be pending a satisfactory survey to begin with. If not satisfactory, then renegotiate over those items, etc. Your insurance company will probably ask for one anyway. Even if it doesn’t, the marina you take it to might ask for an out-of-water survey if the boat is 20 or more years old.

But, to answer your question, look for evidence of water ingress from the deck/hatches/port lights for one thing. Rust stains/streaks around metal (e.g., chain plates, under stanchion bases), discoloration of wood, sometimes strong mold/mildew odor in dark places, etc. (Fresh water can run down the hull from a deck leak and accumulate in low places). Deck leaks are a major PIA.

 

[Justin_NSA]

It's not always practical, but a haulout to inspect below the waterline would be another suggestion. Look for evidence of groundings, blisters, etc.

 

[sail sfbay]

Welcome to the forum and good luck with your sailboat purchase!!

Ditto what others have recommended.................just to add, a marine surveyor will not perform a standing rigging, engine, plumbing and electrical/electronics inspections so you might consider having these done, especially engine and standing rigging given it is nearly a 20 year old boat, and electrical if the previous owner(s) made electrical modifications. You could also request the seller provide these additional inspections as a condition of sale. For example, the buyer for my 2004 Hunter 386 requested I provide them a standing rigging inspection, which I had done at a cost of $275 prior to selling the boat and I provided receipts for the engine and electrical/electronics inspections I had performed prior to selling the boat. After I purchased my 2005 Hunter 46 I had the engine inspected along with preventive maintenance items, electrical inspected since a previous owner made electrical modifications with a new battery charger and waiting for a rigger to inspect the standing rigging.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Boat Inspection Trip Tips

I posted this to another forum, and a friend of mine, Maine Sail, asked me to post it to this forum as well, so here it is. Please note: This thread is about going to visit a boat to see if it is worth looking at further. It is not designed to replace a proper survey and sea trial. This...

forums.sailboatowners.com

 

[Gegam]

thanks for your time and the recommendations.

 

[Benny17441]

There are more than a couple of things that could be critical and costly. A survey is likely to pay for itself as it will be required for insurance purposes and may allow you to reduce the purchase price for any needed repairs. At the very least, if the boat is immaculate it will give you peace of mind. Hire your own surveyor and do not rely on any dealer's pre done inspections or suggested surveyors.

 

[jssailem]

Not to be flippant.. You need to check everything about the boat.
There are obvious things, big things and small things that can become big things. That is one of the roles of a surveyor that knows "SAIL BOATS" not just "boats".

It helps if you are knowledgeable about sailing. This will give you at the least a frame of reference to judge the things you see.

If this is your first boat then the surveyor that you select will be worth his weight in gold.

Crawl on your knees and look in every corner and crevice. Open every thing that opens just to see if it opens and can be shut again. Carry a camera and a bright flash light. Use it to take pictures of everything you see on the boat. Some folk video everything so they hear the words that are shared as they look around the boat.