boat purchase advice wanted

[ajay423]

I'm thinking of purchasing a lightly used H-170, but am concerned about all the reports of cracking decks, floors, etc., and general poor quality. I live in Pennsylvania and it does get cold in the winter, and hot in the summer. I am also concerned about ease of selling if I decide to sell it. I am also considering Precision 15 or 185.
Any advice?

Thanks

 

[Chris Blubaugh]

What sort of sailing do you want to do?

I'm thinking of purchasing a lightly used H-170, but am concerned about all the reports of cracking decks, floors, etc., and general poor quality. I live in Pennsylvania and it does get cold in the winter, and hot in the summer. I am also concerned about ease of selling if I decide to sell it. I am also considering Precision 15 or 185.
Any advice?

Thanks

Don't know the Hunter very well, but probably depends a lot on what sort of sailing you want to do. I owned a Precision 15 - absolutely loved it - large capacity for a small boat - had as many as 6 people in the seats - but most often I was single-handing.
Good build quality. High freeboard, you are the ballast and it can be capsized if you really screw up - don't ask me how I know this. I recommend a mast float, since righting the boat would be difficult if it turtles.

Great thing about the 15 - it has a full transom and a closed center-board trunk, making it fairly dry. 2 HP was enought to push it in and out from the dock.

The 185 is a newer design that is bigger, faster, more expensive and more-demanding to sail. All sound like good reasons to have one!

 

[BobM]

Regarding the Precision's, they tend to be more performance oriented and therefore less of a family friendly boat, from what I have read. Several have reported the 185 turtling on them with little warning. Now perhaps they had the centerboard up. Most small centerboard sailboats are much less stable with the board up, as there is little resistance to hold them stable. I personally went for a swim early in my sailing career when my teenage sailing instructor instructed me to raise the board at the dock before going forward to remove the jib on a 14 foot Capri. Doing so and stepping even six inches off center sent me into the water. This could be true of many sailing dinghys so it really does come down to what you are looking for...stability or excitement.

 

[ajay423]

I found a pristine condition, 2004 Precision 185 at a fair price today. I will get a masthead float to prevent turtling to be on the safe side while I learn this boat.
Thanks for your help.