Hi All, Well, a good friend and I have always wanted a big (well, relatively big) boat and we finally found one priced right (or so we think). She's a 1986 H34 in pretty good condition. Just wondering what we should look for. Also, any particular problems that we may want to look after as soon as we take ownership. BTW, we're buying the boat together and plan to establish a syndicate agreement. Anyone have experience with syndicates? We'd sure like to see an example agreement! Thanks, Mark
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to find out about any quirks with that model and year, but most of all, find a reliable surveyor to check it out. Find one that is willing to roll up his sleeves, get down on his knees and poke around. Have Fun. Roc
to find out about any quirks with that model and year, but most of all, find a reliable surveyor to check it out. Find one that is willing to roll up his sleeves, get down on his knees and poke around. Have Fun. Roc
check owner reviews
Find the link on the home page to "Boats" and pull up the 34. You'll see a link to owner reviews. there are a large quantity of reviews on the 34; read them and you'll what to tell the surveyor to look for. Good luck and have fun! ph.
Find the link on the home page to "Boats" and pull up the 34. You'll see a link to owner reviews. there are a large quantity of reviews on the 34; read them and you'll what to tell the surveyor to look for. Good luck and have fun! ph.
A few things
I would start by looking at the cosmetics to determine if the owner took care of the boat. If not then you need to get it in the low 30's or better yet high 20's. I looked over the hull and found one fixable gouge on each side and bunch of small ones on the back bottom. Also ask about blisters and past repairs. We bought in Baltimore because everything i looked at in the southeast was either baked out or had blister problems. I would also take a very close look at the compression post area as this could be your big repair bill if you dont catch it. And I dont think you positively can know without taking off the teak trim around the post and i dont think the owner is going to let you do that. You also have a block on top the post and support under to deal with. Look in the foto repair section of this site to see what post reapair involves and you will see the importance of it. Also search the archives to see what to look for warning signs. On mine the tube thru the hull was completly filled with sealant and i even added alittle more when i got the boat. Make note of the condition of the cushions. And smell them to see if they are full of mildew or mold. We are going to replace ours this winter. Get the maintenance log to see what money they spent. See if the rigging turnbuckles are out of adjustment. Might indicate post problems or just stretched out. Better hire a surveyor . I did not but think i got lucky. There is just too much to look at and i aint no pro. We have gone thru two gallons of acetone, one gallon of boat wash, over a gallon of bleach and lots of skin off my fingers cleaning. 34 ft is alot of boat to clean and i know every sq inch of it. If you like the boat I would start at the prices i stated above because once you state your price it is hard to buy it cheaper. Good luck. A dodger would be helpful as the cabin top around the hatch area has a tendency to leak and will prob. show up in the aft locker or berth. And dark spots on the teak floors prob. indicates trapped water at some point in time.
I would start by looking at the cosmetics to determine if the owner took care of the boat. If not then you need to get it in the low 30's or better yet high 20's. I looked over the hull and found one fixable gouge on each side and bunch of small ones on the back bottom. Also ask about blisters and past repairs. We bought in Baltimore because everything i looked at in the southeast was either baked out or had blister problems. I would also take a very close look at the compression post area as this could be your big repair bill if you dont catch it. And I dont think you positively can know without taking off the teak trim around the post and i dont think the owner is going to let you do that. You also have a block on top the post and support under to deal with. Look in the foto repair section of this site to see what post reapair involves and you will see the importance of it. Also search the archives to see what to look for warning signs. On mine the tube thru the hull was completly filled with sealant and i even added alittle more when i got the boat. Make note of the condition of the cushions. And smell them to see if they are full of mildew or mold. We are going to replace ours this winter. Get the maintenance log to see what money they spent. See if the rigging turnbuckles are out of adjustment. Might indicate post problems or just stretched out. Better hire a surveyor . I did not but think i got lucky. There is just too much to look at and i aint no pro. We have gone thru two gallons of acetone, one gallon of boat wash, over a gallon of bleach and lots of skin off my fingers cleaning. 34 ft is alot of boat to clean and i know every sq inch of it. If you like the boat I would start at the prices i stated above because once you state your price it is hard to buy it cheaper. Good luck. A dodger would be helpful as the cabin top around the hatch area has a tendency to leak and will prob. show up in the aft locker or berth. And dark spots on the teak floors prob. indicates trapped water at some point in time.
look at craig's question.
much in the archives - also look two or three days ago on what craig put on this forum and the responses. archives has details of purchase techniques and also more technical and specific data of your size of boat. ed.
much in the archives - also look two or three days ago on what craig put on this forum and the responses. archives has details of purchase techniques and also more technical and specific data of your size of boat. ed.
I bought one too
I bought a 1985 Hunter 34 last year. I did not use a surveyor. The boat had been surveyed a few years before without any problems so I took a chance. The few things I ran into the surveyor would not have found anyways. I hear a lot about the compression posts and either I dont have a problem or I dont recognize that I do. I drained the diesel tank and put fresh fuel in it, changed the oil , filter, and fuel filters just to be sure. I found a few minor water leaks when it rains but I think I found the sources. Check the bilge pumps and make sure they work..mine didnt. See if the hot water tank really works. I had small cracks in the keel but repaired them with epoxy. Make sure you get more than one key to the engine! I found my boat hard to sail, hit my head on the boom, the first step to go below it a big one and the slanted seats etc are hard to keep you balance when you first get on the boat.
I bought a 1985 Hunter 34 last year. I did not use a surveyor. The boat had been surveyed a few years before without any problems so I took a chance. The few things I ran into the surveyor would not have found anyways. I hear a lot about the compression posts and either I dont have a problem or I dont recognize that I do. I drained the diesel tank and put fresh fuel in it, changed the oil , filter, and fuel filters just to be sure. I found a few minor water leaks when it rains but I think I found the sources. Check the bilge pumps and make sure they work..mine didnt. See if the hot water tank really works. I had small cracks in the keel but repaired them with epoxy. Make sure you get more than one key to the engine! I found my boat hard to sail, hit my head on the boom, the first step to go below it a big one and the slanted seats etc are hard to keep you balance when you first get on the boat.
Get a survey for H34
Hey.. great boat. Sure there are problems. Any boat 15 years old has its share. Get that survey. That's like insurance. Saves most after the sale surprises, and is sometimes a negotiating tool. Don't let this list scare you. Where else can you get such a responsive large boat for so little? 1. Ports need rebedding 2. Probable rot around port frames 3. Mast sinking due to pin compression post (1/2 inch teak veneer) 4. Cockpit delamination due to leaks at steering wheel table support. 5. It water stains.. something below is moldy or rotten or both. 6. Blisters are inevitable if not epoxied bottom 7. Engine- Yanmars are great, but often mixing elbow clog and throttle slip Look in the archives and boat reviews. Good luck Jim
Hey.. great boat. Sure there are problems. Any boat 15 years old has its share. Get that survey. That's like insurance. Saves most after the sale surprises, and is sometimes a negotiating tool. Don't let this list scare you. Where else can you get such a responsive large boat for so little? 1. Ports need rebedding 2. Probable rot around port frames 3. Mast sinking due to pin compression post (1/2 inch teak veneer) 4. Cockpit delamination due to leaks at steering wheel table support. 5. It water stains.. something below is moldy or rotten or both. 6. Blisters are inevitable if not epoxied bottom 7. Engine- Yanmars are great, but often mixing elbow clog and throttle slip Look in the archives and boat reviews. Good luck Jim
good boat
I owned a 34 for four years and wish i still had it. I moved up to a hunter 40. I did not have a problem with the compression post or blisters. However I epoxied the bottom when i had it hauled out for the survey and left it out to do the bottom. Mine was a dry boat with no leaks when i bought it, however i had to rebed one of the ports during the time i had it, but considered it routine maintenance. I also had aclear palstic windshield made that covered from the front of the bimini to the rear of the mainsheet traveler. which worked great. I sailed the boat single handed a lot and loved it. I found that epoxied the keel will last a long time without rust. Definately have any boat surveyed by a competent surveyor before you invest. Good luck
I owned a 34 for four years and wish i still had it. I moved up to a hunter 40. I did not have a problem with the compression post or blisters. However I epoxied the bottom when i had it hauled out for the survey and left it out to do the bottom. Mine was a dry boat with no leaks when i bought it, however i had to rebed one of the ports during the time i had it, but considered it routine maintenance. I also had aclear palstic windshield made that covered from the front of the bimini to the rear of the mainsheet traveler. which worked great. I sailed the boat single handed a lot and loved it. I found that epoxied the keel will last a long time without rust. Definately have any boat surveyed by a competent surveyor before you invest. Good luck
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