Buying my first boat 1984 Hunter 27

[Bigjer40]

Hello everyone,

I just put in offer on this boat: http://www.yachtworld.com/core/list..._id=60410&url=&hosturl=mccuddys&&ywo=mccuddys&

It was accepted and my survey is this Thursday. I am a little nervous because I know two of the port side chainplates are leaking. I pulled up the bilge cover and it was about half full. The water was clear and didn't smell, but I am still concerned. The electric bilge pump didng activate until the broker gave it a little nudge and then it started to drain. The chain plates are attached to the toe rail and not easily accesible. I have searched to try and find out the 84's hull construction to try and determine if any thing could be rotting in between the hull and cabin liner, but have not been able to figure out how Hunter constructed these. My surveyor is going to start with the boat in the water and check this out. If it looks bad, he said he would only charge me half the fee and we will skip having it hauled out and pressuered washed for the rest of the inspection. He is also going to send in diesel oil samples and tranny fluid samples if the rest of the boat looks good. I have read a few comments about the 10 hp Westerbeake not being enough motor to push the 27??? The Columbia River gets swift during the spring run off, so wondering if anyone else has experienced this motor in this Hunter series.

Anyway, I am spending the money on a good survey and going the extra mile on the diesel and tranny testing, but my main stomach twisting nasuea is coming from the leaking chain plates. Am I crazy for buying a boat that is already leaking????? Is this a big deal? Anyone have experience either fixing or having repair shop fix their chain plates on this era of Hunter boat. Any guidance would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
JB

 

[JoeWhite]

I had my 1984 Hunter 25.5 for 5 years. It was neglected by the previous owner. Yes it had leaky chainplates and many other issues and I fixed them all. They are very well made - better than the ones that are made today. It is very roomy and 10 HP diesel is sufficient for this boat. The rpice is right too. Plan on spending about $ 5000.00 in 2 years of repairs. Then you will have a clean boat for yourself. I hope you are handy and can save a lof of money doing repairs yourself - you can do them better that anyone else. The water in the bilge is not a problem - it may be due to recent rains.I say - go for it.

 

[Bigjer40]

I had my 1984 Hunter 25.5 for 5 years. It was neglected by the previous owner. Yes it had leaky chainplates and many other issues and I fixed them all. They are very well made - better than the ones that are made today. It is very roomy and 10 HP diesel is sufficient for this boat. The rpice is right too. Plan on spending about $ 5000.00 in 2 years of repairs. Then you will have a clean boat for yourself. I hope you are handy and can save a lof of money doing repairs yourself - you can do them better that anyone else. The water in the bilge is not a problem - it may be due to recent rains.I say - go for it.

Thanks for the encouragement! I needed to hear it's not that big of a deal from someone other than the broker. And I do expect a little water inside, I live in Portland Oregon I am really. Tossing my fingers on the survey!!!!

 

[Bigjer40]

Anyone ever change from deck mounted chain plates to hull mounted on this series (75-84) H27

 

[amcmahon]

Hey, I bought a 1984 h27 almost 10 years ago and still love it. Mine was a mess - even had water in the fuel tank. Anyway, the water in the bilge is normal. The bilge is one of the few poorly designed features in the '84 h27. It is too shallow - I've tried several bilge pump setups but it never drains enough. Re: moving chain plates to the hull, there was recently a thread on this and I believe the conclusion was that the toe rail provides substantial strength advantage over a hull setup. The toe rail thru bolts routinely leaks rain water on the h27. I have tightened all of the thru bolts and finally solved the leaks by putting a thin bead of 5200 along the deck/toe rail interface. About 5 years ago I repowered to a Yanmar 15 hp. I'm on the Cape Fear River near Wilmington, NC with 2 to 3 mph current and the engine change was my best improvement. The trans went on the Westerbeke 10Two. You have a great boat - good luck.

 

[Bigjer40]

That is also encouraging Amcmahon. Sounds like you are in similar sailing grounds. My survey is off tomorrow and we will shake it down this weekend. Come Monday, she should be mine! Is there a liner I need to worry about rotting if the chain plates are gonna leak? The broker let me read the survey from May 2008 and it talked about high moisture readings on the deck near the chainplates, but we went out and pulled and stood on the area and it is not soft at all. Your right, the attachment to the toe rail is solid. Anyhow, I will take a huge deep breath after the survey and a cold beverage tomorrow night.

 

[amcmahon]

The survey is worth every penny. I had one done and the surveyor organized the issues in general priority order. I used the list over the next 2 years to decide what to fix. The chain plates on the h27 are 'standard' U bolts sold at West Marine. Above the toe rail there is a nut, ss washer and a rubber washer. The biggest problem with leak is water drips on shelf (teak ply) and gets food/stored stuff wet, then down the cushions. On one of mine, the rubber washer was a mess so I pulled out the U bolt (a nasty process- they used 5200 to seal - had to pound out from below). When I got it out , the threads on one side were oxidized away so I put a new U in with new washers. The old one was either bent slightly intentionally or over time, but the top of the U was very close to the toe rail and it was very hard to fit the end fitting back on. I don't think I would change another just for the rubber - I would seal with 5200 first. Also take a look at the owner improvements available here. There is lots of good help. Tony

 

[Bigjer40]

Thanks Tony! Survey went ok and your right, "worth every penny"! Only one u-bolt/ chainplate was dripping (port salon on to teak/plywood shelf like you said). The big leaks were at the rear deck drains that were rotten and actually crumbled in surveyors hand when he tried to hand tighten. It was a rainy (sideways) windy nasty day for a haul out and survey but I enjoyed the hell out of it. I learned so much. Another leak is coming from the chain locker and pooling beneath the v-birth. We suspect leak coming from water intake gasket. I am wondering if anyone else has bilge pumps in their engine compartments? I have one that is forward in the salon, but not one under the v- birth, engine compartment, or the one between the nav station and galley. The bilge between the nav station and galley is connected by a flow hole to the engine bilge (but is closed with a cork). It has a cork in the hole and I am glad because the engine bilge sits higher and I wouldn't want that running into galley bilge. I guess I am curious how others with the same series are set up with bilge pumps.

We also discovered water pump leaks. Last paperwork for oil change was 2008 and who knows about tranny fluid. I had my surveyor send oil and fluid samples to the lab.

Needs new bottom paint and new zincs. The wiring is a mess and needs new santitation hoses.

Gonna try and shave a few off of the negotiated price, but I cant wait to get started on her!!!!!

 

[Bigjer40]

Survey was worth every penny. 4K off of asking price after survey! Needs lots of repairs, but they are simple do it yourself sweat equity. I can't believe a life long dream is finally come true. The cool thing about the survey is that there were items that needed addressed in each area, which the surveyor needed to discuss and educate me on (since this is my first boat). Had there not been any issues, he would have said "looks good, here ya go" and I wouldn't have learned a thing about my boat. Now I know how things work, how to make it work and how to upgrade!!! Oh how I love to upgrade!!!! Thanks again sailors for all the advice.

JB- New proud owner of a sailboat!

 

[Ruger]

Hello, I am new to this forum also. Congratulations on the buy. I also just bought a 1984 Hunter 27. Sounds like it is in about the same shape as yours. Lots of little things, many already accomplished. Thanks to everyone's advice it will help me out also.

 

[FourPoints]

Welcome and Contratulations to both JB and Ruger!

JB - I was just going to suggest you contact Tony since he has the same boat but I see that you've already met!

I have setup up a H-27 owners list which you should both list your boat on, and if I can ever get the time to finish cutting over to my new mail server I'll be able to activate the owners mailing list as well.

http://sailingit.com/blog/hunter-27-owners-list

Also you should check out the modifications I've done to mine (and is a bunch of new electricial projects that I'm working on right now that will be added to the site in the coming weeks), I don't have not the same hull design as you have, so not everything would directly apply, but it should give you some ideas for what you can do in terms of projects and upgrades.

 

[Sail123]

Very sweet boat! Enjoy!

 

[Ruger]

Welcome and Contratulations to both JB and Ruger!

JB - I was just going to suggest you contact Tony since he has the same boat but I see that you've already met!

I have setup up a H-27 owners list which you should both list your boat on, and if I can ever get the time to finish cutting over to my new mail server I'll be able to activate the owners mailing list as well.

http://sailingit.com/blog/hunter-27-owners-list

Also you should check out the modifications I've done to mine (and is a bunch of new electricial projects that I'm working on right now that will be added to the site in the coming weeks), I don't have not the same hull design as you have, so not everything would directly apply, but it should give you some ideas for what you can do in terms of projects and upgrades.

Thanks just reading this forum has already saved me $165 for a new macerator pump and now an owners list. This is great!

 

[Bigjer40]

I agree Ruger! I would be lost without the help on this forum!!!!

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

If the 1984 is the same as the 1981 model, I am rebuilding as a volunteer one for the Boy Scouts at the Aquatics Camp for the Blue Ridge Mt. Council near Radford, VA and will be glad to assist.

I will be gone this week to work on it and others as well but you can email me if you have any questions on what I am doing. The engine on this one is a 1GM8.

Crazy Dave Condon

 

[Bigjer40]

If the 1984 is the same as the 1981 model, I am rebuilding as a volunteer one for the Boy Scouts at the Aquatics Camp for the Blue Ridge Mt. Council near Radford, VA and will be glad to assist.

I will be gone this week to work on it and others as well but you can email me if you have any questions on what I am doing. The engine on this one is a 1GM8.

Crazy Dave Condon

Thanks! I am sure I will come up with some great questions!

 

[Bigjer40]

Okay, all my hardwork this weekend paid off! New set of batteries, no stainless deck drains, new coolant hoses, new sea water pump, change all fluids, and tons of cleaning. Tonight, when the rain stopped and the sun peaked out, I ran her up the columbia a bit and that old Westerbeke purred like a Lion! I am in love and hooked!

 

[Bigjer40]

Oh yeah, to Starboard, she turns on a DIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!