C&C 25, 1975, Good Boat or Bad News

[JHoward]

I am researching this boat, found on Craigs List. It is in northern Minnesota @ the Canadian border. The pictures show a reasonable condition, older fiberglass boat. It is stored on a trailor (with tall cradles and pads) and launched when used. Owner claims to keep sails and cushions indoors during winter months. The hull, however sits outdoors with NO cover on it whatsoever! I've known several boat owners, over the years to have done this, but do not know the outcome as to hull condition.
This craft is 506 miles from my home and is priced well enough to consider going up to inspect it myself, but should I?

 

[BobM]

Tough one. Ask him if he has re bedded any if the deck hardware or if he is aware of any evidence if soft decks. If he feigns ignorance and , in particular, if it has a bunch of racing gear bolted on the decks I might pass if the package is more than a few thousand. I looked at about under similar circumstances. Older owner giving up sailing. No cover and a bunch of mods where extra gear had been mounted by an amateur. The decks were so wet the surveyor had a hard time finding a spot dry enough to show me the difference on his moisture meter. It was at a yard and the owner of the yard declined to even quote fixing it as essentially the whole deck had to come off. The owner had been asking only 9k. He finally ended up donating it for the tax write off.

It may be fine, but someone who can't be bothered to cover a boat probable couldn't be bothered to do much else on it the past few years and boats go south FAST without TLC.

 

[Warren Milberg]

The 1975 C&C is a classic. A very good looking and sailing boat -- if in good condition. I wrote an article about my experience with this model boat that appeared a few years ago in the Chesapeake Bay regional sailing magazine "SpinSheet." If you are really interested in this boat, have the owner take a lot of high quality images of the hull and deck and send them to you. If the boat passes that test, look for a surveyor where the boat is located and ask him/her to "just take a look," not do a full survey. Many surveyors will do this, to include running a moisture meter over key areas of the hull (i.e., mast step, stanchion bases, etc.) for $100-200. If all goes well, then figure on inspecting it yourself making a contingent offer on you doing a full survey. These are quite simple boats without complex systems. Some models came with a Vire inboard and I'd be very wary of that. What do you know about the engine on this boat? Most have an 8-10 hp Evinrude with a long shaft, which is a good choice. I love this model boat.

 

[JHoward]

It has a outboard. I like your suggestions and will follow up with the seller about them.
I've had and sailed on a lot of different boats and this model has always caught my eye. The freeboard and deck layout make it a good candidate for big water, while being known as very racey too. The owner is not a sailor per se, but has sailed it and will swear by his claims that there is nothing seriously wrong with it. He did offer to take me out on it. The C&C line has always impressed me. This one looks like fun.

 

[25yearslater]

Seventies era C&Cs were pleasant sailing boats. Peppy enough to be interesting and kindly enough to be comfortable weekenders. Take a screwdriver with a hard plastic handle with you should you go. Moisture meters tell you the core is moist but the critical element is delamination of the core from the deck skin. Tapping with the handle from bow to stern, port and starboard listen to the sound. A sharp sound indicates an well bonded core to laminate. A dull sound indicates there is separation of these components. Don't neglect the cabin top, cockpit settees and cockpit floor. As you progress you are bound to hear the difference. The problem with a wet core in areas where freezing is likely is this splits the integrity of the structure. You can always prowl a marina to test what bonded as opposed to delamination sounds like. Best wishes for success.

 

[JHoward]

Thanks 25 Years Later.