Experienced Advice Please!
- Thread starter Tasty Waves
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Run, faster. There are too many boats out there to get one with this many problems. I promise there are additional things that the survey didn't show. Thank the surveyor profusely for saving you a lot of headaches.
EVERYONE!
Thanks for all of your advice. We felt we should run, but thought we should bring it to this forum for your advice...and did we get advice!
We have run, far, far away, but have not given up the search. We'll start looking again this weekend.
Thanks to all!
Thanks for all of your advice. We felt we should run, but thought we should bring it to this forum for your advice...and did we get advice!
We have run, far, far away, but have not given up the search. We'll start looking again this weekend.
Thanks to all!
Just one little observation...
I would like to suggest one caution concerning the general advice you are getting that stuff does not have to be brought up to current ABYC standards.
Sidebar: If I were surveying it, I would be mighty cautious about being quoted to the contrary...
A good surveyor advised me, while I was upgrading our shorepower wiring, that for safety-related stuff like electrical and fuel system, there really is no "grandfather clause."
The example here is that I was checking out our shorepower circuit and found that the wire run from inlet on the cockpit combing forward to the main AC two-pole breaker was over 10 feet (it is supposed to be less than 3 meters, IIRC). So I put in a new breaker right behind the inlet and ran a new 10/3 marine cable to the main panel. Safer now and surveyor-proof, as one might put it. There are project pix over at the Ericson owners' site.
Note B: while stuff like wet decks or rigging is often in excess of what us ameatures might try, most systems work just takes patience and a reasoned approach, and several good quality tools.
Happy boat hunting.
I would like to suggest one caution concerning the general advice you are getting that stuff does not have to be brought up to current ABYC standards.
Sidebar: If I were surveying it, I would be mighty cautious about being quoted to the contrary...
A good surveyor advised me, while I was upgrading our shorepower wiring, that for safety-related stuff like electrical and fuel system, there really is no "grandfather clause."
The example here is that I was checking out our shorepower circuit and found that the wire run from inlet on the cockpit combing forward to the main AC two-pole breaker was over 10 feet (it is supposed to be less than 3 meters, IIRC). So I put in a new breaker right behind the inlet and ran a new 10/3 marine cable to the main panel. Safer now and surveyor-proof, as one might put it. There are project pix over at the Ericson owners' site.
Note B: while stuff like wet decks or rigging is often in excess of what us ameatures might try, most systems work just takes patience and a reasoned approach, and several good quality tools.
Happy boat hunting.
As usual, I'll go against the flow.
A good surveyor will find problems with ANY boat (even a new one).The "A" list stuff is important but easy to fix: sounds like your boat's AC was wired like most: wrong. But rewiring the AC is not a Big Deal (just make sure it's done by ABYC, NOT house standards!). The rudder sounds like the biggest problem, although it could be nothing, next would be the rigging - typically a Surveyor will NOT survey the rigging - you might want to get it surveyed independently, although his observations tell you you MIGHT have a problem.
I see your surveyor liked his Moisture Meter. I've heard others say they're completely useless - inaccurate and liable to indicate a problem when there is none. The fact that they're all on the B list indicates to me that the surveyor didn't think they were a big problem. I think you'd find ANY boat over 10 years old would have some high moisture readings. Almost all "mass-production" boats (Hunter, Catalina...) will have some delamination in the deck - it's not a problem unless it's soft.
You might find a better boat for that price, but you will NOT find a boat that has NO problems. $14K is pretty low for a 16 yr old 31ft boat - I paid $12K for my 40-yr-old 28ft. I'd say $5K min to fix the problems that NEED fixing, and if you can live with the rest, go for it!
druid
A good surveyor will find problems with ANY boat (even a new one).The "A" list stuff is important but easy to fix: sounds like your boat's AC was wired like most: wrong. But rewiring the AC is not a Big Deal (just make sure it's done by ABYC, NOT house standards!). The rudder sounds like the biggest problem, although it could be nothing, next would be the rigging - typically a Surveyor will NOT survey the rigging - you might want to get it surveyed independently, although his observations tell you you MIGHT have a problem.
I see your surveyor liked his Moisture Meter. I've heard others say they're completely useless - inaccurate and liable to indicate a problem when there is none. The fact that they're all on the B list indicates to me that the surveyor didn't think they were a big problem. I think you'd find ANY boat over 10 years old would have some high moisture readings. Almost all "mass-production" boats (Hunter, Catalina...) will have some delamination in the deck - it's not a problem unless it's soft.
You might find a better boat for that price, but you will NOT find a boat that has NO problems. $14K is pretty low for a 16 yr old 31ft boat - I paid $12K for my 40-yr-old 28ft. I'd say $5K min to fix the problems that NEED fixing, and if you can live with the rest, go for it!
druid
If you like the Hunter 31 and that size of boat....check out the Catalina 30. There are plenty of them out there and they are great boats. They sail well, have a good bit of room, and there are plenty of replacement parts out there.
Good job on walking away.....good call! If you feel something odd or get that feeling like it is a bad idea....It probably is!
Good job on walking away.....good call! If you feel something odd or get that feeling like it is a bad idea....It probably is!
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