First 345

[Benoit]

I am currently in the process of buying a First 345 - 1988, I love this boat. To those who own one, which points should I be particularly careful about or seriously watch before the purchase & sale?
I know she is very well built, but still I am concerned about the balsa core deck. Should I?
Many thanks
Benoit

 

[arf145]

Balsa cored decks have been close to a standard for 40 some years or more. They aren't in themselves a concern. Any decent surveyor will do a sound check of the deck and likely a moisture content check as well. You can do a sound check with a hard plastic hammer. You especially want to check around cleats, stanchions, shrouds and any other gear that goes through the deck.

 

[Jackdaw]

To help prevent wet decks, Beneteau does NOT drill holes in core. If you look, you will see areas of anti-skid and some with none. The areas without anti-skid do NOT have core; are solid glass. The factory generally will ONLY drill holes for deck hardware here thru solid glass. Most of them have very solid decks.

 

[Benoit]

I have worked on a balsa cored deck completely wet; after a cut under, the balsa was almost black with no consistency. I fixed it anyway because I could access the damage below the deck, but I understand why builders currently use foam instead balsa. It's quite a work to fix this issue.
Thank you guys for your prompt answers.