fisrt sailboat

Tim R. · Jul 30, 2009

This boat was built by Columbia yachts and are not a bad boat(build wise). I cannot comment on performance.

The draft should be 4'10". I would be carefull of any boat that has had any modifications to a major structure like the keel. Naval architects design them a certain way for a reason.

Save yourself from any issues by hiring a reputable surveyor.

Ross · Jul 30, 2009

For a first time boat owner a boat should be like an old wagon horse , patient, gentle, forgiving. You can be concerned about fast after you learn to sail home. Anybody can sail down wind. Start gently and slowly and try not to scare your family too badly.

Don S/V ILLusion · Jul 30, 2009

The term "modified fin keel" can be misleading. It is often taken literally but can, in reality, mean noting more than an elongated keel stub with a shallower entry angle. Not sure which you really have but you should find out.

Anchor Down · Jul 30, 2009

Congratulations

Now, take a sailing class, so you know kind of what you're doing.

I agree: "modified keel" has to do with its design, not anything a previous owner has done. Don't worry there.

If you're at the stage to say "I'm buying," it means you've had a survey done, surely?

kenn · Jul 30, 2009

I've been sailing off and on, and taking courses, for 30 years, but we didn't get around to buying our own boat til 3 years ago. We're still married :dance: and still stoked about sailing and cruising, so she was a good choice.

In my humble opinion, your first boat should be cheap enough to put on a credit card or buy with cash, and small enough to be easy to sail and maintain... so by that yardstick a 28 ft boat might be pushing it. But if you're determined enough, and not put off by the maintenance challenges of a 35 yr old boat... go for it.

This book was very helpful for us.

alexco38 · Jul 30, 2009

Get a surveyor

BTW you'll need a survey report in order to get insurance anyway. Even liability insurance only still need survey report every 10 years. In my area, the survery cost about $10 a foot. The report also tell you where she need attention.

George H260 · Jul 30, 2009

A lot depends on how much you'll be investing in the boat now and the future. After all this boat is 35 years old and there is bound to be some work needed.

For this size boat your insurance or finance company might require a survey anyway. Some experienced boat buyers view the pre-purchase survey as essentially free — often a lower price can be negotiated based on the opinion of a third party with professional credentials. A full pre-purchase survey could run from $10 - $20 per foot. Surveys for obtaining boat insurance or financing are frequently offered at a lower fee. Such surveys are less comprehensive than a full pre-purchase marine survey. Also a surveyor may help you get an idea of the value of the boat.

Nothing is more true than the saying "Act in haste, Regret at leisure". In order to avoid buyers regret some pre-purchase preparation is needed. The first step is to get the seller to provide a disclosure form on the boat. This will give the owner incentive to tell the truth about the true condition of the boat This instrument doesn't in itself guarantee a true disclosure, but at least gives the opportunity for the truth to be told.

Here's a great link from Boat US on purchasing a boat: http://www.boatus.com/MarineServices/TS007.pdf

Here's an example of a disclosure form that you can modify to fit your own situation.
http://www.boatsurveyor.com/sellers_vessel_disclosure.htm

Hermit Scott · Jul 31, 2009

new to sailing-the survey is by the linear foot. Welcome to SBO. I started reading and posting on here 11 months or so ago. I bought my first boat and started fixing it up with help from everyone on here. This is a great place to ask questions and get relevant answers. Your land on matagora bay with a sailboat docked sounds like a perfect plan. I am down in Corpus Christi and am waiting to get in at Port A. By the way, when you haul your boat there is a great yard for do it your selfers in Rockport. It's called House of Boats. The owner is John. I forgot the ICW mile marker but it comes up on google maps. Very cheap prices and John is a good guy.

bffatcat · Jul 31, 2009

Heres something that hasnt been adressed

The picture of the boat showed no outboard bracket. This means the boat has an inboard
The ubiquitous atomic 4 40 years old now. Its not gonna run. to repair or replace it is gonna cost a lot more than $1900 Look before u leap

Gail R · Jul 31, 2009

bffatcat said:
The ubiquitous atomic 4 40 years old now. Its not gonna run. to repair or replace it is gonna cost a lot more than $1900 Look before u leap

I will admit that the first thing I thought when the OP disclosed the $1900 price was, "Does she have a working engine?" That said...

The blanket statement that the Atomic 4 is "not gonna run" is pure BS. Now if it has been neglected/abused, then certainly it will be problematic. But a properly cared for A4 can still be a great engine. If it needs some work, many parts can be bought at your local NAPA, and other parts -- along with a tremendous support network -- can be found at Don Moyer's web site.

The A4 in our Pearson 30 is 31 years old. The captain did put some work into it over the winter to replace a valve -- turning her from an A3 back into an A4 -- but she has been running like a champ this year.

Bad Obsession · Jul 31, 2009

Checking the engine out is just part of survey. Survey will determine if the engine runs, what shape the boat is in, and all the other parts of it.

During survey they will go over every square inch of the boat. This means that they will be able to provide a detailed list of what needs to get fixed and usually they will point out the priorities when doing your repairs.

Remember, even if you buy a boat in good shape, it will still take a few thousand dollars to re-fit it to the way you are going to want it.

Be cautious when making this purchase. A person I met recently bought a boat off of my dock from its owner. He was telling me what a good deal that he had gotten on the boat. The previous owner had forgotten to mention that the boat had partially sank at one point in time. Once he found out about this it actually uncovered a bunch more work that he needed to complete.

you don't want to go and buy a boat that is derelict and in bad need of repair unless you want to spend more money than the boat is worth and more time than it is worth to fix it up. It will bore your family to death if you spend weekends working on the boat instead of learning how to sail. Moderate fixing up work isn't bad, especially if you can gradually do it.

You don't have to make a split second decision on the boat. Go into it as an educated consumer and remember, there are a lot more boats out there in your area that will fit the bill for what you are looking at. Try www.yachtworld.com and search your area with the perimenters that you are seeking and see what turns up.

Stu Jackson · Jul 31, 2009

http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=102541

From one of our "regulars" here on this board, thnx again dawg

Ctskip · Jul 31, 2009

Welcome to SBO.
From your post it sounds like you have made up your mind. Please tell us that you hired a surveyor to check this 30 year old hole in the water, into which you are going to dump all of your extra cash into. Hiring a pro to look into every crack and crevice is not only needed for insurance, but also for peace of mind. Be sure it's up on land to do the inspection. It'll also give you a better bargaining point once you know something about the vessel. You can follow the surveyor around and ask tons of questions.. I can understand that $1900 is not a whole lot of money to lose , but with a large family it could make a big difference. You must look at the $1900 as just the beginning, there's taxes and insurance, batteries, storage, life jackets fire extinguishers and first aid kits. Maybe new hoses for the head. Not to mention a new head itself. Check out the price of them, and be sure to get the good ones. Cheap and boating are never in the same sentence. The cost just goes up from the initial investment. If you and your family are going to stay aboard while in Tx. you are going to need a good head and some good batteries. Check out the water tanks really well. Pull yourself a glass, before you drink it you should look at it and smell it. Fuel system?
My advice would be to spend some time on the vessel before you buy it. Do a couple of hours and inspect everything. From the breaker panel to the ice box to the stove and the radio and the bilge, there's a story there, once you know how to read it. Use the boat and see how it works. Look into the deep dark corners. Turn over the cushions and see how pliable the material is 30 yrs, it's got to be getting a bit rough. Look for signs of water leaking in. Ask for the maintenance records? none? ask for receipts and manuals for appliances aboard. Check out the anchor and it's rode. There's more and there will always be more and it'll never end with a 30 yr old boat, so the best advice I can tell you is be ready for it.

I can tell you that I have done the same thing you are about to do. So I speak from experience. Now I'm looking at a new boat. Less work and more sailing. All fiberglass and hardly any wood. Hip Hip Hip hurrah!

I see you are in PA and it looks like the boat is in NJ. Am I correct so far? Are you thinking about sailing it to Texas from NJ? Is your life insurance policy paid up to date? I hope so. That's a pretty ambitious goal.
Has anyone told you we love pictures?
Ask away, thats what we are here for.

Keep it up,
Ctskip

fisrt sailboat

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