Gotta little Question I am looking at a South Coast 22 the boat is in poor condition the for deck is soft the interior needs complete rebuild. the trailer needs rewiring and sanding and painting. the current owner has had the sails up for 3 months trying to sale the boat with a sign up in his yard. he is asking 1500 for the boat but i think he is way high. Now for the question If you had a boat in the condtion above would you be totally insulted if i offered you 500 as a starting bid? Also How high should i go before walking away? Please respond by e-mail revditch@juno.com
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My last boat was an SC22
I had a early model ('70,'71) vintage. I bought a boat that needed a lot of TLC but wasn't a total fixer upper. Long story short, it's a good boat but it was built for people who would buy this boat, then almost immediately either sell it because: a)they didn't like sailing or b)buy a bigger and better sailboat. It is totally an econo boat, not extremely rugged but it will hold up OK in moderate wind and waves. My advice in your situation is not to pay very much money, $500 tops (assuming of course it does not come with an outboard motor) If the guy left the sails up for 3 months, the sun might have done a lot of UV damage. Why do you think people use sail covers or take they sails off the boat after use? 500 bucks would be my top and only price. You might want to do a web search, there is SC owners web page. Good Luck Bob
I had a early model ('70,'71) vintage. I bought a boat that needed a lot of TLC but wasn't a total fixer upper. Long story short, it's a good boat but it was built for people who would buy this boat, then almost immediately either sell it because: a)they didn't like sailing or b)buy a bigger and better sailboat. It is totally an econo boat, not extremely rugged but it will hold up OK in moderate wind and waves. My advice in your situation is not to pay very much money, $500 tops (assuming of course it does not come with an outboard motor) If the guy left the sails up for 3 months, the sun might have done a lot of UV damage. Why do you think people use sail covers or take they sails off the boat after use? 500 bucks would be my top and only price. You might want to do a web search, there is SC owners web page. Good Luck Bob
Junk it?
With both old cars and old boats the starting question should be, what will this thing be worth after all of the repairs are made to make it useable? How much will those repairs cost? You are describing a situation in which the repairs might exceed the value of the boat after the repairs are done. If that is the case then bid nothing; the boat should be junked. The thing is, he is selling you a risky boat. It is hard to know how big a problem the "soft" deck is, for example. If you are to accept that risk, then you should buy the boat for a low enough price to give you room for error when the repair bills start coming in.
With both old cars and old boats the starting question should be, what will this thing be worth after all of the repairs are made to make it useable? How much will those repairs cost? You are describing a situation in which the repairs might exceed the value of the boat after the repairs are done. If that is the case then bid nothing; the boat should be junked. The thing is, he is selling you a risky boat. It is hard to know how big a problem the "soft" deck is, for example. If you are to accept that risk, then you should buy the boat for a low enough price to give you room for error when the repair bills start coming in.
Been there, done that
If it doesn't have a functioning outboard, and you still want it, offer him $50 to haul it off. If he rants and raves, give him your number and leave. He'll call in about a week.
If it doesn't have a functioning outboard, and you still want it, offer him $50 to haul it off. If he rants and raves, give him your number and leave. He'll call in about a week.
Just a thought
The advice you've been given about initial cost plus repairs exceeding resale value cuts to the heart of the matter. You might want to look at San Juan 21's. They have a VERY active fleet in North Carolina. They range in price from say 1000.00 for a neglected one up to 4 or 5000.00 for a tricked out racing machine. P.S. If you decide to bid on the SC, you want to insult the guy on your first offer...
The advice you've been given about initial cost plus repairs exceeding resale value cuts to the heart of the matter. You might want to look at San Juan 21's. They have a VERY active fleet in North Carolina. They range in price from say 1000.00 for a neglected one up to 4 or 5000.00 for a tricked out racing machine. P.S. If you decide to bid on the SC, you want to insult the guy on your first offer...
Insult him!
The others are right about repairs. You could be out sailing one day and a chainplate could let go cuz of that soft deck. Repairing it probably isn't worth the hassle or money so if you can buy it and feel secure that the rig won't come toppling down, offer the guy $500. If he says no way, give him your card and ask him to call if he changes his mind. The trailer alone is probably worth that much. The others are right that you might want to think about something in better shape to get you out sailing sooner. Good luck with the decision! LaDonna
The others are right about repairs. You could be out sailing one day and a chainplate could let go cuz of that soft deck. Repairing it probably isn't worth the hassle or money so if you can buy it and feel secure that the rig won't come toppling down, offer the guy $500. If he says no way, give him your card and ask him to call if he changes his mind. The trailer alone is probably worth that much. The others are right that you might want to think about something in better shape to get you out sailing sooner. Good luck with the decision! LaDonna
Former South Coast Owner
My dad and I had a South Coast 22 that we kept on Kerr Lake in the summer and in our backyard in Cary in the winter.We owned it from 1973 to 1977. It may even be the same boat you are looking at. For my money I would stay away from it. It was slow and didn't point well and when we slept on it we would get woken up in the morning by the sunlight streaming through the fiberglass.(very minimal construction)In my opinion you would be much better off to buy a more mainstream boat. After we sold the South Coast we bought a Catalina 22 and it was like night and day. The sailing was a much better experience.
My dad and I had a South Coast 22 that we kept on Kerr Lake in the summer and in our backyard in Cary in the winter.We owned it from 1973 to 1977. It may even be the same boat you are looking at. For my money I would stay away from it. It was slow and didn't point well and when we slept on it we would get woken up in the morning by the sunlight streaming through the fiberglass.(very minimal construction)In my opinion you would be much better off to buy a more mainstream boat. After we sold the South Coast we bought a Catalina 22 and it was like night and day. The sailing was a much better experience.
ON purchasing fixer-uppers...
You've gotten some good advice so far, so let me just add my experience to it: We purchased a neglected H23 with outboard & trailer for $1500.- a few years ago. After all was said & done, I had to put almost $2000.- more into it and done over 200 hours labor just to get her ship-shape! The way I figure it, I could've spent the $3500 up front and gotten an extra 200 hours of sailing in! Make any sense...? Jim maroldo s/v: Lil' Wass Ett
You've gotten some good advice so far, so let me just add my experience to it: We purchased a neglected H23 with outboard & trailer for $1500.- a few years ago. After all was said & done, I had to put almost $2000.- more into it and done over 200 hours labor just to get her ship-shape! The way I figure it, I could've spent the $3500 up front and gotten an extra 200 hours of sailing in! Make any sense...? Jim maroldo s/v: Lil' Wass Ett
No as in your wallet has shrunk!
No Jim as in the Big Wall Ett has now shrunk to be a Little Wallet <g>
No Jim as in the Big Wall Ett has now shrunk to be a Little Wallet <g>
Personally, I would walk away...
and not look back. Sounds like waaaaaaaay too much work to deal with. Good money into bad??? Cheers, Bob
and not look back. Sounds like waaaaaaaay too much work to deal with. Good money into bad??? Cheers, Bob
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