So, I'm still looking for another liveaboard. While down in NC, I had the broker show me a GS39 while I was down there looking at a Prairie 36. Both are nice boats with potential, but the GS is the one filling my heads with day dreams of cruising into the sunset 
Anyways, I'm hear for knowledge and insight on the boat in question. Performance wise, I would expect it to be similar to my Ranger 33. . .both aren't particularly beamy for the length, a little light on the displacement side, lots of sail area, and fin keeled. Out board shrouds on the GS39 probably means it can't point as high, but I don't race so. . .tiny keel sumps, etc. . .
The layout is amazing, and the big attraction. That it should be sailable in our light air is also a perk.
Questions:
-5000+ hours on the a perkins 4-108 v-drive. Engine has been painted recently, bilge as far as I could see is clean. Would those be considered high engine hours? In the Trawler world in which I've been hanging out, those wouldn't be particularly scary. . .How long do the transmissions last?
-There is a soft spot on the coach roof by a hatch. The core is 3/4" (i think) balsa (end grain). Only have dealt with plywood cores on my R33. How quickly does water migrate with balsa?
-The base of the mast step (keel stepped) is corroded. I haven't been able to find anything online about this for this particular boat. When I was looking at Pearson 365 it was a common issue with a couple common fixes. Would something similar apply here?
-It looks like it has the original Groco cone type sea cocks. I was afraid to work them too hard. They look rebuildable though?
-Rigging looks to be a mix of original and newer. None of the lower swages are rusting/cracked. There are a couple shrouds with stay-locs. I'm assuming the owner is/was replacing only what looked bad as required?
It had been raining off and on for days before, and during my initial inspection and surprisingly it was dry inside with no window leaks. I was shocked. I saw no evidence of leaks at the chain plates (of those I could see). If anyone has advice, opinions, comments I'd love to hear them! If I make a second trip down for a thorough inspection, anything in particular I should look out for?
Thanks!
Anyways, I'm hear for knowledge and insight on the boat in question. Performance wise, I would expect it to be similar to my Ranger 33. . .both aren't particularly beamy for the length, a little light on the displacement side, lots of sail area, and fin keeled. Out board shrouds on the GS39 probably means it can't point as high, but I don't race so. . .tiny keel sumps, etc. . .
The layout is amazing, and the big attraction. That it should be sailable in our light air is also a perk.
Questions:
-5000+ hours on the a perkins 4-108 v-drive. Engine has been painted recently, bilge as far as I could see is clean. Would those be considered high engine hours? In the Trawler world in which I've been hanging out, those wouldn't be particularly scary. . .How long do the transmissions last?
-There is a soft spot on the coach roof by a hatch. The core is 3/4" (i think) balsa (end grain). Only have dealt with plywood cores on my R33. How quickly does water migrate with balsa?
-The base of the mast step (keel stepped) is corroded. I haven't been able to find anything online about this for this particular boat. When I was looking at Pearson 365 it was a common issue with a couple common fixes. Would something similar apply here?
-It looks like it has the original Groco cone type sea cocks. I was afraid to work them too hard. They look rebuildable though?
-Rigging looks to be a mix of original and newer. None of the lower swages are rusting/cracked. There are a couple shrouds with stay-locs. I'm assuming the owner is/was replacing only what looked bad as required?
It had been raining off and on for days before, and during my initial inspection and surprisingly it was dry inside with no window leaks. I was shocked. I saw no evidence of leaks at the chain plates (of those I could see). If anyone has advice, opinions, comments I'd love to hear them! If I make a second trip down for a thorough inspection, anything in particular I should look out for?
Thanks!
