Hughes 38
- Thread starter DArcy
- Start date
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,825
As a start examine sailboatdata... http://sailboatdata.com/viewrecord.asp?class_id=1747
Info shows that the boat was built with a gas Atomic 4 engine. There are 2 schools of thought about this engine. One of them is bad and it tends to get more press. The data says that some boats were ordered with diesel. I have worked on an Atomic 4 diesel. I found it serviceable but temperamental at times. Loved it’s oil.
Based on the ideas I would explore the rudder fittings. Appears to be some corrosion present.
Your going to need to explore everything on an old boat. Guessing that the mast and stays have not been serviced. Would be a good idea to refit all fittings and maybe rewire any electrical in the mast. install LED lights. I will save your battery usage.
Info shows that the boat was built with a gas Atomic 4 engine. There are 2 schools of thought about this engine. One of them is bad and it tends to get more press. The data says that some boats were ordered with diesel. I have worked on an Atomic 4 diesel. I found it serviceable but temperamental at times. Loved it’s oil.
Based on the ideas I would explore the rudder fittings. Appears to be some corrosion present.
Your going to need to explore everything on an old boat. Guessing that the mast and stays have not been serviced. Would be a good idea to refit all fittings and maybe rewire any electrical in the mast. install LED lights. I will save your battery usage.
The Hughes is a decent boat. Beware of the usual issues with older boats, wet core etc.
Fatty Goodlander of Cruising World Fame sailed one around the world a couple of times. Look in the archives of CW for stories about his adventures.
Fatty Goodlander of Cruising World Fame sailed one around the world a couple of times. Look in the archives of CW for stories about his adventures.
A 38', 70's fiberglass sailboat boat can be worth anything, or nothing. It can even be a financial liability. The picture looks promising but a photograph at that distance, can be deceiving.
Have you looked at it up close yet, DArcy?
I haven't looked at it yet, it's a 7 hour drive from here and the photos provided are not very good. I have a 70s glass boat now and I've talked to a lot of other people with them so I have pretty good idea what to look for. I am trying to talk to the owner to try and get more information.
There is a "newer diesel" engine so the Atomic 4 has been replaced at some point.
Good point about rudder gear, that needs a closer look. And of course the rigging is suspect but at least it is a fresh water boat.
There is a "newer diesel" engine so the Atomic 4 has been replaced at some point.
Good point about rudder gear, that needs a closer look. And of course the rigging is suspect but at least it is a fresh water boat.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,825
The boat is on the north shore of lake Erie.
I believe it has been on the hard for many years. Lack of use brings a different set of problems to check for.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,825
The reading I did on the Hughes 38 was intriguing. I bought a 40+ year old boat. While it has issues, all boats do and are compromises. Good luck...
This article seemed to scream "Send me to Darcy...."
John
Avoid That Sinking Feeling
By Charles Fort
Here are 8 telltale signs that a used boat could be a storm-damaged lemon.
When an insurance company declares a boat a Constructive Total Loss (CTL), it means the boat was heavily damaged. Whoever buys it from the insurance company knows up front what he or she is getting. Some storm-damaged boats will be properly repaired, but many more will be patched up just enough to sell, leaving the new owner with what could end up being an unusable boat. Hire a marine surveyor to inspect any used boat you're considering, especially near areas that had many storm-damaged boats. Here are tips to help you spot a boat that might have been badly damaged in a storm.
1. Trace the history: When a car is totaled, the title is "branded" as salvaged or rebuilt, and buyers know up front that there was major damage at some point in the car's history. But only a few states brand salvaged boats, and some states don't even require titles for boats. Anyone wishing to obscure a boat's history need only cross state lines to avoid detection, which can be a tipoff. Look for recent gaps in the boat's ownership, which may mean that it was at an auction or in a repair yard for a long time.
2. Look for recent hull repairs: Especially on older boats, matching gelcoat is very difficult. Mismatched colors around a repaired area are often a giveaway, and may signal nothing more than filler under the gelcoat, rather than a proper fiberglass repair.
3. Look for new repairs or sealant at the hull-to-deck joint: Boats that bang against a dock during a storm often suffer damage there.
4. Evidence of sinking: Check for consistent corrosion on interior hardware, such as rust on all hinges and drawer pulls. You might be able to spot an interior waterline inside a locker or an area hidden behind an interior structure.
5. Corrosion in the electrical system: Corrosion on electrical items, such as lamps, connectors, and behind breaker panels, might mean the boat sank recently. Does the boat have all new electronics? Why?
6. Look for evidence of major interior repairs: Fresh paint or gelcoat work on the inside of the hull and engine room is usually obvious. All new cushions and curtains may be a tipoff, too.
7. Look for fresh paint on the engine: It may be covering exterior rust as well as interior damage.
8. Ask the seller: In some states, a seller isn't required to disclose if a boat was badly damaged unless you ask. If the seller hems and haws, keep looking.
— Published: December 2017
This article seemed to scream "Send me to Darcy...."
John
Avoid That Sinking Feeling
By Charles Fort
Here are 8 telltale signs that a used boat could be a storm-damaged lemon.
When an insurance company declares a boat a Constructive Total Loss (CTL), it means the boat was heavily damaged. Whoever buys it from the insurance company knows up front what he or she is getting. Some storm-damaged boats will be properly repaired, but many more will be patched up just enough to sell, leaving the new owner with what could end up being an unusable boat. Hire a marine surveyor to inspect any used boat you're considering, especially near areas that had many storm-damaged boats. Here are tips to help you spot a boat that might have been badly damaged in a storm.
1. Trace the history: When a car is totaled, the title is "branded" as salvaged or rebuilt, and buyers know up front that there was major damage at some point in the car's history. But only a few states brand salvaged boats, and some states don't even require titles for boats. Anyone wishing to obscure a boat's history need only cross state lines to avoid detection, which can be a tipoff. Look for recent gaps in the boat's ownership, which may mean that it was at an auction or in a repair yard for a long time.
2. Look for recent hull repairs: Especially on older boats, matching gelcoat is very difficult. Mismatched colors around a repaired area are often a giveaway, and may signal nothing more than filler under the gelcoat, rather than a proper fiberglass repair.
3. Look for new repairs or sealant at the hull-to-deck joint: Boats that bang against a dock during a storm often suffer damage there.
4. Evidence of sinking: Check for consistent corrosion on interior hardware, such as rust on all hinges and drawer pulls. You might be able to spot an interior waterline inside a locker or an area hidden behind an interior structure.
5. Corrosion in the electrical system: Corrosion on electrical items, such as lamps, connectors, and behind breaker panels, might mean the boat sank recently. Does the boat have all new electronics? Why?
6. Look for evidence of major interior repairs: Fresh paint or gelcoat work on the inside of the hull and engine room is usually obvious. All new cushions and curtains may be a tipoff, too.
7. Look for fresh paint on the engine: It may be covering exterior rust as well as interior damage.
8. Ask the seller: In some states, a seller isn't required to disclose if a boat was badly damaged unless you ask. If the seller hems and haws, keep looking.
— Published: December 2017