Just purchased an abandodned Hunter 31 (sat in a boatyard for 8 years!) which I need to rebuild from the inside out! This is my 8th major refurbishing job in the last 24 months (I buy and sell sailboats but my wife wants me to keep this one!) but I do have a couple of questions for you Hunter owners out there. I'm just getting into the project as I just had the boat delivered - I'm just stripping off the old bottom paint in preperation for an epxoy barrier coat. 1. Where is the fuel tank? Is it the lid I see in the aft berth? 2. What size wheel did this boat come with from the factory? (this one doesen't have one and I want to replace with the right size) 3. Has anyone removed and replaced the carpet hull liner and with what? 4. Maxwell winches - is anybody happy/unhappy with these? 5. Any areas of concern that I should know about? Thanks for any information that can be provided! Mike
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
I've kept mine for 16 years.
Mike: I've had my H'31 since 1987 and we still like the boat as much as the day we purchased her. I don't know why you would be worring about a barrier coat on a boat that your are selling but that is your decision. I thought that they were typically coated by the commissioning dealer back then.... The fuel tank is in the lazarette on the starboard quarter. It is a poly tank. THe water tank is under the aft quarter berth. I just resealed mine about 2 years ago and it is fine. The tank is molded into the hull liner. The waste tank is also molded into the liner under the v-berth. I am not sure of the wheel size but I think that it's 36". It was made by Merriman Y/S and you should be able to find one from a salvage yard. I am not sure that a Edson will work. (some parts do, other don't). The hull liner is just an upolstery fabric and can be purchased from someone like www.Sailrite.com. The worse part is removing the fabric and cleaning up the hull. Installation should not be much of a problem. Spray on contact cement and an extra pair of hand should do. You can also try an upolstery cleaner. Ours still looks fine after 16+ years. Maxwell winches are good quality but were under sized (like most production boats). Parts are hard to come by. Try cleaning and servicing before you do anything. Concerns.... The compression post and the rudder are the only areas of concern. If they are good now you don't need to worry. You may want to think about dropping the mast (if it not down) and caulk the tube around the mast step. If this area has not leaked you are fine. If it has, you need to consider stripping the casing around the post and check for ROT. Big job but it is a must do project if there is a problem. Boat would be very difficult to sell if not fixed (unless you find an innocent "dumb" buyer). PS: what did you pay for this ol'relic?
Mike: I've had my H'31 since 1987 and we still like the boat as much as the day we purchased her. I don't know why you would be worring about a barrier coat on a boat that your are selling but that is your decision. I thought that they were typically coated by the commissioning dealer back then.... The fuel tank is in the lazarette on the starboard quarter. It is a poly tank. THe water tank is under the aft quarter berth. I just resealed mine about 2 years ago and it is fine. The tank is molded into the hull liner. The waste tank is also molded into the liner under the v-berth. I am not sure of the wheel size but I think that it's 36". It was made by Merriman Y/S and you should be able to find one from a salvage yard. I am not sure that a Edson will work. (some parts do, other don't). The hull liner is just an upolstery fabric and can be purchased from someone like www.Sailrite.com. The worse part is removing the fabric and cleaning up the hull. Installation should not be much of a problem. Spray on contact cement and an extra pair of hand should do. You can also try an upolstery cleaner. Ours still looks fine after 16+ years. Maxwell winches are good quality but were under sized (like most production boats). Parts are hard to come by. Try cleaning and servicing before you do anything. Concerns.... The compression post and the rudder are the only areas of concern. If they are good now you don't need to worry. You may want to think about dropping the mast (if it not down) and caulk the tube around the mast step. If this area has not leaked you are fine. If it has, you need to consider stripping the casing around the post and check for ROT. Big job but it is a must do project if there is a problem. Boat would be very difficult to sell if not fixed (unless you find an innocent "dumb" buyer). PS: what did you pay for this ol'relic?
F
Fred Ficarra
M
Mike
To Steve from California Re Hunter 31 project
Steve Actually we are keeping this boat and I really apprciate your feedback. The mast is down and no sign of leaks. The boat sat buttoned up for 8 years in a boat yard and there was no water in the boat to speak of - about 4" in the lower bilge. I'm putting on the barrier coat as the yacht club I'm in has pretty dank water and the boats there seem to develop blisters if they don't have some kind of a barrier coat. As for how much did I pay? Less than what a new self tailing 2 speed winch would cost me. Thanks Mike
Steve Actually we are keeping this boat and I really apprciate your feedback. The mast is down and no sign of leaks. The boat sat buttoned up for 8 years in a boat yard and there was no water in the boat to speak of - about 4" in the lower bilge. I'm putting on the barrier coat as the yacht club I'm in has pretty dank water and the boats there seem to develop blisters if they don't have some kind of a barrier coat. As for how much did I pay? Less than what a new self tailing 2 speed winch would cost me. Thanks Mike
B
Bill O'Donovan
Yo Steve!
I'm with Fred. I thought that given all your expertise you either sailed a 50-footer or an armchair.
I'm with Fred. I thought that given all your expertise you either sailed a 50-footer or an armchair.
D
Dave
how did you find the boat?
I'm curious, how did you come upon the boat? I've always been interested in finding old derelicts and restoring, but haven't really found any like the one you've found! Just curious...
I'm curious, how did you come upon the boat? I've always been interested in finding old derelicts and restoring, but haven't really found any like the one you've found! Just curious...
M
Mike
Dave - How did I find it?
Dave I find derilect boats all the time - just start visiting boat yards in your area and ask! Most yards have "problem" boats - people that haven't paid storage in years - etc., just ALWAYS be sure you do it within the law - there is a process for repossesing boats that are behind in their storage payments in each state in varies. Once the boat has been legally repossesed get the yard owner to provide a legal abd clear title then make the deal. It's a bit of work but it can be done! Thanks Mike
Dave I find derilect boats all the time - just start visiting boat yards in your area and ask! Most yards have "problem" boats - people that haven't paid storage in years - etc., just ALWAYS be sure you do it within the law - there is a process for repossesing boats that are behind in their storage payments in each state in varies. Once the boat has been legally repossesed get the yard owner to provide a legal abd clear title then make the deal. It's a bit of work but it can be done! Thanks Mike
F
Fred Ficarra
We did the math and nearly abandoned our boat
in Trinidad. The rebuild cost a lot more than the market value of a stock H34. And that's not counting 3 1/2 years work. But then too, she's not a stock H34 and NOT FOR SALE!
in Trinidad. The rebuild cost a lot more than the market value of a stock H34. And that's not counting 3 1/2 years work. But then too, she's not a stock H34 and NOT FOR SALE!
B
Bill Lloyd
Can't add much
Looks like Steve answered most of your questions. I have an 84 H31 bought last year. It is a solid easily handled boat. My wheel is a 36 " & I'm sure it's stock. One suggestion for a project when you get to the interior..I put shelves in the hanging locker to port by the nav station. It was useless as a hanging locker but works well as a shelf unit. Good luck with the boat. Bill
Looks like Steve answered most of your questions. I have an 84 H31 bought last year. It is a solid easily handled boat. My wheel is a 36 " & I'm sure it's stock. One suggestion for a project when you get to the interior..I put shelves in the hanging locker to port by the nav station. It was useless as a hanging locker but works well as a shelf unit. Good luck with the boat. Bill
- Status
- Not open for further replies.