We have collected a ton of info thanks in part to all the replys on this forum. We have become very focused on early '80's model Hunter or C&C 28-32 ft. Is it reasonable for a properly maintained and inspected vessel to go another 20-30 years (40-50 years total)? Do either of these manufacturers stand out in longevity, or is it more a function of specific models and individual boats? I'm just concerned with the big stuff - hull, keel, deck, standing rigging, steerage. We realize there will be constant maintenance, repair and upgrade!! Thanks for any info in advance!
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I had an '82 Hunter 27
which I have since traded in (my heart is still broken) for a '94 Hunter 29.5 (a very nice boat too). My boat was in remarkably good condition. I did notice when the boat was survey'd last year that 80's hunters do tend to gather moisture around the maststep. Not a big deal ( I paid $300.00 to have the mast unstepped and the area re-caulked). Don't know much about CandC's (although I have a few friends with older models that seem to hold up well). For what it's worth...
which I have since traded in (my heart is still broken) for a '94 Hunter 29.5 (a very nice boat too). My boat was in remarkably good condition. I did notice when the boat was survey'd last year that 80's hunters do tend to gather moisture around the maststep. Not a big deal ( I paid $300.00 to have the mast unstepped and the area re-caulked). Don't know much about CandC's (although I have a few friends with older models that seem to hold up well). For what it's worth...
Longevity
David I was truly amazed at the horrible condition of some of the boats we saw when we were looking six years ago. The abuse that some POs have given their boats is a shame. OTOH, we found an older boat that was in pristine condition, and we have kept her that way. Seems to me that regardless of the manufacturer, the way the boat was treated by POs starts to answer your question. All of those "DOG" boats we saw are still floating, but each of them required a different type of major work effort: instruments, interiors, exteriors, standing rigging, running rigging, engines, hot water heaters, elecrtical, and some with multiple problems. It's not only models and specific boats or manufacturer's, after all, it's fiberglass and metal, and both will last a long time. How they were taken care of will determine not so much their life expectancy, but whether or not anyone wants to even bother with them. Stu PS - we're almost starting on our second 20 years! and I'll bet our boat will be going strong at 40+++ PPS - don't only concern yourself with the big stuff, that's like doing an exception report. Remember, twenty five "little" $500 "small stuffs" can well outweigh an $8K to $10K major stuff.
David I was truly amazed at the horrible condition of some of the boats we saw when we were looking six years ago. The abuse that some POs have given their boats is a shame. OTOH, we found an older boat that was in pristine condition, and we have kept her that way. Seems to me that regardless of the manufacturer, the way the boat was treated by POs starts to answer your question. All of those "DOG" boats we saw are still floating, but each of them required a different type of major work effort: instruments, interiors, exteriors, standing rigging, running rigging, engines, hot water heaters, elecrtical, and some with multiple problems. It's not only models and specific boats or manufacturer's, after all, it's fiberglass and metal, and both will last a long time. How they were taken care of will determine not so much their life expectancy, but whether or not anyone wants to even bother with them. Stu PS - we're almost starting on our second 20 years! and I'll bet our boat will be going strong at 40+++ PPS - don't only concern yourself with the big stuff, that's like doing an exception report. Remember, twenty five "little" $500 "small stuffs" can well outweigh an $8K to $10K major stuff.
Aging
As they say in the stock market, past performance is no guarantee of future results. There isn't much else to go on, however. If you want a boat that will really last for 40 years, look at the kinds of boats around now that are 40 years old. They will show you what sort of construction quality is needed in order to last that long, and probably point you to certain manufacturers rather than others. In our harbor, there are a few boats from the '60's. (A half-dozen wooden boats are even older.) The '60's crop includes a Hinkley 35, a Pearson/Alberg 35, an Allied 35, a Morgan 34, a Rhodes Bounty 40, a Tripp-Lentsch 29 and a C&C 31. Sabre, Tartan, Hunter, Catalina? Maybe they hadn't been started yet. Boats from the '70's in our fleet are from Nautor, C&C, Tartan, Cal, C&C, Ericson, C&C, Ranger, Gulfstar, Pearson, and C&C. Hmm. Sabre was just starting around then, weren't they? What about Hunter and Catalina? Any trends here? Boats around 20 years old (1980's) come from Tartan, Wauquiez, Intrepid, Pearson, J/boats, J/boats, Tartan, Tartan, Moody, Ta Shing, Bristol, Alsberg, Tartan, Cape Dory, Island Packet, C&C, Pearson, Ryder, Lyman Morse, Cheoy Lee, Kalik, Hinckley, Nautor, Catalina & Slocum. Sabre doesn't show up until the '90's, along with a Hylas and additional J/boats. That's the data in this neck of the woods. It makes me think that I'd get a C&C if I wanted it to last as long as possible. C&C's also tend to look good without having to be polished up, simply because they have nice lines. Some others have to be kept shiny in order to pass muster. This office makes no solicitation; please ask for and read the full prospectus before sending any money to anyone!
As they say in the stock market, past performance is no guarantee of future results. There isn't much else to go on, however. If you want a boat that will really last for 40 years, look at the kinds of boats around now that are 40 years old. They will show you what sort of construction quality is needed in order to last that long, and probably point you to certain manufacturers rather than others. In our harbor, there are a few boats from the '60's. (A half-dozen wooden boats are even older.) The '60's crop includes a Hinkley 35, a Pearson/Alberg 35, an Allied 35, a Morgan 34, a Rhodes Bounty 40, a Tripp-Lentsch 29 and a C&C 31. Sabre, Tartan, Hunter, Catalina? Maybe they hadn't been started yet. Boats from the '70's in our fleet are from Nautor, C&C, Tartan, Cal, C&C, Ericson, C&C, Ranger, Gulfstar, Pearson, and C&C. Hmm. Sabre was just starting around then, weren't they? What about Hunter and Catalina? Any trends here? Boats around 20 years old (1980's) come from Tartan, Wauquiez, Intrepid, Pearson, J/boats, J/boats, Tartan, Tartan, Moody, Ta Shing, Bristol, Alsberg, Tartan, Cape Dory, Island Packet, C&C, Pearson, Ryder, Lyman Morse, Cheoy Lee, Kalik, Hinckley, Nautor, Catalina & Slocum. Sabre doesn't show up until the '90's, along with a Hylas and additional J/boats. That's the data in this neck of the woods. It makes me think that I'd get a C&C if I wanted it to last as long as possible. C&C's also tend to look good without having to be polished up, simply because they have nice lines. Some others have to be kept shiny in order to pass muster. This office makes no solicitation; please ask for and read the full prospectus before sending any money to anyone!
When I was 21
my dad paid a couple of hundred bucks more for a one-owner Triumph TR-4 that had been meticulously maintained since new, including a log book which contained each gas fill-up entered and mileage for the previous tank calculated, as well as extensive maintenance records. At the time I thought he should save the money and buy more of a project car. As Mark Twain pointed out, the older you get, the smarter your parents become. If you want a boat that will last for another 20 to 30 years, find one you like that belongs to a preventive maintenance fanatic and pay the extra bucks. You can't do retroactive maintenance on a boat, but you can be discriminating on who the previous owner was, which is almost the same thing. Often "project boat" is synonymous with "Pandora's Box."
my dad paid a couple of hundred bucks more for a one-owner Triumph TR-4 that had been meticulously maintained since new, including a log book which contained each gas fill-up entered and mileage for the previous tank calculated, as well as extensive maintenance records. At the time I thought he should save the money and buy more of a project car. As Mark Twain pointed out, the older you get, the smarter your parents become. If you want a boat that will last for another 20 to 30 years, find one you like that belongs to a preventive maintenance fanatic and pay the extra bucks. You can't do retroactive maintenance on a boat, but you can be discriminating on who the previous owner was, which is almost the same thing. Often "project boat" is synonymous with "Pandora's Box."
old C&C 30
I'm in a sailing club with two boats... 1973 C&C 30 and 1980s Hunter 34. Both are in great shape and should last many more years. Kevin
I'm in a sailing club with two boats... 1973 C&C 30 and 1980s Hunter 34. Both are in great shape and should last many more years. Kevin
Our boat is over 36 years old and
in great shape--'67 Alberg 30. She surveyed very well when we purchased her last year, although most of her was still original. We updated/upgraded a lot of her original pieces since then--through hulls, seacocks, electronics, etc. The original stuff on her still worked fine--technology has simply improved in many areas. Get a very thorough surveyor, and share your research with him/her--things you've found may be common problem areas, etc. and don't be shy about telling them specifics you want looked at. It's kinda like school--you want the quizzes and pretests to be really tough so you can cake-walk a final ;-). I wouldn't hesitate over an older boat that surveys well--just remember you will spend money initially in updating and making her "yours." Fair winds, Bill
in great shape--'67 Alberg 30. She surveyed very well when we purchased her last year, although most of her was still original. We updated/upgraded a lot of her original pieces since then--through hulls, seacocks, electronics, etc. The original stuff on her still worked fine--technology has simply improved in many areas. Get a very thorough surveyor, and share your research with him/her--things you've found may be common problem areas, etc. and don't be shy about telling them specifics you want looked at. It's kinda like school--you want the quizzes and pretests to be really tough so you can cake-walk a final ;-). I wouldn't hesitate over an older boat that surveys well--just remember you will spend money initially in updating and making her "yours." Fair winds, Bill
agree with Stu
and the others about POs treatment of the boat. however, since the 70s there has been one consistent boat manufactor that keeps on churning em out that is still under the orginal private ownership. Catalina! it has been said the there have been more C30s built than the next 10 manufactor's 30fters put together. the C30 is in the Sailboat Hall of Fame and I believe the #s hold her out. IMHO, although I could be just a little predjuice!
and the others about POs treatment of the boat. however, since the 70s there has been one consistent boat manufactor that keeps on churning em out that is still under the orginal private ownership. Catalina! it has been said the there have been more C30s built than the next 10 manufactor's 30fters put together. the C30 is in the Sailboat Hall of Fame and I believe the #s hold her out. IMHO, although I could be just a little predjuice!
Good old boats
We purchased a '77 Pearson 28 last fall. Surveyed very well. The surveyed said that FG boats made in the 60s and 70s were generally very well built or even overbuilt. The true nature of FG was still unknown. It was not until later the the manufacturers started cutting corners. Needed a little hull/keel fairing and that was about it. We also spent money making her ours. Tim R.
We purchased a '77 Pearson 28 last fall. Surveyed very well. The surveyed said that FG boats made in the 60s and 70s were generally very well built or even overbuilt. The true nature of FG was still unknown. It was not until later the the manufacturers started cutting corners. Needed a little hull/keel fairing and that was about it. We also spent money making her ours. Tim R.
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