Newbie here, Can someone help with a few questions please?

[DArcy]

If you are trying to determine sailing performance you might get an idea looking at PHRF ratings. The Irwin Citation 31 is around 170, which compares very close to a Catalina 310. Slightly slower than a C&C30MkII but faster (surprise ) than an Island Packet 31. With a deeper keel than the Catalina and a higher SA/D I would expect the Irwin to sail faster upwind, or perhaps point a bit better.

It looks like there may have been a shoal draft version, or perhaps a centerboard version so the numbers could be off for those but in general the numbers show this to be a cruiser but leaning a bit towards the performance side more than some.

I wouldn't worry about the performance so much, more about the build quality and required repairs. There are a LOT of boats in the $15k to $20k range out there. Unless you really want to work on a boat for the next couple of years, keep looking. If you don't find one in your neighborhood then wait a while or look further out and spend the money on transporting rather than renovating.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

I have the skills and time to do whatever is necessary with the engine except for the stuffing box.

Not clear on this statement. Repacking or out and out replacing the stuffing box and hose is a pretty simple job, just time consuming if it's in bad shape. Nothing exciting there. Don't know what engine you've got with this boat but if you've got problems with a packing gland, you've really got some really exciting times ahead with the engine. All depends on the age and previous maintenance.

It will surely need a bottom job,

Maybe yes, maybe no. All depends on what's down there. Could be an ablative with lots of life left in it. Or, maybe an old hard coat that's in rough shape. You have no idea until it's out and that survey is every bit as important as the interior survey.

The engine started up and ran well enough at idle but after about 5 minutes the impeller crapped out so we shut it down.

And how do you know the impeller crapped out ? The hi temp. alarm went off ? ? ? It wouldn't take much more than about 5 minutes for the engine to overheat even if the raw water pump had been stolen. Maybe start thinking dirty heat exchanger, plugged tubes, or a plugged fresh water circulation system because the antifreeze has never been changed. Or maybe the pump hasn't worked in years. Just seems too coincidental that the raw water pump should fail 5 minutes after you start the engine.

And the above is the easy straightforward stuff. Relocating chainplates ? .............. not for the faint of heart.

 

[Md80max]

Ralph,

It is my understanding that to replace the repair for this the boat should be out of the water. It's also my understanding that it can be done in the water but not recommended. The surveyor here in our area is held in high regard and stays very busy because of. He is has been doing this type of work for over 30 years in our town of just over 7 million people with a number of lakes around. The plan was to do a sea trial first then haul the boat out. He said until that is fixed first, we are not doing a sea trial with my team on board. The reason I made the statement about not repairing the stuffing box myself is, the marina does not let owners work on their boat in the yard. The engine is a Yanmar 2GM.

I was the one that noticed the water no longer coming out of the exhaust. I was on the dock, they started the engine, looked to make sure we had water coming out of the exhaust then he was going back down in the engine compartment so I stated there was no more water coming out he then made the comment, most likely the impeller crapped out. I should have been more clear as to why I said it that way. My miscommunication.

The previous bottom job was over 5 years ago. If I had the boat out of the water I was surely doing a bottom job instead of pulling it out again in a year or two later. It is just shy of a grand for 1 round trip on the travel lift, made sense to me to just do it now and it would be good for another 5 years.

No fire alarm ! ! ! , That was the first time this boat had been started for quite a long time and as you said, could have been something else. All I can tell you is what I saw and the comments that followed.

I think I have enough information from everyone to make my decision. Thanks for the help!

 

[BigEasy]

Ralph,

It is my understanding that to replace the repair for this the boat should be out of the water. It's also my understanding that it can be done in the water but not recommended. The reason I made the statement about not repairing the stuffing box myself is, the marina does not let owners work on their boat in the yard.

I would advise not repacking the stuffing box in water on this older boat. If the hose splits while you are replacing the packing you’re in trouble with uncontrollable flooding. That being said, I did replace the packing on my previous 10 year old boat while it was in water. The packing has to be cut exactly in advance and ready to go, because once the last piece of old packing is removed, the race is on to get the new packing in place to shutdown the flooding that occurs. Much safer and less nerve wracking to do this repair while hauled out.

 

[RoyS]

The reason I made the statement about not repairing the stuffing box myself is, the marina does not let owners work on their boat in the yard.

Find a new marina. You seem to want to restore this boat yourself and I can understand that. If you decide to buy this boat you will want to be in a marina that will let you do the work yourself. Good luck.

 

[LloydB]

you are trying to justify a money pit in the water that you cant work on in the location it's at, so my vote is run but give her a kiss as you leave because she is very pretty

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

I think @RoyS has made the loudest and most convincing argument to date.

The yards I have seen here only prohibit bottom sanding, grinding, gouging, cutting, etc, etc if it makes a mess. I wouldn't put up with any yard prohibiting packing the gland. How would they even know ? Same goes for working on thru-hulls and transducers as far as no mess.

 

[Md80max]

I passed on the boat. Thanks to all here that helped me with my decision, really appreciate it.

Yes, I wouldn't mind having a project boat but not one where I am replacing bulkheads and have to work on for a year or more.

I moved to Lake Texoma 2 years ago. I had purchased an O'Day 25 here at the marina and after two years around the docks, I have spent time with almost of dozen or so sailors like myself. I was on the docks one night, visiting and meeting a lot of people at the marina here and I asked, " will the marina here let you work on your boat in the yard? " then laughing started followed by a resounding NO and good luck finding one on this lake that will let you because we have tried. Two others on a different occasion said, we've been on this lake a long time and not at this marina, and we have not found a marina on this lake that would allow such.

Loyd, I live one mile away from the marina and at home, I have a shop and more than enough time and tools to take on a project boat and truck to move it but no trailer...yet. But I did just as you said minus the kiss, and passed on the boat, there is always another one, this one had checked a lot of boxes for me.

RoyS and Ralph, finding a new marina would be an option but I live 1 mile from the marina I am in and really like it here, lots of good people just like you all here. This marina has a lot of history, they built Valiant Yachts here for 25 years and still support the fleet. An airport, RV park, restaurant. It's really nice here, except you can't work on your boat in the yard

How would they know if I was packing a gland? They wouldn't if I was doing it in the water at my slip, we are allowed to work on our boats in your slip, as long as you don't disturb others in the process.

As I said, I decided to pass on this one and look for another.

Very grateful for the wisdom of the group here!

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

finding a new marina would be an option but I live 1 mile from the marina I am in and really like it here

I have a shop and more than enough time and tools to take on a project boat and truck to move it but no trailer...yet.

Sounds like you've got a little piece of heaven right beside you. And all clean water, none of this salt stuff. Maybe resign yourself to boating during the good weather and working in the water as required and then hauling the boat back to the shop for the hull work in the winter months. At least for the fist couple of years. Once the hull work is completed, I find I spend almost no time working on the hull. It's mostly electrical and mechanical work inside and on deck.

At least in a perfect world ...................................

 

[BigEasy]

I passed on the boat. Thanks to all here that helped me with my decision, really appreciate it.
As I said, I decided to pass on this one and look for another.

Smart man! Another one will turn up that will be more practical to own.
Good luck with the search. It took me approximately 2-3 years to find one and go through with the purchase. Lots of internet searches, road trips, & plane trips. Meanwhile, I chartered boats that I wished to own to keep me sailing and to experience prospective boats, first hand, before purchasing.

 

[Md80max]

One last comment, if you don't know about Lake Texoma, it is the 12th largest lake in the nation with world-class striper fishing. The lake is around 89,000 acres and 1000 miles of shoreline, according to Google, it is large but to me it doesn't seem that large to me but it is indeed a big lake. People fly in from all over to fish here according to the guides I have visited with. I know there are much better places to visit, but this one is nice enough for sure. If you happen to be in the neighborhood, send me a note and perhaps we could meet for lunch at Pelicans Landing just one mile away, my treat!