I have been looking to buy a Catalina 30 for the last year and as a new season approaches, I am getting ready to start to go out looking at boats again. Being new to this size boat, I know I am going to need to get a surveyor to check out any boat I would think about buying. My question is, how important are sea trials. Majority of the boats I will see will be on land and it is still quite a few months before they will be going into the water. How do you handle this? One surveyor I spoke to said have money put a side in case of problems by the seller. Is this common? If I see something in March or April, it is too early here to really get it into the water. Thanks for your info.
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Buying one right now
Bob, I am in the process of buying a boat right now, we inspected, offered and are having the boat surveyed this week. My broker said the only thing that we cannot due is start the motor as we cannot unwinterize yet...and he recommended we hold back a % just in case we find issues later.
Bob, I am in the process of buying a boat right now, we inspected, offered and are having the boat surveyed this week. My broker said the only thing that we cannot due is start the motor as we cannot unwinterize yet...and he recommended we hold back a % just in case we find issues later.
That engine is critical!
I am in the same process of purchasing a 30 and have submitted several questions in this forum to gain as much knowledge as possible. For me aside from the usual Catalina 30 concerns relative to age, wear and/or abuse (soft decks, worn rudder bushings, keel-hull joint and aged rigging) the engine will be the costliest to repair or replace. With that, a boat out of the water does face a dilema for the prospective buyer regarding the condition of the engine. I certainly would proceed cautiously or wait til the vessel is in the water to test this most expensive component of the vessel. When I have the survey performed on the vessel I am looking at I am going to request that the owner run the engine at 3/4 throttle for a good run sufficient enough to access overheating concerns, water flow, vibration, leakage and everything else I can research between now and then. Without an engine test, your purchase should be contingent upon the running condition of the engine agreed to by the seller. Best of luck. Bob
I am in the same process of purchasing a 30 and have submitted several questions in this forum to gain as much knowledge as possible. For me aside from the usual Catalina 30 concerns relative to age, wear and/or abuse (soft decks, worn rudder bushings, keel-hull joint and aged rigging) the engine will be the costliest to repair or replace. With that, a boat out of the water does face a dilema for the prospective buyer regarding the condition of the engine. I certainly would proceed cautiously or wait til the vessel is in the water to test this most expensive component of the vessel. When I have the survey performed on the vessel I am looking at I am going to request that the owner run the engine at 3/4 throttle for a good run sufficient enough to access overheating concerns, water flow, vibration, leakage and everything else I can research between now and then. Without an engine test, your purchase should be contingent upon the running condition of the engine agreed to by the seller. Best of luck. Bob
Bought a Good One
Bob, You should consider having an engine survey done by a reputable marine mechanic familar with Universal diesals and Catalina 30 sailboats. Do this first as it costs about $150 as opposed to $450 and up to survey the boat proper. Make sure you pick a boat with a clean engine to begin with and ask the owner for maintenance records. This way you can let the boat go if the engine turns out to have major problems, or factor the problems in to reduce the price of the boat if everything else looks to be in good condition. I did this and we ended up with a very nice C30. Jack Walsh s/v Starlight C30 TRBS
Bob, You should consider having an engine survey done by a reputable marine mechanic familar with Universal diesals and Catalina 30 sailboats. Do this first as it costs about $150 as opposed to $450 and up to survey the boat proper. Make sure you pick a boat with a clean engine to begin with and ask the owner for maintenance records. This way you can let the boat go if the engine turns out to have major problems, or factor the problems in to reduce the price of the boat if everything else looks to be in good condition. I did this and we ended up with a very nice C30. Jack Walsh s/v Starlight C30 TRBS
Buyer beware
I had a similar situation last year with the purchase of my Cat 30. We could not start the engine either, however the survey only turned up some minor problems. I was able to get the seller to reduce the price of the boat, and I was to make the required repairs. Regarding the engine be careful. My contract held two thousand in escrow until the sea trial (some months latter). As it turns out if the motor was shot what good is $2,0000 dollars. The price to repower is over $7,000. In addition certain items are almost never covered. For example, impellers, belts, filters and the list goes on and on. After the sale the broker explained that the escrow really only protects the seller. The only other option is to hold off on the purchase until warmer weather, however if the boat is in overall good condition and a good price you take a huge risk in someone else coming along and making a deal. So once again; buyer beware. I learned an awful lot making this purchase, mistakes that I will never make again.
I had a similar situation last year with the purchase of my Cat 30. We could not start the engine either, however the survey only turned up some minor problems. I was able to get the seller to reduce the price of the boat, and I was to make the required repairs. Regarding the engine be careful. My contract held two thousand in escrow until the sea trial (some months latter). As it turns out if the motor was shot what good is $2,0000 dollars. The price to repower is over $7,000. In addition certain items are almost never covered. For example, impellers, belts, filters and the list goes on and on. After the sale the broker explained that the escrow really only protects the seller. The only other option is to hold off on the purchase until warmer weather, however if the boat is in overall good condition and a good price you take a huge risk in someone else coming along and making a deal. So once again; buyer beware. I learned an awful lot making this purchase, mistakes that I will never make again.
Bob, run it at full throttle...
... you make many excellent points. but I would like to suggest running any engine you sea trial at full throttle in gear for at least two minutes to make sure it does not overheat. My Universal will run at normal temps at 3/4 throttle, even if there is a partial restriction or a few missing impellers. At full throttle. if all is ok, it will move up about 10 degrees and stay there. Saw the same thing with 3 BVI Charter boats with Westerbeke engines. With a cooling system issue at full throttle, my engine will move up into the red zone within a minute and there will be lots of water vapor coming out of the exhaust. Reducing throttle allows me to limp back to slip at reduced speeds. I can't tell you how many boat I have been on that run fine at normal rpm, but heat up when pushed. Good Luck in your search.
... you make many excellent points. but I would like to suggest running any engine you sea trial at full throttle in gear for at least two minutes to make sure it does not overheat. My Universal will run at normal temps at 3/4 throttle, even if there is a partial restriction or a few missing impellers. At full throttle. if all is ok, it will move up about 10 degrees and stay there. Saw the same thing with 3 BVI Charter boats with Westerbeke engines. With a cooling system issue at full throttle, my engine will move up into the red zone within a minute and there will be lots of water vapor coming out of the exhaust. Reducing throttle allows me to limp back to slip at reduced speeds. I can't tell you how many boat I have been on that run fine at normal rpm, but heat up when pushed. Good Luck in your search.
M25 - Keep It Running Cool
Bob steve's idea has merit and should be checked as he described. However (ya just knew there was a "but" in there), we had a different experience. Our 1986 C34 was in perfect shape when we got her in 1998, but the owner did admit it ran hot. Things we did that resolved the problem, and now allow us to operate anytime, anywhere at any throttle range without overheating (this for a Univeral M25, 21 hp, 3 cylinder): new impleller for raw water pump new raw water pump (easy but time consuming repair to get the nuts off the studs) new raw water hoses new 3 inch heat exchanger to replace the old 2 inch HX Runs at 160 F all day, up 5 degrees at full throttle forever. Good luck, Stu
Bob steve's idea has merit and should be checked as he described. However (ya just knew there was a "but" in there), we had a different experience. Our 1986 C34 was in perfect shape when we got her in 1998, but the owner did admit it ran hot. Things we did that resolved the problem, and now allow us to operate anytime, anywhere at any throttle range without overheating (this for a Univeral M25, 21 hp, 3 cylinder): new impleller for raw water pump new raw water pump (easy but time consuming repair to get the nuts off the studs) new raw water hoses new 3 inch heat exchanger to replace the old 2 inch HX Runs at 160 F all day, up 5 degrees at full throttle forever. Good luck, Stu
reading on the other
thread that the U25 has a governor at 2800 rpm. full ahead on mine turns 3400. 2800 is about normal cruising. she will run all day at 3400 with only a slight move in temp. according to what Ive heard running her full out doesnt hurt her just wastes fuel for only a extra knot or knot and 1/2.
thread that the U25 has a governor at 2800 rpm. full ahead on mine turns 3400. 2800 is about normal cruising. she will run all day at 3400 with only a slight move in temp. according to what Ive heard running her full out doesnt hurt her just wastes fuel for only a extra knot or knot and 1/2.
selling mine right now!
My C30 is up for sale right now. Any potential buyer can have the boat dropped in the water and started up...at the cost of having the yard re-winterize. It's not as thorough as a sea-trial, but it may be a good compromise if you're looking for an early-season bargain, and you're already confident on how the C30 sails.
My C30 is up for sale right now. Any potential buyer can have the boat dropped in the water and started up...at the cost of having the yard re-winterize. It's not as thorough as a sea-trial, but it may be a good compromise if you're looking for an early-season bargain, and you're already confident on how the C30 sails.
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