I am looking at a 25' that has sat around for quite a while. It has no sails and has water in the bilge. Things are pretty messy inside. Are there things that I should be looking for that I might miss not being familiar with this boat and some of it's problems? The boat looks sound and has a good trailer with it. The missing sails bother me. Also no motor. Thanks,
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Current Condition Could Work To Your Advantage, If
everything else checks out. Boy, could you ever lowball this one, if your prepared to spend a season getting her ready. It probably needed new sails anyways, and quality sails can be obtained easily, and good used motors can be found anywhere. Now, be sure to get "informed", about doing your own survey, or hire a surveyer if you feel so inclined. I recommend, "Surveying Fiberglass Sailboats", by Henry Mustin. You want to check all the systems that will sink you or cause big headaches if it fails. These include, standing rigging (if its original (older than 15 years), throw it away and replace). Best $500 you can invest. While your at it replace the lifelines. Check all valves. If there gate valves, replace them with quality ball valves, and while your at it replace all hoses, and hose clamps (use stainless steel, double clamp everthing). Check all chainplates, paying special attention to the condition of the bolts, and the bolt holes. Look for any rust, or elongation of bolt holes that would indicate undue stress. Pay EXTRA attention to those bulkhead shroud anchor plates. Check all running rigging, and replace with quality ropes, if there really worn. Check out all blocks, make sure the sheaves turn freely and there are no cracks in the cheeks. Be carefull with the rudder, as if its original it may be waterlogged. Most are, and have been rebuilt or replaced. "Sound" the deck with a nylon ballpeen hammer. No what constitutes sound core and mushy core. Mark all areas with a grease pencil for future attention. Pay close attention to all through deck hardware, including plates, cleates and such. I'm sure I have forgotten some items, but get a good resource, and ask lots of questions. Let us know how much you got her for. In my experience if you appear to be a knowledgeable buyer you are less likely to be BS'd. Good luck. Don
everything else checks out. Boy, could you ever lowball this one, if your prepared to spend a season getting her ready. It probably needed new sails anyways, and quality sails can be obtained easily, and good used motors can be found anywhere. Now, be sure to get "informed", about doing your own survey, or hire a surveyer if you feel so inclined. I recommend, "Surveying Fiberglass Sailboats", by Henry Mustin. You want to check all the systems that will sink you or cause big headaches if it fails. These include, standing rigging (if its original (older than 15 years), throw it away and replace). Best $500 you can invest. While your at it replace the lifelines. Check all valves. If there gate valves, replace them with quality ball valves, and while your at it replace all hoses, and hose clamps (use stainless steel, double clamp everthing). Check all chainplates, paying special attention to the condition of the bolts, and the bolt holes. Look for any rust, or elongation of bolt holes that would indicate undue stress. Pay EXTRA attention to those bulkhead shroud anchor plates. Check all running rigging, and replace with quality ropes, if there really worn. Check out all blocks, make sure the sheaves turn freely and there are no cracks in the cheeks. Be carefull with the rudder, as if its original it may be waterlogged. Most are, and have been rebuilt or replaced. "Sound" the deck with a nylon ballpeen hammer. No what constitutes sound core and mushy core. Mark all areas with a grease pencil for future attention. Pay close attention to all through deck hardware, including plates, cleates and such. I'm sure I have forgotten some items, but get a good resource, and ask lots of questions. Let us know how much you got her for. In my experience if you appear to be a knowledgeable buyer you are less likely to be BS'd. Good luck. Don
survey, survey, survey
Ok, so tort law has made me the most insanely cautious guy around. Noted. </caveatmode> Tom, get a good book and learn to survey. Use that as your basis to see if this boat is worth continuing to consider. Then, hire a SAMS accredited surveyor to look the boat over before you buy. With all due respect to Don, the rigging is the second best $500 you are going to spend. The first is the survey fee. Appart from that, I second Don's assesment of the situation. You are in a position to get a great boat for a great price, so long as you are willing to do a fair turn of work to it. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
Ok, so tort law has made me the most insanely cautious guy around. Noted. </caveatmode> Tom, get a good book and learn to survey. Use that as your basis to see if this boat is worth continuing to consider. Then, hire a SAMS accredited surveyor to look the boat over before you buy. With all due respect to Don, the rigging is the second best $500 you are going to spend. The first is the survey fee. Appart from that, I second Don's assesment of the situation. You are in a position to get a great boat for a great price, so long as you are willing to do a fair turn of work to it. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
Agree to Survey
I agree with Justin. I bought an Oday 25 and spent about $300 in CT for the survey. Money well spent for my piece of mind. A professional surveyor will identify many things you did not spend time to look for. When you get all excited about buying anything, it is a good idea to have it checked out by an uninterested party. The other thing is it may be hard to insure a boat of that age without a recent survey.
I agree with Justin. I bought an Oday 25 and spent about $300 in CT for the survey. Money well spent for my piece of mind. A professional surveyor will identify many things you did not spend time to look for. When you get all excited about buying anything, it is a good idea to have it checked out by an uninterested party. The other thing is it may be hard to insure a boat of that age without a recent survey.
Sails and parts
I put a feeler ad out about two months ago for a 25 footer that I might part out. It has jib, genoa, main, and spinnaker, along with a lot of other hardware that could be usable, but I have to get to critical mass to part her out. The sails would be old, but working order, and you could get started with them. Let me know if I can help, I also sail (and have for sale) a 1976 25. tiletown@oonl.com
I put a feeler ad out about two months ago for a 25 footer that I might part out. It has jib, genoa, main, and spinnaker, along with a lot of other hardware that could be usable, but I have to get to critical mass to part her out. The sails would be old, but working order, and you could get started with them. Let me know if I can help, I also sail (and have for sale) a 1976 25. tiletown@oonl.com
Reminder
FYI... parts for sale should be listed in Gear Here and our fourm policies do not permit boats to be advertised in the forums. Thanks! ph.
FYI... parts for sale should be listed in Gear Here and our fourm policies do not permit boats to be advertised in the forums. Thanks! ph.
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