Seeking Input on prior flooding of 1979 C&C 29 Cabin - 6+ years ago

[Dnea]

Hello I'm interested in this moderstely priced '79 C&C 29.6 sailboat as a potential purchase and one compromised area is the dark brown/black band of discolored teak veneer in the cabin.
Btw this band seems dry and solid now so perhaps it was a one time thing (bilge pump issues etc)?
The owner said it was like that when he bought it 6 years ago. I'm interested to know if most would think of this as mostly cosmetic and could be improved w/ sanding and refinishing. The tabbing at the bulkheads all seems solid. Thank you!

Thanks,

 

[jssailem]

I feel it is reasonable to assume that the wood was damaged by water intrusion. Looks like a water line. No idea of cause. Water sitting on the plywood causes damage that resembles the wood in your images.

I would first lift the floor and inspect the wood integrity.

If the wood is solid (not delaminating beneath the floor) you may be able to lightly sand, color (stain) and varnish. It will look better but never the same as the rest of the interior wood (my opinion).

Good luck

 

[Hollyberry]

For the fiberglass berth fronts to be so discoloured the flooding must have been of some duration, increasing the likelihood of compromised wood, I'd say..

 

[dlochner]

The condition of the wood will depend on how long it was submerged. Look for evidence of rot, buckling veneer, etc. A short immersion may not be problematic, the longer it was immersed, the more damage there is.

The other area to be concerned about is the wiring and engine. In a boat of that vintage I doubt heat sealed terminals were used or tinned wire. With salt or brackish water intrusion into the wires there will be corrosion. Corrosion increases resistance in the wire which can lead to overheating the wire.

Restoring the teak veneer will not be easy. Teak changes color over time, a light sanding or bleaching will probably not yield a good color match.

Of the 2 issues, wiring and stained teak, I'd worry more about the wiring.

 

[rgranger]

if the wood is still solid... you could always sand and paint. If you go that route, I would prime with a coat of Kilz.

 

[capta]

Those boats (and most production boats of that era) were not built of the best quality plywood. I think if you were to check the bottom of any bulkheads you'd find more damage. If the floors feel solid, then they've probably been rebuilt or replaced.
Nitty gritty; If you want her for a basic day sailor or even a few coastal trips a year, then she would probably hold up OK. I don't think she'd stand up to trips to Fla from the NE and back every year for long. I don't think she'd be the best boat for long ocean voyages.
The best solution is to paint over the damage, unless you want to replace the whole piece of wood. It won't look too bad if you leave the trim varnished. If there's an inboard engine, run your hand under the oil pan and check if the motor mounts are badly rusted.
Chances are, you'll not get much for her when you want to sell, but if you and your family have many great hours of fun aboard her, then she will have paid for herself many times over.

 

[Tally Ho]

When I bought my 1988 O’Day 322, I knew that the cockpit had flooded over the winter, and water made its way into the cabin.

The floor was brand new (really nice teak and holly) and there were some stains on the bottom of some of the bulkheads. They were really cosmetic.

I was mostly concerned about the engine. It looked ok, but I wasn’t sure how high the water got.

I asked to withhold some of the purchase price in escrow until I could start the engine and make sure all was OK. the seller agreed and all was well.

Greg

 

[shemandr]

My guess is that the boat filled with water over winter layup for whatever reason.
I agree that plywood would suffer from the dunking. C&C's of that era are overbuilt and can probably withstand some loss of integrity. So I agree with @capta that it could be a useful cruiser, not a voyage maker, with probably little re-sale value. From there it's pretty much about the engine and wiring. Not really a boat you would want to upgrade or put a lot of money into. But, lots of fun left in it.
The Great Lakes are full of Tartan 10's which should have been retired decades ago. But they go on.

 

[Dnea]

Thanks to everyone!!! - I am looking at it for family use not long voyages for sure. I will get back there and do a more thorough lookaround, then will update this with a follow-up. I do take encouragement from the comments about C&C's being "overbuilt