I am looking to buy a 70's Catalina 30 and the boat is in awesome condition except for the keel bolts. Pictures are attached of the keel bolts and "smile". Please let me know your opinions. Thanks guys.
Should I run away from this boat?
- Thread starter tym2
- Start date
Depending, of course, on the deal you are trying to make. The Catalina Smile wouldn't necessarily break that deal. It is doable. How much would that cost? What effort do you need to make to effect repairs? How long before you can have her in the water after repairs have started? Talk to a surveyor and/or a professional yard about it.
Also, find out what @Crazy Dave Condon has to say about it.
-Will
Also, find out what @Crazy Dave Condon has to say about it.
-Will
I would be more concerned about the deteriorated keel bolts than the "smile". As Will advised, definitely get a surveyor to look and advise and get firm estimates from a couple of yards for complete repair including dropping keel, replacing keel bolts, and resealing/fairing.
Might be a deal breaker.
Might be a deal breaker.
There are always boats in great condition for sale. Why buy a major problem? No doubt there are other issues with this boat that you do not know about... yet. Even a boat with no known problems will end up requiring a certain amount of work to get them ready for use. Why set yourself up for the aggrivation and expense of a "project boat?"
"There is nothing more expensive than a free boat."
"There is nothing more expensive than a free boat."
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I would have to ask what work has been done in the past. I thought that the keel bolts were of the stainless flavor, and those are clearly not. I wonder if someone replaced the bolts in the boat's past, maybe while repairing the wood that rots between the keel and hull. I would say the keel bolts need to be replaced with stainless and that involves dropping the keel, which in turn would require a repair of the finish which would remove the smile.
If the rest of the boat is in good shape, and you are willing to put forth the effort to replace the bolts, go for it, if not then running away is an option.
If the rest of the boat is in good shape, and you are willing to put forth the effort to replace the bolts, go for it, if not then running away is an option.
What's your thinking, Dave?
A 70's Catalina in "Awesome" condition except she needs new keel bolts. Are there no circumstances where that's a worthwhile deal?
-Will
It is a major repair and very costly. In addition, I question the remark in awesome condition. There are no photos nor survey report. In fact I question the owner or seller when this problem existed for a long time.
I have told buyers always to look at the motor well and then bilge. In this case, I would not walk away from that crap, I would run like hell. I guarantee there are other issues and suggest not waste our time on this supposed awesome condition
I have told buyers always to look at the motor well and then bilge. In this case, I would not walk away from that crap, I would run like hell. I guarantee there are other issues and suggest not waste our time on this supposed awesome condition
Thank you all for the advice. I got few estimates all around 8-10k and she's listed in the high 20,000s so it's safe to say I'll be staying away.
Or get a survey to make sure there are no other problems, show the owner your repair estimates, and negotiate the price to include the repairs …..if you really want the boat.
