So, an East Orient 32, Sabre 28, and Hunter 27 walk into a bar...

[Blowboat]

OK, so maybe it is a bad "dad" joke (or at least a feeble effort), but my wife and I are currently looking at/interested in three boats...an East Orient 32, a Sabre 28, and a Hunter 27. Right now we will be planning to spend weekends on board when we can, sail as often as we can off the coast of NC and SC, and perhaps do the occasional 5-7 day vacation cruise. At this time, we have only looked at the EO 32, which I have seen twice. Each boat seems to have some strengths and weaknesses at this point...

The EO 32...a 1980 cutter rig...actually sank on the Great Lakes in 2008. The owner had it hauled out of the water within 48 hours and spent the next couple of years drying it out and repairing it. We love this boat...its lines, its layout, its size, etc... Though there are some concerns. He has not had it connected to shore power since it sank (though he never did before it sank either), there are several minor repairs, like the propane solenoid needing replacing and things like that. My biggest concern is that there may be some soft spots on the cabin top.

The Sabre 28...the current owner says it is a 1989, though I believe they last made them in 1986. He inherited it when his dad passed away 6 months after purchasing the boat. The current owner knows nothing about sailboats in lives in FL while the boat is in NC. It has been sitting, in the water, for a couple of years untouched.

The Hunter 27...a 1983...seems to be in the best condition at this point.

I hope to see the Sabre this weekend and maybe the Hunter as well.

So, my questions...
1) The EO owner says the soft spots could be taken care of easily with some spray foam. (I'm not so sure). Thoughts/opinions?
2) With the Sabre, what kind of things would you be on the look out for in a boat that has been sitting in the water, untouched, for a couple of years? I talked briefly with the broker/owner of the marina where the boat is and he says it is a good boat, but will require some deep cleaning and I would need to be prepared to "accept the unknowns of dealing with a boat that has not ben used for a few years." What kind of things would you be watching for/expecting?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Marmalade]

1) The EO owner says the soft spots could be taken care of easily with some spray foam. (I'm not so sure). Thoughts/opinions?

You want a boat to weekend on...not a repair project. If the current owner dealt with issues after the sinking with solutions like spray-foam... don't walk away, run! I'd wager a case of spray foam he didn't repa

2) With the SabreWhat kind of things would you be watching for/expecting?

Others will offer more, but two initial thoughts... inside water/mold/mildew -and- condition of bottom/keel/rudder

A boat closed-up sitting for years, poor ventilation, likely has mold and mildew issues... which will be deeply penetrated. If you step-inside and smell anything, consider all cushions and fabric as trash, and expect to have remnants of those odors no matter what you do short of a full gut.

Since the bottom was unlikely cleaned, let alone antifouling kept-up. Blisters and growth... who knows how bad without a look. Do not get emotionally invested in the Sabre until you see the bottom.

I'd forget the EO, prioritize getting to see the H27, and only consider the Sabre if it can be bought for bargain basement... it will need more than you think, and the current owner is burning money on slip fees, so if he's not willing to make a crazy good deal, I'd question.

 

[dlochner]

I know the story of the East Orient. It was moored in my harbor when it sank and when repaired, it was moved the my marina. I do not know the owner.

I am partial to Sabres, I"ve owned two of them

The EO was moored in Oswego, NY when a windstorm came through. Another boat drug its mooring (or the mooring line broke, can't remember which) and the 2 boats washed up against a rock jetty in about 7 or 8 feet of water. The boat was indeed hauled quickly (insured by BoatUS) and the owner spent the next few years repairing it. It has been on the market now for at least a year. It is also a fairly unique boat, I don't believe many were built.

The Sabre 28 is a classic boat. The boats sail well and are well built. There is an active Sabre Sailors group on Facebook and a separate (with overlapping members) Sabre group on Groups.io. The Sabre Sailboat Group has roughly 1000 members who own Sabres or want to own Sabres. Collectively the group is very knowledgeable. Additionally, Sabre continues to provide support for their sailboats even though they have not built a Sailboat in about 10 years. The 28 was built until 1986 with the Mark III version. If you post to the Sabre Sailboat Group someone will be able to tell you more about the boat and the differences between versions. You can confirm the boats year of manufacture by the HIN number. Also, on the SabreYachts.com website there is a listing the dates and hull numbers for their sailboats. There are also a number of technical bulletins and instructions for maintenance and modifications.

Of the three boats, I would only consider the Sabre. The EO is too unique a boat, it will be hard to find other owners to learn from. Since it is an unknown boat, insurance companies may balk at insuring it. That it was sunk in fresh water would only be a minor issue. Hunter owners can be passionate about their boats and the Hunter may have more amenities than the Sabre. The big difference between the two would be build quality. The Sabre in its day was a high end production boat. The interior is stick built and the craftsmanship of a very high quality. The Hunters are middle of road production boats that used less labor intensive construction techniques, such as molded interiors and with more emphasis on amenities than Sabre.

All three boats can suffer from the usual problems of being an old boat, aging plumbing, some cosmetic flaws, older engines, etc.

I'd suggest you join the Sabre Sailboats group and ask your questions there. You will get responses from current and past owners.

 

[rgranger]

OK, so maybe it is a bad "dad" joke (or at least a feeble effort), but my wife and I are currently looking at/interested in three boats...an East Orient 32, a Sabre 28, and a Hunter 27. Right now we will be planning to spend weekends on board when we can, sail as often as we can off the coast of NC and SC, and perhaps do the occasional 5-7 day vacation cruise. At this time, we have only looked at the EO 32, which I have seen twice. Each boat seems to have some strengths and weaknesses at this point...

The EO 32...a 1980 cutter rig...actually sank on the Great Lakes in 2008. The owner had it hauled out of the water within 48 hours and spent the next couple of years drying it out and repairing it. We love this boat...its lines, its layout, its size, etc... Though there are some concerns. He has not had it connected to shore power since it sank (though he never did before it sank either), there are several minor repairs, like the propane solenoid needing replacing and things like that. My biggest concern is that there may be some soft spots on the cabin top.

The Sabre 28...the current owner says it is a 1989, though I believe they last made them in 1986. He inherited it when his dad passed away 6 months after purchasing the boat. The current owner knows nothing about sailboats in lives in FL while the boat is in NC. It has been sitting, in the water, for a couple of years untouched.

The Hunter 27...a 1983...seems to be in the best condition at this point.

I hope to see the Sabre this weekend and maybe the Hunter as well.

So, my questions...
1) The EO owner says the soft spots could be taken care of easily with some spray foam. (I'm not so sure). Thoughts/opinions?
2) With the Sabre, what kind of things would you be on the look out for in a boat that has been sitting in the water, untouched, for a couple of years? I talked briefly with the broker/owner of the marina where the boat is and he says it is a good boat, but will require some deep cleaning and I would need to be prepared to "accept the unknowns of dealing with a boat that has not ben used for a few years." What kind of things would you be watching for/expecting?

Thanks in advance!

#1 NO!

I would also factor draft into your analysis since you stated that you want to sail the NC coast. The OBX has a lot of shoals and they shift constantly so charts are not reliable.

 

[dmax]

Agree with Dave, concentrate on the Sabre, nice boats.

 

[Bob J.]

As David L mentioned, the hull number of the Sabre will let you know the year it was made.

Having a 28 that I've renovated I'm also partial to Sabres.
*Check the main bulkheads for rot where the chain plates attach. Also check the bulkheads where they're glassed to the hull.
*Check the mast compression post in the bilge. Use a screwdriver, if it's toast the screwdriver will go through it like a hot knife through butter.
*Check the plywood knee in the aft locker that the aft chain plate connects to.

If most of the above checks out could be a good boat!

 

[jssailem]

If you are just wanting to buy and sail, then select the cleanest boat with a sound hull and sails in newest condition. You may pay a higher price in $, but will save project repairs, time spent as a marina queen in "fixing her up a little" which always happens to be a lot for a boat that is 20 years plus in age.

 

[Blowboat]

I know the story of the East Orient. It was moored in my harbor when it sank and when repaired, it was moved the my marina. I do not know the owner.

I am partial to Sabres, I"ve owned two of them

The EO was moored in Oswego, NY when a windstorm came through. Another boat drug its mooring (or the mooring line broke, can't remember which) and the 2 boats washed up against a rock jetty in about 7 or 8 feet of water. The boat was indeed hauled quickly (insured by BoatUS) and the owner spent the next few years repairing it. It has been on the market now for at least a year. It is also a fairly unique boat, I don't believe many were built.

The Sabre 28 is a classic boat. The boats sail well and are well built. There is an active Sabre Sailors group on Facebook and a separate (with overlapping members) Sabre group on Groups.io. The Sabre Sailboat Group has roughly 1000 members who own Sabres or want to own Sabres. Collectively the group is very knowledgeable. Additionally, Sabre continues to provide support for their sailboats even though they have not built a Sailboat in about 10 years. The 28 was built until 1986 with the Mark III version. If you post to the Sabre Sailboat Group someone will be able to tell you more about the boat and the differences between versions. You can confirm the boats year of manufacture by the HIN number. Also, on the SabreYachts.com website there is a listing the dates and hull numbers for their sailboats. There are also a number of technical bulletins and instructions for maintenance and modifications.

Of the three boats, I would only consider the Sabre. The EO is too unique a boat, it will be hard to find other owners to learn from. Since it is an unknown boat, insurance companies may balk at insuring it. That it was sunk in fresh water would only be a minor issue. Hunter owners can be passionate about their boats and the Hunter may have more amenities than the Sabre. The big difference between the two would be build quality. The Sabre in its day was a high end production boat. The interior is stick built and the craftsmanship of a very high quality. The Hunters are middle of road production boats that used less labor intensive construction techniques, such as molded interiors and with more emphasis on amenities than Sabre.

All three boats can suffer from the usual problems of being an old boat, aging plumbing, some cosmetic flaws, older engines, etc.

I'd suggest you join the Sabre Sailboats group and ask your questions there. You will get responses from current and past owners.

Thanks! I actually have a print out of your response to the EO when I initially looked at it in the fall and asked here if I was crazy to keep looking at it. I've stayed on a Sabre 30 for a week the last two years and really liked it. I am curious to look at it and see what condition it is in. I appreciate your comment.

 

[Blowboat]

As David L mentioned, the hull number of the Sabre will let you know the year it was made.

Having a 28 that I've renovated I'm also partial to Sabres.
*Check the main bulkheads for rot where the chain plates attach. Also check the bulkheads where they're glassed to the hull.
*Check the mast compression post in the bilge. Use a screwdriver, if it's toast the screwdriver will go through it like a hot knife through butter.
*Check the plywood knee in the aft locker that the aft chain plate connects to.

If most of the above checks out could be a good boat!

Thanks!

 

[Blowboat]

If you are just wanting to buy and sail, then select the cleanest boat with a sound hull and sails in newest condition. You may pay a higher price in $, but will save project repairs, time spent as a marina queen in "fixing her up a little" which always happens to be a lot for a boat that is 20 years plus in age.

Thanks! Yea, we want to sail. I don't want a project that will take months or a year to get in the water. I don't mind updating things or typical maintenance, but I want one that we can use as we are making her our boat and getting everything "up to snuff".

 

[dlochner]

Thanks! I actually have a print out of your response to the EO when I initially looked at it in the fall and asked here if I was crazy to keep looking at it. I've stayed on a Sabre 30 for a week the last two years and really liked it. I am curious to look at it and see what condition it is in. I appreciate your comment.

I really liked my 30, it was perfect for the sailing we did on Lake Ontario. We usually spent a week or so on it every summer. I only sold it because we wanted to do an extended cruise to the Bahamas and that really wasn't the boat for us for that trip. So we bought the 362.

 

[Benny17441]

On behalf of the Hunter 27, they are indeed a production built boat but they are built like a tank. At the time Hunter was not sure of the necessary thickness of fiberglass for the hull so they overbuilt it. The boat has excellent stability as evidenced by an under 2 capsize ratio. The Yanmar 1 GM 6HP is a simple engine and strong enough to propel the boat at 5knts. Most of it's parts and components are still available. It has a large V-Berth and cam comfortably sleep 5. Things to watch out are how easily does the door to the head roll, if it gets stuck the mast compression post may be deformed. Some bend after 38 years would be normal but if the door is stuck it is not a good sign, also check at the bottom of post for wood rot. When comparing used boats forget about the when new features and specs and look for the things of value, Condition of the hull, engine, sails, standing rigging, rudder, and installed electronics. The rest is cosmetic. The boat has a high aspect ratio Tall Mast configuration capable of flying a 150% Genoa. It is no racer but can keep up with larger crusing boats.

 

[Blowboat]

On behalf of the Hunter 27, they are indeed a production built boat but they are built like a tank. At the time Hunter was not sure of the necessary thickness of fiberglass for the hull so they overbuilt it. The boat has excellent stability as evidenced by an under 2 capsize ratio. The Yanmar 1 GM 6HP is a simple engine and strong enough to propel the boat at 5knts. Most of it's parts and components are still available. It has a large V-Berth and cam comfortably sleep 5. Things to watch out are how easily does the door to the head roll, if it gets stuck the mast compression post may be deformed. Some bend after 38 years would be normal but if the door is stuck it is not a good sign, also check at the bottom of post for wood rot. When comparing used boats forget about the when new features and specs and look for the things of value, Condition of the hull, engine, sails, standing rigging, rudder, and installed electronics. The rest is cosmetic. The boat has a high aspect ratio Tall Mast configuration capable of flying a 150% Genoa. It is no racer but can keep up with larger crusing boats.

Thanks! Heading to see the Hunter Saturday morning...after I see the Sabre tomorrow afternoon. Of course...this may all be for nothing is so far I have been unable to find a marina with openings anywhere between Wrightsville Beach, NC and Little River, SC.

 

[higgs]

Good for you that you are checking dockage. You don't want to be stuck with a boat and nowhere to dock it. Letting it sit on the hard for a few years is never easy on a boat.

 

[dlochner]

Thanks! Heading to see the Hunter Saturday morning...after I see the Sabre tomorrow afternoon. Of course...this may all be for nothing is so far I have been unable to find a marina with openings anywhere between Wrightsville Beach, NC and Little River, SC.

We were at the Southport Marina in November, they seemed to have a lot of docks open and are well on their way in their recovery from a hurricane. Nice facility.