The Prior Owner: Hero or Goat?

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Steve G.

Some great, some awful

My boat's PO bought her new, but unfinished. Some of his work is ingenious, some is all but criminal. Two examples; Being a custom hunter 33, I find the cabin layout to be fantastic. I have yet to see a better (for me) layout in its class. The wiring however? I shudder to think about it. Knotted rat nests of lampcord everywhere. I gutted every wire on the boat, then ran marine tinned wire rated to or above current loads. All ends are crimped, soldered and heat shrunk (the next owner should have little to complain about). It was like this throughout the boat; one meticulus and well planned job, and a hack-job next to it. I sometimes just can't fathom what he was thinking. How could such a bright guy varnish brightwork without masking it off? why didn't he screw down the battery isolater? After three years just about everything is as I want it, but its been an adventure.
 
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Rick

I found a cream puff

I found my 84 Catalina 27 just walking around a dock, problem was, It wasn't for sale. Came home told my wife I found just what were looking for but It wasn't for sale,she said leave a note, tell him you want to buy his boat.Three weeks later I got a call,great boat perfect shape,only 500 hours on the diesel.It pays to wait a find the right boat,It has to feel right
 
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Jerry

Who's on 1st?

I think MacGregors come from the factory with very few items installed. So, the dealer has the first shot at doing something right or screwing it up. Our boat was used so it's hard to tell who was first responsible. The electronics were poorly installed and wired. The wheel steering (Mac 26S) was better than I've seen on 26Xs. I think the last owner had stock in 3M because silicon caulk was used not just as a sealant but to hold things (electronics etc) in place. A lot of things were also hidden just as unscuplulous sellers of houses sometimes do. The price wasn't bad and we're bringing things up to standard but we now know a lot more about what to look for and who to ask for help with our next purchase.
 
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Rich Songer

Price reflected condition

While my boat was in disrepair, the previous owner was kind enough to accept an offer that reflected the negligence. From the trailer to the main halyard cheekblock, things had to be brought back to service. The great thing about my boat was the condition of the hull. Everything else had to be updated. Still the '83 MacGregor was long overdue for someone to bring her back to speed. She is well on her way to being a great day or weekend sailboat.
 
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kmsa

do these things need a mast

while out with the previous owners testing the boat out the mast base mount pulled out through the fiberglass and the mast, sail and all went into the drink. I offered half the asking price on the spot and they accepted.
 
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Dale Smith

Oh my god!!!

When my broker mentioned there were personal things still on the boat, I thought he was talking about various clothing or personal electronics...no big deal. Not so. When I made the trip to see her, I discovered that not only the boat had been on the hard for four long years, so had the full cupboards of groceries and over 170 cans of beer. Following a removal of over 10 contractor bags of various junk and soggy crap this visual has by far outdone any urban mith I have tell of. I know there is a great boat under there somewhere.
 
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tom wyckoff

DON'TCHA JUST HATE!! GUYS LIKE - RICK - WARWICK,RI

Like a dummy!! I sold my last sail (Hunter27) several years ago, been lookin for something else for a couple years now, then me happens on this web & good ole Rick,,,, oh well good to hear someone has found his boat. Have fun!,,,Rick Fair sailing. Me i'm gonna keep looking, I found the boat i really wanted while in New London, CT a few years ago,,,but the guy at the old bones, boatyead was, "let us say" "with attitude" and wouldn't give me any info after he learned I wanted to purchase the boat and move it back into the water. The "rat", out and told me, he wasn't interested in loosing the income from the monthly storage fees if I buy her and move it off his lot. She really was a beauty,,, I think a Westerly about twenty six feet, with bronze dolphins on each gunnel railing just aft of mid-ship, some nice hand-carved name plates on eather bow. Ooooh,, she was a pretty one, her hatchway had been left cracked open and some water had leaked in, not long enough ago to start smelling though. A good sized wasp nest was started just to the left, inside the sliding hatch, but the spring weather was still cool in this early am and they didn't spook as I peeked in the main cabin ,(the yard guy was cooking boilded shrimp close by and said it's ok to look inside). She was really in need of some TLC, but nothing that couldn't be handled, the hull was in remarkable good shape, but for need of a rub-down and good waxing, kind of spoiled it for finding some other boat. Oooooh well,,sail on! hooyasailor said it, see ya's!!!
 
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Dave

What installation

While my O'Day 31 was maintained well, whoever installed the electronics could have done a lot better. Despite open switchs on the circut panel, several items were wired direct to the battery. The radio installed in the nav station blocked the chart desk from being opened and so on. I've been refitting all the electronics with the new NAVMAN 3100 package networked to the 5500 Chartploter. This will be linked to my new SIMRAD WP-30 pilot and the new Uniden VHF to provide position data for DSC. Doing it all myself so I'll know it will be right!
 
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tom wyckoff

JEFF M,, ADD HIM TO MY "HATE-EM" LOCKER!!!

Again,, don't you just hate guys like "Rick AND "Jeff M"!!! Hell,, I got an idea,,, I'll hire one of these guys to help me find my dream boat,,,ain't gonna make me like em any better though,,not until they proves themselfs!!! Good going, guys,,,hooyasailor
 
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Mike

Lucky me

My '79 O'day 23 has had only two prior owners, both of whom took good care of the boat. I bought her in the fall of 1999. The only non-original equipment (a knotmeter and VHF mast-head antenna)had been professionally installed. Aside from normal wear and tear, she was in beautiful shape. The only thing the prior owner had not maintained was the freshwater system; he only day-sailed and said in the 13 or so years he owned the boat, he never used it once. Not surprisingly, the plastic tubing is beyond cleaning. I have yet to fix it myself, since I too mostly daysail, and when I do need freshwater, I just bring a couple of jugs. The drains on the sinks work fine. One of these days I'll get around to running new tubing and replacing the sink pumps.
 
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Bob F

A Lesson For All Of Us............................

I had been casually looking for about 6-8 months to upsize from my Catalina 30. A broker I had met with at boat show a few months prior called in 2002 and had a 98 H376 and it was a true cream puff with lots of extra gear,sails,radar,EPIRB,inflatable w/outboard plus more. Engine showed 140 hours. The real tragedy here is the owner died at a young age (about 50) and never really got to use the boat. We bought the boat from the widow with the help of the broker and her lawyers. So yes was a great deal for me. But........ the moral here is to enjoy life today, get out and sail and dont fret the small stuff.
 
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Gregg

I was lucky.....

After searching for a long time, looking at both new and used, I found a 2 year old 290. The engine had only 37 hours on it, and the p.o. had the yard do all the maintenance. It was in truly pristine condition, and I saved tens of thousands. We used it well for 2 years, and we're now moving up.
 
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Dale Gould

uncared for and unnamed

I had sold an Oday 34 and was looking for a smaller boat.. A friend who owns a marina offered me a 27' Catalina that had been aquired for deliquent slip fees ..She had been untended for 2 years..looked pretty sad..needed a head..lots of polishing , had leaky port holes etc.. Bought her cheap.. she is still not named yet but because she has been beating 32' boats in the harbor I need a name that invokes speed..love my unnamed..
 
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ex-admin

Final results

Final results for the Quick Quiz ending April 25, 2004: Here's how the prior owner took care of my boat:   32% Disaster -- I bought a project boat 30% Great job caring for the boat and installing gear 22% Gear installed well, maintenance only OK 16% Maintenance done well but gear installation only OK
 
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Tampa Marty

Sharp Edge of Rudder Does Go In Front ! (I think!)

I used to have Catamarans, and the sharp edge of the rudders was always in front. On an airplane wing, the dull edge goes in front. Not that I am an aeronautical engineer, but I think the difference may be attributable to an airplane wing having to develop lift. I do know my boat handles much better with the knife edge in front.
 
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Tampa Marty

Knife Edge Goes in Front - I'm Pretty Sure

I used to have catamarans, and the knife edge of the rudders always went in front. On an aircraft wing, the blunt edge is in front, but the wing is primarily for generating lift. I know the boat handles much better after I reversed the rudder direction.
 
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Marvin

redlaC legiN's Boat

While I do not wish to offend the prior owner of my H33 (should he be reading) I must say that even even outright neglect is sometimes better than improper boat care/handling. For instance, he attempted to replace damaged stanchions with self made IRON poles and bases!!! Also, the engine was rewired with random, improperly gauged wiring, and using old connections. I purchased it as a project boat last May '03 and have now brought it near to completion (all new cushions get delivered next week and launch is set for 05/08/04). Since May I have done the following (feel free to pat me on the back when your done reading): 1. Replaced 3 stanchions & bases previous owner built from IRON!!! 2. Repaired deck where ballooned IRON stanchions led to rotted core. 3. Replaced incorrectly sized bilge pump 4. Overhauled engine 5. Replaced boom traveler car 6. Repaired exterior gel coat holes 7. Reconstructed starboard settee after previous owner's demolition of area. 8. Repaired broken galley drawers 9. Removed disable propane oven and built shelves for microwave and alcohol stove. 10. Rebuilt engine access panels in head 11. Removed old/built new port engine access panels 12. Replaced clogged/jammed fuel filter 13. Rerouted jib lines from cabin where friction wore away gelcoat and exposed wood core 14. Plugged random openings in aft hull 15. Soaked/cleaned all rigging lines and purchased new. 16. Repaired and rewired interior lighting 17. Sanded out head counter stains 18. Enclosed electric panel 19. Replaced engines raw water strainer 20. New oil, fuel, and air filters 21. Bought & installed stereo & speakers 22. Installed waste holding tank and lines previously removed. 23. Replaced cracked portlights 24. Rebuilt galley counter, formica, sink, & faucet. 25. Replaced Windex 26. Buy and cut new wall carpeting to size and velcroed to walls for removal in winter storage 27. Removed broken gate vales on all thru hulls and replaced w/SS ball valves 28. Removed broken nav instruments. Patch holes in cabin and install new instruments in cockpit. 29. Rewired entire mast & install all new nav lights. 30. Replaced leaking muffler & exhaust line 31. Finished galley w/teak trim 32. Resealed plexiglas on hatches 33. Sound proofed engine 34. Dried-out deck rot and repaint deck w/non-skid Interlux Brightside 35. Polished hull 36. Placed new transom lettering and 3” hull stripe 37. Refinished cabin floor 38. Seahawk Biocide bottom paint AND MUCH, MUCH, MORE...
 

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SRcruver

it's the little things....

kind of beat up...needs some new rub rails and some bright work...the paint is still original but can be fixed...and then there's that whole wheels on the trailer thing.
 
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Roy

This lady doesn't tell her age.

We are the new owners of a 1993 Hunter Passage 42. We had been looking for a boat for over a year when we came upon a listing on the internet by the owner. The boat was nearby and after getting to know both the boat and her prior owner, we were satisfied that this was the boat for us. We have not been disappointed. The boat has been well maintained and came complete with records and manuals. So far, there has been no surprises except happy ones.
 
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