To Buy or Not To Buy - Soaked C 30

[Bob]

Help,I'm considering the purchase of a 1980 Catalina 30 TR. The catch is that it sunk in its slip because of a frozen seacock. All of the boat aft of the V-berth was underwater for 6 days (fresh water). There is no readilly observable damage to the hull deck or cabin trunk. I have two major questions. What damage could being submerged cause to the integrity of the hull, deck and cabin trunk? How to check for this possible damage.Bob

 

[Denny Fegan]

No way

Bob,They would have to pay me to take a 1980 boat that was submerged for this long. The deck has a balsa core that would be impossible to dry. In addition, all the wiring, instruments, engine electrical components, ect would have to be replaced. At a minimum you would have to rebuild the engine and transmission and drain the fuel tank. Not to mention replacing cushions, removing mud and a bunch of other stuff that I have probably forgot to mention.Best,Denny Fegan

 

[LaDonna Bubak - CatalinaOwners.com]

What a mess

I bought a C22 for next to nothing that had sunk in a lake. The outboard actually managed to run after some major tuning up! It was a MAJOR mess and I'm glad we got rid of it quickly.If you can get it for next to nothing (and I mean NOTHING) AND you want to work your butt off, go for it. Just know you're in for a LOT of work and little fun for quite some time.Personally, I'd rather spend the extra $$ on something clean & reasonably ready to go.LaDonna