I have had a 1989 hunter 35.5 ledgend surveyed. found that the starboard side deck, from the roller furling control line thru deck fittings, back to the cockpit is very wet. The surveyor says the water must be getting in thru the control line feed holes. stopping the intrusion is the least of my worries, what I am wondering, is what have others done to fix/replace the rotten balsa wood core. I believe this a design flaw, and I'm sure many of you owners have seen this problem, and have comments for me. I don't want this to kill the deal, but I need to know what I'm getting into,work wise,and dollar wise. Help!!
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Common problem.
Jay: I think that this was a common problem with the below deck furlers. I think that this is similar to the compression post problem on the mid 80's 31 & 34's. They never comissioned the boats properly. The furler holes should be overbored sealed with epoxy & rebored. What needs to be done is to remove the fiberglass/in a complete sections. Then replace the core material. Then replace the fiberglass sections that were removed. These sections can be reglassed into place and you will never know that they have been removed. How much will this cost? Who knows! Our fiberglass guy would charge you $55/hr for the glass work, but you can probably do the removal process yourself. You can use a fine blade skill saw and/or a rotozip tool with a guide to remove the deck sections. I would not purchase this vessel unless you get a firm quote on this repair. I would guess that a yard will charge your between $6k - $10k. PS: Does this boat have a single round galley sink or a double sink? Just wondering because many owners market the 35 as as 35.5 and there is a difference.
Jay: I think that this was a common problem with the below deck furlers. I think that this is similar to the compression post problem on the mid 80's 31 & 34's. They never comissioned the boats properly. The furler holes should be overbored sealed with epoxy & rebored. What needs to be done is to remove the fiberglass/in a complete sections. Then replace the core material. Then replace the fiberglass sections that were removed. These sections can be reglassed into place and you will never know that they have been removed. How much will this cost? Who knows! Our fiberglass guy would charge you $55/hr for the glass work, but you can probably do the removal process yourself. You can use a fine blade skill saw and/or a rotozip tool with a guide to remove the deck sections. I would not purchase this vessel unless you get a firm quote on this repair. I would guess that a yard will charge your between $6k - $10k. PS: Does this boat have a single round galley sink or a double sink? Just wondering because many owners market the 35 as as 35.5 and there is a difference.
Which is Which?
So Steve, the 35.5 has the double sink and the 35 the single round sink, right? Why would owners confuse the two? Accident or deliberate?
So Steve, the 35.5 has the double sink and the 35 the single round sink, right? Why would owners confuse the two? Accident or deliberate?
Condition of sale
When I had my 1990 Hunter 33.5 surveyed, he found the same thing you described. I made it a condition of sale that the broker would repair the damage instead of a discounted dollar amount. They agreed to repair it the correct way as Steve said. It looks great and I am very happy with the work done.
When I had my 1990 Hunter 33.5 surveyed, he found the same thing you described. I made it a condition of sale that the broker would repair the damage instead of a discounted dollar amount. They agreed to repair it the correct way as Steve said. It looks great and I am very happy with the work done.
similar problem with 35 Legends
I have a H35 Legened (1988). I'm the second owner. Survey forced PO to pay about $6K to have the problem you mention fixed in addition to replacing rudder, which also had water intrusion. That was 10 years ago. Prices have gone up. I replaced the old Hood single line furler and filled the deck penetration.
I have a H35 Legened (1988). I'm the second owner. Survey forced PO to pay about $6K to have the problem you mention fixed in addition to replacing rudder, which also had water intrusion. That was 10 years ago. Prices have gone up. I replaced the old Hood single line furler and filled the deck penetration.
Hey Mates, Thanks for the info. on this issue, I will get quotes from several yards so I can present a fair offer to the owners. (They were very saddened by the findings. They bought the boat new, and took very good care of her.) The prop. shaft skegg was also found to have a crack up near the mounting bolts, no zinc was ever put on the skegg. The bronze prop.shaft thru hull has also lost it's zinc. It may sound funny, but other than these issues, the surveyor said the boat surveyed very good. Steve,this boat has the deep double galley sink. Thanks again, Jay
Wet Balsa Core in Deck
This problem is certainly not specific to your model or to Hunter. I previously owned an older Niagara 35 which had wet and rotten balsa core in the side decks. The repairs can be very extensive. This is why it's defititely important to get a good survey before purchasing an older boat. Other than the loss of strength in the deck, there are often problems with hard to find leaks into the cabin. In an ideal world the balsa core should be cut back around all deck fittings and the penetration made through solid glass.
This problem is certainly not specific to your model or to Hunter. I previously owned an older Niagara 35 which had wet and rotten balsa core in the side decks. The repairs can be very extensive. This is why it's defititely important to get a good survey before purchasing an older boat. Other than the loss of strength in the deck, there are often problems with hard to find leaks into the cabin. In an ideal world the balsa core should be cut back around all deck fittings and the penetration made through solid glass.
Neil 35 or 35.5
Neil: Yes, you are correct. I doubt that it is done on purpose, but I see so many brokerage boats listed that way. I must assume that they really do not know.
Neil: Yes, you are correct. I doubt that it is done on purpose, but I see so many brokerage boats listed that way. I must assume that they really do not know.
Deck strength?
WHAT IF I STOPPED THE LEAKS, AND DID NOT REPLACE THE CORE? WOULD THE BOAT BE UNSAFE? MY WIFE AND I WILL BE SAILING IN THE P.N.W.,NO BA HA HA HA OR BIG WATER. WILL WE FIND LATER THAT THE DECK BECOMES SOFT, AND WILL IT CAUSE MORE LEAKS? I'M NOT TRYING TO AVOID THE MAKE IT LIKE NEW FIX,JUST WONDERING. THIS SIZE BOAT WOULD BE OUR LAST BOAT,(WE HOPE). I'VE GOT 15 MORE YEARS OF GAMEFULL EMPLOYMENT, BUT HOPE TO CHARTER DAY SAILS BEFORE BEFORE RETIREMENT, AND AFTER IN THE SAN JUAN ISLANDS. JAY
WHAT IF I STOPPED THE LEAKS, AND DID NOT REPLACE THE CORE? WOULD THE BOAT BE UNSAFE? MY WIFE AND I WILL BE SAILING IN THE P.N.W.,NO BA HA HA HA OR BIG WATER. WILL WE FIND LATER THAT THE DECK BECOMES SOFT, AND WILL IT CAUSE MORE LEAKS? I'M NOT TRYING TO AVOID THE MAKE IT LIKE NEW FIX,JUST WONDERING. THIS SIZE BOAT WOULD BE OUR LAST BOAT,(WE HOPE). I'VE GOT 15 MORE YEARS OF GAMEFULL EMPLOYMENT, BUT HOPE TO CHARTER DAY SAILS BEFORE BEFORE RETIREMENT, AND AFTER IN THE SAN JUAN ISLANDS. JAY
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