What am I looking at here (surveying a C30)?

[FastOlson]

Those 2 folks are seriously uninformed. Why? Because it IS a big investment. If you were buying a used car, would you not take it to a mechanic before you bought it? Also, you personally have expressed little boating knowledge, so you don't know what to look for. The survey $$ itself could save you oodles of dough.

When we bought our present boat (and first 'big' boat with an inboard diesel) I had a survey done for boat and engine, separately. Both surveys paid for themselves... in terms of money and the knowledge I gained.
i.e. a survey should provide a huge "ROI", as the younger financial types like to call it.

 

[kappykaplan]

a survey should provide a huge "ROI", as the younger financial types like to call it.

 

[shemandr]

Surveys had their pluses and negatives but when you buy a boat of any substance you cannot dispose of it cheaply. To some extent a survey protects you from having to scrap the boat.
Many older boat come to ruination due to the motor. Most often they are not worth re-powering.
If you think the boat in your own yard is immune, think again. Many of those boats end up in dumpsters and many house sales have been delayed or cancelled because of "That boat."

 

[Hayden Watson]

...
16.9k. I'm ready to do immediate or near immediate haulout for bottom paint and to replace the running and maybe even the standing rigging at that price, but that'd be about the extent of it. I'd re-bed the rest of the deck hardware myself over time, that seems straightforward enough. If the deck's thoroughly wet that seems like a much bigger problem - and then there's whatever the survey finds that will probably be a bigger unexpected yikes.

This is not a direct response to your question but is pertenent to an older C30. From the first photo, I would put money that the rigging has never been replaced which means that the standing rigging is at43-years-old. I can tell this because Catalina quit using that single bolt chainplate in 1979 and they have strongly recommended that these older boats be upgraded with the lower chainplate upgrade. Lower Shroud Chainplate Upgrade C-30 (catalinadirect.com)
I would say that 17k is considerably too much for a pre 80's C30 with original rigging. I know of one 88 Mk2 that sold for that price in Seattle (although it was grossly underpriced and sold in 6-hours cash) For that price in that old of a boat I would want newer sails and rigging.

 

[Qorgyle]

Those 2 folks are seriously uninformed. Why? Because it IS a big investment. If you were buying a used car, would you not take it to a mechanic before you bought it? Also, you personally have expressed little boating knowledge, so you don't know what to look for. The survey $$ itself could save you oodles of dough.

Thanks for all the links! And yeah, I was a bit taken aback - it's not THAT expensive, compared to what one's about to (potentially) shell out! It didn't help that one of the two people was the current owner ... what are they hiding?

I'll keep you all posted - we've pretty much convinced ourselves to walk away from this one for a variety of reasons (moving too fast in general, advice from this forum, a few items of mystery such as hours on that engine), but I do want to take another look at it when I'm less hurried and - ideally - can bring someone knowledgeable along.

Many of those boats end up in dumpsters and many house sales have been delayed or cancelled because of "That boat."

Oh no, we have a ton of derelict boats here on the Columbia. Relatively speaking, this one's pristine.

I can tell this because Catalina quit using that single bolt chainplate in 1979 and they have strongly recommended that these older boats be upgraded with the lower chainplate upgrade.

Yeah, he has the kit but the labor hasn't been performed. I'm tempted to let him go on and finish up a few of those projects and then revisit it at a later date.

 

[jssailem]

I'm tempted to let him go on and finish up a few of those projects and then revisit it at a later date.

Reasoned decision. You may wish to expand your search. Boats are moved from the Seattle area south all the time.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

What year is that boat? I'd agree that the price is too high given what little we can see and know about it. You will find a better one with a little patience. Catalina 30 is a fantastic boat, so you are on the right track! If the owner of that boat told you that a survey isn't worthwhile, he definitely is misleading you about other things as well! I wouldn't exactly say he is hiding something if you are able to poke around the boat, but ... it's a good bet that you would find plenty more to be concerned about. I think the engine would be my biggest concern. That would be the most expensive replacement on the boat and an albatross if you had to deal with it unknowingly.

 

[Qorgyle]

What year is that boat?

'81.

Engine seems fine - no diesel smell in the boat, clean hoses, firm belts, no signs of leaks in the compartment, no moisture either, starts right up, a new Oberdorfer water pump; only niggle was the irregularity of cooling water out the exhaust, but he noted this and said he'd clean out the intake as it's probably overgrown - but I reached the extent of my knowledge with that. And of course the hours are a mystery. What else ... oh I guess it sounded good but I have little basis of audio comparison (youtube recordings are only "OK" when it comes to reproducing it). Steady RPMs at idle and ramp up under load, no smoke.

Anyway. Another item on the "things I need to learn about" list.

Thanks to @jssailem for offering to come up and take a look at this one with me - hopefully next time the air won't be trying to kill us and we can make this happen.

 

[Siamese]

"Yeah, he has the kit but the labor hasn't been performed. I'm tempted to let him go on and finish up a few of those projects and then revisit it at a later date."

You'd have this guy do the work? I don't see any evidence that this guy should be doing repairs. I sure wouldn't look at that C30 and conclude that he's the guy I would hire to work on my boat. Or, if he's not going to do it himself, is he going to hire the person that's going to do it right? Especially when he's just fixing it to sell it?

 

[Ward H]

Just remember the market is hot and he may just be trying to cash in on it. That doesn’t mean he’ll sell it at the price. Research, ask questions as your doing, get a survey to help identify issues and market value. Then make an offer.
It wouldn’t be out of line to offer $8k to $10k if the surveyor puts that at the market value.