1st boat - poor survey - back to drawing board!

[gr1mb0]

After much good advice looking for boat, surveyor, etc. - promised to keep you posted on progress with saga of purchasing my first boat....

My spec was seating for 8 in cockpit, about 25', with cuddy (inc. marine head)... found a Draco Crystal that fit the bill at the right price. so lined up a survey.

Had the boat craned out and washed off.... surveyor found minor hull cracks, first signs of blistering and possible delamination -- said it was VERY unusual for a Draco, which like their siblings Windy and Scand, are strongly built boats. Not helped by first person who antifouled her using a primer which reacted with the gelcoat, apparently.

Relatively minor stuff like new fuel tank and engine work I could have dealt with -- but a hull with problems... sounded too much to deal with.

So... about £500 poorer and with no boat yet, I continue on my steep learning curve! Of course, I've now made it somewhat more difficult for myself since I've fallen for the Draco's format and (normally anyway) solidity and quality of build.... not found anything else about this size with such a roomy cockpit AND good cuddy -- is there anything similar out there?

Older, wiser and poorer...



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[burgundyben]

First boat I had surveyed cost me 500 quid and turned out to be the best 500 quid I ever spent, speshly as I wanted an old plywood affair.

Its no consolation but consider it money well spent.



<hr width=100% size=1>Sod the Healey - I think I'll buy an E-Type.

 

[oldgit]

Re:Keep at it and do not buy a S.E.P.boat

Somebody Elses Problems/forums/images/icons/laugh.gifHave found it best not to set your heart on specific exact model of boat.OK to narrow it down to several boats of that sort of type mebbe.
First decent boat I purchased came along purely by chance while looking at one or two other boats which turned out on inspection to be heaps of "expensive grief looking for an owner".
My decision to buy something else entirely was purely based on the fact the boat had actually been looked after by its owner.

<hr width=100% size=1>If it aint broke fix it till it is.