Advice on fibreglass Dawncraft 1978 please

[rootytooty]

Hi I'm about to put an offer on this dawncraft boat. It's 1978 , how long do they generally last please ?as I read only 50 years on Google.
It's had one crack repaired where a boat crashed into it but that's above the water line . I've not seen it out of the water.
Would it need to be taken out to be maintained every so often?
Hes asking 8k does this seem a fair price considering it's age? Its in good condition otherwise and runs well.
I would be running it on a canal .
Also I wouldn't be living on it and I'm a bit worried about it being stolen or vandalised. Are boats generally safe to leave for a few days? Other boaters say it's a safe area I'm general.
I'm new to the boat scene so I'm asking advice please?

 

[AntarcticPilot]

I don't know the market for river boats like that, but £8,000 sounds WAY over the top!

 

[ProDave]

Try asking on the Thames forum, they might have a better idea of what such a river boat is worth. But my gut feeling is over priced. Look at what else is available, do a lot of searching on boat sales web sites, gumtree and marketplace. For a price comparison you can look at boats anywhere even if way too far away to actually consider buying.

I see it has an outboard engine, good in that it should be easy to service and cheap to replace if it needs it but will be more noisy in use than an inboard. But I would not want such a boat with a 50 year old original inboard engine.

In a river or canal not much need for antifoul.

 

[PCUK]

Firstly, Fibreglass seems to be immortal so donlt warry about the age. Condition is what is important. I would have thought about £2,000 would be nearer the mark for this boat. As said, donlt buy the first bot you see. There will be better and cheaper boats to be found. There always is. Don't rush into your first purchase. You have started well by asking your questions here. This is an exciting time for you as a first time buyer but be prudent!

 

[rogerthebodger]

What is the length and condition of the dawncraft and what is the engine and hp as price will depend on both

Dawncraft boats for sale UK, used Dawncraft boats, new Dawncraft boat sales, free photo ads - Apollo Duck

 

[Freebee]

its not so much the fibreglass that will wear out-fibreglass will probably last forever , its the fixtures and fittings...... unless its had a complete overhaul -its not worth it in my opinion. spend sometime looking at what else you could buy for that money , do your research and find somebody who knows about boats to go and have a look at with you.

 

[V1701]

A more apropriate forum might be Canalworld Forum...

Most on the canals will be either continuous cruisers - the rules for this type of licence mean that you have to move every two weeks, you can't just go A-B then B-A, e.g. look up the rules on the CART (Canal & River Trust) website. Or they'll have a mooring be it in a marina or on the canal, moorings come up on the Waterside Moorings web site although many others are available, e.g. adjacent to farmland where you rent the space off the farmer. Have a walk along the canal where you want to moor & get chatting to them...

On the subject of brokers' descriptions of boats, it seems to me that with a lot of river & canal boats, the descriptions are more akin to estate agents' descriptions of flats or houses - they'll tell you what colour the taps are but won't mention the condition of the hull or engine...

 

[Tranona]

Would not worry about the life of the hull, but all the bits inside it. Provided it does not leak and all the equipment works then with regular maintenance and replacements it should go on for ever. Boats die of neglect, not use. Looks like it has a modern Honda 4 stroke outboard which is normally reliable and easy to service. Unlike a seagoing vessel there is little expensive equipment, just the engine, steering and domestics (cooker, lights fridge and so on). Look carefully for leaks around the windows as a damp interior soon rots fabrics and ultimately the wood used inside.

The purchase price gets dwarfed by running costs over time. More important is to be sure of secure mooring for when you are not using it. Again unlike seagoing vessels the bottom does not get fouled, but suspect there is value from time to time of lifting to check the bottom. Ask around other owners. Whether the price is right depends on what else you can get for the money. Does not seem excessive to me if everything works, and despite what others say it is not easy to buy boats on the canals in decent condition. Your choice is limited to those close to where you intend keeping it as, although many canals are connected moving boats from another part of the country is a slow job.

Good luck.

 

[DownWest]

Key bit is the condition of the engine, but it does sound over priced. The interior is sort of tidy, even if the 'cooker' is a cheap camping one.
Like all boating, it is not the hull cost, but what you have to shell out to run it.

Out of interest.. Guy I know is selling a little Hardy over here. About 20ft, good Honda O/B. Well respected boat for sea work. Has limited accomodation for week ending. Looks very tidy.Talking about €1500, which, around here is very cheap.

 

[harvey38]

I don't think a boat with an outboard on a canal would be a good combination.

Very slow speed and light hull with no keel will be very difficult to keep in a straight line and wander.

 

[Wansworth]

One of the forum members might help Wayne’s world is his name

 

[Tranona]

I don't think a boat with an outboard on a canal would be a good combination.

Very slow speed and light hull with no keel will be very difficult to keep in a straight line and wander.

Despite that there are thousands of such boats happily pottering up and down the canals and rivers.

 

[harvey38]

Despite that there are thousands of such boats happily pottering up and down the canals and rivers.

Rivers yes but being surrounded by canals, I've never seen an outboard cruiser jobbie, saw a small inboard cruiser blown onto the bank and couldn't get off though.

 

[rotrax]

I don't think a boat with an outboard on a canal would be a good combination.

Very slow speed and light hull with no keel will be very difficult to keep in a straight line and wander.

Really?

The whole point about canal travel IS the slow speed.

The second vessel I had a share in with a neighbour was a 16 foot plywood cabin cruiser. When we bought it it was on the Thames at Oxford. It had a 20 HP Evinrude outboard. I swopped it for a 6HP Evinrude and we moved it to the Oxford Canal. That very simple craft gave us fo much fun for five years before we sold it.

We never had too many issues steering, and that vessel was about a third of the weight of the Dawncraft in the OP.

Or issues with the outboard. Easily tilted to clear debris from the prop. A small price to pay was the odd shear pin breakage from hitting the bottom.

We did significant trips in it, including the then almost derelict South Stratford Canal, then operated by the National Trust.

We had to lassoo a lock gate once and pull it open with the rope-no balance beeam-and at another lock we were unable to get in until we had cleared a dead sheep from behind the gate. That was a bit whiffy!

As I have maintained before, boating, of all types, can be carried out very simply if one is impecunious or are fitting it in around other parts of ones life.

 

[DownWest]

One of the forum members might help Wayne’s world is his name

He is certainly extremely competant on restorations and likely would have an idea of prices.

 

[rogerthebodger]

Rivers yes but being surrounded by canals, I've never seen an outboard cruiser jobbie, saw a small inboard cruiser blown onto the bank and couldn't get off though.

I agree with Rotex

I had a 19 ft Dolphin cabin cruiser on the BCN and used to cruse the BCN and down the canals to stourport and on the river Severn

While owning the Dolphin we moved to Northampton and took th Dolphin to the Grand Union and down on the the river Nene.

N issue steering with an outboard in fact due to the ability to direct the prop thrust steering at very easy at slow speed it was earey than a rudder that requires flow over the rudder to steer

 

[V1701]

I once had the dubious pleasure of having a go of a Viking 23 with an outboard, it was like trying to drive a roller skate with rear wheel steering. Or a fork lift truck on an ice rink...

My mate's 50 something foot narrowboat is easy...

 

[rogerthebodger]

I once had the dubious pleasure of having a go of a Viking 23 with an outboard, it was like trying to drive a roller skate with rear wheel steering. Or a fork lift truck on an ice rink...

My mate's 50 something foot narrowboat is easy...

A 50 ft narrowboat is very different to a 16 19 ft cabin cruiser on a narrow canal

 

[rootytooty]

I don't know the market for river boats like that, but £8,000 sounds WAY over the top!

Thanks for your advice. A lot of people in the know are saying the same thing.

 

[rootytooty]

Try asking on the Thames forum, they might have a better idea of what such a river boat is worth. But my gut feeling is over priced. Look at what else is available, do a lot of searching on boat sales web sites, gumtree and marketplace. For a price comparison you can look at boats anywhere even if way too far away to actually consider buying.

I see it has an outboard engine, good in that it should be easy to service and cheap to replace if it needs it but will be more noisy in use than an inboard. But I would not want such a boat with a 50 year old original inboard engine.

In a river or canal not much need for antifoul.

Thanks for your advice. I think I need to keep researching as most people think this is overpriced.