And so it begins....

[5teve]

We are finally getting a hull and engine survey done on a boat we have been interested in for a while... A 1990 Riviera 38ft Flybridge with twin Cummins 6bta 300hp engines.. A common boat in Aus and the states but not over your way it happens next Thursday

Its a bit untidy and has a bit of fiberglass work required - shouldnt be too bad and considering doing it myself as its all interior stuff. The main issue it the deck drain channel and bathroom floor - not pretty - but fixable I think! A good clean - Fix the covers, change of carpets - restoration of woodwork, cupboard linings and a massive bilge clean should make a hell of a difference! Oh yeah and rip the teak off the sides that has been sanded what appears to be every day for its whole life! then reglass / finish the sides..

Survey will at least tell us that its worse than we think or better than we think... if better - then we need to get the wallet out. If worse.. well then decisions / negotiations are required!

Certainly nervous as its a cr@p load of cash for us to spend - especially as the boat is 26 years old - not sure how boats are valued here (aus) compared to UK / Europe - and they arent exactly well looked after here - the sun, the rough seas, the lack of use and lack of maintenance seem to be a killer. Cost for someone to repair instead of me are eye watering in most cases!

Pictures (lots - mainly taken to note the issue areas) are here https://goo.gl/photos/NDweBvjRJHWwWQFB8 for anyone interested..

Steve

 

[RobWales]

Looks a good solid project I reckon, good luck with the survey.......
Hope the cracking shown in pics is mainly cosmetic, many craft of this sort of age will have similar issues, with regard star crazing and creeping gel crack issues from deck fixings these are very easily repaired...makes me so angry when people even manufacturers put screws into grp without countersinking through the gelcoat first which is the main cause of these creeping cracks.....
Anyway keep us informed and good luck.
Rob.

 

[Sandyman]

Agree with the above. Just make sure those donks (engines) aint shagged out !!!!

 

[5teve]

Thanks Guys

2100 hours - not sure on the history but they seem to run ok and don't smoke on cold start (maybe thats a worry )

Steve

 

[Seastoke]

Remember survey does not do engines so get them checked and have a sea trial also try in reverse I herd of a guy who bought a boat and it would not go in reverse

 

[5teve]

Remember survey does not do engines so get them checked and have a sea trial also try in reverse I herd of a guy who bought a boat and it would not go in reverse

already been out on it for an hour or so up the river - definitely reverses - also have an engine appraisal happening by local engine specialist at the same time - they do the sea trial - then the surveyor will go inside and out while its on the slip...

Steve

 

[5teve]

Looks a good solid project I reckon, good luck with the survey.......
Hope the cracking shown in pics is mainly cosmetic, many craft of this sort of age will have similar issues, with regard star crazing and creeping gel crack issues from deck fixings these are very easily repaired...makes me so angry when people even manufacturers put screws into grp without countersinking through the gelcoat first which is the main cause of these creeping cracks.....
Anyway keep us informed and good luck.
Rob.

Most of the cracking is just spider cracks - nothing too bad. The issue is the rear deck drain - cracked right through - so deck off, grind out and then build thicker than the original - deck is only 8 screws tho so nothing major

The bathroom crack has no access underneath so I have a plan to build that out about 3-5mm over the whole floor area - should barely be noticeable and the area is that small that you cannot really stand on it anyway!

Yes the countersink and decent sealing is something that seems to escape most.. i'll be looking at removing everything and then using butyl tape under all the fittings too

Steve

 

[5teve]

I also meant to say that it isnt meant to be a project its meant to be useable straight away! If I mention the word project I get 'The Look'



Steve

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

Those old Riviera's are considered well engineered boats, with a hull taking a lot from the David Napier Bertrams.

Hope you show us some pictures. We have a Riviera 4000 Offshore HT, and more newer 3600 Sport Yacht II.
The 4000 is a great Riv and I was impressed by its engineering as well as sea keeping qualities.

 

[5teve]

Yep they are hull wise... I think the ones in Western Australia get a bit of a hammering with the lovely flat ocean we have here /sarcasm off

The interior mouldings I reckon are a bit weak - but can be strengthened.. which is the main issue with this one.

They weigh in at around 9-12000kg's so I am assuming they are up there in weight for the size.. I know the Older Aussie Bertram 35 was around 10-12 tons but is considered the benchmark here for that size of boat. Some of the US boats come in at anything from 7 ton - probably made of better lighter materials though

This one is fairly unusual in that it has a 1200l single tank (fibreglass) and dual zone aircon. It also has angled gearboxes so they engines sit flat which most of the others I have seen have not - apparently this can stop the engines whipping up the oil into foam. It also has a unique bathroom layout that I have seen on no other 38 / 36 or 34 Riv - again this needs repair tho..

Pictures were included in the original post the last ones were external from the dock. - Only camera phone ones - but if we end up with it all work will be documented!

Yeah the Riv 4000 is a nice boat - a few for sale here but well out of my price range - I prefer the Flybridge - most boats over here are FB as space / deck space is king as all living is outdoor - no Aussie in their right mind has a boat this size that cant take 8-10 people on the open rear deck and a fridge within arms reach for all of them Sports cruisers are popular - but for some reason people seem to like the FB

Steve

 

[KINGFISHER 9]

I'd have a look around at some others if I were you!

 

[MaryEllender]

Nice article.

 

[5teve]

I'd have a look around at some others if I were you!

I have... and this one is quite good! There are some seriously rough boats out there..

Steve

 

[Bouba]

We are finally getting a hull and engine survey done on a boat we have been interested in for a while... A 1990 Riviera 38ft Flybridge with twin Cummins 6bta 300hp engines.. A common boat in Aus and the states but not over your way it happens next Thursday

Its a bit untidy and has a bit of fiberglass work required - shouldnt be too bad and considering doing it myself as its all interior stuff. The main issue it the deck drain channel and bathroom floor - not pretty - but fixable I think! A good clean - Fix the covers, change of carpets - restoration of woodwork, cupboard linings and a massive bilge clean should make a hell of a difference! Oh yeah and rip the teak off the sides that has been sanded what appears to be every day for its whole life! then reglass / finish the sides..

Survey will at least tell us that its worse than we think or better than we think... if better - then we need to get the wallet out. If worse.. well then decisions / negotiations are required!

Certainly nervous as its a cr@p load of cash for us to spend - especially as the boat is 26 years old - not sure how boats are valued here (aus) compared to UK / Europe - and they arent exactly well looked after here - the sun, the rough seas, the lack of use and lack of maintenance seem to be a killer. Cost for someone to repair instead of me are eye watering in most cases!

Pictures (lots - mainly taken to note the issue areas) are here https://goo.gl/photos/NDweBvjRJHWwWQFB8 for anyone interested..

Steve

I was on a more recent Riviera 38, 2006 I think, yesterday at a boat show near St Tropez. It had volvos, but it was a very impressive boat. Lots of room and lots of luxury because it was brave enough to have only one cabin. They wanted 160,000€

 

[5teve]

I was on a more recent Riviera 38, 2006 I think, yesterday at a boat show near St Tropez. It had volvos, but it was a very impressive boat. Lots of room and lots of luxury because it was brave enough to have only one cabin. They wanted 160,000€

Interesting - all the rivs I have seen 36 and up are 2 cabin - i wonder if the one you were on was a 33/34 stretched to 38 - a very common thing to do apparently - the one I am looking at (although older) is a genuine 38 - but apparently around Aus there are quite a few stretched 34's - you can normally tell by the position of the props and rudders, they sit forward of the transom by quite a way! example of an older one here..

160k euros is about 228k aud

here a 98 riv 36 is 199k aud, a Riv 33 2005 is 219k aud and a Riv 40 2005 is 429k aud - so i'd say higher priced here.. by quite a margin!

Steve

 

[Bouba]

Interesting - all the rivs I have seen 36 and up are 2 cabin - i wonder if the one you were on was a 33/34 stretched to 38 - a very common thing to do apparently - the one I am looking at (although older) is a genuine 38 - but apparently around Aus there are quite a few stretched 34's - you can normally tell by the position of the props and rudders, they sit forward of the transom by quite a way! example of an older one here..

160k euros is about 228k aud

here a 98 riv 36 is 199k aud, a Riv 33 2005 is 219k aud and a Riv 40 2005 is 429k aud - so i'd say higher priced here.. by quite a margin!

Steve

My mistake, its a Riviera 34 but it's 37 feet in length

 

[Bouba]

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/2005/Riviera-33-Flybridge-2893372/France#.WA0-53RHmhA
It might have been this one

 

[5teve]

Ah yes that makes much more sense.. I think the 38 is about 42 overall.

The "euro' Version looks much different with the fly being uncovered. Most in Perth would be hard top or permanent heavy duty Bimini - The idea is to stay out of the sun and in the breeze Mind you with the winter we have just had (yes it does get cold!) - I reckon a fully fibreglass enclosed flybridge with heating is the way to go

Steve

 

[ph321]

I have... and this one is quite good! There are some seriously rough boats out there..

Steve

It's a shame but so true. At my old marina there were a heap of boats that looked like they hadn't been touched for years. The Riviera will fix up well and the 6BT is a good engine. I've got Cummins QSCs and find parts are often cheaper to import from the US (try www.sbmar.com ) than the crazy prices quoted by Cummins Australia. Good luck with it!

Paul

 

[5teve]

It's a shame but so true. At my old marina there were a heap of boats that looked like they hadn't been touched for years. The Riviera will fix up well and the 6BT is a good engine. I've got Cummins QSCs and find parts are often cheaper to import from the US (try www.sbmar.com ) than the crazy prices quoted by Cummins Australia. Good luck with it!

Paul

Thanks Paul - I think I have read every article on SBmar great resource and some great mods to the engines... i'll be placing orders no doubt if we get that far!

And yes it is so sad that so many boats seem like trophy boats or just somewhere to have a beer with your mates. I've been trolling gumtree and boatsonline for months and the 38 we are looking at is no worse and somewhat better than many out there.. at least with 2100 hours or so I know its at least been used a bit! 10 year newer boats can be worse...

I hope it will fix up (if we get there) i'm fairly sure a clean and a bit of TLC will make it look much better..

Thursday is getting closer..

Steve