Barge Pole time?

[165264]

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Firstly- an apology. If this is not good form to ask this sort of question here, then sorry- as you can see, I don't post much. Just ask a passing mod to remove it. No worries.

I'm slowly boat-searching and have a shortlist of four really at the moment. This is what looks like the least- likely on the list for me, but it's not too far away, and I want headroom, as well as a boat I could sometimes sail single-handed.

Beneteau Oceanis-323 for Sale | Bates Wharf

Well, you can all read this as well as I can. What really worries me is that it hasn't been out of the water since 2017 and the last engine service was 2017. This feels very, very bad to me. It never does an engine good to lie around, and I can't believe a careful owner would treat their boat in this way. I believe the boat may have the right headroom for me, so that's why I'd like to have a look. I think there will be the usual issues of standing rigging state, and yes, I would get a survey. I'm a bit suspicious of the lack of pictures too, inside.

I'm not too enamoured of the name, either, tbh, but that's personal prejudice.
 

Concerto

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Internally it should be very similar to every other one of the same model. This Yachting Monthly review would be worth looking at along with the 23 photos.
Beneteau Oceanis 323 - Yachting Monthly

Talk to the agent and then go and view it. There may be a reason why it has been left in the water and remember it will be terribly weedy underwater. Beside the usual things to initially check, add the condition of the furling headsail sacrificil strip as this may need replacing or the sail replacing.
 

Baggywrinkle

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I'd echo mainsail1 - go have a look if it is something you are interested in. In the worst case you'll get a feel for the accommodation and layout of an Oceanis 323, and regardless of the state of this particular boat you'll know if they should remain on your list or not.

I originally went hunting for a Bavaria 34 for similar reasons as you, then found a Bavaria 36 for similar money because it was sitting next to a 34 I was interested in. Ended up with the 36 which has a different layout to what I originally wanted but I am very happy with her and we're still together almost 10 years later.

You can never see enough boats.
 

jac

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You don;t know that she's actually in the water or that the engine has been used - Quite possible that she was lifted 3 years ago and has remained ashore since and is now for sale.

IF so ( or even of the boat has basically been unused) then no harm.

Go have a look
 

dom

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The interior may certainly be ruined with mildew, water ingress may have damaged the woodwork, the diesel tanks may be full of bug, injectors clogged, values corroded, a total mess.

On the other hand, I’ve started engines untouched for years and they’ve started almost first go, blown some white smoke, then lived happy ever after. I’ve also seen untouched boats in showroom condition.

If tempted I’d definitely have a look, or ask someone else to. But keep that bargepole handy just in case!
 

anoccasionalyachtsman

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You don;t know that she's actually in the water or that the engine has been used - Quite possible that she was lifted 3 years ago and has remained ashore since and is now for sale.

IF so ( or even of the boat has basically been unused) then no harm.

Go have a look
Could be, or ill health has left it unused - maybe they don't have the keys to get in for pictures yet. Other boats with the Eastbourne office have plenty. I'd talk to the broker and get the story.
 

doug748

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As the others have said, you should check it out, It seems to have most of the gear and may well have been little used

The engine unused for three years would not put me off totally but the hatch boards are grim and much else is very dirty which might be reflected in the accommodation.

The sails look about par for a 5 grand Ebay special but at least it is easy to put right. Is it 4ft draft or 5' 9'' seems to be some confusion?

So go and look but, on the whole, I feel it's the sort of thing that might be asking 29k (offers invited) next winter.

.
 

[165264]

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You don;t know that she's actually in the water or that the engine has been used - Quite possible that she was lifted 3 years ago and has remained ashore since and is now for sale.

IF so ( or even of the boat has basically been unused) then no harm.

Go have a look
I'm afraid that I do. The advert says so.
 

[165264]

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Could be, or ill health has left it unused - maybe they don't have the keys to get in for pictures yet. Other boats with the Eastbourne office have plenty. I'd talk to the broker and get the story.
Possible, but when I asked about seeing it today the broker said that I couldn't as the owner was there.
 
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A story that may help you with perspective.

A marina neighbour, about 10 years ago, bought a Bavaria around the 33' mark, I don't know the model. The boat had been sitting on the hard for about 3 years. For some reason someone decided to check the boat and found that the hull had filled with water unto the saloon seat cushions. I don't know for how long. He bought the boat for a significant discount compared to the second hand prices for in commission models.

It took him about a summer to get the boat back in the water. The major time related work was some headlining and new cushions, the majority of equipment was recovered, refurbished and put back in use. Obviously some stuff would have been replaced but it was not a lot as I remember it. Th emend result was that the yacht was back sailing at a very low cost with minimum effort.

So, even in these conditions, modern boats are quite tough and resilient when just sitting about doing nothing. Obviously the story is an extreme case.
 

jac

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I'm afraid that I do. The advert says so.

Where on the advert? Can't see it?

Can see that engine not serviced since 2017 and last lifted in 2017 and that she's at chichester but nowhere says she's afloat or laid up ashore but appreciate that the broker may have told you.

Doesn't get away from the central point though - go look.
 

Stemar

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That looks like a boat whose owner's been ill or died, so no one's used her. I would assume the photos are old, and she's going to be pretty grubby, or the broker hasn't had access to the inside, but has made the effort to clean the outside. If that's the case, she's cleaned up nicely. A good service of the engine would get that back up to scratch, just watch out for mildew below. Definitely worth a look as she isn't too far.

As for the owner's on board, not today, maybe they're cleaning the inside and removing personal effects. They want you to see her at her best, not a work in progress. There are all kinds of nefarious reasons, but the simplest and most likely is something like that.
 

DJE

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I bought my present boat five years ago. She had been sitting in a marina unused for four years due to the previous owner's ill health. The engine started and ran on our first visit to view the boat (but maybe the broker ran it the day before to check). After survey and a minor repair we put the sails on and took her on a 170 mile delivery trip. We had a few problems with the engine cooling system but we sailed most of the way. We've now done all the maintenance and updating that we expected and have a great boat. And because she hadn't sold the owner had dropped his asking price by 25% just before we went to see her.
 
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