Beneteau Oceanis 440 help

[Dallas]

Hi

I am considering the purchase of a 1996 Beneteau Oceanis 440 (ex charter) and was hoping someone has / had one and could give me any advice on what to look for prior to a survey.

Cheers

Dallas

 

[Chris_Stannard]

Suggest you get a copy of RYA book on buying a second hand boat.

Ex charter boats will have done a lot more work than private boats of a similar age and will not have been cared for by a loving owner.

Check the external hull for patches of different gel or and for depressions either of which indicated collision damage.
Check the bilges, and not just under the inspection hatches, but lift some floor boards, to see if there are signs of damage round the keel, resulting from having struck the ground hard.
Check behind seats and cupboards for signs of leaks
Check the engine for signs of leaks and if the boat is in the water it should start easily. Also check to make sure it goes in and out of gear easily and stays in gear when you put it there. Engine should have a maintenance log and this should show regular maintenance, in particular oil and oil filter changes.
Handbooks for all gear, radio, instruments etv should be on board as should the boat manual with wiring diagrams etc.

When pricing the boat, and in view of its age and use, find out the cost of replacing the standing rigging, probably the sails and the cushions, and of having a t least a top overhaul, and gear box check by the engine main agents, (not a little guy from the corner of the marina) and deduct all of these from the cost of a similar boat that has not been chartered. Remeber most boats are a bit over priced so you should take about 5-10% of the asking and then all of the above.

Offer should be dependent on satisfactory survey, and any deposit returnable if the survey is not satisfactory. In my view the survey should say words to the effect, "that the purchase of this boat is recommended at the offer price"and that should be included in the terms of your offer

Last thought , try to take someone with you who has a boat and is not involved in your purchase, so you can get a second jaundiced view.

Good luck

Chris Stannard

 

[sailbadthesinner]

Agree with all that

as your profile is limited forgive if i state obvious
check toe rails and stanchion bases as prime sites for damage
if it is in mast furling give this a good furl snd unfurl as it can get stiff. (personally i prefer slab for many reasons)

assume at least 15 % price off plus standard rigging replaced and engine overhaul new sheets ( sails may not be overused but make a decision) check genny furling

these get loads of abuse and end up knackered this can also be the case with the winches.the price and spec requests may be ambitious but you can always come down NB it is near christmas cash is always welcome if it is private seller. plus i am a very hard haggler i haggle everywhere.

tiny but annoying in the galley the locks on the cupboards often give way under the slightest pressure ( check these lock properly or you will be forever cleaning up spilled stuff.) also assume the ground tackle will need adding to. more chain and prob bigger anchor. kedge not so important.

basically crawl over it with wrath of god

we looked at one in greece similar (400) and they offered all the above without much pushing plus plotter or self steer if it aint got it.

Come on brain.get this over and i can go back to killing you with beer

 

[Dallas]

Thanks guys - certainly gives me something to think about. I am viewing the boat next week so I will report back then. In the meantime if anyone has sailed a Beneteau Oceanis 440 then I would apreciate your views.

Cheers

Dallas

 

[sailbadthesinner]

i think it depends what you are after. they are very beamy and could be viewed as a floating caravan. they are not built around the sailing really more the accomodation, which is roomy. i have sailed a couple about three weeks in total.

they are big and there is loads of room below, all though the nav area could have more shelving.
to sail they are well beamy. i have had thirteen knots SOG in one that was on a broad reach. that was some trip about 60 miles in open water. they donot point too well. i just hate the in mast furling, really hate it. i think it ruins the performance and is something else to go wrong. ( rant over) they don't feel that resilient and i am not sure waht there AVS is but i would not be happy being caught in a blow in one.

I think the boat is good if you are often sailing with lots of people but for 2 people it is big so you need stronger crew to trim all that genny, hold the boat off the pontoon etc.

they do cross the atlantic but they are not blue water cruisers imho.

in conclusion i think they are really for charter market and the med. for weekend sailing inn the uk unless there are lots of you i would not pay for the extra room and all that beam.

Come on brain.get this over and i can go back to killing you with beer