Boat information wanted??

B

Big-Bang1

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 Aug 2013
Messages
156
Visit site
Hi!

In my quest to find a replacement for my Centaur I have stumbled across a 28' cruiser that's sat in a yard looking rather sorry for it's self. I've not managed to get onboard for a look yet (Only spotted it on the way to work) but I have phoned and spoken to the yard. They tell me it's an Excalibur 28, built in the 90's, powered by Volvo diesels on Volvo legs and made in Somerset. I've trolled the Net but can't find any info on them. Does anyone on here know anything about them?

Thanks in advance.
 
Heard of a Wellcraft Excalibur, but that's 38 foot and certainly not built in Somerset!

I suspect its something different to what you are being told, unless its a one-off. Any chance of getting a picture up? I am sure that would help.
 
From memory I think they were built using cruiser express hulls seem to recall that Burton waters in Lincoln was involved either in selling them or actually building them I saw some around that time when cruising on the Trent might be worth a call to Adam at Burton water in Lincoln as I think his Dad was in involved when they were based in the pool at Lincoln
 
There's only 2 boatbuilders that I'm aware of in Somerset, one I think was called Sunline (maybe a different name) in Yeovil and Colvic boats, thinking about it now they may have been one and the same. Pretty sure there have been no other motor boat builders in the county.
 
The company started as Excailiur boats, but morphed into 'Sealord', and went on to produce flybridge cruisers based on, I think John Bennett hulls (similar to the Colvic Suncruisers). They were based in Yeovil, Somerset, on the same industrial estate where the Haynes books are produced. This was in the late 90's as I went to visit the factory, or more like a large industrial unit, as I remember. Sadly I think they are now gone. The boat you describe is based on the Cruisers Vee 286 possibly. With the coming of the RCD and the size of the company at the time, they may not have been up to it, although I remember them exibiting at Excel.
 
So I managed to get down to have a look at the boat this morning before work and I can confirm it's plated as an Excalibur 27. It is without a doubt identical to the
Cruisers International 267 Vee express and size wise I'm amazed! The rear space is more than ample and the interior feels large and has plenty of headroom....But

The story goes the owner bought it from new and used it for a few years until on one outing the engines (Volvo Penta 150HP turbo diesels on VP Duo prop outdrives) refused to rev high enough to get it on the plane. The owner left it on the mooring figuring he would get it sorted at the end of the season. The boat was pulled out and sat in a boat yard and there it has remained for 6 ish years untouched. The outside is green and the camper cover is shot but a day with a pressure washer, a weekend with a buffer and some compound and a couple of grand for a new hood would transform the outside. The problem with the engines I'm sure could be sorted and I'm willing to take a gamble on it being something fairly straight forward (Thinking fuel supply/ fuel starvation as it effected both engines simultaneously) and I'm happy to go around replacing all the hoses that are perished and looking old.
However the interior is dire. The hatch and one of the cleats has been leaking into the boat, the head lining has dropped in places, the wood bulkheads are soft, everything is covered in a thin veneer of mildew and mould, the seat cushions are vile and even the nice flooring is swollen and lifted with damp.

I simply can't understand how someone could let such a lovely boat get into such a state! If it wasn't for the interior I'd go for it and I'm sure it would be ideal for us for a few years but I just can't imagine ever sorting the interior out.

The big shocker is the owner tells me he's expecting 12K for it! For a green boat with a pair of engines that won't rev and a dogged out interior. I'm SO disappointed.
 
steve930 said:
That's a shame! Guessing you don't want the pics then?
Click to expand...

It really is a shame. Such a nice boat left to go to ruin. However it really is an eye-opener to see how much space there is onboard compared to the Falcon 23 that I looked at last week. It's got to be 6'8" of head room in the galley and it's so solid nothing moves or flexes when walking about onboard. But I couldn't justify spending that much money on something that needs that much work. Where would you start with an offer on something like that??
 
From your description I would throw in a cheeky offer of 4k and go from there! There's gonna be so many unknowns to overcome, admittedly if you can do all the repair works yourself you could get a cheap boat. If you've got to start paying people then the costs could rocket!

The current owner doesn't need to know if & what abilities you have so I'd base my offer on paying people to carry out all the re-commissioning works
 
+1 for a cheeky opening offer. He could be saying 12K just to ensure he doesn't get a string of time wasters. Nothing to lose in trying and justify your offer - might just open his eyes to reality! I don't think I'd go much higher however - and I love projects! :) Perhaps 5~6K top, but make sure the engines turn over by hand as that's a long time to sit with an unresolved issue... I'd get an engineer to take a look myself, as if engines require £thousands you'll end up with a money pit. A couple of hundred quid now could save you ten times that later. You'll be shocked at how much the interior, covers and upholstery will add up to - even doing yourself!
 
Big-Bang1 said:
Sounds like words of wisdom gained by experience!
Click to expand...

Not especially, but had/have a project or two... ;) At this end of the market, most of the value is in the engine(s), so if they're knackered you'll find cost to replace will be more than the value of the boat. Assuming they're good, I can still easily see £10K of spend on the boat if it's as you describe. Having just spent £10K on a cosmetically ok boat, I'll have still spent another £5K servicing and updating electronics, adding shorepower, covers etc. This had only been sat idle for a couple of years and in mechanically ok order - albeit well overdue a service. That figure was mostly DIY too... This one sounds like it will be 2 or 3 times that? 6 years is a long time to sit idle and if she's that damp, unless 'put to bed' with some tlc, I can foresee quite a few expensive rusty bits might need replacement - turbo's, heat exchangers, exhausts etc? Don't be afraid to walk away either - despite the potential you can see, you need to put a realistic price on fixing it... I'd also take lots of pictures when viewing- it will help when identifying/costing parts etc
 
Big-Bang1 said:
Hmm, so I think I'll go back for another look and take some pictures - see what you guys think then.
Click to expand...

Take your barge pole with you:encouragement:

Go to any boatyard and you'll find unfinished projects that someone took on with rose tinted spectacles but eventually became disillusioned or ran out of cash, or both.

There are plenty of other boats out there in much better condition, bide your time and wait.
 
longjohnsilver said:
Take your barge pole with you:encouragement:

Go to any boatyard and you'll find unfinished projects that someone took on with rose tinted spectacles but eventually became disillusioned or ran out of cash, or both.

There are plenty of other boats out there in much better condition, bide your time and wait.
Click to expand...

The problem with this particular boat is that the engines and drives, if in working order, have a value somewhere around £10K. If I owned it, I would be selling them for £10K with the boat thrown in free.

I guess in good running order/condition and with these engines you are looking at a value of around £20K max. You can do the sums ref purchase price and cost of fixing it up, but even at £10k it would be hard to make it work.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top