Buying a Moody 39

ivisonm

Well-Known Member
Joined
8 Aug 2006
Messages
82
Location
Teesside, UK
Visit site
Hi all,

Looking at buying a Moody 39 but need a wee big of advice.

The boat is a '77 model and is in quite good condition. The cuurent owner has had a full survey (and valuation) done last year by David Dabney (Barcelona) that isn't bad; The calor gas system needs overhaulling/replacing, the hull fin keel (cast) is a bit tired and some of the furniture tabbing needs glassing in again.

Considering the survey was done last year, is it still worth getting a full survey considering the amount of get out clauses they have? Insurance company have said that last years survey for the owner is fine for a few years (GJW Insurance).

I've had a few small boats but this is the first time I am buying a big boat (big to me anyway!)

Thanks,

Mark
 
There is a difference between an owner's survey (what does "full" mean) and a pre-purchase survey. The cost of a survey will be less than any problems that you might have to sort out and it will be more cautious because the surveyor will have a liability to you. The owner's survey was probably just reporting condition with a disclaimer. A different kettle of fish.

In any event I would post this on the MOA website and ask for owners of 39s to tell you where the problems are likely to be. http://www.moa.myzen.co.uk/cgi-bin/discus/discus.cgi
 
as the survey was commisioned by the owner, you are unlikly to have any recourse if it has missed anything, get a survey yourself, so it is done in your own interests and the surveyor is answerable to you throught the contract you will have with him. Typically a surveyor will uncover enough things to negotiate money off the purchase price at least equal id not in excess to the cost of the survey.

Nice boats by the way, looked at them myself :-)

Anthony

PS if that one falls thru I know someone who is selling theirs in south of France.
 
The survey is a full condition survey report - I assume that is the most comprehensive one you can get.

Do you want to send me a private message of the details of the boat that you know for sale in the South of France?

Cheers.
 
Hi Marky,
My name is marco I live in Roma and I bought, here in Italy, quite recently a moody 39 '77. Probably your choice was addressed by a previous analysis of many different vessels and related results brought you to a very good boat. Of course I don't know what's your degree of expertise in boat maintainance but please, believe me, it' not so difficult to make a good evaluation by yourself. I started with a small but very efficient digital camera and after at least 500 pictures of every significant details, I started a deep analysis of results at home seated in front of my desk. The camera arrives where your eyes can't view, inside very reduced spaces and is a very impartial judge.
I've prepared in advance a check-list of more significant items to verify and step by step, on the light of this analisys result I've prepared a counter proposal to the seller with all the critical points discovered during my screening, completely supported by a good and indisputable documentation. This operation mode helped me to obtain a very significant price reduction in the final negotiation.
I don't know if your insurance need a recently updated control of the boat to give the right coverage, in Italy Insurance does'nt care of external evaluations even coming from experts. They use to make boat controls by own engineers before to release a coverage contract....
now I started to make by myself some refitting works, I'm in progress and now I know in detail many many secrets of my Moody.
If you need some advice or clarification please don't esitate to contact me on the matter and, with all my limits, I'll try to help you with pleasure.
Marco. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Sorry for my english but it's the better I have.....
/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
Get your own survey at the very least you'll have a comparison of the boat.

If the surveys reveal similar results you have peace of mind. If they differ you can see what has been missed, focus on it and negotiate accordingly, either way you it gives you that bit of extra confidence prior to handing over the cash.

A few hundred pounds is nothing for a survey compared to the thousands you could lose should the boat turn out to have big problems.
 
Just got a quote for a survey - £800! Will be searching for other surveyors for comparison.

For peace of mind, yes, I'll get the survey done.

Thanks for the advice miomare. I have sent you a private mail.
 
Top