Buying a pre damaged boat?

Soco2

Soco2

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Hi,
been out the game for a couple of years but now have the itch again!
I recently viewed a boat which I found out ran aground in the Solent (bramble @ 20kts)
It was repaired last year, new shaft etc. Engine mounts props etc.
How would this affect the purchase price and is it just best to leave it well alone?
thanks
Si
 
Request a list of what was replaced and by whom, people bend props and shafts all the time. A proper surveyor should be able to verify the repairs have been done properly.
However if it's had significant fibreglass work around the cutlass bearings I would be wary.
 
Even if the price was reduced, I would not want to take the chance on a boat that had a big repair, I would always be sat thinking about the repair - not my ideal of a‘relaxing’ hobby
 
the trouble with being on this forum is after a while you start to believe that every boat owner/buyer in the world is reading this stuff. They are not, there are a few hundred of us at best. I sold a big boat that had to have quite a few bits changed after going aground - did anyone ask about it? did the surveyor find anything amiss? no - it was repaired properly. I kept it for a few more years then sold it - not because it had gone aground, but because it was too big for me. Boat was surveyed, everyone's happy, boat was sold.

Who on here has run aground? if so do you publicise the fact when you sell? Fibreglass boats, especially Fairlines are very strong, Unless the shafts got ripped out the back it will fix fine. Bramble bank is a sand bank not the Eddystone rocks - it will mostly just slide over the top.

This particular boat hit the news because it hit Bramblebank. If it had gone aground on the river trent or the humber estuary no-one would know or care. (and a lot do it's a bugger!) If you are interested, get it properly checked just like any other boat. Regarding re-sale, it's old news now, in a few years no-one will remember.
 
Yes, I could but this is the most expensive one on the market but from what I can gather haven’t been serviced for 2-3 years plus the fact it had a big impact, 20knts and two people injured tends me to think it might not be the Best Buy, the engine wasn’t checked for shock loading from what I can establish. One gearbox was changed but who’s to know there might not be unseen damage inside the other etc?
my original question concerned price but that seemed to get overlooked.
 
price wise, in the UK they have no competiton at the moment. There are 2 Phantom 42s for sale in Spain. Don't let that put you off - buying a boat in Spain is much the same as buying in the UK. Just factor in it will take longer and if you want to keep it in the UK @ £6 - £7 K to bring it back on a lorry. and a professional polish. That gives you a market asking price and its unlikely (but you will never know) either of those two boats will have had a serious grounding. Flights to Spain at the moment are very cheap, why not make a long weekend of it and have a rummage in the med sunshine. Both those brokers speak excellent English. I found Macacsailor very helpful in the past.

Interesting that the UK boat has not been serviced for 2 years, the owners have lost interest. Again not a show stopper just need to check it more carefully, heat exchanger anodes and props etc. If one gearbox got replaced the other may need doing at some point- check the colour of the gearbox oil - it should be clear, not black/dirty. Why not try a very low offer and see what happens. Making an offer doesn't oblige you to buy it, if they say yes take a engineer/surveyor with you for a proper look before handing over any deposits etc.

edit just spotted this a 38: Fairline Phantom 38 Used Boat for Sale 2001 | TheYachtMarket
 
Last edited:
Accidents happen, but have a think about what hitting the Bramble Bank might say about the previous owner, ie how experienced were they in boat ownership? This will be reflected throughout the boat in it's general maintenance and upkeep.

Pay a premium for a boat that has been well looked after, not one that's covering repair bills from damage with many unknown's hanging over it's head.
 
I'm quite surprised by the negativity in some of these answers. GRP is wonderfull in that it can be repaired as good as new. Shock loading engines. What like tootling along and picking up a pot buoy with the inevitable clunk of a stalled engine. What? Send the engine back to Vovlo for detailed diagnostics and repairs? How about cut the rope and just get on with it. Damaged gearbox? Repair it.

Shock loading. Out of pocket 50 quid and some sweat
vASisWK.jpg


If the boat has been professionally repaired, surveyed and returned to original condition that is it's current status. As original. I'm sure it wasn't done by some DIY boatyard hack and surveyed by some dodgy schmuck masquerading as bona fida with a fake YDSA Noddy badge or whatever.
Maybe I have a bias. My boat while with the PO was stolen for a joyride and ended up grounded with a small hole in the sbd side. Repair is invisible and fore armed I had the surveyor inspect for it. He really struggled to find it, was a non event.
So buy a little cheaper sell a little cheaper. It all works out the same in the end.
 
kashurst said:
price wise, in the UK they have no competiton at the moment. There are 2 Phantom 42s for sale in Spain. Don't let that put you off - buying a boat in Spain is much the same as buying in the UK. Just factor in it will take longer and if you want to keep it in the UK @ £6 - £7 K to bring it back on a lorry. and a professional polish. That gives you a market asking price and its unlikely (but you will never know) either of those two boats will have had a serious grounding. Flights to Spain at the moment are very cheap, why not make a long weekend of it and have a rummage in the med sunshine. Both those brokers speak excellent English. I found Macacsailor very helpful in the past.

Interesting that the UK boat has not been serviced for 2 years, the owners have lost interest. Again not a show stopper just need to check it more carefully, heat exchanger anodes and props etc. If one gearbox got replaced the other may need doing at some point- check the colour of the gearbox oil - it should be clear, not black/dirty. Why not try a very low offer and see what happens. Making an offer doesn't oblige you to buy it, if they say yes take a engineer/surveyor with you for a proper look before handing over any deposits etc.

edit just spotted this a 38: Fairline Phantom 38 Used Boat for Sale 2001 | TheYachtMarket
Click to expand...

Thanks, yes I suppose buying abroad does make sense and gives me more boats to choose from.
my main reservations are : parting with so much money to a non uk regulated broker, the vat status being wishy washy? One is flying a Dutch flag.
And trusting level of foreign survey/ making sure I haven’t got a lemon.
Otherwise asking prices are a lot lower in Europe.

unless the uk one was extremely cheap, which the broker said it won’t be, I think it’s due a wide birth for me.
Thanks for your input : )
 
PalmaTarga said:
Accidents happen, but have a think about what hitting the Bramble Bank might say about the previous owner, ie how experienced were they in boat ownership? This will be reflected throughout the boat in it's general maintenance and upkeep.

Pay a premium for a boat that has been well looked after, not one that's covering repair bills from damage with many unknown's hanging over it's head.
Click to expand...

totally agree!
 
I think a lot of assumptions are being made without inspection. If this boat is in poor condition so be it. But if in all other respects it has a good service history, been well maintained and now correctly repaired I wouldn't write it off. I'd much rather see a major refit and replacement on the record of a used boat over an immaculate marina queen that presents well precisely because it hasn't been used much. On the other hand people put a price on pride of ownership and any sullying of that is reflected in price. But it doesn't detract from function. So I suppose what is it you want from your boat. If bling is your thing, hard to port and keep looking.
 
BruceK said:
I think a lot of assumptions are being made without inspection. If this boat is in poor condition so be it. But if in all other respects it has a good service history, been well maintained and now correctly repaired I wouldn't write it off. I'd much rather see a major refit and replacement on the record of a used boat over an immaculate marina queen that presents well precisely because it hasn't been used much. On the other hand people put a price on pride of ownership and any sullying of that is reflected in price. But it doesn't detract from function. So I suppose what is it you want from your boat. If bling is your thing, hard to port and keep looking.
Click to expand...

I know what your saying and I’m not looking for too much bling just a sound buy.

As it is, it has NO service history at all. The owner has done nothing really since buying it in 18‘
 
Sounds like he hasn't had the opportunity to though. Having a boat on the hard during the season will put the kibosh on that. Any records before 18? PO to current? Original PO might have been fastidious. Without corroborating evidence of service history on any boat is dodgy waters and grounds to move on. I only entered the conversation to say I wouldn't necessarily write off a grounded boat that had only sustained superficial damage and was professionally repaired and had all the necessary governing bodies stamp of approval on a job well done. That indeed you may find an entry bargain, but what goes around comes around and when it's time to sell it's someone else's bargain. None of which detracts from the suitability of the boat but only reflects market desirability
 
BruceK said:
Sounds like he hasn't had the opportunity to though. Having a boat on the hard during the season will put the kibosh on that. Any records before 18? PO to current? Original PO might have been fastidious. Without corroborating evidence of service history on any boat is dodgy waters and grounds to move on. I only entered the conversation to say I wouldn't necessarily write off a grounded boat that had only sustained superficial damage and was professionally repaired and had all the necessary governing bodies stamp of approval on a job well done. That indeed you may find an entry bargain, but what goes around comes around and when it's time to sell it's someone else's bargain. None of which detracts from the suitability of the boat but only reflects market desirability
Click to expand...

Yes If I could get it for a good price then maybe it would be ok I suppose. I might just be stuck trying to sell it for a while, when it comes to it!
I have asked but there is no proof or any documentation at all regarding any service history.
the owner before only had it a couple of years too and self maintained apparently. But no paperwork I’m afraid.
 
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