buying a used boat, is it a problem if it has sat ashore for years?

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steve yates

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I'm maybe getting the wrong end of the stick here, but I would like to be looking at boats that are being used regularly, it makes me wary when I go to look at one which has sat on its arse for the last 2 or more years for various reasons. How do I know if the rigging etc is still any good? what if things rust and warp and don't work when it goes back in?

Or am I being over cautious and likely to miss out on a good buy?

Im looking at 17-20 footers here by the way.

ANother question, is it normal for the insides to often be bare fibreglass with no finishing or insulation or anything to make them more pleasant for overnighting in? Or do most folk with small boats just daysail and use the cabins for brews and chucking sails in?

thanks, steve
 
I wouldn't buy a boat without a test sail and probably a survey so there's no reason that any problems wouldn't be picked up even if the boat hadn't been used for a couple of seasons. It seems to me that a lot of boats in the UK spend a lot of time not going anywhere because of awful weather! :rolleyes:

Richard
 
If the boat is a recognised class and professionally built to Lloyds spec then no need to worry if the boat is not in the water. Many boats are old without a trial sail. The most important thing is a good survey report.

The problem I have encountered with boats for sale when in commission is that they seem to be rarely available for inspection as the owners are away sailing them and they are packed with owner's personal effects so locker inspection is frowned upon.
 
Steve,

if looking at low cost smaller boats it may not be realistic to have a boat launched just for a test sail, you'd have to go by magazine reviews, comments from folk on here etc.

As for fit-out, that's obviously down to individual boats & owners but it's fair to say boats used to be a lot barer inside than you'd expect now; that may be a good thing, as it keeps weight down and allows you to fit her out to your taste with new stuff, rather than inheriting someone's mouldy old attempts from decades ago...

Don't worry too much about fit-out, look at whether the keel/s will stay on and mast is straight & will stay up - be aware you should expect sails to be knackered, it would be unusual for them not to be, and they will cost you to replace.

You won't get the best - or possibly even safe adequate - from her with tired sails, the good news is you can decide which sails to buy & when, to suit your wallet; just don't try the Irish Sea until all is sorted.
 
When buying a boat that has sat around for a while, I think there's a fine line between getting a bargain that has masses of potential and a money pit that will end up costing you more to put the boat right than if you'd bought a boat that is fully in commision. Things i would look out for are sails that are in good nick and stored properly (not left on furlers and booms), running rigging that is servicable (or factor in the cost of replacement), engines that have been properly laid up and batteries and electrics that are still ok (or again factor in cost of replacement). Fibreglass, aluminium and steel are extremely durable and hulls, masts and standing rigging that have not been used in a while should be aok.

I bought my boat after it had stood for two years unused and straight away had to spend a fair bit on running rigging, batteries, sacrificial strip for genoa and a few electrical bits. The sails were recent and the engine was fairly new and barely used so although the boat looked tired she was a good bargain buy, I've been very happy with her and I've brought her up to standard I'm happy with.

Edit: and check the seacocks are ok. Very imprortant that they're not seized or ready to snap off.
 
theoldsalt said:
The problem I have encountered with boats for sale when in commission is that they seem to be rarely available for inspection as the owners are away sailing them and they are packed with owner's personal effects so locker inspection is frowned upon.
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What do you expect, that someone selling his boat would stop using it the day it is put up for sale? There are cases like this, but this isn't the norm. On the other hand one cannot expect that everyone visiting a boat is allowed to go and snoop around everywhere or to play with and break anything which isn't going to buy.

If one is serious about buying, he would make an offer, and if accepted the boat is prepared for sea trial at which point he can inspect it further without the owner's possessions and decide to back out for any reason. If the boat is accepted after the sea trial there is no going back unless the survey, which is next, finds serious structural issues.

This is the process used by all UK brokers and it is useful for owners and brokers to weed out tire kickers and time wasters and for buyers to ensure they get the boat they want.
 
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The sort of boats you are looking at will be less of a problem than bigger, more complex boats. Main thing to worry about is the rig if it has been left up, particularly sails and running rigging. Water inside can also be a problem. Yes, it is common for such boats to seem unfinished on the inside. Most of them were cheap when they were built and it is difficult to trim a small boat economically so it was often left to owners to finish off. Whether you get to try the boat out would depend on the seller and his enthusiasm to sell. Remember, until you put in an offer you are not a buyer - just an interested party.

At the end of the day it is up to you to assess what is on offer and how it meets your expectations. Difficult if it is your first purchase and you don't have much experience, but sticking to well established designs reduces the risk of surprises.
 
The OP is talking about small boats in the 17-20ft range. Biggest problem here is the condition of the sails. Most other things are fixable. Rigging can be DIY with Talurite or swageless terminals, but probably not needed. Swing keels might need attention on the pivots. If out of use for a couple of years, then probably discount any bits of equipement. Engine is probably an outboard, so needs a good look and value lowish. Brokers have no interest in boats this small and old. so stay away from them.
 
If the purchase cost is low, at what point does a survey become not cost effective? 10% of the purchase price? Less/More?
 
haydude said:
If one is serious about buying, he would make an offer, and if accepted the boat is prepared for sea trial at which point he can inspect it further without the owner's possessions and decide to back out for any reason. If the boat is accepted after the sea trial there is no going back unless the survey, which is next, finds serious structural issues.

This is the process used by all UK brokers and it is useful for owners and brokers to weed out tire kickers and time wasters and for buyers to ensure they get the boat they want.
Click to expand...

He is looking at £1200 boats for heaven's sake. http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?433487-shipmate-senior-or-skipper-17&highlight=

Sheesh.
 
Hi
I bought a boat back in 2011 which had been ashore for five years, all the sails had been taken off and stored by a sailmaker the mast had been unstepped and put in a mast rack and the engine laid up properly. The boat is 35 ft Trident Voyager longish encapsulated keel and in very good condition built to Lloyds built in 89 and launched 92. The hull was practically bone dry.
The engine started on the button when it was un winterised and everything worked.
The issues after about a month in use was new batteries and a new seal on the fresh water pump the following year I replaced the cutlass bearing all rigging and spars were inspected by a rigger and all ok the sails were like new.
Got the her at a very very reasonable price.
Overall well pleased, a good comfy boat at sea could go anywhere if I wanted loads of stowage and good sea going lay out that works well has all the usual mod cons last year I changed the auto pilot as the ST 4000 as it wasnt really man enough for the new Raymarine evolution system that works really well with the linear drive instead of the wheel pilot.
The hull need cutting back and polished and is almost like new. So being laid up ashore isnt always bad if done properly and can be got at the right price.

J
 
On small boats there is really isn't that much that can go wrong beyond what is obvious to the eye, so I wouldn't bother with a survey. I bought a Jeanneau Sun 2000 and a Merry Fisher 645 both without survey or sea trial, just went by reviews. Neither has thrown any surprises at me.
 
One problem that relates to wooden boats is the time they will need to 'take up' when relaunched after a long spell ashore. On the commute to London a friend was getting reports on the intervals between the electric bilge pump firing up. 25 minutes became 50 then into the hours etc. Can be worrying if you're not expecting it!
 
A friend with a wooden boat had a counter made up so as to keep tabs on how often the auto bilge pump was working; if one could have that info via one's mobile - and I know some alarm systems do this - it would seem well worthwhile.

Then again anyone who buys a wooden boat on shore and doesn't know about ' taking up ' is probably not going to last long !
 
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