curtis and pape 1970 iroko-on-oak 32ft ketch

[yourmomm]

hi. i am in negotiations to buy this boat, which currently lies near gibraltar. i will of course survey her fully, as i need to sail her back to the uk should the sale proceed. however, i know that her fastenings are iron and that she has never (so far) required refastening. the owner states he contacted the now sadly-defunct curtis and pape yard about this very issue some 10 years back, and they informed him that in 80+years of boatmaking, not one of their boats EVER required refastening! can this be true? can anyone offer any advice as to what to look out for apart from the obvious (and very easily paint-over-able....) rust streaks on the hull, before i shell out for the full survey (i have already lost £500 on survey fees for boats whose sales fell through!!). any other advice forum members can offer me as to a diy "preliminary" wooden boat survey for boats of this age would be gratefully received!! many thanks in advance to the forum.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Maybe move the post to the classic boats forum?

 

[tritonofnor]

Friend of mine has the last Curtis and Pape motor boat, built in 1973, and has had absolutely no problems with the fixings at all... It's a great boat, more working than yachty, with everything (cleats etc.) sized appropriately. She's lovely! I would still suggest a full survey, but there was a useful check list published by CB a couple of years ago - take a look using this list, and THEN employ a surveyor if you think she's the biz...