have you ever bought an ex-charter boat? How was it?

[nimbusgb]

Yes, bought an ex charter and somewhat neglected boat. I had the time, money and skills to lavish on her.

Interstellar engine hours and blown sails. Sails have been renewed as have all the electrics, cooker, fridge, woodwork , upholstery, prop, rudder bearings, furling and rig bits and a serious electronics suite. Worn engine bits replaced. Result is I know every centimeter of her and I trust her with my life and that of my family.

Would I do it again. Hell yes! A lot of satisfaction is tied up in the hundreds of hours I have spent working on her.

But then I bought a bank-repossessed, abused house and refurbished that and a crashed aircraft and rebuilt that and several crashed 'uneconomically' repairable vehicles, so a boat was a no brainer!

Every time I've had to up front a minimal amount of cash for what eventually have been rewarding experiences.

The nay-sayers are usually the type of people who call in an electrician to wire a 3 pin plug or a plumber to change a tap washer!

 

[catlotion]

Yep - we bought a 1986 ex-Sunsail Beneteau for a good price. It has got a few knocks here and there (including a broken stem head which would have been quite an impact), but we got a discount and it was a bigger boat than we would otherwise been able to afford. Ours had recently been re-engined with a new Volvo 2020 which the surveyor said was the biggest selling point. We found the charter configuration (2 double aft cabins) perfect as I share it with two friends.

No complaints really, lots of jobs to do, but can't see how they'd differ for boats of same age. Prob best to consider case-by-case and definitely get a survey.

Unfortunately she's got to go now though

 

[JumbleDuck]

... life was found too short to look forever for the perfect deal/boat...

Preach it, brother.

 

[PetiteFleur]

It was not until we had all the paperwork that we realised our boat was originally a sailing school boat in the west country. When we bought her she was run down, after a couple of private owners, but we put in a silly offer and got her! Since then I have fitted a new engine, shaft and prop, fuel tank + all associated ancillaries. Have since spent many hours fettling her to how we want it. Still at it though!

 

[Norman_E]

I bought my boat, a 1998 Jeanneau 45.2 at the end of the 2005 season, so it had 7 years in charter with Suncharter in Marmaris. It had been a very popular boat and had about 4500 hours on the Yanmar engine. Now over 5500 hours with no major problems. I replaced the exhaust elbow this year, but aside from that and replacement of the gearbox sector plate (because the detents were worn) I have had no major engine or gearbox issues. The sails may have been the original ones when I bought the boat. They were heavy duty ones but near to needing replacement. I changed the genoa after two years ownership and the mainsail the following year.

Bad Points. The cockpit teak was pressure washed regularly and is knackered. I still have not replaced it.
There are a few dings in the toerail, one of them my fault, the others were there.

Good Points Suncharter were good on maintenance, and had refinished the cabin sole with hard wearing two part varnish when the boat was new, so the woodwork remains in good condition
The boat was well equipped with a bowthruster, a big colour chartplotter, upgraded engine, and top of the range instruments which I have only recently replaced.
The charter layout is a good one with the two forward double cabins having a removable partition to create one vast cabin.