help with 70s boat identification

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alicat

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Hi,

Below are some pictures of a possibly 1970s fin-keeled "in need of tlc" boat that is for sale, but the owner seems to know little or nothing about what kind/class of boat it is, etc, etc. Does anybody on the forum recognise what it might be?

All suggestions gratefully received! :cool:

48_80.jpg
48_80c.jpg
 
Looks like a Hunter 19 to me, great little boat

If you tell us what the owner is asking for it and what's included (trailer/engine/rig and sails?) I'm sure you will get a view from the forum it it's worth it.

Looks ok in the pics, just a bit grubby, however if it needs sails/engine then that can all add up even if you buy second hand.
 
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Georgio, alahol2

Many thanks for the quick response!
Several hours on the web last night, and I was thinking it might be a Hunter, so well chuffed to be right!

Next query...if I bought it, I'd have to trailer it ~100 miles on the one in the picture, another picture below. Do people think the trailer looks sufficiently robust for the job (I currently sail a Wayfarer, so not used to fixed-keeled boats yet!)? Would obviously strap boat on, and apparently the trailer is braked, though given the state of everything, I'm a little cautious/concerned!

thanks for any input, really appreciate it.

48_80a.jpg
 
seems to include trailer, mast, rigging, "sails", cushions (dry-stored) and presumably a boom... vendor is not the most communicative...
I'm assuming that most/all rigging will have perished and thus need replacing. No engine mentioned. vendor wants 600 quid for the lot. Bargain or a dud!?
 
Without knowing the rating of the suspension units, the size, and condition, of the tyres and the rating of the hitch its impossible to say if its suitable or not.

Its probably too old to have a plate giving max capacity or gross weight on it ... it might not even have been professionally made.

It looks to me as if it was originally for a shorter and shallower draft boat. That bow support has been modified surely?

If you do use it check the wheels and tyres, and as far as possible the suspension. check the brakes and the wheel bearings.
Check that it can be trimmed with the correct nose weight.


It looks wrong and because of that might attract the attention of "plod". Ok if they find nothing actually wrong but if they do ******.
 
Thanks for good advice, I am concerned about it too, similar thoughts to you VicS, primarily from getting appropriate 3rd party insurance to actually transport it in the first instance.

Pictures arent great, but I'm not even sure if there is suspension, though I am no expert in this matter. The wheels look independent, i.e. not on a common axle?

Tried asking vendor who made the trailer, etc., but have had no response as of yet. A lemon?
 
The standard trailer supplied with the Europa when new was usually 4 wheeled - but that's not to say that one isn't suitable. The Europa is a dream to sail.
 
Trailer wheel bearings & brakes do seize up, especially standing unused. It's not expensive to replace the bits, but it can be a PITA identifying the correct manufacturer, and time consuming to do the work. Try & move it - if it rolls, you're more than half way there. If it doesn't roll at first attempt try tapping the hubs lightly with a biggish hammer as you pull, or try jerking backwards, or both. Worst case scenario = 2 sets brake pads, 2 wheel bearings & 2 brake cables, maybe £150-ish. I wouldn't be too concerned about the trailer design, though I would get the bow support adjusted so it takes some weight - or at least stops the boat dipping down & forward under braking.

The suspension for a lot of these is just a square bit of rubber that distorts as you bounce. If it's too light on the nose wheel (the worst fault in any trailer) you will probably be able to move the axle forwards (or maybe not - just re-read your description) (this is easier than it sounds - probably easier than servicing the brakes). At £600 it's difficult to see how you could go wrong (as long as it's the sort of boat you want).
 
The trailer looks like it is professionally built (it's galvanised to start with). The bow prop seems to have been lowered to support the trailer as there seems not to be jockey wheel.

However £600 is a too much for a very shabby boat with no motor and no evidence that the rigging or sails are even usable. A cheap suit of sails will be £700.

You can get a very, very smart Europa for less than £2K. A really decent one would be as little as £1000.

Look at this one. on the correct trailer. http://hunterboats.apolloduck.com/display.phtml?aid=309193





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alicat said:
Thanks for good advice, I am concerned about it too, similar thoughts to you VicS, primarily from getting appropriate 3rd party insurance to actually transport it in the first instance.

Pictures arent great, but I'm not even sure if there is suspension, though I am no expert in this matter. The wheels look independent, i.e. not on a common axle?

Tried asking vendor who made the trailer, etc., but have had no response as of yet. A lemon?
Click to expand...

It must have suspension to be road legal. its got brakes and mudgauards so presumably intended to be a road trailer.

Suspension may be Indespension units or similar (the rubber things Maxcampbell refers to I guess). If so the centre of the wheels will be a few inches aft of the centre of the cross members


At least you have two opinions

one says, "At £600 difficult to see how you could go wrong". The other says, "£600 is too much ....")

Offer £350 !
 
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The trailer looks ok to me, just need to move that bow support up to the correct position.

IF it comes with all the bits, IF the Trailer brakes/suspention/hubs are OK and the boat is not too far away then I would be tempted to buy it for that money. A quick jetwash and scrub up of the outside and she will look a whole lot better.

Perhaps offer to take it for £600 but agree with the seller that any costs associated with making the trailer roadworthey can be taken off the price?

I have allways liked the Hunter 19, for an old boat it has aged really well and I think it still looks quite modern. The only downside is mooring costs because of that deep keel, my preference would be a lifting keet in a boat that size but that's just my preference.
 
alicat said:
Georgio, alahol2

Many thanks for the quick response!
Several hours on the web last night, and I was thinking it might be a Hunter, so well chuffed to be right!

Next query...if I bought it, I'd have to trailer it ~100 miles on the one in the picture, another picture below. Do people think the trailer looks sufficiently robust for the job (I currently sail a Wayfarer, so not used to fixed-keeled boats yet!)? Would obviously strap boat on, and apparently the trailer is braked, though given the state of everything, I'm a little cautious/concerned!

thanks for any input, really appreciate it.

View attachment 34283
Click to expand...

Read David Blagdon A willing Griffon
 
hi lakesailor,

I have just been looking at exactly that one! I think it all comes down to whether the sails are any good (I get the impression they have been stored in the shed, so might be), but only a manual inspection will confirm or refute.

thanks!
 
With a Hunter Europa it's essential to find out whether she was factory finished or sold as a kit. Factory boats were well made but the quality of home completions can be very variable indeed. I would certainly want to have a very good poke around inside the cabin. As Georgio said, a good blast with a pressure washer will work wonders, and the great thing about wee boats like this is that spare parts aren't particularly expensive; they generally come from the "big dinghy" racks rather than the "yacht" racks at the chandler's.

As far as the trailer goes I wouldn't dream of moving it without taking the hubs off and giving a Good Hard Stare at what lies inside. Whatever the make of suspension (Indespension, Rubery Owen, whoever) the rotating bits all tend to be fairly standard and bearings, brakes shoes and so on are generally easy to find. The general trailer structure looks pretty solid but of course will need a good going over for rusty bits. If it's generally OK, the trailer alone is worth about half the asking price, so it's not too bad a deal.

You'll find lots more help and advice through the Hunter Association forums or on the Hunter 19/Europa Yahoo group.
 
If you tow that trailer with a yacht that looks that scruffy, any Traffic Police Officer will think it worth a tug as they will assume (correctly) that if the yacht looks that bad, they trailer will also be bad.

Any trailer which has stood for any length of time with a load on it will certainly cause the tyre to become "out of round" and this can be a potential problem.

also make very sure about the GTW of your tow vehicle. If you get stopped by either VOSA or Police, they will take you to a Weigh Bridge to make sure you comply.

Good luck, £600, very good price. :)



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