Hull inspection

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russ

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Looking at an S38 thats out of the water. Where about on the boats hull do I need to scrape back the AF and what to look for?
I believe its spray rails and chines but at which points? (will be getting full survey but worth a look now)

If the boats not ran for a few a week would water in the drive oil still be visible on the dipstick due to the oil not being pumped around the drives?
Need to check as they're being serviced before my survey.

Any other points worth checking whilst ashore?
 
russ said:
Looking at an S38 thats out of the water. Where about on the boats hull do I need to scrape back the AF and what to look for?
I believe its spray rails and chines but at which points? (will be getting full survey but worth a look now)

If the boats not ran for a few a week would water in the drive oil still be visible on the dipstick due to the oil not being pumped around the drives?
Need to check as they're being serviced before my survey.

Any other points worth checking whilst ashore?
Click to expand...

The oil on the dipstick is engine oil that circulates around the outdrives. The outdrive oil is separate and in the outdrives. To inspect this you need to unscrew the oil fill hole on the outdrive.


The two oils are not connected.


Is this the S38 In Norfolk ?
 
“Where about on the boats hull do I need to scrape back the AF and what to look for ?”

I think scraping back the anti foul as part of a survey once an offer is accepted and deposit paid is one thing but may well be unacceptable to many owners as part of an initial viewing. I’m not sure which of the Sealine ‘S’ series suffered with hull issues but if this was one of them all the remedial works were done by Destys and a certificate should be on top of the pile of available paperwork. Good luck !
 
If the hull strengthening has been done there should be a completion certificate.

Water in our drive oil makes the oil milky. I doubt the water would drop out. If the boat is ashore I expect the oil has been changed.
 
MartynG said:
If the hull strengthening has been done there should be a completion certificate.

Water in our drive oil makes the oil milky. I doubt the water would drop out. If the boat is ashore I expect the oil has been changed.
Click to expand...

Only just been lifted. So service is next week.
Vendor doesn’t have paperwork although a prominent hull surveyor that worked alongside Sealine has done a survey report concluding its been strengthened. Not sure if this is good enough?
 
I looked at S38s before buying the S34. There is a design issue - which required structural strengthening. I think this is the reason these boats represent such apparent value for money in today's market. I believe the mod should have been done by Destys Marine. There should be paperwork to back this up. Alternatively, I believe Destys will be able to tell you if they did the mod from the hull number.

Also the advice I was given was to be wary of the Seaplex electrics. Check everything, as its a bit temperamental; and parts are either no longer available or prohibitively expensive.
 
DazzyWoo said:
parts are either no longer available or prohibitively expensive.
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A marina neghbour rewired the nav lights in the arch and stiff on the same switch bank in the conventional way as the seaplex stuff was not functioning.
 
It’s surprising how much you can see with the naked eye between waterline and deck and above deck for stress cracks, use the light and work yourself around a hull.
below the waterline antifouling will be cracked with spiders web concentric rings or lines where a hull is stressed when it has dried out.
I can’t see what scraping would show you?
 
Bandit said:
It’s surprising how much you can see with the naked eye between waterline and deck and above deck for stress cracks, use the light and work yourself around a hull.
below the waterline antifouling will be cracked with spiders web concentric rings or lines where a hull is stressed when it has dried out.
I can’t see what scraping would show you?
Click to expand...

Didn’t see any anti-foul cracking so seemed all fine. Pulled out interior seating but inside of hull had carpet glued over it.
Legs had loads of play in them. Dented props.
Port engine very rusty around cylinder head and fuel injectors. No valve clearance service history.
Sumps a little rusty. Lots of belt dust.
Fuel smell around fuel taps.
Missing paper work.

So not for me unless substantial price drop.
 
russ said:
Didn’t see any anti-foul cracking so seemed all fine. Pulled out interior seating but inside of hull had carpet glued over it.
Legs had loads of play in them. Dented props.
Port engine very rusty around cylinder head and fuel injectors. No valve clearance service history.
Sumps a little rusty. Lots of belt dust.
Fuel smell around fuel taps.
Missing paper work.

So not for me unless substantial price drop.
Click to expand...

Seems to me like you are expecting a new boat for second hand money. These are 15 - 20 years old now
 
Bigplumbs said:
Seems to me like you are expecting a new boat for second hand money. These are 15 - 20 years old now
Click to expand...

If it were 50 years old I would still expect to see a certain amount of care and some history with a boat before I would buy it.
My description of faults are just a handful I noticed. Not to mention the faults with the Seaplex electrics etc.
Sometimes you just get the feeling it’s not right whether it’s new or old.
 
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I wouldn't touch a S38 without the Destys certificate - it will be next to impossible to sell on to anyone other than a cash buyer who hasn't done their research. The vendor surely knows this.

Guessing the boat is on D4s - in which case there is no valve adjustment guidelines in the service schedule. Belt dust will likely be the supercharger belts if ran in supercharger range for too long. Some people are not fussy about what the oily bits look like and never take a cloth to them.

It does sound a little un-cared for
 
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