In the Water 7 Years - Who Needs a Survey?

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Galley maid

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Osmosis and other issues ...

A friend of ours is interested in a seven-year-old Beneteau First 211.

The boat looks very tidy ... BUT she's always been kept afloat except for a two-day lift-out each year for scrub, anti-foul etc.

Considering the expense of a lift-out and survey, any well-informed views out there about:
- what to look for in this model of boat, and
- the dread osmosis?

Look forward to the experts' input!
 
I don't know the First 211, but with any grp boat left in the water for that long I'd want a lift out and good survey.

She may look tidy, but I'd be wondering what other financial short cuts or lack of maintainence there may be.
 
It seems fool hardy to buy a boat hull site unseen!! I dont know the model, but thinking aloud what about hull skin fittings and any underwater metalwork-could be a real money pit!
 
I'm not sure what the question is ......

but if the question is "should the boat be lifted out for a survey", I would say the probable cost of the lift compared to the cost of the boat makes the lift and survey a wise investment.

If the question is "should being in the water almost continuously for 7 years be regarded as an issue", I would say not. Provided the survey is sound then don't worry about the boat's immersion.

Richard
 
Seajet said:
She may look tidy, but I'd be wondering what other financial short cuts or lack of maintainence there may be.
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I don't see how keeping the boat in the water, with annual lifts for antifouling, can possibly be interpreted as a financial shortcut or lack of maintenance.
 
Galley maid said:
Osmosis and other issues ...

A friend of ours is interested in a seven-year-old Beneteau First 211.

The boat looks very tidy ... BUT she's always been kept afloat except for a two-day lift-out each year for scrub, anti-foul etc.

Considering the expense of a lift-out and survey, any well-informed views out there about:
- what to look for in this model of boat, and
- the dread osmosis?

Look forward to the experts' input!
Click to expand...

I wouldn't be expecting osmosis in a 7 year old boat. In fact I wouldn't be expecting any problems with a 7 year old boat unless it's been grounded or crashed. Def worth a lift out and check though.
 
Freebee said:
what about hull skin fittings and any underwater metalwork-could be a real money pit!
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Buggerall underwater metalwork on these boats - no engine and no heads :). But even if it did have them, half a dozen new DZR skin fittings are hardly a "money pit".

Pete
 
pvb said:
I thought the First 211 was discontinued in 2005.
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So did I - is it a 211 or a 21.7 which would probably be the correct model for a 7 year old boat.

As others have said, there should be no osmosis if 7 years old, unless always in fresh or warm tropical water. I think there is only one any underwater skin fitting (sink) on these, unless someone has fitted a marine WC instead of the usual Porta-potti. There is some ironmongery in the keel mechanism though that might merit a good look at.

As brokers ( http://www.yachtsnet.co.uk/ ) we virtually automatically say to buyers "...have a survey". If not at least get a second pair of educated eyes to look over the boat carefully.
 
Given that it is a very simple boat ....

If you are confident in the rest of the boat why not ask a surveyor to just do a hull survey or damp test. It may be worth it for the piece of mind during the purchase and over the period of your ownership?
 
Who needs a survey? Well I saved a fortune on getting one done! I know nothing about boats so commissioned a survey on a vessel I was thinking of buying. A very tidy example down below, but was basically used for a long time as a floating caravan. As a result, everything was broken, from winches to sails, roller reefing jammed, engine mounts, batteries, rampant osmosis, rudder, you name it, it was stuffed. Best day I ever spent with a fantastic surveyor and contributor to YBM publications. A top bloke and very helpful. Highly recommended.
 
Tia said:
Well for a start his insurance company will need a survey, so may as well get it done now. Plus all the other reasons given before.
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Might do, might not. Insurers haven't asked for surveys for either of our boats.

(In both cases we did pay a nominal fee for a copy of a survey done for an earlier prospective purchaser who pulled out. But we didn't send them to the insurers.)

Pete
 
pvb said:
I don't see how keeping the boat in the water, with annual lifts for antifouling, can possibly be interpreted as a financial shortcut or lack of maintenance.
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It is indeed a shortcut, both in financial and hassle terms !

If ashore properly, this boat - now I recognise the design - requires a very serious looking at around the lift keel, inside and out, very regularly; from the photo's I saw on here I'd be twitchy about it after 1 year afloat.

With any boat after 7 years afloat I'd be dubious for several reasons; osmosis, skin fittings, engine corrosion if inboard ( or disaster if outboard left in a well or over a transom ) rig, ie running rigging unlikely to be renewed, the list goes on...

Unless there's a very good reason, ie geographical or owner's personal situation, one has to ask why it's been left in the water so long, especially a boat like this which is relatively easily slipped / hoisted and not exactly an Island Packet...
 
Seajet said:
It is indeed a shortcut, both in financial and hassle terms !

If ashore properly, this boat - now I recognise the design - requires a very serious looking at around the lift keel, inside and out, very regularly; from the photo's I saw on here I'd be twitchy about it after 1 year afloat.

With any boat after 7 years afloat I'd be dubious for several reasons; osmosis, skin fittings, engine corrosion if inboard ( or disaster if outboard left in a well or over a transom ) rig, ie running rigging unlikely to be renewed, the list goes on...

Unless there's a very good reason, ie geographical or owner's personal situation, one has to ask why it's been left in the water so long, especially a boat like this which is relatively easily slipped / hoisted and not exactly an Island Packet...
Click to expand...

But the OP said it had been lifted out every year for work. So there's been ample opportunity every year to check the hull and fittings. And you don't have to take the boat out of the water anyway to renew stuff like running rigging!
 
prv said:
Might do, might not. Insurers haven't asked for surveys for either of our boats.
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Even if they don't ask for it, it may be in the small print somewhere. I imagine that if, in a year's time, they found some significant hull problems the insurer would want some proof that these weren't present when they bought the boat. Insurers often don't care what documentation you do or don't have, until you want to make a claim of course!
 
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