Joining you soon (fingers crosse

NeilT

NeilT

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Joined
7 Aug 2010
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122
Location
thames valley
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Morning all.
I've spent ages reading so much useful information on the forum I though it was time to join and say hi.
I'm in the process of getting a boat again after 20 years away.
If all goes well on the survey on Monday I should be moored at Bray very soon.
Then the fun starts with BSC etc (all new to me)
So if you see a complete numpty standing with various ropes and lines scratching his head lookin baffled do stop and say hi.
Cheers for now
 
Another one moves to Bray marina, Mike G must be rubbing his hands with glee at all these new customers...

We're over on "I" pontoon by the way, if you're in the area.
 
Wow!
Thanks for the warm welcome, I told the other half boat folks are friendly.
The survey didn't go quite a smoothly as I would have liked but that a whole different bucket of frogs which I won't bore you with.
It does mean heaps of homework, pricing and negotiating though.
If we manage to overcome the latest "opportunity" there will be a fairline carrera joining you (Mrs calls it a little big boat).
But whatever happens we will be mooring something at Bray soon I hope.
Thanks again for making us welcome.
N
 
>>>
The survey didn't go quite a smoothly as I would have liked but that a whole different bucket of frogs which I won't bore you with.
It does mean heaps of homework, pricing and negotiating though.
>>>
We wont be bored and there are some wise and experienced folk on here, as well as flibbertigibbet inebriates like me, they will have sage advice to offer.
 
Andrew_Fanner said:
>>>
The survey didn't go quite a smoothly as I would have liked but that a whole different bucket of frogs which I won't bore you with.
It does mean heaps of homework, pricing and negotiating though.
>>>
We wont be bored and there are some wise and experienced folk on here, as well as flibbertigibbet inebriates like me, they will have sage advice to offer.
Click to expand...

Andrew
OK here goes (remember you did ask) I will try to be brief
we made our offer on the basis that the engines were getting a little tired (volvo 131's) the o/d's needed a service and the cockpit upholstry will need some attention as its a little tired in places.
I was planning on pulling the motors and rebuilding them over the winter and also doing the other jobs at the same time.
Unfortunately the survey has thrown up a few more problems that aren't huge in themselves but the number of them turns all those little "just jobs"
into another huge amount of work on top of what I was allowing time and funds for.
The outdrives have both got water ingress, the reverse lock on one is knackered and the other has a failed bearing which is making steering a 2 handed job, not forgetting both props are also close to terminal.
So to my mind its now gone from a service to a rebuild on them.
I'll list as many of the othe jobs as I can remember
Fire extinguishers all out of date
Cooker has no FFD
Gas pipe out of date
VHF U/S
Wiper motor U/S
Holding tank pipework needs replacing
Water heater tank U/S
Port engine heat exchanger leaking
Port engine exh manifold leaking
This is only what I can remember - I'm sure the written survey will have more good news for me tomorrow!
Now I know a 22yr old Fairline Carrera will have some issues and I'm not expecting a new boat but I'd like something to use while im tinkering not a basket case that by the time I've finished it I'm going to be to knackered to use it :p
Many thanks if you've read this far and remember, Andrew did ask :D
Cheers
N
 
Hi Neil

I think for me your survey list would make me look else where. It all sounds like little care has been taken with this boat for some time.
Having just spent rather more than I anticipated on my Volve engine and outdrive, which are now working really well, I am however very aware how much cash they can soak up in repairs, and thankfully [cost wise] I only have one engine.

Good luck with your purchase and decisions, it also shows that a few hundred pounds spent on a survey can prove money well spent
 
Hi Neil

Always a tough call to make when the survey is not gleaming. There are quite a few similar boats on the market so will you be paying significantly less for this one?? If so, it may be worth it - you get a together boat, the way you like it and maybe protected against depereciation, but I would over-estimate the cost of repair rather than under-estimate.

Mark
 
You are so right about the survey -
I used a fella called Jim Pritchard I really can recommend him, its a small price to pay to save making a rather huge mistake.
It was by no means an expensive boat with the faults I knew about but now I can't see anyone paying close to that unless they buy blind, although it might be an opportunity to be rater brutal with a much lower offer.
I'm not sure on the forum protocol on posting actual figures but happy to if its ok
The big problem seems to be we have rather set our hearts on a Carrera or Sunfury for the layout and build quality.
N
 
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I'd be inclined to make a bruital reassessment of your offer and be blunt about it. We did that with Jedi. It was made worse for the vendor by his having shown us invoices for work done but shown in the survey as defects.

Don't know anyhting about outdrives beyind dangling your gearbox in the water is a chancy process (!) but thoughts on the others:

>
Fire extinguishers all out of date
>
Replace. Tbh replacing extinguishers every few years is wise anyway. If they are not Halons there can be some benefit to lighting a small fire somewhere permitted and using the extinguisher(s) on it. Valuable experience in a lower stakes environment.
>
Cooker has no FFD
>
Strictly if a BSS has previously been in force with that cooker fitted before (I think) 1996then lack of FFD on burners should not be a fail provided the cooker itself has no leaks. If its no ffd on the oven that's a scrap and replace. A new cooker, assuming 2 burner hob, grill and oven was a bit under £400 from fox's online chandlery earleir this year.
>
Gas pipe out of date
>
Replace without question. The rubber pipe is very cheap. If its to barbs/pipe tail use two jubilee clips.
>
VHF U/S
>
Nuisance but unless you are going tidal its a "round tuit". Checked the powersupply, fuse and aerial connection?
>
Wiper motor U/S
>
I/3 of mine are like that too. That can be a pain depending on where it is located.
>
Holding tank pipework needs replacing
>
White sanitation hose gone porous I guess. Winter job for me as its on its way out. ISTR that the Headmistress who posts to PBO now and again described it once as a long lasting consumable. Pong if too bad can be held in check by tipping biological washing powder down the hose, or bio luquid if you have some. Kills the bugs that smell. I am told dont use bleach.
>
Water heater tank U/S
>
Calorifier? Tha's an ouch and may be a pain to fix.
>
Port engine heat exchanger leaking
>
Could be an O ring or other seal, or even moribund pressure cap. If your surveyor is happy to take followup questions he may advise what he thought was the leak source.
>
Port engine exh manifold leaking
>
From manifold or gasket? Could range from a bit of chemical metal as a temporary patch all the way to a new manifold.

Very pretty boats.
 
Can i just stop and thank you all for your time in replying, especially Andrew.
I should have explained the heat exc leak is internal between the 2 circuits.
The survey on the hull and structure of the boat is glowing - absolutely zero problems, plus the boat has not been messed about with by previous over enthusiastic owners (some of the home grown fixes I've seen on some boats have been absolutely beyond belief).
So at the moment I'm still in the possibly "trying my luck with a rather harsh revised offer" camp.
I can still see this as a worthwhile endeavour BUT only at the right price as I could end up with exactly the right boat all sorted my way.
Oh and the trim tabs were fine too !!
 
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If you are leaking between closed and open in the exchanger that may well be a tube stack issue. Its possible that an aircon/radiator specialist may be able to arrange a fix. Alternatively given that its basically the same as a steam locomotive boiler if you have a model engineering freind there are possibilities although if its alloy that's not a boiler material. Bacially that's open it up and investigate further.

I'd try the revised offer and be blunt. May do your case no harm if you are armed with estimates for professional work on the drives etc, essentially what it would take to make a seaworthy mobile vessel. Add in the cost of actually passing the BSS if it ever had one.
 
Its always possible I'm concentrating on the bad and not taking the good points into account (human nature?)
So to balance it out I'll list some of the positive points
New pram hood this year
New a/fouling in march
Has tender and outboard
Very few "starbursts" in gelcoat compared with others
And a big plus to me is the boat is pretty original as I have seen a few that look like they drove the boat through the local chandlers and bought everything that stuck to it.
N
 
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