Large crack in GRP/Fibre near keel bolts.

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Ive found a potential show stopper whilst inspecting a yacht I was very keen to buy.

It is a long crack in the fibreglass near the keel bolts on a 1991 Bavaria Lagoon 390.

I will be getting a survey if after an initial inspection from a boat yard suggest this is nothing to worry about. Otherwise the owner will need to have this repaired.

Does anyone have any experience of such problems and is it something I need to worry about?
Thanks
Mark

LInk to image:
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f55/...html#post272784
 
I'd be VERY wary of a crack in this position.... its usually an indication of a serious grounding at some point.... I looked at a Sun Magic which proved to have a similar problem, and walked away quite quickly..... it can be repaired, but its major surgery, and will you ever truly trust it?

The image.... you need to put it on a commercial hosting site such as photobucket, rather than from your own PC....
 
This may indicate a heavy grounding has cracked the hull. I had this happen to a Jeanneau 32. Personally I'd walk away, although it is possible to have it repaired at major cost.
 
Thanks. Ive updated the post to contain a link to an image.

Its what I thought, although the owner reported to the broker no impacts. The broker suggested that the owner's insurance would cover the repair if it had been grounded.

Mmm...would I ever trust it after a repair? I dont know.

I thought my search was over :-(
Mark
 
Given the current choice available, I'm sorry to say that I would walk. I am not a surveyor but I cant think there is a worse place to have a crack like that on a yacht.

I also think it very odd that if the damage is covered by insurance that it hasnt been done.
 
Why don't you ask a reputable repairer to look at it and give you a quote for a repair that he will guarantee.

That way you get knowledge of the problem and likely cost straight from the horses mouth.
 
Run away. Given the economy, it must be a buyers market out there these days so surely there are bargains to be had that wont leave you with sleepless nights.

Add to that the Bavaria whose keel just fell off a few years ago (was it a Bavaria Match?) and I'd look elsewhere.

Good luck.
 
Hi Sailfree, yep someone from a boat yard is going to take a look at it.

Mm, "forgotmyfeckinglogin" not worried about the Bav keel issues as this yacht was from an earlier time when Bavs were built to Lloyds A1 certification.

I do tend to think that it has had a good hard smack on the keel though. Buggrritt.

M
 
Think wrong on both counts. You are right that a Bavaria Match did lose a keel. However that has no relevance to the poster's question.

Although you may think it is a buyer's market with the implication that there are loads of desparate sellers and buyers are in a strong position. That is not the case. There is a shortage of good quality boats on the market and prices are holding up. There may be some distress sales where it is possible to get a bargain, but people are holding onto good boats. Remember like cars, the secondhand market is driven by sales of new boats releasing old boats on the market. New boat sales have just about stopped.
 
Run away. Why would you willingly take on someone elses major problem? The damage is already done and at best can be repaired, but will surely not be as good as new?

Regards

Carl
 
Don't think I would walk away if everything else is right about the boat. As others have suggested get a quote from a reputable repairer, supervised by your surveyor. You may be able to get the vendor to share in any costs as he will have to resolve it sometime as well.
 
Yep. I watched the market throughout the end of last year, and hoped to bag a bargain in spring, but my experience is that some brokers are saying "we are glad of any offers at the moment" and others are saying "the selling market has never been so good".

Typical.

However, there are definately more customers per boat in the UK now than 12 months ago becuase of the equilibrium between the pound and euro. This increases the demand side of the supply/demand eqaution - so we cant expect a "buyers" market. Further, with the high euro it means less bargains are there for uk buyers with £s within the european boat yards, so again more UK people are looking at UK boats if they are thinking of buying a yacht.

It is a difficult time to buy for sure.

Maybe I should give up and go back to work. :-(
 
Anywhere else other than the keel attachment area would make it an interesting proposition, but ask yourself this question - "what kind of owner having run aground VERY hard, so hard the GRP cracks at the keel, would not get the boat fixed?". Then ask yourself why you would buy a boat from him.

IMG_0755.jpg
 
[ QUOTE ]
Don't think I would walk away if everything else is right about the boat. As others have suggested get a quote from a reputable repairer, supervised by your surveyor. You may be able to get the vendor to share in any costs as he will have to resolve it sometime as well.

[/ QUOTE ]

I would expect the vendor to stand ALL of the costs, or I would walk away.
 
Hi Tranona, well, that is what I was wondering about, but Im defiantely not going to put in any money for the repair myself, either the owner has it all made like new, or I am going to have to look elsewhere. :-(
 
Looking at that picture closer, the crack looks more than just a surface crack and it threads right down to one where one of the keel bolts runs through the hull.

All looks bad, but Im no expert.

Think its time I walked away from this one, at least until the broker confirms the situation.

Cheers everyone. Ill keep looking.
Mark
 
When I was looking at the Sun Magic, with very similar damage a reputable surveyor (actually a naval architect) told me that unless I could get a further £30k off, then not to bother..... it would be an expensive repair, needing a full keel removal, extensive removal of existing material and probably need quite a bi of the interir removing for access and checking..... and would also dent resale value.
 
It can be repaired and, yes, I have seen worse both on cruisers (Jeanneau) and on pure racers in carbon fibre (Reichel Pugh). After grinding away the crack, rebuilding to thicker scantling and the installation of proper metal fabricated floors, properly bedded, it will be a much stronger boat than the original.

Having said that, why would you want to do it - unless the price is a real bargain? What would worry me more is the coat of freshly applied paint that is on the outside. This alone would make me wonder whether the seller is really a very trustworthy person.
 
Before going to the expense of a further survey I would see if the owner would draw the keelbolt and lift the stainless plate. That should allow you to see the depth of the crack.
It is fixable but I would not be satisfied with anything less than removal of the keel and a both-sides repair.
 
[ QUOTE ]
l bargain? What would worry me more is the coat of freshly applied paint that is on the outside. This alone would make me wonder whether the seller is really a very trustworthy person.

[/ QUOTE ]

i think your being a bit harsh there.A dishonest vendor could have quite cheaply hidden that crack with a bit of glassing and flow coat.
 
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