Looking for a new boat, but feeling stuck..

[JollyRodgers]

Don't be, water can accumulate from drips through the cockpit locker lids. It can also be merely the result of condensation over a couple of weeks. If you had serious leaks in the cabin top you would feel damp upholstery and see signs of corrosion around window frames etc.

Yeah, cockpit locker lids is where people have been telling me water is getting into it. Definitely wasnt any bad smells down there and he had only just unlocked it when we got there. Cushions and upholstery weren't damp either and no corrosion around window frames. There was a tiny bit of green stuff around a couple of the windows if you looked really closely, but I guess it just hasn't been cleaned or treated too much in recent years. I can sort that out.

You can sprinkle talc around where water may be likely to be coming in & it'll show up but that small amount nothing to worry about, it's what bilges are for! It'll smell/feel damp & hit you straight away when you go below if something's not quite right. It's sounding better all the time...

That's a great idea with the talc! Will definitely try that. Yeah, as above. No funny smells at all and definitely no dampness in upholstery.

Check water filler and plumbing to and around water tanks under starboard berth for source of water in bilge.
£12.5K for Sadler 32 makes me feel near suicidal as a relatively recent owner!

I didnt check the water filer admittedly and didn't really look to close at the water tanks. I saw them though because I wanted to see where they were and what capacity it was.

Re water in the bilges, from what you say this particular boat sounds fine. As others have said, the dampness in the bilges is most probably just condensation. I wouldn't worry about what's under the engine, if the under cockpit sole locker lid seals aren't perfect, it will have got in that way. Mine aren't and water can get in just from sluicing the cockpit out with a hose. Rain shouldn't have got in, but if the boat hasn't been levelled fore and aft, it can collect at the front of the cockpit, and test the seals, instead of draining out through the cockpit drains aft.

Re the propshaft, I did the job about 20 years ago, when the cutlass bearing was about £20, the propshaft about £120, the seals about £12, and I also needed a new bronze nut machined to hold the propeller on, I think about £7. So under £200 then for the bits, which I sourced from T Morris Ltd, Isleworth www.tnorrismarine.co.uk

No labour costs because DIY.

Considering the boat has been out of the water since early October without a humidifer and left more or less untouched, it was in pretty good shape.

That's not a bad price (even without inflation ). Not sure what size the propshaft is, so I guess it could be £120 or it could be £750 (1M 3.5" one). Either way, it's not horrendously expensive like you said.

Sounds like Chrissie is the person to speak to then. I'll give her a call once I've figured something out price wise with the owner.

 

[JollyRodgers]

Well I've put an offer in on the Sadler 32. I am going to continue looking around for other boats until I settle on a figure with the Owner of the Sadler. No point in not keeping an eye on the market, as literally dozens of new boats are being added to sites like BoatsandOutboards everyday. Seen a nice Westerly 33 for sale at a very similiar asking price to the Sadler that seems in very good condition. May draw up a list of 5-7 boats or so all down in the portsmouth/southampton area and do it all in one day. No harm in looking.

No point in getting worked up over the Sadler or falling in love with it because there are literally thousands of boats all within the area that are similar spec for a similar price. Just gotta spend the time to sift out the **** ones.

 

[James_Calvert]

Well I've put an offer in on the Sadler 32.

Well done

 

[JollyRodgers]

Offer accepted on the Sadler 32 as of this morning

Just called up Chrissie and had a little chat with her. She said her insurance has ran out, so happy to do survey but it wont be covered as a survey if the Insurance companies ask for proof of survey. I've been told she's fantastic though and also been told that there are many insurance companies who don't require surveys. Just fired off some quotation requests at Simon Winters and Panteneous (sp).

Don't really want to breathe a sigh of relief until I see what comes up with the Survey.

Thanks to all that have helped.

 

[V1701]

Many congrats & best of luck! Try Yachting 24 for insurance, they shouldn't require a survey (didn't on my 1972 Vega a couple of years ago anyway). They're underwritten by Pantaenius & there have been a couple of reports of good claims handling on here. Couple of other recommendations - boaties frypan & if you have access to shore power an electric blanket...

http://www.yachting24.co.uk/en

 

[JollyRodgers]

Many congrats & best of luck! Try Yachting 24 for insurance, they shouldn't require a survey (didn't on my 1972 Vega a couple of years ago anyway). They're underwritten by Pantaenius & there have been a couple of reports of good claims handling on here. Couple of other recommendations - boaties frypan & if you have access to shore power an electric blanket...

http://www.yachting24.co.uk/en

I find it really weird how Yachting24 have quoted me £185 a year for fully comp. They hadn't even asked what experience/qualifications I have, or what courses I have been on, or my age. Strange eh?

The frying pan looks good. Whats the perk on using that over a normal one? Do they grip better?
Electric blanket might be a good idea. I was going to rely on hot water bottles prior.

Anything else that you'd recommend buying?

I have the Surveyor booked for Sunday morning. I'm really hoping that it goes pretty smoothly without anything major that needs doing.

Will hopefully have the gel coats, propshaft and antifouling + survey and paid for before the end of the Month and have it floating in the Marina by the 1st of March. Optimistic?

 

[Babylon]

Couple of other recommendations - boaties frypan & if you have access to shore power an electric blanket...

Electric blanket? He's a youngster! When he's eventually gets to the age of the average forumite he can fit heated-grips to his Zimmer-frame, but in the meantime he won't feel any cold!

 

[V1701]

I find it really weird how Yachting24 have quoted me £185 a year for fully comp. They hadn't even asked what experience/qualifications I have, or what courses I have been on, or my age. Strange eh?

The frying pan looks good. Whats the perk on using that over a normal one? Do they grip better?
Electric blanket might be a good idea. I was going to rely on hot water bottles prior.

Anything else that you'd recommend buying?

I have the Surveyor booked for Sunday morning. I'm really hoping that it goes pretty smoothly without anything major that needs doing.

Will hopefully have the gel coats, propshaft and antifouling + survey and paid for before the end of the Month and have it floating in the Marina by the 1st of March. Optimistic?

Boaties frypan just the shape allows you to have another pan on a two burner stove but they are good quality too, had mine for 4 years or so now non-stick still going strong & it's had loads of use. Electric blanket - the modern ones use hardly any electric, you can leave it on low (it is very low) thro the night & stay lovely & warm, seriously it makes it way more civilised living aboard in winter. Work tends to take longer than you'd think, especially with anything weather/temperature dependent in the winter. I optimistically hoped to have had my new (to me) boat here by now but she's still out of the water 150 miles away & none of the work's been done yet...