fredrussell
Well-Known Member
Apols, posted in error.
My next boat.
- Thread starter Frogmogman
- Start date
Frogmogman
Well-Known Member
Update on my search for my next boat.
Despairing of finding an Elan 31 that meets my criteria (the owner of the one in north Jutland and I do not see eye to eye on what it’s worth, and he does not have proof of VAT status nor the certificate of conformity). Shame, as I had decided it was the perfect boat for me.
I think I may well settle on a First 31.7, as they are very popular over here, and if I’m going to do some club racing will find other examples of the model to race against.
I am going to look at a 2005 example on Tuesday that looks decently equipped, well loved and appears to have been scrupulously maintained (as is often the case with cruiser racers most of the ones I’ve seen appear to have been fairly well thrashed.
https://www.leboncoin.fr/ad/nautisme/3155475185
A lengthy chat with the owner today revealed that he had the boat inspected at the end of last year as he had noticed that the bonded in structural grid appeared to be lifting in places. This was confirmed by the survey, so over the winter the keel has been off, and the ribs of the frame have been re-laminated to the hull. He has owned the boat from new, and assures me that it has never suffered from a heavy grounding. I know this to have been an issue on other models in that era of Finot-Conq Firsts.
If I do decide to go ahead, I will obviously get the boat surveyed. To me it is a positive thing that a known problem of the model has been caught and addressed. Would it put you off that it’s had this issue ?
Despairing of finding an Elan 31 that meets my criteria (the owner of the one in north Jutland and I do not see eye to eye on what it’s worth, and he does not have proof of VAT status nor the certificate of conformity). Shame, as I had decided it was the perfect boat for me.
I think I may well settle on a First 31.7, as they are very popular over here, and if I’m going to do some club racing will find other examples of the model to race against.
I am going to look at a 2005 example on Tuesday that looks decently equipped, well loved and appears to have been scrupulously maintained (as is often the case with cruiser racers most of the ones I’ve seen appear to have been fairly well thrashed.
https://www.leboncoin.fr/ad/nautisme/3155475185
A lengthy chat with the owner today revealed that he had the boat inspected at the end of last year as he had noticed that the bonded in structural grid appeared to be lifting in places. This was confirmed by the survey, so over the winter the keel has been off, and the ribs of the frame have been re-laminated to the hull. He has owned the boat from new, and assures me that it has never suffered from a heavy grounding. I know this to have been an issue on other models in that era of Finot-Conq Firsts.
If I do decide to go ahead, I will obviously get the boat surveyed. To me it is a positive thing that a known problem of the model has been caught and addressed. Would it put you off that it’s had this issue ?
doug748
Well-Known Member
It would not put me off. AI is a bit in two minds about it but I think the original internal grid would have been stuck down and the repair may have made it much stronger than new. Of course there is always a little doubt to affect resale value so as long as the price is keen, happy days.
Looks like excellent custom made sprung mattresses in the fore cabin, the ultimate luxury.
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Looks like excellent custom made sprung mattresses in the fore cabin, the ultimate luxury.
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Lucky Duck
Well-Known Member
Brings back memories, had one in the early 2000s
