New boat blitz

[snoozydude]

Gidday
I have a couple of questions about a GRP 26' Sailing Yacht I am about to purchase. I would be very grateful for any answers you could provide. I am sure there are many great books on the subject and I will search for them as well - for the moment I am after just some good practical common sense tasks which will get me in the water ASAP.

Many thanks in advance.

1. What are some tips for an initial cleaning and minor repair blitz.
I would like, while it is up on the hard for the survey, hit it inside with a gurnie and clear out all the mould to give me a good clean slate to plan our future together. Also give the boottop a polish and maybe another coat of antifoul down below. Clean any curtains and cushins. Wipe down all the interior timberwork. Maybe wipe down with a mould retardant. I am interested in any products and tips on doing this.


2. What are some questions to ask the new owner - I already have an extensive list and hope I can get through half of them?


She has a GRP hull - with lots of varnished timber in the interior. As I stated this is only to get her clean to plan scope any major jobs - being a new boat there is a heavy emphasis on - goin sailin!

 

[aidancoughlan]

When I bought my boat recently, I got the owner to take me through all the systems on board (vhf/gps,instruments,electrics, batteries, water,engine, seacocks etc.). It may sound silly, but I had thought about bringing a video camera to point at whatever we were talking about as a record - I didnt, and now I'm sorry!. We went throught the boat at a rate of knots & not being used to this stuff, I'd forgotten half of it within 24hrs!
Make sure you know where&what everything is & how it works.

 

[LeonF]

I make a note of everything if possible but there is always something you forget to ask. If its a genuine sale there shouldn't be a problem about calling him to ask. The guy I sold my last boat to a year ago often called me to clarify things. I never minded and it was nice to hear about the boat, including any problems that had arisen!!

 

[bendyone]

Hi
What we did after buying a 17 year old boat, was to use it as is for the first year, then this winter empty it right out, clean, paint lockers, clean, varnish the woodwork, clean, sort out any other problems discuvered during the sailing season, clean again.
Its beginning to look good. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[FlyingDutchman]

Cleaning it out meticulously you will learn a lot about your new boat.
We bought ours last year (10 years old) and did the same. Take your time to clean out every square inch and look at the cables and hoses, where they lead to, take a screwdriver and check the hoseclamps etc. Doing this will slow down the cleaning, but you will get to know the boat. At the end of the day have a beer and take off the cover of the engine and look and wonder what all the thingys are for. Very important also is to have the manuals and the maintenance records!
Take your time!
Good luck!

 

[aidancoughlan]

Oh, and buy or borrow a copy of Nigel Calders Boatowners Mechanical & Electrical manual if you intend maintaining the boat yourself!

 

[Evadne]

1. There's no "maybe" about mould remover/retarder. If there's a hint of black mildew anywhere it's probably because the previous owner removed acres of it to make the boat look good before selling her. Keep on top of it or the curtains and cushions will go the same way.

2. For cleaning oily or otherwise disgusting bilges, giant disposable nappies are the best. I use fairy liquid, but was recently recommended oven cleaner to get the bilges really sparkling, though I've yet to try it.

3. If the exterior varnish looks less than shiney, rub down (not to bare wood) and put 2-3 coats of the most expensive varnish you can buy onto it. If not, it'll be peeling by the end of the season. Cheap varnish is a waste of money, IMO. Interior needs doing less often so I use the good stuff there as well, so it lasts longer.

4. To oil non-varnished wood, try Danish oil (available from hardware stores). 2 coats is plenty.

5. Some people use proprietary hull polishes, or Mer, others swear that they trap the grit and avoid them. You can only get close enough to see the difference when the boat is alongside in a marina, so I generally don't bother.

6. Antifouling should be renewed each year, I tried rubbing it down as it's suppposed to be self abrading and there's lots left on hte hull, but it doesn't repel the weed anything like as well as a new coat of the stuff. If it's bronze, polish the propeller rather than painting it.

That should keep you busy for a while! good luck.

 

[DavidBolger]

Ask the existing owner what he would do to the boat if he were t keep the boat. Ask him after you have completed and paid your money so that he won't hold back.