Older boats what to look for

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Sniffyterrence

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Hi all
I would like some general information on what to look out for on older boats say 1990-1997 vintage with mainly Ad41 or Ad31 engines and outdrives.
We have been looking at fairline Targa 34, sealine 310 ambassador Sealine 310/320 statesman and other similar boats.
With boats up to 26 years old what problems would you look out for or indeed paperwork for work carried out would you expect on the engines and outdrives.
I know a lot depends on past servicing, use, and also owner care but as we all know paperwork is not always kept or indeed passed on to future owners.
Looking for any info on general problems with things like injectors, turbos, transom shields, legs,U/J, bearings, any comment will be appreciated as it's a big leap of faith spending up to 50k on something that is 26 years old
 
Surprised no one has responded to this post, fwiw I think the points you have mentioned are the things that need to be looked out for.
General condition also, as covers and upholstery can be expensive to replace.
Take a good mechanic with you and remember the old adage, it it don't feel right ..............
 
If the engines run and perform fine, the other consideration will be the cooling system. This is the complex side of marine engines - can be expensive and time consuming to put right. Has it been maintained - anodes replaced in the cooling and legs at correct intervals - are the engines running at the right temp?

On the hull, look for stress cracking.

Surveyors are very good at identifying signs of osmosis - less important IMO but can be used to haggle the price.

Check also for rain water leaks on deck and around fittings. A dry boat is a happy boat. Check also seacocks - at this vintage they will likely need replacing if not done recently.
 
Older boats.
Things to worry about
Things which in the future could actually ........
A, Prevent you boating
B Empty your wallet
C, possibly do both the above at the same time

You could employ a surveyor and pay somebody to take some of the worry out the purchase.
Otherwise in order of importance.
Outdrives. Old outdrives need ultra fussy care and what all the previous owners did or did not do will affect you.
Complicated method of providing propulsion,not just metal but rubber,electrics,electronics and hydraulics as well.
Get them checked. Outdrives make your boat move, no movement no boating.
No previous owner is going to tell you he flogging the boat cos it has given him nothing but grief and expense.
That much vaunted pile of previous bills probably may tell you all you need to know ?

Engines. Older low stressed diesel engines if given basic care will go on virtually forever.
Main worry ... overheating due to heat exchanger maladies.Most smoke on start up.
A lazy 6 cylinder lump will give a smoother ride than a lumpy 4 cylinder provoked into supplying same out put power.
Hull.... if was going to fall to bits it would have done so years ago.
Interior.......might be ancient and a bit scruffy and may not impress your mates but it is not going to stop you boating update as you go along.
Electronics ....if the radio and radar are out of the Ark, no real problem, still useable .
Beware boats for sale on inland waterways if you are going to boat on the coast. Many inland craft will have very rudimentary nav. gear.
Covers.you may be lucky and get a boat with new set of covers, covers are a consumable on tent boats, get the price reduced and budget for new set in the future.
There could be a reason that one of the boats you mention mysteriously holds its price better than the others. :)Good luck.
AIMHO.
Ps It is buyers market esp in your price range.Leave you mister nice guy english politeness at the brokers door.
Winter is the ideal time to get a sports boat at a good price.
Also worth having look at boats in France/Spain,even if you budget in 5-6K to repatriate and rubbish pound.
 
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I find it amazing that people do not keep service records, even if it is simply a written note of DIY work with receipts for oil and filters . However it would be very surprising to find a 1990's boat with full service records.
I also find it amazing that some people don't do any servicing. Yet engine or sterndrive issues are the greatest financial risk. Therefore the absence of recent service history may be cause for concern. If the engines look filthy / rust and neglected its a message to walk away.

Don't over stretch yourself financially with the purchase . A budget for fixing faults should be retained. Even a well maintained boat may not be completely free of faults.

.

When you find the right boat a survey is essential.
My present boat had faults, some of which I did not discover from a viewing . The survey report was valuable in negotiating a price reduction.
.

.
 
Always employ a good marine engineer to survey the engines and drives as if there are any problems you'll be looking at mega bucks!! On boats of that age the steering spline through the drive and shield normally leaks and causes big corrosion problems, I had to have new transom shields etc. Turbos could be worn/stuck, injectors failing the list goes on. So a sea trail and engineer is the only way forward!!
 
The Volvo Penta models you mention are fine engines, even with some neglect, but the outdrives will be expensive and possibly requiring replacement if the essential maintenance has not been regularly kept up. Worthwhile insisting upon a leg oil sample, and if it has any sign of milkiness run away. Also if it is pristine then it has just been changed, so does the general look of the leg suggest it is in good condition or just had a full service ? If so ask to see the bill to find out what was done.

Find out also when the bellows seal was last replaced. I understand this is a 2-3 yearly requirement, and only accept the specific date by sight of an invoice.

Or avoid the major expense and breakdown liability entirely and instead consider similar boats with shafts, which is what Oldgit was eluding to, and very politely I felt. The small difference in fuel consumption is extinguished by the far lower maintenance costs, and handling is better (IMHO).

Then on to the separate subject to asking price and what a boat might actually be worth - how long have you got ???
 
Look at several examples of the same boat, photograph everything, go compare

I have just put a deposit down after having seen 4 boats over a period of a year, all same make
Some too much 'improved' others a damp wreck, it's your money, you need to physically see the boats

There is no quick way to buy a good second hand boat :(
 
What ever you do, when you find what you think is the right boat, get it surveyed. The cost of that will almost certainly be outweighed by the list of issues that he finds. These can make or break the deal. We found what we thought was a very good priced Prestige 36 last year, but after the survey and sea trial, it was shockingly bad and the survey saved us the potential of many thousands of pounds in rectification work. All that glitters is not gold!
 
Any boat you look at, take a 'second' pair of eyes
It's amazing how much you don't pick up when you think you've found the one,
Good luck with your search
 
This issue is all about maintenance, and you will get a very good feel for the boat with how it is presented. If it looks tired and neglected, then it very probably is. If it looks like the owner really cares, then the likelihood is that it has been well maintained. The engines and outdrives will be the source of your biggest headaches. Check the service records, are they clean and tidy?
Take someone with you who knows this type of boat and drives, they will generally know what to look for.
 
We have viewed a Targa 34 that was in fairly good condition for age apart from a leak here and there. Updated nav package cockpit seats and cockpit consol updated. Canopy fairly good condition needs extra supports to stop it sagging but water tight. Inside clean but dated nice u shaped seating couple of rainwater leaks, heating good.
The engines and drives were removed in 2015, engines put on a test bed after having oil, filters, impellers and belts changed and checked for leaks. De-greased and over sprayed green. Put back together.
Then engine oil and filters done in 2016
Only about 600 hours on engines as I believe it has been sat abroad at some point.
Any comments
 
First off thanks for all the replays any info no matter how small all adds up. The boat is in the water but is winterised so engines cannot at the mo be wound up. A survey is a given I wouldn't entertain any boat without one no matter how old.
Boats with perfect history or anything close to that are the holly grail they are the exception not the norm. We have looked at many boats and everyone has what most on forums would class as walk away potential problems from lack of service info to engine bays with oil in to perished and torn bellows. Some of these have been 12 year old boats and also good budgets for the models we have looked at it's not like we are trying to get a S34 or Targa 34 for 60K
Would be interested to hear from the must be shaft drive class what is available in our budget upto 65K paid for a 28-35ft boat.
As always thanks in advance
 
Sniffyterrence said:
First off thanks for all the replays any info no matter how small all adds up. The boat is in the water but is winterised so engines cannot at the mo be wound up. A survey is a given I wouldn't entertain any boat without one no matter how old.
Boats with perfect history or anything close to that are the holly grail they are the exception not the norm. We have looked at many boats and everyone has what most on forums would class as walk away potential problems from lack of service info to engine bays with oil in to perished and torn bellows. Some of these have been 12 year old boats and also good budgets for the models we have looked at it's not like we are trying to get a S34 or Targa 34 for 60K
Would be interested to hear from the must be shaft drive class what is available in our budget upto 65K paid for a 28-35ft boat.
As always thanks in advance
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With your budget, you are almost into Prestige 32 territory with some serious haggling.
 
Sniffyterrence said:
First off thanks for all the replays any info no matter how small all adds up. The boat is in the water but is winterised so engines cannot at the mo be wound up. A survey is a given I wouldn't entertain any boat without one no matter how old.
Boats with perfect history or anything close to that are the holly grail they are the exception not the norm. We have looked at many boats and everyone has what most on forums would class as walk away potential problems from lack of service info to engine bays with oil in to perished and torn bellows. Some of these have been 12 year old boats and also good budgets for the models we have looked at it's not like we are trying to get a S34 or Targa 34 for 60K
Would be interested to hear from the must be shaft drive class what is available in our budget upto 65K paid for a 28-35ft boat.
As always thanks in advance
Click to expand...

I think that with your budget and with the boats that you are looking at then you will have to accept that you won't be getting the best example of the boat and will have to put some graft into it.

Provided that the engines and drives have been looked after then furnishings and canopies etc. can be changed along the way.
 
CX54WEK said:
I think that with your budget and with the boats that you are looking at then you will have to accept that you won't be getting the best example of the boat and will have to put some graft into it.

Provided that the engines and drives have been looked after then furnishings and canopies etc. can be changed along the way.
Click to expand...

I would expect to get the best ever 1991 Targa 34 for 65k or 310/320 statesman!
What you have quoted me on above is exactly what I'm trying to say I'm not trying to get an S34 or a Targa 34 (1997-) which would see me looking at the bottom of the price scale.
 
Sniffyterrence said:
We have viewed a Targa 34 that was in fairly good condition for age apart from a leak here and there. Updated nav package cockpit seats and cockpit consol updated. Canopy fairly good condition needs extra supports to stop it sagging but water tight. Inside clean but dated nice u shaped seating couple of rainwater leaks, heating good.
The engines and drives were removed in 2015, engines put on a test bed after having oil, filters, impellers and belts changed and checked for leaks. De-greased and over sprayed green. Put back together.
Then engine oil and filters done in 2016
Only about 600 hours on engines as I believe it has been sat abroad at some point.
Any comments
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We've had a T34 for 16 years. There's been a few little niggles over that time, but nothing serious. Nothing that's attributable to Fairline. Happy to answer any questions - feel free to PM me.
 
Questor said:
We've had a T34 for 16 years. There's been a few little niggles over that time, but nothing serious. Nothing that's attributable to Fairline. Happy to answer any questions - feel free to PM me.
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Hi thanks for the offer of help but looking at your profile picture I think we are talking different Targa 34's this one is a 91 vintage hence my original post regarding older boats with AD41 engines. The post 1997 Targa would be slightly above budget and like naughty cal has said we would be looking at the bottom end of the market for that model and that is exactly what we are not trying to do
 
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