Pedro 36 purchase

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stelican

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I am interested in purchasing a late 1990s model single volvo engine has bowthruster.
Prior to survey I wish to make my own inspection,My concern is that the some steel boats suffer from internal rusting.
Any other pointers would be appreciated
Intended use is The Rance and as far further south that we can get
Look forward to advice
Stelican
 
You are right to be concerned about internal rust. You need a good torch and one of those long handled angled mirrors to see in areas behind and under fuel/water/waste tanks. Check beneath engine, all bilge areas, and basically anywhere you can. You will find rust, but that will not mean the boat is a bad buy. Get the surveyor to do an all over hull thickness check.
 
Main point for problems is down inside the box keel. Moisture/water can collect there where it is out of sight/out of mind. I believe some have filled the keel cavity with oil to protect against rusting.

Only real way to test for issues is ultrasound thickness testing by a competent surveyor.
 
The beauty with steel is that rust can be reasonably cheaply dealt with if you can get at it. Waterline is where most of the thinning through rust will be a problem and many old dutch barges are replated in this area.
We had an old De Groot many years ago and whilst thin at the waterline it was within acceptable limits. We epoxied a wide band around the waterline and the steel never suffered any more.
As B1 has suggested hidden areas such a box section keels can harbour rust often from collected condensation.
Many Narrowboaters swear by waxoil sprayed into the bilge sections as it runs to fill all the nooks and crannies and is self healing when scratched as it remains a soft coating.
 
Just an off the wall comment,but the Pedro normally has some weedy single diesel,making it basically slow and some would say underpowered.Great for the slow moving(mostly) Thames and dutch inland seas.Not I would have thought,for an area of the of the coast known for it strong tides and a place were they are building tidal barrages due to strength of tidal flow.
 
oldgit said:
Just an off the wall comment,but the Pedro normally has some weedy single diesel,making it basically slow and some would say underpowered.Great for the slow moving(mostly) Thames and dutch inland seas.Not I would have thought,for an area of the of the coast known for it strong tides and a place were they are building tidal barrages due to strength of tidal flow.
Click to expand...

A very good point. Often they are little Peugeot lumps of about 60+hp which will have to work hard in a flow.
Our old De Groot had a smooth running 6 cylinder Ford (Dover or Dorset I forget which) which had plenty of spare power in reserve. Coincidentally as son at that time was an apprenticed engineer with a well known Thames Boat trip company these were the most common engines in their fleet at the time.
 
A good clue...

Look at the stuff being used locally? We all know that some types of boats get used in locations that are totally out of context ie 50ft 1000hp boats on the Thames etc but you tend not the find narrow boats in Brighton Marina and for good reason.
Just wonder what you would find parked in local marina down in the Rance.
Actually just had a look on Wiki and the River Rance itself looks very much like the Thames only probably much nicer/cheaper with more attractive wimmin,nicer food/wine and less grumpy boaters.
 
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