pitfalls of buying a older boat

[dpb]

We bought our Portofino 31 two years ago and had the same concerns as you are having now.
I think the main things that come to mind after two years of ownership are:
I wouldn't have got to own and drive a boat of that type otherwise.
Everything non engine and leg is reasonably easy to fix or replace economically especially with a bit of patience and ebaying.
Unless you are lucky you can probably expect to find engine faults flushed out during early ownership which can take a bit to sort especially if working on diesels or legs is new to you, but the gap between repairs seems to get longer as you get on top of them, we have had a trouble free last 12 months.
If I'd had to pay others to have all the engine issues that have occurred fixed I would have given up by now.
Most issues were fixable without loosing use so in the two years we only lost 3 weeks in the first summer due to leg issues.
Keeping her clean is constant, especially the top sides that have UV damage to the original finish (due to be painted).
I lost more per year in depreciation of my previous boat, bought new, than I have spent in repairs to this one.

So in short you need to have deep pockets or be happy to take on jobs yourself, but for us it has been worth it, even though I have a big job on with one engine at the moment we still use her on the other one!

 

[volvopaul]

We bought our Portofino 31 two years ago and had the same concerns as you are having now.
I think the main things that come to mind after two years of ownership are:
I wouldn't have got to own and drive a boat of that type otherwise.
Everything non engine and leg is reasonably easy to fix or replace economically especially with a bit of patience and ebaying.
Unless you are lucky you can probably expect to find engine faults flushed out during early ownership which can take a bit to sort especially if working on diesels or legs is new to you, but the gap between repairs seems to get longer as you get on top of them, we have had a trouble free last 12 months.
If I'd had to pay others to have all the engine issues that have occurred fixed I would have given up by now.
Most issues were fixable without loosing use so in the two years we only lost 3 weeks in the first summer due to leg issues.
Keeping her clean is constant, especially the top sides that have UV damage to the original finish (due to be painted).
I lost more per year in depreciation of my previous boat, bought new, than I have spent in repairs to this one.

So in short you need to have deep pockets or be happy to take on jobs yourself, but for us it has been worth it, even though I have a big job on with one engine at the moment we still use her on the other one!

Did you get to the route of the engine issue?

 

[dpb]

Did you get to the route of the engine issue?

Not yet, compression test kit on order, meanwhile, turbo, heat exchanger and exhaust manifold all removed this afternoon and now in garage for checking and cleaning. All looks normal so far except for a sooty residue on the inside of the intercooler air intake pipe.............will update original post when I know whats what!