Potential issues on buying an under used boat

[doug748]

Not seen the photos but I guess you are in a position to assess the fit out yourself. Neglected leaks from decks and windows are a killer but, again, you will no doubt have picked that up.

There is a good chance the engine will be fine - provided, again, it has had some form of regular care. Even just being checked and turned over by hand.

If it's been left afloat for long periods the hull could be bubbly. The batteries will need thinking about and, as the others have said, rigging

I think the jib will be shot the others may be ok on inspection. If they are not a bit crinkly you can probably discount the 80 engine hours.

The price does not look too far out but with all the question marks you would not want to pay it without negotiating yourself a good buffer. 30k might be nearer the mark.
Your difficulty is.. that this type of boat is not common and the next one to come along might be distinctly over used.


Just a small point, looking at the position of the top brackets, I think even a fit, well built 30 year old would struggle to fit those legs at sea.

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[AntarcticPilot]

There are possibilities that some bits will cost you money, but don't be scared off by the doomsayers. A survey will find anything of concern.

Actually, if I were still on the Clyde I'd consider a boat of that type, and reckon on sailing through the winter!

 

[Minerva]

Well those responses are a lot more positive than I anticipated…

Some of the comments mirror my thoughts in that she is not worth £37k plus new standing rigging, plus running rigging, plus a new engine, plus new sails - then your into buying a Sun Odyssey 40DS territory for similar overall budget. (I think that’s manmaths.)

Perhaps she’s with a trip for a visit.

 

[Minerva]

Actually, if I were still on the Clyde I'd consider a boat of that type, and reckon on sailing through the winter!

That was partly my thinking. Keeping her in commission year round. They’re building a marina in Fort William- by winter, when there’a snow she would be a ski chalet. When no snow, some winter cruising…

 

[Minerva]

Just a small point, looking at the position of the top brackets, I think even a fit, well built 30 year old would struggle to fit those legs at sea.

The legs would be scant used. The anticipation is she’d be in commission year round. Therefore an easy way to dry out for a tides to change anodes and anti foul each year would be appreciated.

 

[Tranona]

Well those responses are a lot more positive than I anticipated…

Some of the comments mirror my thoughts in that she is not worth £37k plus new standing rigging, plus running rigging, plus a new engine, plus new sails - then your into buying a Sun Odyssey 40DS territory for similar overall budget. (I think that’s manmaths.)

Perhaps she’s with a trip for a visit.

There is very little available of that size/type in the lower price range because so few were built new and many were in the premium end of the market. That was what was so attractive about the self build Colvics as there really was potential for money savings doing it that way. However many were badly put together with often builder "improvements". This one looks at the better end of the home build spectrum and as I said one owner is a big plus.

Go and look at it - you will know pretty quickly if it is the boat for you and whether you are prepared to put in the effort to get it up to scratch at a doable budget.

 

[sailingmartin]

Minerva. I took on a similar underused 1990 boat a couple of years ago. For me it was a deliberate decision as the price enabled me to refit to my specification. Ok it cost a good deal of cash but I have the boat I wanted. Thirty year old electronics need replacing but probably so do 10-year-old electronics given the rate of techological change. In addition to the bits and pieces others have mentioned, do you know if the boat has been k in the water for all that time? If so, there is a good chance of osmosis being present somewhere which will need treatment. Make an offer, subject to survey and get a good surveyor to have a thorough look. Then revise the offer or walk away depending on what they say. Good luck.

 

[oldharry]

There are possibilities that some bits will cost you money, but don't be scared off by the doomsayers. A survey will find anything of concern.

I agree. You asked how likely it would be that the engine and rig were servicable, so we pointed out the things that MIGHT go wrong from under use. So we listed some of the things you MIGHT expect to find. Doesnt mean it HAS all these faults - in fact its highly unlikely you willencounter more than one or two of them. At least its not one that has had the guts thrashed out of it.....

Go and have a look, but bear in mind what I said: 'lack of use only enhances the price in the mind of the seller' and if you do make an offer, make sure you alow for one or two of the possibilities we have listed! A good surveyor could put your mind at rest over a lot of it.

If it ticks all the boxes, go and take a look. You're not wasting the brokers time, its what he is paid for. As others have said, boats of this kind are rare. Just go in to with it with your eyes open - not the comfortable bed, the indoor steering position with a decent view, the decent sized tanks, but reasons why you SHOULD walk away from this particular one, or would justify a lower offer.

Miss her, you may miss that 'forever' boat if theres so few of them about!

 

[DownWest]

I would certainly go and look at her. The spec sounds like the owner spent a bit of money when building, not doing it at the cheap end.
I moored up behind one of these at Villamoura's customs pontoon. Had a look around her, after it turned out it had been built in the village my parents lived in and one of the crew worked with my father. Quite impressed at the time.

 

[Blueboatman]

Colvic hull , someone else sourced the bits and did the fit out ..
You would need to look at every single component and bit of tabbing , bonding , wood attaching
And some of the bits may have been sourced from boat jumbles
Ya just don’t know
Perhaps chat with the owner before going to view??
£17k plus £15 for a new engine , £6 for some nice sails , £50 for navigation iPhone software
£3 for an autopilot
And on it goes ?
And you are up to and beyond the current asking price ..but if you explain and ask nicely , who knows …???

 

[Stemar]

there is a high probability of it turning into a money pit in short order.

It's a boat. It's not a high probability, it's a certainty. ?

Any boat of that vintage and budget is going to be a money pit, even a mainstream, factory finished one. Home completed? Yes, it could be a disaster, but the other definition of an amateur job is one where a skilled person takes all the time it takes to get it right. An examination of the finish in the bits you can see will tell you about the bits you can't.

Doesn't sail very well? Well, she'll never beat a lightweight racer, but she'll go well enough off the wind, and on the wind, that's what the engine's for. What do you want to be doing when you're bashing into a nasty 6, full of spray and cold rain, sailing on your ear in an open cockpit clipped on in full oilies with water dripping down your neck, or in a comfy wheelhouse, listening to the reassuring chug of a powerful diesel, with a mug of coffee in your hand?

If she fits your requirements, but you fear big bills, do the sums and make an offer based on what she's worth to you, explaining why you're making such an "insulting" offer. If (when) the seller says no, tell him the offer stays on the table until you find something else. A few more visits and low or no offers may bring him round.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Colvic hull , someone else sourced the bits and did the fit out ..
You would need to look at every single component and bit of tabbing , bonding , wood attaching

If only there were people who could carry out "surveys" on boats to check things like that.

And some of the bits may have been sourced from boat jumbles

Just like any other boat, then.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

Just a small point, looking at the position of the top brackets, I think even a fit, well built 30 year old would struggle to fit those legs at sea.

If they are proper adjustable Yacht Leg Co legs they are nearly rare as hens teeth and much more valuable. Brackets can be moved and hopefully legs extended

 

[michael_w]

A mate had one for a short while. He sold it because he got fed up motoring everywhere as it was heartbreakingly slow under sail.

 

[Caraway]

That was partly my thinking. Keeping her in commission year round. They’re building a marina in Fort William- by winter, when there’a snow she would be a ski chalet. When no snow, some winter cruising…

There are cheaper marine holiday chalets available. Boat for sale – Property For Sale – Ambleside | Facebook Marketplace (you need a facebook account)

 

[Stemar]

A mate had one for a short while. He sold it because he got fed up motoring everywhere as it was heartbreakingly slow under sail.

I believe Laminar Flow of this parish has some answers to that issue

 

[oldmanofthehills]

A mate had one for a short while. He sold it because he got fed up motoring everywhere as it was heartbreakingly slow under sail.

The quoted sail area/displacement is 10.42 which is low. Normal cruiser might be 16. However I do not know what sail plan the quoted SA/D is for. A very large genoa can improve things - not without its own issues, but got my LM from 12.5 to 13.5

 

[Falcruiser]

Our previous boat had seemingly sat on a pontoon for fifteen years while the owners enjoyed the view of Brixham. Just 80hrs on the engine. the heat exchanger was severely blocked with crud and the fuel was full of bug. The good bits were the interior woodwork, which was like new. when you think about it, a well used boat will have had much of the rigging, prop shaft, electronics etc replaced at least once, maybe more, so a well used boat is actually newer than an underused boat.

 

[dunedin]

A mate had one for a short while. He sold it because he got fed up motoring everywhere as it was heartbreakingly slow under sail.

So true. For a SAILING Yacht, sailing ability should be a primary priority for enjoyment. Certainly was key in all my boats.

 

[Supertramp]

The quoted sail area/displacement is 10.42 which is low. Normal cruiser might be 16. However I do not know what sail plan the quoted SA/D is for. A very large genoa can improve things - not without its own issues, but got my LM from 12.5 to 13.5

I think the SA/D is wrong - the sailboat data info says 510 sq ftwhich seems low and I think it's a lot more than 10.4. I should have thought it would match any similar size and weight cruising yacht.