Problems, Costs and Tasks to reactivate an unused boat (4 years on the hard)

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Tender_aft

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I managed to get most of the question in the title.

I saw a boat that had not been used for 4 years and it got me thinking about this. A lot of those I am looking at are stored on the hard whilst for sale.

It's got 485HP GM engines (aren't those DD's?) I'm not asking for actual costs of course, just what will need to be done that will actually cost (engine servicing, maintenance to hull and ancillaries etc.).

Left to rot like that, are there any problems (one plus I can think of...it's GRP so it might be dried out by now).

I should mention the boat is from the late 80s
 
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rafiki_ said:
Interesting question. Actually not easy to answer, unless more information available, for example, how much prep for storage?
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Let's take it as it is. No idea whether any prep was done. It doesn't seem like it though. My first steps would be the usual recommendations I have seen on here; Full survey, engine survey including oil analysis camera probe etc. If the engines weren't prepared for sitting around, there is a fair chance they have seized, so a basic would be to see if it would turn over (manually or on starter at least; not sure you should actually start them until you know they are OK).
 
Check it's not seized first. Put in water, connect batteries and fire it up.

I've seen many an engine awoken after long hibernation and have always been fine. I had a two stroke Suzuki GT380 that had only 30 miles since new in 1974.
Cleaned the carbs, put in fresh fuel and away it went. Rode 280 miles on it for it's first trip without any problem.
Mercruiser 5.7 V8 asleep for 8 years, fired up first try and went perfectly for ages.
 
its probably fine, but engines might be lightly seized, if possible best to pull out the injectors first and pour in a table spoon of light oil or diesel to give the piston rings a chance. leave it a few days and then try and turn it over by hand. if thats ok then spin the engines on the starter to see oil pressure come up OK.
if alls ok fire the engines up properly. you are into new batteries throughout (unless been on shore power), service all the various pumps through the boat, possible new seals in the loos and chaneg all the fluidsand filters in the engines and gearboxes
 
Mine was parked up for years.
All the above... Plus plus.....

Shaft seals may have dried....
Rudder stock seals....
Sea cocks...

Mine had stood for years, on and off the hard.
Hopefully i am now at the end of the list of what should be replaced.
 
Robg71 said:
Are you going to give us a clue, what have you been looking at :D
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Hehehe I was wondering when someone would ask. Another guy asked about some engines a few months ago and nobody asked what boat they were on.

I learned to keep schtum years ago when I told someone about a deal going through and it was stolen from under my feet.

I will as soon as I have bought it or written it off as a bad idea....might be a few months though. I appreciate all the advice and once I have a boat will share all of the pleasure and pain (you and the others are a lot to live up to in the renovation stakes though :) ; mine will be slow and steady as funds are available...as long as I can do it whilst the boat is usable in the water, I will be happy)
 
LOL...this will go on for months...I haven't got time to go and see it until the end of October.

What's big? (Whatever size it is, for me it has to be something I can handle alone, but I want it big enough to fit the family (5) and to be able to handle some chunky seas)...I am looking between 42-52')

Whatever I buy will probably be uglyish to start with but hopefully beautiful underneath (with a bit of cosmetic surgery and makeup) :-)

I only found the boat in question yesterday, in the meantime, I just put an offer in on another (secret) boat that I looked at a few months ago. I'm getting frustrated now...seems like the owner (or possibly the NEW broker) has high price expectations (it's a reasonable offer I think).

Just need to wait and see.
 
My fingers are crossed for you most people have far to big an expectation
On what the boat is worth
Like me be brutal if the person selling wont sell at the price you want to buy
At then walk away he / she will regret it when the bills fall on the mat for either
Storage or mooring be realistic and don't pay the brokers fees that's the sellers
Responsibility
 
Drewster said:
My fingers are crossed for you most people have far to big an expectation
On what the boat is worth
Like me be brutal if the person selling wont sell at the price you want to buy
At then walk away he / she will regret it when the bills fall on the mat for either
Storage or mooring be realistic and don't pay the brokers fees that's the sellers
Responsibility
Click to expand...

I concur (or is that a bit highbrow for a forum). In this case (and many cases) it is a forlorn looking boat that I think is good underneath but looks tired and old. It's from the 80s, but underneath it looked better preserved and looked after than three I looked at from the 90s and even one from 2004! Equally it is not being marketed well either (why do boat brokers make such little effort for the monies involved...with the prices involved, they should be as eager and active as estate agents). For the price being asked, the market opens up to many other nicer boats, faster sleeker, more sumptuous looking, which will sell for at or near their asking price.

Either sense will prevail, or I will walk away and lower my (already low) standards even more.
 
The day will come when sellers put up realistic values not pie in the sky ones
Just because two years ago a similar boat soled for xyz dose not mean its worth that today
 
Been there and got the t-shirt. If the the hull is sound i.e. no major repairs or gel coat pitting (crazing can be fixed) and the engines are GM DD's then most of the problems are fixable without killing your bank account or your marriage. If you don't have a mega salary expect to spend the next five years working on the boat and most weekdays on eBay sourcing bits and pieces. Make sure you get a survey that looks at every stringer, bearing and skin fitting, so you end up with a comprehensive work list. Don't be put off by the age. When I compare how my boat (1980) was built to modern popular marques I know where I want to be when the going gets tough. Buying an older boat has given me a hobby, a direction, new friends and experiences I would never have gained with a new boat. Good luck.
 
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