Sanity check please. A boat has caught my eye…

[Fr J Hackett]

That's what I'd be looking for myself, as for the seller, it's more like, "That engine hasn't run for years. Even if it works, I don't know how long it'll last, so I have to budget for a new one"

And if I was the owner it would be best you look for another boat then.

 

[Ribtecer]

That's what I'd be looking for myself, as for the seller, it's more like, "That engine hasn't run for years. Even if it works, I don't know how long it'll last, so I have to budget for a new one"

You don't think the current owner might find this thread then?

 

[Stemar]

Ah well, it's all part of negotiating a price that leaves both buyer and seller reasonably dissatisfied.

 

[Supertramp]

Much sensible advice already given.

The biggest difference to a grp boat is the hull and associated keel and rudder assemblies. I would want a surveyor who understood aluminium to look at it inside and out, with me present. Is the concealed interior full of peeling paint too? Special attention wherever different metal fittings meet (windows, skin fittings, rig attachment). Grp can be replaced, aluminium not so simple.

I looked over a 36 before I bought my current boat and thought it well designed, simple, robust and capable. It was well beyond my budget.

 

[GEM43]

I have great admiration for fixer-uppers but it's not something that I would consider for a nanosecond.

Buy an old nail of a boat for £50k, spend £40k on in, excluding lost time and heartache. Once done, it's probably worth £55k and the owner will never really be happy with it. Another form of delusional fantasy.

Don't do it.

I think it depends upon age, energy, enthusiasm and enjoyment of the necessary work. I bought a dog-eared Nauticat in 2004 and thoroughly enjoyed doing a very significant five year refit. I kept the boat for eighteen years and loved her. Twenty years later I wouldn’t do it again, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing for me. Accordingly I agree with your conclusion but it’s for the OP to consider his own willingness for the effort required.

 

[Refueler]

I’ve always had a bit of a thing for Ovni boats. I like lifting keel boats - have a great love of sitting up a muddy east coast creek, and currently have a Parker 31, which I love. I also have an ancient dog and when he goes to the great kennel in the sky I would love to live on a boat, so looking for a bit more room. Lifting keel boats in the mid - 30ft and upwards bracket are not too common, mostly Southerlies or French aluminium types. These boats are generally out of reach for me financially, but…

There’s a ‘cheap’ Ovni 385 currently for sale on Apollo Duck. It’s a fixer-upper, or perhaps a project boat (the difference for me being that a fixer-upper can be put in the water and used whilst work commences, whereas a project boat ends up in a boatyard for months or years). Here’s a link to boat ad:

Alubat Ovni 385 for sale UK, Alubat boats for sale, Alubat used boat sales, Alubat Sailing Yachts For Sale Alubat Ovni 385 - 1999 - 12m 40ft - REDUCED - Apollo Duck

I’m only currently at stage one of boat madness, ie repeatedly looking at the ad and thinking “hmmm”. Your job is to help me avoid stage two which means going to look at the boat. Thankfully the boat is bloody miles away, if it were local I fear I’d be at stage two already.

What do you all reckon? Any experts on painting aluminium decks out there?
It’s been on the market a while and the price has been coming down and I suspect may be reduced more.

If I didn't have the 38 ... that would interest me ....

Of course that would need good hand to prepare and paint exterior ... but the factor for me is that interior looks clean and good ... even the engine.

 

[Refueler]

Cosmetically these boats age badly but, provided the hull looks sound it should outlast you without breaking the bank. Having said that I too don't fancy the engine very much. Check out Alluring Arctic on YouTube they fettled an aluminium boat - not that I suggest you should ever consider doing that level of refit. Fixing old boats is an exercise in knowing when to stop and go sailing

If the engine has hassles, and knowing that you are in for a lot of tough work anyway, do you really need the trouble? I think this is a young man's game, sit tight.

.

You don't want to see my Perkins then .... looks like a load of rust sitting on the beds .... starts and runs a dream .....

Just because someone took a spray can and did a bit of touch up ... but looking at the overhead shot of engine - she looks clean ...

 

[Refueler]

The engine wouldn't scare me, provided I could see it start from cold, preferably on a cold day. A bit of smoke as it warms up is OK, but it shouldn't smoke once warm. Plenty of water out of the exhaust, and it pushes the boat along nicely, and it'll likely be good for a few years. Bonus points if there's no oil in the bilges, just a good accumulation of general dust proving it hasn't been cleaned.

At last - I agree ... it seems that its standard for people to say - factor in a new engine - which IMHO ... 9x out of 10 is unnecessary ...

 

[Fr J Hackett]

At last - I agree ... it seems that its standard for people to say - factor in a new engine - which IMHO ... 9x out of 10 is unnecessary ...

There seems to be and I suppose it's natural, always an attempt by buyers to knock a boat and achieve substantial reductions and the engine often as in this case is where they start and often with no other reason than it's old. That is until of course they come to sell their own boat.

 

[Neeves]

Its all idle speculation until Fred is willing to go and visit and decide if he can afford both the time and effort.

Personally if he loves the idea of an Ovni I don't understand why he has not booked a visit - the reluctance suggests he is not sure of an Ovni or he's unsure he can invest the time and effort - we certainly cannot comment on this last part.

Go for it. If it turns out to be a lemon - and least you will not regret going and having a look (and there are much worse places to visit).

Jonathan

When we were in the market we drove from Port Douglas in the north to Eden in the south and looked at very catamaran for sale of the right size. In the end we had Josepheline built. We never regretted the trek down the coast, its about 2,000km. We learnt a lot and most cats were rubbish and appallingly presented.

 

[ylop]

Personally if he loves the idea of an Ovni I don't understand why he has not booked a visit - the reluctance suggests he is not sure of an Ovni or he's unsure he can invest the time and effort - we certainly cannot comment on this last part.

Go for it. If it turns out to be a lemon - and least you will not regret going and having a look (and there are much worse places to visit).

You could waste a lot of your life looking at boats which a rationale discussion before jumping in the car would mean you were never going to buy - ask Wansworth - it can become a hobby in its own right, or it can eat into the annual leave you might need to actually get the boat seaworthy again. Partners who might enjoy sailing may not enjoy trawling the country looking at boats - that may put pressure on to say “yes” to something which you have doubts about.

Reading between the lines - the current owner bought this as a dream, had a little fun with it but had not realised that he’s not going to get the dream and so needs to cut his losses. Fred’s mission is to make sure he doesn’t become the next custodian with the same sorry tail to tell.

 

[KevinV]

That deck and cockpit are going to be right pain to strip and repaint - by the time you've budgeted for having a pro do it, isn't easier just to get a good one nearer by? Unless they're willing to take an (even lower) offer?

 

[Blueboatman]

The hydraulic issue referred to, what might that be?
Backstay, autopilot or rudder and centreboard lifting?

To my mind the paint and knackered appearance of the canvas work are a large part of the £40k instant discount on the initial pricing..

What someone negotiates above and beyond ( ie below) that is up to them.
But there are a lot of bare or part painted French aluminium boats sailing around since the 1970s

A surveyor would have an opinion on the maintenance or not of all the sundry parts, winches etc
The interior would ( to me) turn around in a heart beat.

 

[Tranona]

The hydraulic issue referred to, what might that be?
Backstay, autopilot or rudder and centreboard lifting?

Rudder drop plate. Centreboard is simple manual winch and cable.

 

[Skylark]

I think it depends upon age, energy, enthusiasm and enjoyment of the necessary work. I bought a dog-eared Nauticat in 2004 and thoroughly enjoyed doing a very significant five year refit. I kept the boat for eighteen years and loved her. Twenty years later I wouldn’t do it again, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing for me. Accordingly I agree with your conclusion but it’s for the OP to consider his own willingness for the effort required.

Of course it does and the OP is free to make his own decision, That said, in the OP he wanted us to help him avoid moving to phase 2. Each to their own.

 

[Supertramp]

The real question is what sailing the OP plans to use it for.

This is a boat that will access hidden corners rather than marina hopping and which will deal with staying on track when the weather has sent others into shelter. The shortlist of boats that do both those things well is small and rarely has boats at this sort of price on it.

If I didn't want those attributes, I would look for something newer and more mainstream.

 

[Mark-1]

I’ve always had a bit of a thing for Ovni boats. I like lifting keel boats - have a great love of sitting up a muddy east coast creek, and currently have a Parker 31, which I love. I also have an ancient dog and when he goes to the great kennel in the sky I would love to live on a boat, so looking for a bit more room. Lifting keel boats in the mid - 30ft and upwards bracket are not too common, mostly Southerlies or French aluminium types. These boats are generally out of reach for me financially, but…

There’s a ‘cheap’ Ovni 385 currently for sale on Apollo Duck. It’s a fixer-upper, or perhaps a project boat (the difference for me being that a fixer-upper can be put in the water and used whilst work commences, whereas a project boat ends up in a boatyard for months or years). Here’s a link to boat ad:

Alubat Ovni 385 for sale UK, Alubat boats for sale, Alubat used boat sales, Alubat Sailing Yachts For Sale Alubat Ovni 385 - 1999 - 12m 40ft - REDUCED - Apollo Duck

I’m only currently at stage one of boat madness, ie repeatedly looking at the ad and thinking “hmmm”. Your job is to help me avoid stage two which means going to look at the boat. Thankfully the boat is bloody miles away, if it were local I fear I’d be at stage two already.

What do you all reckon? Any experts on painting aluminium decks out there?
It’s been on the market a while and the price has been coming down and I suspect may be reduced more.

I bloody love Ovnis. The real McCoy. Tend to be seen in wild places where not many people go.

I know that doesn't help.

 

[Blueboatman]

I bloody love Ovnis. The real McCoy. Tend to be seen in wild places where not many people go.

I know that doesn't help.

Oh but it does.
It just doesn’t help the OP!

 

[AntarcticPilot]

I bloody love Ovnis. The real McCoy. Tend to be seen in wild places where not many people go.

I know that doesn't help.

Not sure that it was an Ovni, but I saw one or something very like it arrived in the Falklands having sailed single-handed from Spain. The sailor was the son of a lady who worked for me!

 

[paulbrown22]

I thought the name seemed familiar. Some of my haunts as well.

We were the owners then, owned Little Wing for nearly 20 years and took her all over!