Sea Trial: what should I look for?

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Guest

Guest
We don't have a boat and are looking to buy our first boat (40 footer, flybridge). We're shortly to go on a sea trial but our lack of experience won't help us to know what to look for or to listen to. What can you suggest, please?

Don't be afraid to say the obvious: it might be obvious to existing boat owners but that's not what we are. Help, please.

On second thoughts, not *everything* that's obvious. From other postings on this BB I'm rather inviting too many less than serious comments (I'm learning already, at least about this bulletin board posters even if not about boating!)
<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by RichardC on Wed Nov 14 23:29:57 2001 (server time).</FONT></P>
 
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Guest

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Re: what make +model?

ooh what billiant brilliant fun. I imagine it as a s/hand boat (otherwise why "listen" for anything...)

Some main monster costs are engine (problems), you should see a good record of maintenance from a dealer and down below in engineroom its all much more space around the engine to see if a right mess or quite clean and sorted. You need to see a few of the same model to compare a ££model against a £££££ model.

Inside, there should be evidence of love and care(for an older boat) or praps "hardly used-ness" eg sparkling clean oven for a newer one.

The hull can be a problem tho not usually on later models, and a survey will find most probs. If it hasn't been antifoulded this season it'll need it next.

The outright speed that the boat can reach (not for too long, really) is a sort-of indication of how clean the bottom, and if engines etcd in good order - the outright speed should be read off a gps not the speed indicator, ask if the boat gps works or if not take your own or ask whoever takes you out to bring one, and everyone has one or knows someone who has one: dirty (weed growth) on bootom happens each year, knocking mebbe 4 or more knots off top speed.

A boat is wired more like a fifties/sixtioes car with individual components "wired up" with their own wires, most if not all optional: be really picky about going through each one to see that it works, askin g the dumb querstion if neccessary "what does this do" and so on cos lots will be a switch some even an unmarked switch.

For more info....What exact boat is it? People on here will/may have detailed knowledge of partic models.

Finally, for seatrial, of course wrap up really warm so you are a bit too hot while standing outside on land, mean two extra layers (not just one) after getting out of the car. Otherwise the main memory will be that it was utterly freezing.
 
G

Guest

Guest
Interesting post. Especially since it's your first boat, can you take someone with you for impartial advice. Too easy to get caught up in the sheer excitement and then be less than objective. Pay for an expert is better, maybe the surveyor you're using.

If you're trialing on your own, I think I'd be watching that the temps and pressures are both the same, that there's no odd engine noises, that both engines reach the same revs at WOT (Wide Open Throttle) check in hanbook what they should be, don't rely on seller, then back off 200 or 300 rpm for max cruise for say 15 mins or so, checking t's &p's etc all the time. Listen. Is there any viibration from the engine, there will be some, but does it change with engine speed. Does it seem excessive, Is she smokey, does the amount of smoke change with engine speed. Check different attitude using trim tabs. Slow down a bit to just planing speed, how does she handle then. Does she pick up cleanly or wallow a bit. How does she handle into wind, downwind etc. Does everything work whilst at speed and since it is your first boat do you like it? I'd also check that all the nav gear etc works.

Well that's my two pennorth, anyone else?
 
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scottie

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it is a big investment so dont buy without a full survey
get advise from owner of similar boats and look at the adverts in yachting press
if the boat is from a dealer check his reputation
dont listen to all the comments here there are a lot of good dealers and a lot of not so good
 
Piers

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Hi Richard,

You are about to embark on an adventure of huge fun. Bravo.

To add to the info from the other posts,

If used, check ownership is real and provable. You will need the original invoice and any others if the boat has changed hands. Check the VAT is paid. Again, you will need proof. Here, the RYA (Royal Yachting Association) has an excellent small booklet on how to verify all this. Remember, debts on a boat remain with the boat, so if it is mortgaged and you buy it, you also buy the mortgage!

If used, check with the marina and local trades about the owner and if he's been paying his debts on time. Always a good indication.

Have a full survey, a full engine survey, and if there are many elctronics, have them checked as well.

I know this may sound heavy and costly, but far better to make sure than waste what could possibly be rather large sums.

If new or used, read the reports published by the magazines. Call MBM and talk with them. Post the make / model on this Forum and see what readers think.

On the day of the sea-trail, try not to be encouraged to make a decision there and then. Take time - it's a huge investment and one to make wisely - buy in haste, repent at leisure. Don't be pressured.

If you ever make an offer on a used boat, always make it subject to survey. An offer when buying a boat is legally binding....

At sea, ensure you feel safe moving around - are there grab rails to hold onto?

When driving, can you see well, and more to the point, can your wife also see well? What you don't want is a one person boat!

If it's necessary to drive from the inner helm, are the noise levels acceptable? What if a crew member wants to lie down on the sofa whilst travelling - again, are the noise levels acceptable?

Finally, have you made enquiries about a marina berth?

Have fun - treat the purchase with respect, get the above technical bits out of the way, climb aboard and go for it. See you on the high seas....

Piers du Pre
MBM Cruising Club enthusiast
 
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BarryD

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I to am new to boating (so feel free to ignore me!) - I only got my first boat a couple of weeks ago, this weekend is the big navex to bring to its new home marina.

It's all good advice here Richard IMHO - check all the knobs and twidlly bits do something and that it all works as it should. If you can find web site info (or other boats for sale to compare spec and condition) on cruise speed top speed, and standard fit out.

Try and get to the boat early and with cold engines so that you see the start-up preperations and how it's all done. Useful to see if filters are checked etc.. and where the master switch is.

On the legals side - make sure your deposit (if paid) is subject to successful sea trial, hull / engine survey and clear title being demonstrated. You define if the trial was "successful" not the broker / owner.

Final note: Try not to blow up an engine as happened to me on a trial. It kinda puts you off the boat!

Barry D.
 
G

Guest

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Good Luck, Richard! The posts here give good advice on the elements to check.

If there are any issues arise, ask yourself if this or that is a problem; don't dismiss things to easily. If there are any problems then the current owner has a problem. Once you've parted with the money.. you've got the problem.
 
G

Guest

Guest
Re: surveyor

Richard, seen your previous posting re43ac and (I'm guessing) that you are S Coasty. I used Frank Verril to do a survey after buying a new boat, just before the warranty ran out, to draw up report. Scared the living daylights out of the dealer, he ripped into even minor details, so lettem off those so big ones got fixed. Anyway, he seemed thorough enuf.
His telno (it says here, cd be out of date...) is 02380 402 881 fax404 698
 
jfm

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Re: Richard as in P42??

Richard, are you the same RichardC that I traded emails with a while ago on buying a phantom42? I scared you by pointing out one you might buy was stolen/recovered, remeber? I was maxey_john@hotmail. Erm or praps you're a different Richard.

Anyway good luck. What makes/models are you looking at? Agree other comments above. A full survey will show many things you cant see like moisture etc. I would also ask to see engine sevice records, get an oil sample analysed (costs about £50 by mail order, one week turnaround). It would be good to take someone experienced along, most boats creak and grind a bit and someone experienced might help you tell what is normal or not. Good luck, let us know what happens.
 
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oldgit

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Re.even if you do nothing else

go to www.yachtsurvey.com. by david Pascoe.And go through as much of it as you can put up with.the A to Z of buying a Boat.Warning this site says lots of nasty things about certain makes of boat.Hope the one you want is not mentioned.2nd best boaty site in the world.
 
G

Guest

Guest
Re: Sea Trials & blown engines

Thanks for your response (and everyone else's). Funny you should mention about a blown engine because we went to inspect/sea trial another boat (same model, same year) and owner said he'd got to the boat half an hour before us, started up the engines, got only half pressure on one, looked in the engine room and found an oil leak/spray.

Are engine problems/blowing up/oil leaks a regular feature?

The boat is a Fairline Phantom 42, 63P engines.
 
G

Guest

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Yes, that\'s me

Yes I'm the same RichardC. I remember your previous helpful comments quite well. Since then (beginning of this year, I think), we've upgraded our aims, supported the Government's renationalisation of the railways programme, subsidised mortgages to help all these southerners make ££££ on bigger houses by suffering lower returns on our boat fund etc., so downgraded our boating ambitions and we're back with, you've guessed it, a Fairline Phantom 42!
 
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Guest

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Fairline Phantom 42

Thanks for your response (and everybody else's). There's been some really good suggestions (could form the basis for a magazine article?).

Proposed boat is a Fairline Phantom 42. Four years old. Little used. Anyone got any comments on what to look out for, specific to this particular boat, please?
 
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Re: surveyor

Just for once, mattS, you guessed wrong! I'm not S Coasty, more Norfolky. And the proposed boat's not S Coasty either. More Medi.

We've approached a surveyor, locally based but British so we'll be relying very much on him to do his stuff.
 
jfm

jfm

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Re: P42 comments

Hi Richard.

We have the 63p engines too. You should get 2700rpm tops, 28kts if bottom fairly clean. There is lots of turbo lag (5seconds!) when you accel onto the plane. Should be almost no visible exhaust smoke except a tiny bit when cold start, but after that none even when blip throttle manoeuvering. Give bowthruster a good blast, more than 10secs continuous running to see it's ok. Watch out for crack in the corian work top at the back of the hob, the weakest point, it will crack a bit if boat has hit waves. Can't think of anything else right now. A pity you're not nearer, you would be welcome for trip on ours. Anyway, good luck!
 
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