Sigma 33 - bulkhead crack

[Johnny Rose]

Hello again to everyone.
As I posted in another thread I am trying to buy a sailboat for me my family for liveaboard during the summer.
I found now a 1986 Sigma 33 which is in fairly good condition with a lot of extras. How ever there is an issue. The fiberglass at the foot of the mast is a little bent, and there is a small crack at the top of the bulkhead underneath. There are no other signs. I have read about the problems of Sigmas beeing raced too hard and I want to ask: Is this no big deal, or should I run?
I am attaching some photos.

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

 

[michael_w]

SOP for Sigma 33s is to wind on the cap shrouds and the forestay till the head door gets jammed, Back off a turn or two and then reduce the pre-bend to acceptable levels with the lowers.

 

[Stemar]

No specific knowledge of Sigmas, but I reckon there's a boat out there without that problem. For me, it would be thanks, but no thanks.

 

[Quandary]

Any Sigma that has been raced will have that, the post under the mast was never a tight enough fit for the rig loads, with the mast down, we put an acrow under ours screwed it up hard then hammered hardwood spacers lubricated with resin in above the hardwod post, seemed to almost cure the puddle by the mast step. Most Sigmas were built 79-80 and many of them are still racing every week, tough boats, I wish I still had one.

 

[capnsensible]

Lovely boats to sail...and race. Any problem on a boat is fixable.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

I sailed a Sigma 33 with a large crew for years, cruising, not racing. I don't think it is suitable as a live aboard with a family and I would not buy a boat with the cracks in the bulkhead as noted in your pictures. The question you want to ask is how much more work will be required and how will that impact the usage, enjoyment and utility of a boat that is to be used as a family live aboard. My advice is to not buy the boat in your pictures but to keep looking. Replacing old equipment is one thing, repairing a boat that is worn out and replacing old equipment is very costly and time consuming. There are better boats out there for what you need.

 

[TLouth7]

I would very carefully inspect the chainplates, is there any evidence of them lifting, or of water ingress? If not, this could certainly be repaired.

That said, I agree that a Sigma is not a great choice for a family summer liveaboard. The forecabin is not really big enough for two, there is very little stowage (especially for food) and no powered fridge. There is also no separate quarter berth cabin, so it is hard for people to get away from each other. My family used to do holidays in Holland with 6 on board, but we had to be very disciplined about moving bags and sleeping bags around (forecabin and high bunk during the day, saloon floor and table at night). We also fought constantly about who had to share the forecabin or be on the high bunk.

 

[Achosenman]

Hello again to everyone.
As I posted in another thread I am trying to buy a sailboat for me my family for liveaboard during the summer.
I found now a 1986 Sigma 33 which is in fairly good condition with a lot of extras. How ever there is an issue. The fiberglass at the foot of the mast is a little bent, and there is a small crack at the top of the bulkhead underneath. There are no other signs. I have read about the problems of Sigmas beeing raced too hard and I want to ask: Is this no big deal, or should I run?
I am attaching some photos.

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

My gut would say if it's an easy fix, why has the current owner not done so?

 

[Pete7]

There are hundreds of yachts in the 30-35 foot range for sale without this problem and perhaps better layouts for a family. Have a look for some alternatives first:

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/3640631919296617/

Moody 31 MkII - Fin keel, wheel steering Solent based boat for sale (1990)

Moody 33 - Moody 33 MK1 for sale, beautifully restored, £14,950

 

[TernVI]

There are hundreds of yachts in the 30-35 foot range for sale without this problem and perhaps better layouts for a family. Have a look for some alternatives first:

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/3640631919296617/

Moody 31 MkII - Fin keel, wheel steering Solent based boat for sale (1990)

Moody 33 - Moody 33 MK1 for sale, beautifully restored, £14,950

These are all small boats for a 'family' to live on medium term.
Most boats under £20k which are big enough to live on are going to need work.
Trying to live on too small a boat with too many people may mean you end up spending more time needing facilities, which costs more.

 

[Johnny Rose]

Thanks everyone for the fast response.
I agree that every problem can be fixed but it is always a matter of money and time.
I know there are a lot of boats out there, but I am searching in the Mediterranean are, as i I plan to keep the boat in Greece.
A trip in UK to see a boat adds to the cost of the boat.
My budget is 15k, and this one costs 14k, after negociation, and it is already in Greek waters.
I known that the accommodation is rather limited, especially the galley, but I only have a son, and I am used to living small.
But I am more interested in the sailing capabilities of the Sigma which are usually praised.
I know that all old boats need work, just wanted to know how soon and if this is a difficult fix.

 

[Beneteau381]

Hello again to everyone.
As I posted in another thread I am trying to buy a sailboat for me my family for liveaboard during the summer.
I found now a 1986 Sigma 33 which is in fairly good condition with a lot of extras. How ever there is an issue. The fiberglass at the foot of the mast is a little bent, and there is a small crack at the top of the bulkhead underneath. There are no other signs. I have read about the problems of Sigmas beeing raced too hard and I want to ask: Is this no big deal, or should I run?
I am attaching some photos.

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

Walk away as others have said

 

[Pete7]

These are all small boats for a 'family' to live on medium term.

True, but he was looking at 30ft yachts last month. However, the Greece location throws a spanner in the works.

I think there are two options, very low offer on the Sigma and spend the summer fixing it, but not much sailing and lots of living in a project.

Or buy a Sadler 32.

1987 Sadler 32 Sail New and Used Boats for Sale - www.yachtworld.co.uk

Actually, I think the thing to do is start asking the local brokers or charter firms.

 

[Resolution]

Any Sigma that has been raced will have that, the post under the mast was never a tight enough fit for the rig loads, with the mast down, we put an acrow under ours screwed it up hard then hammered hardwood spacers lubricated with resin in above the hardwod post, seemed to almost cure the puddle by the mast step. Most Sigmas were built 79-80 and many of them are still racing every week, tough boats, I wish I still had one.

I also owned and raced a Sigma 33 for ten years. We had our rig screwed down pretty tight, like all the other racers. Like Quandry, we inserted a really solid spacer above the metal mast support strut in order to push the base of the mast back up. Cheap and effective.
We also removed a magnificent mushroom / fungus from behind the headlining during the strut repair. It was nearly a foot long and wide....

 

[Johnny Rose]

Pete7 is right, I went to see a Hummingbird 30, but it was also too much work to restore her.
It seems after all the responses that I will keep looking. Or lower my offer to around 10k, if nothing shows up.
Thanks again, it really helped.

 

[Pete7]

Jesus, I was thinking more like 6k, after all who else is going to buy it? BTW there are two variants of the Sigma 33. One the OOD has a tall mast and deep keep and probably the most popular. However, there was a cruising version with a shallower keel and masthead rig, called Sigma 33c.

Good luck with the search, there will be a boat for you out there.

Pete

 

[Quandary]

The 33c has all the deficencies in space and accommodation listed above, without the compensation of a good sail wardrobe and sparkling performance and handling.
It was a while ago but our racing crew was 7 and we did all the offshores, how we all managed not to starve and to be comfortable is a measure of how priorities have changed in 40 years. Of course the 'offshore' races that used to start at 19-00 on Friday night and finish somewhere else on Sunday are also a thing of the past. Now anything that crosses two mealtimes is far too long.