Sigma 362 pre-purchase question

[CFarr]

Hi all
I'm very close to my first yacht purchase which hopefully will be the Sigma 362 that I am currently negotiating about.
I intend to soon re-visit for a final pre-offer viewing and thought it would be prudent to ask here if there are any specific areas I should be checking on this model?
I've searched and read all I can but any comments from experienced users I'm sure would be helpful.

She is in the water at present so I won't see her undersides until the lift and survey and maybe even then have to rely on the survey report as she is 5 hours away from me.
All thoughts gratefully received.
Cheers

 

[alteredoutlook]

I had one once - a very nice boat!

One area to watch is the attachment point of the shrouds to the glass fibre below decks. Mine had to be beefed up slightly.

Apart from that only the usual stuff - e.g check for damage in area of aft keel bolts for evidence of groundings etc....

But bear in mind the boat is probably 25 yrs old now and will be showing its age.

Hope it goes well and you enjoy your new boat

 

[sighmoon]

One area to watch is the attachment point of the shrouds to the glass fibre below decks. Mine had to be beefed up slightly.

A different angle on the same issue - I looked at some Sigmas (though not the 362) and the hull was flexed inwards at the attachment point of the shrouds. Also the 'subframe' (though it has another name, maybe) under the floorboards was coming away from the hull in one.

However, the Sigmas I looked at had led tough racing lives, whereas the 362 was intended to be more of a cruiser.

If the 362's fuel tank is mild steel, like some others in the range, it may be getting to the end of its useful life.

 

[doris]

I bought one ten years ago. Fabulous sailing boat. IIRC probs were:
Old cast iron rudder quadrant v rusted and had to be replaced with an alluminiun one.....a pig of a job
Fuel tank replaced with one from Tektanks
Toe rail leakage from people climbing on and heaving on them. Reason for sale 4 years later. Unrepairable.
Engine now v old if it's a 2003.
Mast can pant without check stays
Plate under the mast was broken and needed replacement. Not expensive if stick is down. Could cause serious failure.
Other points have already been mentioned.
Best of luck. A good one is a timeless design, one David Thomas' masterpieces. By the way I would only ever get a fin keel. I got a wing and I would not repeat that.

 

[CFarr]

Thank you all. Just what I wanted.
Fuel tank has been replaced plus new engine so should be ok there.
I'll look out for the rest.
Great to hear positive comments on design after my protracted search.
Cheers.

 

[kacecar]

A couple of things that have gone wrong on mine: rudder became unbonded from stock, repairable; p-bracket is a weak point, I needed a new one to be re-bonded into the hull; might also be worth checking if the gearbox has had the modification that prevents the sudden and totalloss of drive (not a Sigma 362 fault - it's a Volvo-Penta issue). Despite these problems, and after eleven years, I'm still pleased with mine. I hope the survey goes well - best of luck with the purchase.

 

[Neil_Y]

Look along the stantions to see if any are bent out or in, and at the pushpit/pullpit any bends indicate damage that can give rise to leaks through the deck fixings. Otherwise nice boats.

 

[Blue Nile]

I, too am trying to buy a 362.
Unfortunately the one I have come across appears to have had a chequered past, involving repairs to the hull.
All the details have been hard to discover because of what appears to be the obfuscation of the present owner.
It is making the process much harder than I ever imagined and , of course making me increasingly suspicious of what could be a fine boat.
Is it always this way?
At what stage do you walk away?

 

[skip50]

I got a wing and I would not repeat that.

Why not? I have a wing keel 362, and love it. Performance more then adequate, and I reckon the wing stabilises her and helps my seasickness (none in four years).