Survey on my first yacht - Beneteau First 26

[JonoSlatter]

Hi,
I'm in the process of buying my first yacht - a Beneteau First 26. 1986
I've been looking all summer - and this boat felt perfect - really well looked after in and out. But...

Being new to this I'm a bit alarmed at the surveyor telling me that the moisture readings below the waterline are high - 20+ using a Sovereign Mositure meter. (5 above the waterline) His advice was that no action should be taken - but an osmostic condition could occur at a later stage. There's no signs of anything at the moment - "the gel below the waterline was found to be visually in good condition."

I understand that the boat has been in the water for the last winter - maybe more, so could this be the reason? She's lying in a drying out marina so sits in the mud for quite a bit of each day. I am intending to sail the boat until about November and then winter her ashore in Poole,

Wondering what you guys think (or girls) ? Should I be nogotiating for a reduction due to this.

Thanks for any thoughts.

Jono

 

[PeterGibbs]

Problem is twofold:

1. you might get symptoms whilst you are the owner but this won't mean the boat will sink - it's just a worry you'd rather not have!

2. when you come to sell, most prospective buyers will back off or demand big price reductions if the relative readings are this high. A real downer!

Personally, I'd d find another boat in this class and pass the problems by.

PS - there is always a differential in the readings between the hull sections above and below the water line; Moisture levels are not absolutes, only relative readings - as you probabaly realise. And the rudder will always have the worst reading of all - this would not normally be a reason for rejecting a boat, otherwise no one would buy second hand and that clearly is a fallacy!

Peter Gibbs

 

[Guest]

Hi Peter
Read the following site, it will you give some more info on the problem.
http://www.yachtsurvey.com/articleslist.htm



Cheers
Ian