Tricks of the Trade

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McBoat

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Further to my thread about when to buy, and the helpful replies made there, I have another question.

Whatever boat I decide to buy, I will get a proper survey carried out. However in getting to the 'one' I will aim to view a number, and was wondering if there where any basic cover ups that people employ to sell a less than perfect boat, that shold make me wary before employing a surveyor.

My initial thoughts were things like end of season hull polish, new antifouling and lack of water test's due to winterisation being a cover up for underlying faults. Am I being too synical ??
 
Not sure what the issue would be with an end of season hull polish and antifoul? Would you prefer to see the boat gather moss and be presented poorly? Very few boats are perfect - even new ones - so expect there to be something you'd want to change or improve.

If you want a seatrial then you pay for the boat to be launched - if the owner disagrees then walk away. A decent surveyor will be able to tell you what you need to know and any honest seller would welcome one as it shows that you're genuine and not just playing games.
 
I think the detailed answer here would start to ramble on - starting somewhere at the bow and working all the way aft, however I would pay a lot of attention to what the details provided say, what the vendor or broker say, and then compare this with what the boats says for itself.

As soon as significant discrepancies start to stand out it is time to find another boat.

e.g. (in 2015) she has a new engine (in 2010);

Or: she has new stainless steel fuel tanks (in 1998) that weren't stainless, and at least one was never replaced 17 years previously;

Or: meticulously serviced since the engine was replaced, yet still with the paint overspray on the fuel filter from the obvious rebuilt engine had been fitted in 2010, so thats 5 years of meticulous servicing without once changing the fuel filter.

All this was from just one boat I viewed last year.

I was still seriously interested but found a better boat. Sadly for the vendor one of the engines failed on sea trial which cost him £15k to replace in order for the sale to go through, which was with the broker's fee half the sale value. However, had it lasted through the sea trial the new owner would have caught said £15k cold.
 
Look out for spotless engine bay bilges if the rest of the boat is grubby.
Freshly painted engines hid a multitude of problems
Make a check list and stick to it, Take your time test everything don't take all ok for an answer
 
Most boat owners in the process of selling will at least go to some effort to make the boat look presentable.
The walk to the boat is always useful, any boat on the hard standing surrounded by nettles,just shouts we cannot unload this boat on anyone.
Just taking good sniff when you enter the saloon can speak volumes.
Mrs OG has refused to take one step further due to the whiff on couple of boats we have looked at.
Any boat that reeks of damp and neglect should set alarm bells ringing as should tired interiors,if what you see is worn out and neglected,what about all the more important (and expensive stuff you cannot).
You probably need to look at ten similar boats before one leaps out and shouts buy me.
 
Be wary of boats that have just had an oil change. The owner might be trying to hide engine wear that an oil analysis would otherwise have indicated
 
There are arguments and counter arguments and counter counter arguments here. The valid onez AFAIC are look at many and look thoroughly before setting your heart on one. The more you look the better you'll see. It's very easy to get blinkered by what you think you want and the first couple boats you see. Once you've looked at a dozen or so the right one will become obvious. That's the one you have professionally surveyed. There after you're on your own. When I went into this I set my budget to include a basic engine rebuild sans labour of at least one engine on the premise that anything else would be spotted on survey and sea trial.
 
Deleted User said:
Be wary of boats that have just had an oil change. The owner might be trying to hide engine wear that an oil analysis would otherwise have indicated
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Not sure I agree as you change the oil when you winterise so more than likely would be done as a matter of course.
 
Stats007 said:
Not sure I agree as you change the oil when you winterise so more than likely would be done as a matter of course.
Click to expand...

Thats why I said "might". All I'm saying is that is that a boat with a recent service or oil change might hide a multitude of sins. Obviously if a boat looks well cared for generally and has had a recent engine service, particularly at this time of year, that service probably indicates a caring owner. However, if a boat doesn't look well cared for or a service has been carried out at an unusual time of year just before the boat being put on the market that might indicate an owner trying to hide engine problems which could be revealed by an oil analysis. All I'm saying is that a 'recent engine service' might not be a positive sign
 
You could probably make arguments against any kind of maintenance then which seems a little odd :confused:. In any case I would always check service history and call the agent to confirm if I was serious about buying.
 
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