Viewing boats

[tinstaafl]

Viewing a 20 footer tomorrow with 4.3 mercruiser fitted. Any general boat-buying advice that I should heed? Any particular problems I should keep an eye out for? It's a new-ish boat, 2-3 years old...

All advice gratefully appreciated as I've never bought a boat before and frankly I'm scared!

tinstaafl

<hr width=100% size=1>Those who live by the sword get shot by those who do not.

 

[hlb]

But have you decided what you want the boat to do. Where are you planning to take it. How many of you are there??

<hr width=100% size=1> No one can force me to come here. I'm a volunteer!!.

Haydn

 

[Solitaire]

All boats have different characteristics! It would help if said what make and model. Where has it been kept, salt or freash water use, how many hours? And as HLB has said what do you want to do with it. Ski? Cruise? Difficult to giveyou and advise based on the info you have provided.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://arweb.co.uk/argallery/solitaire>Some pictures</A>

 

[tinstaafl]

I'm sorry, I should have been clearer...

We have a freshwater berth organised, we're looking at cuddy sportsboats for occasional overnighting. You've all helped us decide exactly what we need on a previous thread, what I'm asking for now is a more specific list of things I should beware of when looking at a second-hand (2-3 yrs old) boat. If someone were to ask advice on buying a second-hand car it would be obvious to most of us - check for smoke when starting, listen for noisy wheel bearings, check for slipping clutch, check for rust, etc, etc.

That's the kind of advice I'm lacking, the general stuff that would be applied to all similar sportsboats. I hope that makes my question a bit clearer.

Any thoughts or is it just common sense?

tinstaafl

<hr width=100% size=1>Those who live by the sword get shot by those who do not.<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by tinstaafl on 18/12/2004 13:35 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[Alistairr]

Good Luck, Mate/forums/images/icons/wink.gif

I can smell that Whisky/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif.



<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://uk.geocities.com/alistair-richardson.t21@btinternet.com/Alistairsalbum.html>MyPics</A>

 

[ari]

There probably isn't a great deal more you can do on initial inspection than make your own judgement on the condition (and therefore how its been looked after), how the enginespace looks (rust, slack belts etc), whether the bilges are clean and dry (if you can get to them), whether things are broken, worn and so on.

However if you like the boat, make an offer subject to satisfactory survey and sea trial, that way a surveyor will be able to give his professional opinion.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[jhr]

Look for signs of cracking or crazing in the gelcoat, particularly at stress points (where fittings meet deck for example). As others have said, try to form an impression of how well loved it has been. Has the engine been serviced at the correct intervals, and what sort of hours has it done? Does the gelcoat look clean and shiny, or does it have scratches or (worse) gouges or holes in it? Is the cabin reasonably clean and tidy? What condition are the bunks and seats in? If the boat's out of the water, does the Outdrive leg and prop look to be in reasonable nick? Any obvious signs of abuse to the hull?

If it's been reasonably well looked after, a three year old boat should still look pretty good. If it's already looking shabby, then it's had a hard life and you should walk rapidly away.

Even for a boat this size, I (and I'm sure everyone else) would recommend a survey. Well worth the money, to prevent you buying a dog. Good luck! You will soon become a hardened boaty Tyre Kicker /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>Je suis Marxiste - tendance Groucho

 

[oldgit]

Helps to ask how many owners it has had,does it come with a fistful of authorised dealer service paperwork.Supplying dealers tend to do all required service work needed or not cos nice big invoice generated,whereas chap-round-the-corner man will only do min asked for by previous now lost all interest interest owner.How many hours.Any problems will be 95% engine and 5% hull.Watch for loads of use in first summer then not been used/serviced for remainder of time therefore possible internal egine probs.Unless buying from dealer you really really do need flat out test run over longish distance to watch for biggest problem of power unit,overheating.A decent WOT run not some mingy whizz at half throttle.You do not want to be watching everybody else whizzing about during the early summer while you are standing on shore waiting for boat engine to be fixed and agueing about who will be paying for it.(Been there done that.)

<hr width=100% size=1>No good deed ever goes unpunished.