Water Ingress, Delamination of Coach Roof

[KeelsonGraham]

Hi all, I need some expert opinions. I’ve just received a pre-purchase survey report on a 10 year old Oceanis 31 which has revealed evidence of a 30cm x 30cm area of delamination and high moisture content in the coach roof near the mast foot. Surveyor thinks that this will probably have to be sampled soon and eventually cut out and replaced.

So, now I’m left wondering if I should proceed. Is this a very expensive job? Or this this something that sometimes occurs on yachts like this? Looking at the deck electrical fitting, I suspect this is the cause.

Also, the cutlass bearing (which is only 2 years old) is showing signs of wear, so I’m suspecting a certain amount of drive shaft misalignment??

The boat is otherwise in good condition for her age.

I’d really appreciate some advice from old wise heads. Should I avoid completely, or proceed with a suitable discount to allow for the work?

 

[peteK]

Get the advice of the surveyor,thats what you are paying him for.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Run away...

 

[Concerto]

If you like the boat then agree a price but subject on the current owner getting both fixed to your surveyor's satisfaction before completion. Do not accept a price reduction.

 

[KeelsonGraham]

All useful opinions. Thank you. Having Googled the problem for several hours, it seems that the advice falls into 3 categories:

1. If you don’t already own the boat, run away.
2. The repair is a messy and time consuming DIY project but worth it in the end.
3. The repair is very expensive when done by a boat yard and even then there will always be something of a ’black mark’ against the boat when you come to sell.

There’s almost nothing to be found on how much a boat yard would charge to fix a few small areas of wet balsa. The only figure I found was £2-3k in a 2009 post (based on a rate of £50 per hour for labour). So, I reckon double that for 2021.

I’m veering towards Option 1!