What should I look for?

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lionelz

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Well booked my first viewing of a boat today for this weekend :cool: So what should I check for? I'm going down to Poole to have a look and am hoping to see a few boats, Am I allowed to post them on here? Just concerned I will choose one and then it all goes pear shaped and I miss all the Key indicators that its more of a submarine that a boat :ambivalence:
 
Is the water on the outside and air on the inside :cool:

Check the bilges. Are they clean and not oily. Are there signs of a tide mark which may indicate regular water ingress. Much like a car fire up the engine checking for excess smoke, rattles and clonks. Make sure there is a healthy flow of cooling water out on the stern drive / exhaust.

Is it generally clean and well maintained?

Does the steering run from lock to lock with no tight spots / clonks.

Is the prop free from damage. Check the power tilt / trim operates fully up to fully down smoothly.

Look over the hull for bashes and scrapes. Light scratches are OK but anything that looks heavy or shows deep cracks to the gel coat may be cause for concern.

Check the gauges to make sure it runs up to temperature within a shortish space of time (might take a little while at this time of year).

Check service history, proof of ownership.

Look with your head, not your heart.

Is it a big or little boat?
 
In a nutshell, you're looking to see whether the previous owner loved the boat or not. If the exterior or interior looks like it's been neglected, like as not the oily bits have been neglected too. Don't buy anything without a survey
 
First thing is: does the boat feel right? Is it clean, tidy, free of obvious damage/bad repairs and showing signs of being well cared for. As a newbie there probably isn't much more you can do. After that it's really down to a surveyor to find faults that may break the deal. At the early viewing stage I doubt you are going to get engines running, but you can leave all that for the sea trial.
 
If you are looking at a few different types or makes you might be better seeing which suits you best and seeking others the same rather than buying the best boat but it isn't really what suits you. Get a survey when you have decided on one.
 
I went to look at a boat at the beginging of this year (and yes this is my first time too) - the broker gave me a copy of a survey the current owner had commissioned before he bought the boat and basically after I walked away with what I thought was at fault was also found in the survey when I read it later that evening - (thus telling me the current owner wanted rid in a quick way)
if and when you find the right boat for you pay the money for a survey its far better to spend £££ and walk away from a boat than to spend ££££££££ and be left with a headache
as with what everyone else says look with your head and not your heart.

jon
 
No-one gets it right first time with boats. You want a sailboat. You buy a sailboat. 12 months on you realise you want a mobo. You buy a fishing boat; you need a planing boat. So it goes.

So, in addition to the points others have made, have half a mind to how easy it will be to resell.
 
gordmac said:
If you are looking at a few different types or makes you might be better seeing which suits you best and seeking others the same rather than buying the best boat but it isn't really what suits you. Get a survey when you have decided on one.
Click to expand...

Will definitely have survey, Taking wife on first few viewings so I can get a feel what she will be happy with, Have already seen a few of the same boat I am looking at so at least have a few options if it is what the wife wants.
 
lionelz said:
More difficult that it sounds. ;)
Click to expand...

Totally agree with you there - But what was in my mind when I looked at my first boat was - "Is this what I want to part with my money".
ask 101 questions to the seller/broker - As I described earlier none of the recommendations by the surveyor had been done down to the simpliest 5 min job of fixing a hinge on a fridge door never mind the more complex stuff.
and when the broker produced an invoice for work that he had done to 1 of the engines which came in at over 4k, yet it was for sale at 30k to start and then a year later 22k - that set the alarm bells ringing
 
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I think you should expect to find some faults with any boat.

Our present boat, which we bought last year , was not abused but it still had faults discovered by our surveyor. Some were minor and some more significant . I used the survey to negotiate a price reduction. This has worked out okay and I have some brand new items in a 12 year old boat.

.
 
MartynG said:
I think you should expect to find some faults with any boat.

.
Click to expand...

Yes I do expect to find faults - but when not 1 of the faults have been rectified from 1 of the previous owners to its current owner who is selling the boat then that is neglect to say the least
 
I don't suppose it is uncommon for people to buy a boat and then find they do not have the time to care for it.
It seems to me the present owner is being honest by providing the old survey, which is not a bad thing.

Anyway you have clearly moved on from that boat. What are you looking at next ?
If you state a make/model of boat and engine you might get some feedback on any common issues.
 
Well update on first viewings. I plan on going back and doing a more detailed inspection prior to making any offers. Main thing learnt was that most boats are same design, in my price range, i.e. V shape birth, Toilet to starboard, kitchenette to port and second bunk under helm position. wife was happy and does not want to attend any more inspections and will leave decision up to me :)

So any views or comments on boats below would be really appreciated:

What sort of price, Advantage of diesel/petrol, the salespeople gave conflicting information (surprise, surprise supporting boats they were selling), general comments on the boats all comments will be welcome.

Did not lift any hatches etc as this will be done on any subsequent visits.

Went to Cobbs Harbour in Poole and looked a 4 boats.

Doral 250se 225hp petrol
year 2001
Price 30k


Maxum 3000scr Twin 220hp diesels
Year 1999
price 41k

Fourwins 248vista 270hp petrol
Year 2000
Price 32k

Monterey 250CR 240 diesel
year 2006
price 39k

Rinker 270 Fiesta Vee 230 Diesel
year 2004
Price 35k
 
Lionelz, sorry but I just typed a really long PM about Mischievous and pressed the wrong button and deleted it because I was on the phone!!! I'll PM you my mobile number and if you want to give me a call about the boat (at least for the time I owned her) you're welcome too.

Sorry ;-( Richard
 
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