What To Look For In A Sailboat

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bobscuda67

bobscuda67

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Don't flame me for asking about sailboats on a car site but I have been looking for a boat in the 30' range for a while.
I half assed learned how to sail in 1977 so I'm not a total newbie at it. And I would take some ground classes to learn as much as I can too. The wife says there is no way possible she's getting on a boat with me again so I might have to work on her a while longer.
Anyway, is there anything I should look for myself on a used boat before I pay for a survey on a boat? There's a lot of boats out there and the newest ones I could afford were built in the 1980's so they have a lot of use already.
 
My only experience with blow boaters is they always think they have the right of way lost quite a few bluefin tuna because of them cutting across my stern and cutting my lines
 
scallywags n stowaways......Arrrrrrrrrrrrr
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All seriousness aside, a couple things....
Any signs of stringer rot like spongey or soft deck or flooring. Blackened plywood from rot and excessive odor. Raised or lower spots in the hull from possible repairs.
 
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Look for hull damage repair inside and out.

Fiberglass boats are made of encapsulated wood. 1980 . . That is 40 years possibility of the backbone encapsulated wood being exposed to water and rotting. Most boats leak some into the hull, more leak than those that do not.

Have put new floors and sub floor structures in 16 foot fiberglass runabouts, not a pretty sight when you pull up the soft floors.

Lots of sail boats of size have an 18 hp diesel on board to propel the boat when the wind is not blowing. Want to make sure that is functional and not needing an overhaul. The 40 year old onboard diesel fuel tank is going to need a good cleaning out.

In and out charges for getting the large boat into the water. Seasonal offseason storage fees.

On the plus side you can live on the boat, no property taxes to pay.

Although docking fees with hookups can be a cost concern.

Have Fun

☆
 
As a boat head for 50 years, see if you can find the original weight of the boat. The hull fiberglass will delaminates without you ever knowing about it and as a result the bilge waterwater will eventually seep up by capillary actionill action and be trapped between they layers of fiberglass and totally change the ballast the characteristics .You can do two things, weigh the now and find the original weight or find a crusty surveyor who has been doing it forever. The exact thing happened to a friend of mine the he was suspicious about the price hired a surveyor who said ok and after a few years it wouldn’t even get up on plane. If the surveyor doesn’t show up with a sharp ice send him packing. If you keep a decent tarp on it and change the propeller seal on the prop shaft on the aux motor
You should be ok . Get a breathable cover I learned the hard way.
 
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The day he buys the boat...

...and the day he sells the boat.
 
Thanks for the replies guys.
I was wondering about the difference on the salt water and fresh water boats if the salt water boats have more hidden issues.
I want to take a whole summer and sail the great lakes at some point in my life before I get too old.
My mid life crisis kicking in a little late.
 
Are you planning on selling the house and living on this boat or just cruising the lakes? Look at thru hulls the number and shape of the plumbing inside and out. Movement of the keel and screw(s). Electronics especially wiring. If you think an old mopar has been fiddled with EXPECT a boat to have all sorts of wiring issues. Bad connections show up faster in a salty. Any abnormities around where the standing rigging is mounted and most models have a specific mast rake angle. Ask about what has been replaced and how much use is on things like the working rigging and sails. You will want to see into the bilge, anchor locker and everywhere something extends through the topsides like hatches, windows and even screws for decking. research you surveyor very thoroughly.
I did forest inventory on lots of islands all around the UP for a few years, I envy you my friend. Have fun!
 
bobscuda67 said:
Don't flame me for asking about sailboats on a car site but I have been looking for a boat in the 30' range for a while.
I half assed learned how to sail in 1977 so I'm not a total newbie at it. And I would take some ground classes to learn as much as I can too. The wife says there is no way possible she's getting on a boat with me again so I might have to work on her a while longer.
Anyway, is there anything I should look for myself on a used boat before I pay for a survey on a boat? There's a lot of boats out there and the newest ones I could afford were built in the 1980's so they have a lot of use already.
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ONE THAT DOESN`T LEAK ------------Someone might have beat me to this , didnt read all the posts lol
 
bobscuda67 said:
Don't flame me for asking about sailboats on a car site but I have been looking for a boat in the 30' range for a while.
I half assed learned how to sail in 1977 so I'm not a total newbie at it. And I would take some ground classes to learn as much as I can too. The wife says there is no way possible she's getting on a boat with me again so I might have to work on her a while longer.
Anyway, is there anything I should look for myself on a used boat before I pay for a survey on a boat? There's a lot of boats out there and the newest ones I could afford were built in the 1980's so they have a lot of use already.
Click to expand...

I literally grew up on a sailboat, lived aboard as a small kid traveling with my parents every summer. I had my Coast Guard Auxiliary Captains license at 15 through the Sea Cadets.

Best advice I've read here and agree with is find an experienced surveyor of sailboats. The guys here pointed out some really good things to look for but there's so much more. Get a professional to look it over.

Good luck.
 
999yards said:
I literally grew up on a sailboat, lived aboard as a small kid traveling with my parents every summer. I had my Coast Guard Auxiliary Captains license at 15 through the Sea Cadets.

Best advice I've read here and agree with is find an experienced surveyor of sailboats. The guys here pointed out some really good things to look for but there's so much more. Get a professional to look it over.

Good luck.
Click to expand...
Wow! Sounds like you had a good childhood. I definitely have the hull, engine and the rigging surveyed before making any purchase.
 
bobscuda67 said:
Wow! Sounds like you had a good childhood. I definitely have the hull, engine and the rigging surveyed before making any purchase.
Click to expand...

It was nice but as a kid I didn't know any different. I appreciate it more now. Found memories of my little brother and I playing with GI Joe dolls on the deck while we were underway, visiting different marinas up down the coast and meeting new girls in the marinas as we grew older.
Lots of Chuck Mangioni, Neil Diamond, and Lionel Richie. Good memories.

Good luck and hopefully you don't end up being one of those Woodsers who's always working on their boat every weekend instead of anchored out at the cape somewhere. Unless that's what you want to do of course.

I wish you the very best.
 
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