Quote:
Originally Posted by Pblais
Kefaa,
It really seems you have go into the action of looking and aside from doing a lot of pre work first came with an inspection approach to dig into boats. I'm not sure it has to be that complete to get the list down but it does need to be organized and you need to keep written notes or all the boats blend together.
You need to walk away from every boat and say we are sure about a few more things now and why we liked some things and really didn't liked others. It's all pretty subjective but of course the things you find out also help you to look at boats. You can get too technical and suddenly feel you can find the perfect boat. You have to ewatch that the best boat you ever saw was several boats ago and it's now sold. The calendar is not kind to boats, buyers, or sellers. You all chase one moment in time.
The Niagara 35 could be a nice boat and a wise choice. A Bayfield would be another similar boat from Canada. Pretty solid construction. It takes some good inspection with mid 80's boats though. If well cared for it could be the one. I like to think people know it when they see it. It's come up here enough to think so. You look at boats often get down to making choices that don't pan out and then you see the one and just know it even f you then do all the right things you are supposed to do and in the end feel like you didn't have to do all that. Of course you still do. Learning how to look makes it easier to find the right one.
It looks like you know the basic first lesson in used boats - don't fall in love until after the wedding. You may need to leave her at the alter.
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Paul again got it right on so many fronts in the "searching"(& LEARNING What You like & don't) process that I hit the thought to be MOST Important points for You to take from this process...
1-Note what You learned from each inspection, each broker, each seller, configurations You like (& don't like), make a LIST of the "+'s" & "-'s" of each boat, don't let them become a BLUR (which becomes REALLY Easy after a couple dozen, which me thinks You're Long past at this point in the total count viewed on line at a minimum)...Hit "Print" on the online listings...nothing worse than the "light coming on" & a decision that 14 boats back was an awesome opportunity, only You can't even remember the name now?
2-It's a learning curve & You're catching up...didn't know You were checking out CL, or would have furnished the link to search multiple locations, most of the other links are excellent, don't
rule out "Ebay''... Be SURE to scroll down and READ the Questions and HOW they are answered by the sellers/sellers agents...You'll be amazed at both the ignorance AND intellect of the question posters, And You'll Be AMAZED at both categories of the responses on the part of the sellers...including some who don't know, Say So, and worse say "come look for Yourself, I don't have time to answer all these stupid questions!" (welcome to selling a multi-thousand dollar venture, deal with the buyers, or don't
wind up with one)
3-As for the Niagara 35's very nice boat, IF You want a serious sea-going
blue water vessel, about the only complaint I ever had (in or out of the water) was the
rudder design & exposure..."the weakest link" in my opinion only, of an otherwise bombproof vessel. Re-rigged 1 dismasted after a
hurricane about 20 years ago. Heavier rigged than most it didn't matter when pushed in to a pile w/bigger vessels. Owner decided to go even heavier than formerly rigged. Renewed with a removable inner forestay for storm or other jibs (hank on) just aft of the RF
Genoa on the
head. Got to spend a little time below...VERY well designed and BUILT boats...wouldn't hesitate once comfortable w/a particular vessel of this model &
builder to sail ANYWHERE; "Overbuilt"(If there IS such a thing) is a good adjective. Other vessels had been holed, and SUNK by the 1 I re-rigged, bigger, smaller, didn't matter solid construction wins in any "confrontation" & they definitely have it "going on".
4-Only concern is that as this thread started, You stated the broker's represented listing
price on this vessel is ABOVE your "top end limits" on the
budget? It's not a "bad(or too expensive)price for 1 of these depending of course on
equipment, powerplant, & vessel overall's condition, inventory of
sails, etc. Never expect "sail-away" condition and never expect "perfect"...even if You spent MORE than YOUR maximum...it doesn't matter to the seller. Something is always wrong, or unsatisfactory for Your purposes...will need to be changed/upgraded, whatever...it ALL, ALWAYS Costs
money. Leave 10-15% of Your maximum to spend, IN YOUR Pocket, for there will be un-noticed issues as well that need to be dealt with...it happens, almost always. No "reserves" & You're skating on the thin ice, never a wise move.
5-Perhaps the broker knows the seller is willing to concede significantly on
price at this point? (My first question on brokerage listed anything...houses/boats = "How many days on the market? (next is) "With You or total?" Broker knows he has a savvy buyer w/those 2 "?'s".
Look, listen, ask questions, see if he throws a number on the table (they've been known to), counter at $5k below what he says is the best the seller will take & let the seller counter. Shy of being gone on
vacation or weekend in front of You, give the seller 48-72 hrs to accept, counter or decline. You know the necessary contingencies by now. This is all based on You liking what You see of course... Here's a few links to owners & vessel info:
http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/niagara35sailboatowners/
(join & ask questions of OWNERS...how cool is that?)
Here's a website of all the upgrades 1
charter bareboat company did to 1:
http://www.baileywick.org/projects.htm
http://sailquest.com/market/models/niag35.htm VERY Valuable Information
& here's 1 w/ALL of the FLAWS pointed out in the above link:
http://www.canadaboatshopper.com/index/listings/page47411.htm
(only $63, 793. US)
FYI(didn't know until researching either) (be VERY CAREFUL W/Balsa Cored
HULLS, just like decks a surveyors opinion is critical & moisture readings equal to his opinion.
HTH