Is a survey worth it for a $13,000 sailboat?

[RunningCool]

Hi all, new here-kinda.
Used to be here about 8 yrs ago when I had a 32ft O'day.
DIVORCE---- lost her.
So, here again with a 37ft O'day.

I live in the Fl Keys.
Coastal Cruising Ya Know mate.

Have a deposit, ready to go.
Contingent on sails and engine sea trial.
Already spent last weekend on it going over every inch.

This weekend my Master Ton 40+ yr Tug/Charter/done everything on the water friend will double check engine and sails.
Hull was striped and redone 1 yr ago.
Diver every month to check it.

But--I have not hauled it out.
I have not dove it. Maybe this weekend.

Full electronics. 5yr old Yanmar 30-AIS-Radar-Garin plotter-Biggest Magnum inverter built-roller furling-davits-new enclosure-new wiring thru out-etc etc.

So --- Is it worth it to pull it out?
I have been out of the sailboat game for 8 years now. Itching man, itching..

For $13,000 I think I dont need to.
Comments I would love. Easy though Virgin here after 8 yrs away.

[tbodine88]

Let me tell you a story. I was going to buy a really nice boat for $12,000 dollars. The seller didn't want me to survey it before I bought it. I didn't buy it. Some one else did. He found out that it had washed up on the beach in a hurricane. So the core was very wet, since it had just been patched aftre the hurricane and the boat anchored.

After the new owner had an accident and had to replace the rigging, he also had the core dried out and the hull repaired. $50,000 later he had a realy nice fast boat.

Good luck, fair winds, and following seas to you.

[Pendragon35]

OK so I'll add ANOTHER story. I wanted a boat on the Chesapeake. My wife had a very close friend with an Alberg 35 for sale. I knew him too, liked him, respected him; a stand up guy. The boat was a little rough cosmetically but he's the kind who needs all systems perfect. I went out, sailed the boat, fell in love with her, and bought it for $20K. No survey. I knew nothing about diesel engines (Yanmar 30/500 hours).

It's been great. I spent a couple hundred dollars having someone who knew what he was doing fix up the varnish, I redid the head, I did the usual maintenance things on the engine and some other minor things.

Great boat. I've been on boats for 40 years off and on, I thought she looked good, I trusted the guy, maybe I got lucky? So sometimes it works out.

[RunningCool]

Great comments-keep them coming.

I should add that after my Surveyor friend looks it over this weekend, is when I will pull the trigger on what he says.

But not pulling it out.
Thats the big question. Owner doesnt care. But I have to of course pay for it.

We will dive it.
All thru holes in hull are bronze, not a drop of water after 1yr sitting at the dock.

I know-I keep trying to justify the purchase. My friend will set me straight.

[Sea Dreaming]

Ask yourself this, if you were playing the lottery or gambling on sports would you feel you could lose $12,000 with out feeling pain?
You "save" a little by not doing a survey, but that 500, 1,000 bucks could cost you a lot!

[zboss]

Originally Posted by Sea Dreaming

Ask yourself this, if you were playing the lottery or gambling on sports would you feel you could lose $12,000 with out feeling pain?
You "save" a little by not doing a survey, but that 500, 1,000 bucks could cost you a lot!

I agree with this.. what's $13K worth to you?

[Sailmonkey]

I'm on the fence here. 13K Is sort of borderline for me to suggest no survey. It's a larger boat, and more cash. I would quick haul for sure to really inspect the bottom, keel to hull joint, rudder, shaft/cutlass/prop. Also a lot of this depends on you or your friend. How comfortable are you seeing boat things and understanding what you're looking at immediately?


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[RunningCool]

Very valid,
I guess what my Captain friend says I will do no matter what.
He was the Captain of the Schooner Liberty Clipper out of boston years ago.
Was a surveyor many yrs ago.

I just have no way of pulling it out unless it is motored for 4hrs 1 way.

Info is great, like I said been out of the game for 8+ yrs.
Like a rusty shackle I guess.

[Capt Phil]

If sha has had the same diver go down for hull cleaning regularly for some time and the thru hulls are sound, have been exercised, prop and shaft are in reasonably good shape, you have already gone through the vessel and are satisfied that you can handle any work that needs attention, If I were you, I'd risk it and buy it without a survey. Mind you, I've always been a bit of a gambler... That's why I live in Nevada! Cheers, Phil

[fstbttms]

I guess $13K isn't very much money to some people.

[Schooner Chandlery]

Insuring it? What's the insurer going to want?


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[robwilk37]

i would. really easy to run up a $15k yard tab...

[kmacdonald]

If you dive it you should be able to see what you need to see. No need to short haul it. For $12k I would not survey it but if I did I would offer $12k minus the cost of the survey using what ever the survey turns up as the reason. The surveyor will tell you to get a rigger to inspect the standing rigging and a mechanic to check the engine so it really doesn't do you that much good. Run it for an hour or two and see what happens.

[donradcliffe]

If you haul it and get a surveyor, he will take his little hammer and tap all around the hull. That's the one thing you can't do by diving on it.

If he finds some soft spots, can you repair them yourself??

If the answer is yes, I'd go without the haul and survey.

[weavis]

As stated, your insurer may/will require a survey.

Do it.