'72 columbia 41

[olhippie]

I've got an appointment to look at a Columbia 41 Center Cockpit. From the pictures on yachtworld, it looks pretty good. Is there any oddities that I should be looking for? Problem areas? Are there any questions that I need to be asking? We are "NEW" to the boat buying scene and have been browsing around for quite a while, but have not been on that many boats. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

[s/v Breakaway]

I am not personally familiar with Columbias, but found Don Casey's book "Inspecting the Aging Sailboat" to be very helpful when I bought my Cal.

[imagine2frolic]

I don't ever remember seeing a 41ft cc Columbia. The 45 cc wasn't a good windward sailor, but a palace for living space. My 72 Columbia 30 was tough as can be. Very overbuilt, and a descent sailor too. Post a pic if you have one. In general Columbias were overbuilt, and good sailors especially if it is a Bill Tripp design

[edboat]

The 41 was a center cockpit, very high freeboard, cruiser. It has a hugh interior with no opening ports as I recall just a couple of large hatches on deck.

[Sam Plan B]

I own a Columbia 41, 1974. It is very roomy with three cabins plus galley and head. I have had 15 people aboard for dock parties. Being an older boat you can expect to replace most of the electrical system and nav lights instruments. This is not so hard since there is lots of room to work in. I also replaced the standing rigging after exchanging emails with a fellow Columbia owner in Michagan. He had issues with cracked rigging swag fittings. My boat had been on the hardstand for many years and there were only 100 hours on the Perkins diesel. I also replaced all but two of the keel studs with stainless steel. Two were under the motor mount and could not be extracted. All the bolts were replaced. Also, the original wood framed deck hatches were replaced with modern Bomar hatches. This requried new combings to be built and glassed in. For a large boat, it seems to sail well. The boat has a large rudder and will tack in its own length. I would recommend buying one if you look on it as a hobby and plan to spend come money and time bringing it up the modern yacht standards.

Sam Hepford