Amazon 37

[Kerrrobert]

We are considering the purhase of an Amazon 37 - Graham Shonnon design built of steel in Vancouver BC. There were very few of these boats built +/- 8 -- Does anyone have any experience with one - what should we watch out for during a survey?

[casual]

They are very seaworthy boats,like all steel boat rust rust,it seems as they get older rust is a BIG issue,especially around the ports.

[Svanen]

The Amazons are seaworthy but relatively heavy displacement, and many would say undercanvassed.

As casual says, corrosion is a major issue. They are now becoming a bit long in the tooth and maintenance will be an ongoing project (would you rather sail, or chip paint?).

Reletively few were made, and the builder has been out of business for quite a few years. Combine that with the widespread suspicion of steel hulls (at least in North America), and resale value will be a real concern.

Not a bad boat, but you can certainly do better.

[bcarli]

Owned and cruised on a 48 foot steel Ted Brewer cutter for six years,a beautiful boat but sold her and we now have a 30 year old fiberglass boat. I would never buy another steel boat, you have no idea the on going, continued maintenance, rust indeed never sleeps.
Just my thoughts

[Billy Higgins]

There is a recent post on morganscloud.com about a Scottish family who run a small boat yard, and in the 90's built a fabulous steel cruising boat. A really remarkable vessel - one that you and I would like to own. But, the amount of prep and care needed to get to this level was astounding. As most of the posters commented on this level of attention, it made a beautiful case for an aluminum boat.