I searched this topic to no avail ~ (Been lurking here for five years ... btw)
18 yr. old
boat, solid mid-displacement mod fin / skeg
rudder - 45' - 2 owners - high end
builder /
designer (e.g. Bristol,
Hood, certain Bob Perry Designs et al.)
Professionally maintained, MNO blah blah blah ... but she's been
on the hard for 6 years. No survey's available per the brokers ... owners used her, went back to central US and put her up
for sale.
Cosmetics: Good
Everything else? It's a crap shoot. The
boat is a "valuable" boat.... but is it? Help me suss out the concerns...
This is what I have assessed:
An
engine could have 800 hours on it .. but if it's been idle for SIX years? Ok,
compression test. If she was put away right, she'll be ok.
Survey will tell.
Sails are original: shot. Replace.. I've never seen a dacron in-mast do much better than five years. Hello?
Running
rigging: shot. Assumption
Original rig: Must replace standing
rigging for
insurance to indemnify it ... have
mast pulled and inspected.
Electronics: may
work ... no idea if they do. Obviously,
survey will tell .. but modern integration will most likely push them in the "nearly useless" column.
Below decks: An 11 year old
water maker? dried for 6 years? yikes.
Grey water lines dry for six years? yikes.
Fridge insulation/ plates /
compressor? yikes...
AGM Batteries - done
Every
pump aboard that has rubber
seals? operate with care ... yikes.
She's dry... not signs of
leaks / intrusion.
I'm also concerned about the strain on the
hull. I have to imagine those jack stands are like
bed soars in a hospital patient. She's been a
fish out of
water for a LONG time...
So, she's got "great bones" ... but she needs half of my offered
purchase price in
refit - (a deal I'm good with if I can get it.)
Would you / have you ever bought a boat this size under these conditions?
I know it's a super vague question ... but, in your consideration, how does being
on the hard for so long, coupled with general depreciation effect
buying cost?
It's all subjective, I know .. and a boat is only as "valuable" as what someone is willing to buy it for ... I am not ever expecting to reclaim a penny of what I put into a boat ... but when "that boat" is "the one" and she's been dry for so long .... what would make you stay? What would make you RUN?
Appreciate the insights ...
S