Great Boats at Great Prices?

[downunder]

Originally Posted by CR38

I am not sure either the Islander or the Contest listed above could be called "Great Boats." I didn't start this thread with the intention it would be used by commercial entities for advertising purpose. Rather, I hoped it would become a running discussion where disinterested contributors could make forum members aware of truly great boats at potentially great prices.

I doubt Boatman is a rep of Deaton Yachts. He is well known for tracking good value vessels.

[VIABONO]

Since Cheoy Lee is mentioned above I would be interested to know thoughts about boats designed by Phil Rhodes or Bob Perry and built by Cheoy Lee during the late 1960s and early '70s. I can't imagine how 40 year old fiberglass can still have enough integrity to stay afloat and be seaworthy, but I love the classic lines of these older boats for coastal sailing.

[Kevin84]

Originally Posted by VIABONO

Since Cheoy Lee is mentioned above I would be interested to know thoughts about boats designed by Phil Rhodes or Bob Perry and built by Cheoy Lee during the late 1960s and early '70s. I can't imagine how 40 year old fiberglass can still have enough integrity to stay afloat and be seaworthy, but I love the classic lines of these older boats for coastal sailing.

Fiberglass does not have a "shelf life" and will stay afloat indefinitely. My last boat was a 50 year old Alberg 35. Her bilge was dry as a bone. Even after putting her on a sandbar. I had a diver go down on her just to check. The only damage was some scuffed bottom paint. And while she was on the bar, wave action was picking her up and then dropping her back down.

Sent from my HTC6500LVW using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[mitiempo]

Originally Posted by VIABONO

I can't imagine how 40 year old fiberglass can still have enough integrity to stay afloat and be seaworthy, but I love the classic lines of these older boats for coastal sailing.

The first large cruising sailboat built of fiberglass is still afloat and sailing so it is reasonable to assume that those built more recently would as well, assuming good original construction. The boat is Arion and she was built in 1951.

http://www.westsystem.com/ss/assets/.../Ew19Arion.pdf

http://www.dmcboats.com/arion/

[lifeofreilly57]

Originally Posted by VIABONO

Since Cheoy Lee is mentioned above I would be interested to know thoughts about boats designed by Phil Rhodes or Bob Perry and built by Cheoy Lee during the late 1960s and early '70s. I can't imagine how 40 year old fiberglass can still have enough integrity to stay afloat and be seaworthy, but I love the classic lines of these older boats for coastal sailing.

The age of a fiberglass boat is not as important as the way it has been maintained, the boat I'm selling (since we bought another) constantly brought comments of disbelief when told the age. It's a 1979 but looks better than most of the new boats it's around and performs that way too, but it's been continuously upgraded and maintained. All deck hardware re-bedded on a rotating basis to prevent water intrusion in the decks, rewired, re-plumbed, etc, etc, all so the boat always worked the way it was supposed to.
It is also a way to keep your vessel costs reasonable by not allowing small problems to become big expensive ones.
So it's not the chronillogical age, it's the current condition and the way it's been maintained. I would still suggest inspecting an older boat closely, but then again you should inspect any boat your buying closely.

[boatman61]

Find this one appealing.. dunno if its great but more than adequate for someone wanting to head for the Islands.. would depend on the quality of the refit.. 15K is around £10K..


1973 34' Seafarer Sailboat
Gutted and built anew 8 years ago. 3 cylinder Yanmar Diesel. All fittings cabinetry plumbing new. Hard dodger built for protection. Price $17,900 or Best offer. Force 10 Stove with oven. Salon seats four. Navigation station. Great boat solid and dry. Located in Oriental NC Call 978-412-5802
978-412-5802 FREE

[CR38]

Does a Com-Pac 27 qualify as an offshore or bluewater cruiser? I am sure that question will elicit some comments. Regardless, I am very sure this is a great boat that can probably be purchased for a great price. Check it out here:

Best Offshore Cruising Sailboats < $40K: 1992 Com-Pac 27 Asking $24,500

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by CR38

Letsget - you're exactly right, the secret is finding the right boat from the 70s or 80s. Most are not worth the effort.

Yes...Most production boats are not. But some are. You just have to know who the players were in the 70s + 80s.

Originally Posted by VIABONO

Since Cheoy Lee is mentioned above I would be interested to know thoughts about boats designed by Phil Rhodes or Bob Perry and built by Cheoy Lee during the late 1960s and early '70s. I can't imagine how 40 year old fiberglass can still have enough integrity to stay afloat and be seaworthy, but I love the classic lines of these older boats for coastal sailing.

Personally I wouldn't give you 2 cents for a Rhodes design. Bob Perry, a totally different story. If you can't imagine an "old fiberglass can still have enough integrity to stay afloat and be seaworthy, then you should study up on them. If you do, you'll find the builders that built them right will see years and years more to come. Mine is 45 years old. No cored hull to skrimp on F/G and a F/Ged hull to deck joint. Encapsulated ballast and integral water and fuel tanks with epoxy lining.

[twoblocktom]

Great ideas! Thanks

[sparau]

Regarding Cheoy Lee boats, on CA there are a few posts regarding them by BP and ex owners.

Things which i thought sounded somewhat alarming were:
- chopper gun only hulls, no glass mat whatsoever, reported by an owner cutting a hole out.
- the 35 was designed as keel stepped then modified by the factory to deck stepped without further consultation.
- variable quality, BP stated that they were built side by side, different teams working separately so they were "same, same but not same" to quote a Thai saying.
- deck core material resembling potting mix on a 41
- scrap iron and concrete for keel ballast
- poor quality casting of deck gear

That being said there appears to still be a fair few floating around and they sure look purdy.

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by sparau

Regarding Cheoy Lee boats, on CA there are a few posts regarding them by BP and ex owners.

Things which i thought sounded somewhat alarming were:
- chopper gun only hulls, no glass mat whatsoever, reported by an owner cutting a hole out.
- the 35 was designed as keel stepped then modified by the factory to deck stepped without further consultation.
- variable quality, BP stated that they were built side by side, different teams working separately so they were "same, same but not same" to quote a Thai saying.
- deck core material resembling potting mix on a 41
- scrap iron and concrete for keel ballast
- poor quality casting of deck gear

That being said there appears to still be a fair few floating around and they sure look purdy.

Not sure what CA and BP is, but most, if not all of that is BS. This is how bad rumors get started.

[Capt RonB]

Certainly a classic, classic project boat that is.
41 ; Islander freeport Ketch Sailboat Full Keel Center Cockpit

[Capt RonB]

And another whale of a deal.
Sailboat for sale $6500 OBO

[Capt RonB]

Just a little underwater
Big LiveAboard Sailboat /Endeavour 43 ketch

[CR38]

Ahoy Capt Ron! These are good examples of boats that might be great someday but only if the buyer has the skills and time required to refit them. To have it done by third parties would undoubtedly end with a total investment much higher than the ultimate value of the boat thus leaving the owner "underwater" on the investment. From my limited exposure on this and other forums, I get the impression that most buyers simply don't have the skills and/or time required to undertake such an effort. Better to find a great boat requiring very little in the way of upgrade and refit, at a great price.