Surveying or not

[Pavel24]

Hello,

We are searching for our first sailboat . I found this tartan34c 67/68 for sale for 10k USD. It passed 10 years on the hard and before that it was a lake sailboat. The boat have lots of things coming with it ( dodger, autopilot, bimini , few sails and other small things).

It have two soft spot on the deck but other then that i didn't find any thing soft or delaminating (by taping the hall). There are few leaks inside but the hull seems good .
The keel and rudder have traces of impacts but from what i read on this boat they are more aesthetics and need sanding and repainting
The boat wasn't covered during the winters so it had snow during the winters on it. Windows doesn't have traces of leaks but need glass change and maybe seals ?
Spreaders (where they are fixed to the mast) are cracked but i thing it can be changed with out excessive cost ?
The top front hatch need to be changed.
The rigging is original from 67/68 and i count to replace it if i buy the boat, 3k budged if we do the work our-self is reasonable ?)
Chainplates look good ,no sign of corrosion.
Motor is diesel ( original was gas motor, big + for me) doesn't look clean but it should work and needs only diesel pump change to start (as says the owner)+ good maintenance .
The interior was modified but i want to change it back to original layout if purchased.
Didn't inspect the swing keel .
Need new batterys


The question is, should i hire surveyor or pass to another boat because its to much work? from my youtube and books studies this boat looks good .

I plan to leave and go to Caribbean islands at the end of 2019 so i should have some time to clean , repair, repaint, rebed, reseal, and modify . I know 10k isn't much and i shouldn't expect too much from the boat at that price and i expect another 10-15k in repair before leaving . We should have about 1.5 year to do the job on weekends and other free time.

Thanks in advance for your opinion !

[Pavel24]

more photos

[Attikos]

Is that a crack in the hull just afore the rudder?

[Pavel24]

Originally Posted by Attikos

Is that a crack in the hull just afore the rudder?

Nope, its just the red paint that is gone

[Attikos]

Whew ...

A couple of comments from someone who bought his first boat 18 months ago:

I'll never hire another surveyor. The one I paid an exorbitant amount to was almost useless in terms of finding problems, and the boat I got was in exceptionally good shape for an older one. That said, I practically stole the vessel with a low offer. The seller wanted another boat, badly, and was ready to take it. I'm glad I did. I've put more than anticipated into it, a lot more than the survey reported.

From the pictures you posted, this boat looks like it wants a great deal of serious work. I know I couldn't do it all alone even given your schedule, and labor for skilled people is staggering. I'd bet a dollar that unless you're in a position to put in fifty hours a week steadily on this project, you'll spend a good deal more than your planned budget because you'll have to hire specialists to do much of it. I don't think I'd pay $10K for this one, not based on how it looks here.

Remember this comes from someone with far less experience than some other posters here, but one who also has just done what you're planning. Were it me, I'd keep looking, but make a lowball offer if I really wanted this boat, then walk away if it's rejected.

[s/v Moondancer]

Good boats, I raced on one off-shore but that boat is not worth $10,000 in its present condition.

Get the owner to put it in the water and get everything working and then start negotiating him down.

[Fore and Aft]

That’s a good question. You have identified a fair few faults on the yacht and you sound like you are already imagining your first voyage in her.
A good surveyor should be able to give you a better idea of the issues you are facing and also knock those rose colour glasses of your head! A good surveyor should have a rough idea what the boat is worth as well.
I see it so often with customers that buy the dream but not the reality.
Cheers

[Chuck34]

For every person who says they will never have a surveyor, or says they are a complete waste of time and money...you will find 10 people with the exact opposite opinion.
$10,000 is way too much for this boat. 50 years old and sitting on the hard for 10 years.
Walk away and don't look back