Help plz

[Roland H]

Hey guys and gals I am looking at this boat 1983 Dickerson 41 Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com. The broker says it has tabbing issues in two places he knows of in two different hanging lockers, I have no idea how serious a problem this is or how difficult it could be to fix any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Yellowtulip]

As I understand it, 'tabbing' is the attachment of the bulkheads to the hull. Fibreglass 'tabs' are used. A 'tabbing issue' may mean that the bulkhead is becoming detached from the hull. If the bulkheads in question are structural, it's a very serious issue indeed, requiring attention.
There are three factors I can think of:
1. A previous owner has damaged the tabbing in some way.
2. Some major trauma has damaged the tabbing.
3. There is some doubt about the build quality. (Even on a forty-year-old boat, the structural integrity should be sound.)
The problem can be fixed. I would get a professional to repair the damage. First of all, I would get a reputable surveyor to check the whole boat thoroughly, there may be other problems if, for instance, the boat has been dropped from a hoist at some time.
It's also possible that the bulkheads in question are non-structural, and repair is an easy job. A surveyor will tell you. If there's an owner's group for that type of boat, that might be helpful too.
Good luck.

[BobHorn]

It always amazes me, the faith people have in surveyors. We have bought and sold four boats and none of the surveyors involved could tell their a$$ from a hole in the ground or find it with both hands and a map.

[snbrooker]

Can anyone help me sort out how to post? I can reply it seems but no where do I see a new post option... used to work as I posted a few things in the past...
Shane

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by BobHorn

It always amazes me, the faith people have in surveyors. We have bought and sold four boats and none of the surveyors involved could tell their a$$ from a hole in the ground or find it with both hands and a map.

Should've hired better surveyors, they are out there.

How to Chose A Marine Surveyor

How to Become a Marine Surveyor

[Yellowtulip]

Originally Posted by BobHorn

It always amazes me, the faith people have in surveyors. We have bought and sold four boats and none of the surveyors involved could tell their a$$ from a hole in the ground or find it with both hands and a map.

Well, that merely shows how people's experiences vary. I have had extremely helpful surveys done, and I know others who would concur. Why should it amaze you that people get good results from surveyors who have a great deal of experience and knowledge? I'm more surprised when I hear negative reports.

If someone has little or no knowledge or experience, and I'm guessing the OP's in that category, would you advise them to take a chance on buying any old boat?

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by snbrooker

Can anyone help me sort out how to post? I can reply it seems but no where do I see a new post option... used to work as I posted a few things in the past...
Shane

Here is one, quick, easy way.

Go to the top of any page. Just under the logo "Cruisers Forum" there are nine menu boxes you can select. The second from the left is "Forums". Highlight that box which opens a drop down menu of all the forums. Click on the appropriate forum and a new window opens.

Go the the bottom of that page and you will see a box labeled "New Thread". Click on that and there you go.

[BobHorn]

Originally Posted by boatpoker

Should've hired better surveyors, they are out there.

How to Chose A Marine Surveyor

How to Become a Marine Surveyor

First boat we bought, 41' CC ketch. Had diesel smell inside and bilge water was a little pink we later found out. Moving up from a Hobie 16 we had no experience with inboards so thought that was normal. Surveyors was supposed to be the best in the area. Later determined that the smell and pink bilge water was due to leaking fuel tanks. Fixed that and lived aboard for six years. Selling the boat the buyer hired the same surveyor. He now determined the fuel tanks were leaking. Based it on some pink foam under the tanks which was still pink from the previous leak. At this, no smell, clean bilges.
I firmly believe he was encouraged, bribed is such an ugly word, when we bought to make sure sure the sale went through. When we sold he was encouraged to find serious problems so the buyer could knock down the price. Every survey we've had done after that wrote up problems that did not exist and missed issues that did exist. If it wasn't for insurance or finance reasons, I would never hire another surveyor.

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by BobHorn

First boat we bought, 41' CC ketch. Had diesel smell inside and bilge water was a little pink we later found out. Moving up from a Hobie 16 we had no experience with inboards so thought that was normal. Surveyors was supposed to be the best in the area. Later determined that the smell and pink bilge water was due to leaking fuel tanks. Fixed that and lived aboard for six years. Selling the boat the buyer hired the same surveyor. He now determined the fuel tanks were leaking. Based it on some pink foam under the tanks which was still pink from the previous leak. At this, no smell, clean bilges.
I firmly believe he was encouraged, bribed is such an ugly word, when we bought to make sure sure the sale went through. When we sold he was encouraged to find serious problems so the buyer could knock down the price. Every survey we've had done after that wrote up problems that did not exist and missed issues that did exist. If it wasn't for insurance or finance reasons, I would never hire another surveyor.

Sorry you had such an experience. I agree 90% of the surveyors out there are useless charlatans. After being in the business for 25 years and knowing the quality of work of all 250 surveyors in Ontario, there are only three that I recommend. I also know many surveyors on the east coast of the US and again there are very few I would hire myself. You really have to dig and do a thorough "due diligence" but the good guys are out there.

[Yellowtulip]

It would be unhelpful to turn this into a thread about surveyors, so I'll just reiterate that the OP needs someone who knows what they're looking at to assess the problem, whether that be a surveyor or boatbuilder or whatever.

[Suijin]

Originally Posted by Roland H

Hey guys and gals I am looking at this boat 1983 Dickerson 41 Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com. The broker says it has tabbing issues in two places he knows of in two different hanging lockers, I have no idea how serious a problem this is or how difficult it could be to fix any help would be greatly appreciated.

And no one here can help you with that.

It could be very serious, it could be not so serious. All depends on the cause, the extent, and access to repair.

Personally, I would walk away from the boat. Where there is smoke there is fire, and a full survey would be required to know the extent. Even then you might never know and it would have nothing to do with the quality of the surveyor.

That's a pretty lousy blocking job in those outdoor photos. Would not be surprised if the boat fell over. That would certainly explain a fistful of busted tabbing.