Buying a '70s or '80s sailboat - what to look for

[cAmstar]

Hey All,

Curious as to what i should be generally looking for when buying a used 1970s or 1980s sailboat. My thoughts are:

- Fiberglass
- Engine

Anything else? Even though my boat budget is low (approx. USD 10,000), i plan to get a survey done. Will the survey adequately pick up most issues? Will the survey be written in a manner that a newbie can digest easily?

Also, what about pricing. Are there any resources that help one determine whether the price is fair? Does the surveyor offer any opinion on that as part of the survey? Are most USA surveyors the same from state-to-state?

I spent a lot of time sailing when i was a youth but have never purchased a boat and I'm a bit out of my element.

Thanks in advance.