Just a little experience with
buying a new old
boat. Recently bought a 1976 early MkII
Sabre 28 with a less than 100 hour
Yanmar 2GM engine. The
boat had been semi derelict in the
water for more than two years. It had been donated to a Yacht Club Youth Program when the owner's died but title issues took the Club two years to get clear title to be able to sell it. The owner's had obviously suffered an extended illness or age disability before that so could have been 5 years or more that the boat had been sitting in the
water unused.
The
engine had been started and run at idle while the Club was clearing the title. Unfortunately that turned out to be a mixed blessing. Running the engine at idle, however long it had been, resulted in the
exhaust mixing
elbow clogging up almost immediately after i took possession. Didn't realize what the problem was and melted the plastic
muffler which turned out to be a major hassle as I had to replace not only the
muffler but the
exhaust hose as well. The muffler manufacturer changed the exhaust diameter by just enough that the existing 1 1/12" exhaust house had to be changed to the next larger size. With the only access being through the stbd
cockpit locker and lazerette, it took some major boat yoga to make the change, a lot of longish walks to the engine store for
parts, and half a boat unit expense.
Fortunately the
mainsail had been stored below with only the 120%
genoa left on the
furler exposed to the elements. The UV cover did it's job but the
mold and moss inside the furled sail made it the ugliest looking thing I've seen and the stains were permanent. They'd also left the
dodger up. It was totally green, the cloth and stitching UV damaged. Managed to save it though the
mold stains are permanent and it's got enough patches to qualify for a band-aid advertisement.
The running
rigging was near terminal from UV damage and mold. Replaced the main sheet,
genoa sheets, vang, main out haul, and
mainsail reefing lines. The halyards were wire/rope and the wire was a rat's nest of
fish hooks and the
rope tails badly deteriorated by UV. Trashed them after getting a number of
fish hook cuts and replaced with 5/16"
dyneema cored line. Fortunately got T900 main
halyard on eBay and the rest o close outs at a consignment store. The
spinnaker halyard and pole topping
lift had gone 'walk about' so had to replace them also.
Fortunately the owners had bought a brand new set of North
sails, main, 150%, 135%, and 120% genoa just before they stopped using the boat. There was also an older
spinnaker, reacher drifter, 160%, 140%, 100%, and storm jibs. Since the boat had been sailed in windy
SF Bay, only the 120% and 100% jibs looked like they'd had any use.
The Winches were all non
self tailing. I mostly
single hand and have gotten a bit addicted to
self tailing winches. Moved the primary sheet
winch to a secondary spinnaker sheet position and picked up a pair of
Lewmar 40ST winches off eBay and 16ST's from Craig's List for the halyard winches. All at less than 1/2 discounted new.
The
electronics were toast. Found NOS
Raymarine ST-60+
knot meter and
depth sounder for $500 on line. Bought a new
VHF radio and
GPS Plotter.
Compass globe was so frosted couldn't read the card so had to buy a new Contest 101. The switch panel used
fuses and for some reason I haven't figured out, turning one switch energized other circuits at half the voltage. Got a deal on a nifty new Blueseas circuit breaker panel. When I get rountoit may re-wire the boat as the PO's
work has a close resemblance to a birds nest. It came with a tiller
autopilot that didn't
work. Had to buy a
cheap multi-meter to figure out the
electrical plug was bad. Got it back on line for new 12v socket.
The PO had done a weird job of adding a
holding tank. You could use a
pump out facility or
pump the contents out on the
deck to empty the tank. The
odor from the
head was over powering and the tank wiped out the only hanging locker. Ripped out the whole
head system and installed a C-Head which nearly wiped out another boat unit but no more stink, got the hanging locker back for the foulies, and just a little hassle to maintain it.
Someone had cranked the vang down too tight and put a permanent bow in the boom. Got a deal on new US Spars boom through Mack
Sails. Surprisingly
cheap from Mack but still most of a boat unit.
Paid less for the boat than what the bare
Yanmar engine cost so no big thing making the improvements. I get the use of all the boat and nearly new
gear for a 1/4 or less what a
new boat would cost. May even be able to sell the boat for what I've got into it. Not really that concerned about the
money, it's just the
kids inheritance, and I get a lot of satisfaction working on and sailing the boat. Oh!!! and it's a really sweet handling solid boat that's a joy to sail.
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