Used Grampian 23

[Michael Miletin]

Hi
I am very new to sailing.
I recently bought a Grampian 23 (built in mid 70s) as part of an estate sale. I did not pay much for this boat but do not want to throw good money after bad...so my question:

I found the boat on a trailer. It had been left uncovered for 2 winters here in Ontario Canada. No visible exterior damage. About 1 inch of water in the cabin.
No working electrical from what I can see.
Sails off-site, have not been inspected.

Do I go any further here? Should I get a surveyor out to inspect this and get a sense of what I might be looking at in repairs? Or does it sound like I should not even bother because repairs would cost more than buying a used boat to gain some experience on, cruising lakes in Ontario on weekends?

Many thanks and appreciate your candour and honesty.

Mike Miletin

[Boulter]

Hi:

Hard to say, but my guess is that the boat is not in any worse shape than anything else you might find close by on short notice. Which isn't saying much if you want a really bristol boat. I don't think many see a boat this size as their forever boat and consequently don't keep them up.

I purchased a boat of similar size 2 years ago. If I just needed it to be day sailing safe and not trailer it very far, I likely could have only invested another $1000. I am well over this figure, but I want things just so and I am not just day sailing. I want to stay out weeks at a time.

It really depends on your ultimate intentions.

Where are you in Ontario? Maybe there is a local club with knowledgeable folks who could give an opinion.

I sail out of Belleville if that helps.

Boulter

[JPA Cate]

Hello, Mike, welcome aboard CF.

It had an inch of water. Well, did you pump it out? or pull the plug? How was the boat for water damage?

Since you're new to it all, I think it's a nice little boat, if put right. It has a head, a galley, a v-berth, a swing keel. Do you have the skills to attack the jobs yourself? If not,(a) do you have a friend who could help you assess what needs to be done? if not (b) see if you can give it away to a good home, do not spend the money on a surveyor.

In my opinion, this could be a rewarding fixer upper, if her timber isn't ruined. But it may be. And, if you want to go sailing, get rid of it and get something you can start sailing in now. You should only keep her if you can fix her yourself, and that appeals to you as something to do. It will be heart and possibly budget breaking at times, if you do try. It truly may need to go in the "too hard" bin.

Ann

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Mike.

See ➥ http://www.grampianowners.com/G23/g23.html

The Grampian 26 Manual contains a great deal of information that also applies to the Grampian 23.
➥ http://www.grampianowners.com/G26/grampian_26.html

See also ➥ http://sailquest.com/market/models/gramp23.htm

[AiniA]

If you need to hire someone to do the work it probably is not worth it, but if you have the time and willingness I would pursue it. You can learn the skills as you go. Electrical system problems could be as simple as the battery is dead. More important considerations are how is the engine (I assume an outboard) and where will you keep the boat?

[BreakWind]

As an aging G23 owner of twenty years I think registering to reply to you in this blog is more difficult than learning to sail a G23. NO SURVEY! Sail the damn thing. An earlier poster assumed yours is a swing keel. (on trailer) Mine is a fixed fin. Far more common. Fun, fast, easy to sail boat. I will try posting this now to see if it sticks.

[Rudderless]

Hi Mike,

Congrats on the new(ish) boat. I also wouldn't sink any money into a survey right away. I'm sure you can get a lot of help here to see what you need to do and if it's worth it.

Mark