A little more thorough
inspection showed a few more problems than at first glance. I also spoke with the owner and the boat yard. Built in California in the 70/80's using west system. Sailed the pacific through Ak to
panama and up here to virginia. Can't seem to get an accurate timeframe during my time on the
phone with the owner. Face to face should get a more accurate account. No name on vessel, but was told it was named Jehira (sp?).
Boat was brought into the yard more than 10 years ago. It has been up on concrete pilings with a few pieces of
wood to support her. The entire boat is resting on the alma supports. Hasn't been touched for around 3 years,
paint is worn away to the
fiberglass in some spots- dried out
fabric on some of the cabintop edges.
Parts of the
deck is actually burst from
water being soaked through the resin and into the
wood.
Lexan windows are crazed over with aged
salt spray ,I would guess. There are compartments built into the
deck, suprisingly the lids are still in place. I say suprisingly because none of them are screwed down!
Stainless steel hinges mounted to the lid but not to the actual deck. The only hatches that are secured are to the main
salon. Almas,
storage, steerage access
panels are all loose.
No access to the
salon because of lock that owner didn't tell me about. Ooops.
Almas smell moldy but aren't totally damp. The breather valves are open fore/aft so i can't tell if
water is actually enetering or not. Knocking and walking didn't reveal any soft spots.
Prop shaft seems in good shape, prop heavily corroded.
Is it normal to have a tiny
rudder on a tri? I guess I'm used to
monohull barndoors and multihulls with flip up rudders. This one is secured to the underside and only about 2ft high by 2 ft wide.
The
mast is lying in the weeds, vegetation has securely attached it to the ground. I didn't see any other
rigging, the owner told me that he had a bunch of stuff in his warehouse.
The owner also owes the yard for a couple years of back payments.
I can do most everything myself, but it still seems like quite an investment in a 20 some year old tri that may or may not be able to be finished.
But she has great lines and just looks like she wants to GO. Dammit, I hate it when I get attached to
boats that are begging for
rescue. Am I just tilting at windmills? I know monohulls but multis seem to have a totally different lifecycle, any
advice?