Advice Welcome: Purchasing 40ft Catamaran with wet core

[Scout 30]

Originally Posted by texpie

I’m intrigued by the statistical data you have used for your conclusion. I’m very familiar with this brand and this is a statistical outlier regarding Mantas. Please enlighten the forum about the data you are using to support your conclusion.

I didn't say it is a systemic problem, I said it may be. It may not be & this may be an anomaly but if it happened to this Manta it appears possible that it could happen to others. Therefore a prudent buyer of a Manta might want to check for this type of saturation in the same area. You are clearly biased but I'll bet that even you would agree that if the OP was to consider purchasing a different Manta he would be less than diligent if he did not check for saturation after discovering the problem in this boat.

No, how about providing your proof that the saturation found by the OP in this boat is an outlier.

[Sand crab]

I'm with texpie on this because Mantas have a steller reputation. Better than most.

[smj]

I heard of a Manta many years ago having a problem with saturation, could be the same boat and could happen to any cored sailboat given the right circumstances.

[tweekes]

Run. Do not pass go or anywhere else. Run now!

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by sailingchiro

A wet hull is a very expensive problem that will never get repaired because it would take recoring. How in the world do you recore? By stripping off layers of fiberglass and putting new fiberglass over dry core. Absolutely not a DIY project.

Probably the same way they repaired this Huzar which delaminated. Repaired from the outside.

Prospero

[Whosails]

Walk away! It can take years to dry properly and then you must deal with delamination.

[Scout 30]

Originally Posted by smj

I heard of a Manta many years ago having a problem with saturation, could be the same boat and could happen to any cored sailboat given the right circumstances.

I'm not sure that this is true statement. I would hope that a nonporous/closed cell core correctly bonded to it's skin should not allow saturation. If the honeycomb core material in this area of Mantas does not allow for adequate bonding & is not closed cell this could be a problem for more than just this one boat.

That being said I think that there would be a significantly discounted price point at which I'd consider purchasing this boat with the thought of an alternative type of repair.

http://dryboat.com/
https://injectadeck.com/

[Icarus]

The cat is toast...not quite clear how you even have to ask what to do? I have seen this kind of problem before, run away.
You surely had a survey done before you entered a contract?
Anyway it just about impossible to dry out an entire hull which is water saturated...
I wouldn't touch it even if you let me have it for free.
There are many yachts around without major issues.

[drcat]

For an example of a DIY deck recoring and hull grinding and heated vacuum drying see Sail Life youtube vlogs of about 1 year ago. It is a monohull but would give you an idea of what it takes to rip out a core, replace and refiberglas plus dry out a hull, fair, refiberglas, barrier coat etc.

[windcastle1]

After reading all of the responses to these posts and you still decide to purchase, think about how extremely hard it will be to resell this boat in the future.

[aussiemick01]

Originally Posted by windcastle1

After reading all of the responses to these posts and you still decide to purchase, think about how extremely hard it will be to resell this boat in the future.

Did OP actually buy this wreck?