[eherlihy]

Originally Posted by NCC320

I am currently advertising my boat on several on-line listing services. One of my concerns is that someone, who lives some distance away, will read the brief description, call me, and have a different understanding of what we mean by "good or excellent" condition. Towards that end, I have posted a link to a website where I have lots of pictures showing the boat in great detail. In this way, a potential buyer will have already seen the good and bad of the boat. I realize this is the exception, and by doing so, I may actually be hurting myself.

If this is true, you ARE the exception - and in a good way!

If you are willing to meet with a buyer, and tell him what you know - the good, the bad, and the ugly, and come across as being up front, then the buyer should trust you.

Tapping the deck with a hammer should not cause any damage. I could argue, however, that with a boat as new as your's (a 2001 Catalina 22?), it is new enough that core rot, delamination, and bulkhead rot should not be problems that the buyer should be concerned about.

When I saw "Slip Queen" it was not shown by the owner, or a broker, but by a friend of the owner. He did not know the details of the boat, and couldn't answer my detailed questions. The owner described this vessel to me as in "Bristol condition" - "must sell"

• I noticed that there was a patch on the starboard hull and high moisture on that area of the deck.
• I later learned that the boat had broken a spring line, and had rubbed against a piling causing damage to the deck and hull.
• I found that the boat had been left for long periods of time, and the "new" batteries had drained from running the bilge pump.
• I found the mickey mouse wiring (wire nuts should NEVER be used on a vessel - especially in the bilge).
• I found that the head had not been used because the pump was broken.
• I found that the stove was never used because the gas solenoid had corroded off, and the propane tank was a NON OPD tank.
• I found that the keel bolts (pictured above) were severely corroded because of stagnant water in the bilge.
• I found that the engine was in desperate need of service. It was vibrating so badly, that I believe that it will need new motor mounts.

I could go on...

"Bristol" my eye

After finding these issues, I decided that the owner was NOT honest or up front with me. No trust = NO deal.

FWIW - I would not allow anyone to drill holes in my boat either.