Any advice.

[Ramin]

1987 Hunter 31. U shaped cockpit with Yanmar. Wheel steering and 5ft 6 inch draft. $24,000.

I am looking at this boat for my first boat. Any advice on the listing price or the draft or anything would be great.

[sailingdog]

Ramin—

Without knowing what kind of condition the boat is in and what kind of equipment it has on it, there is really no way to say whether that is a good price or not.

I'd also recommend you read the Boat Inspection Trip Tips thread I started, as it will help you determine whether this boat is really worth going further with or not.

As for whether the draft is good, IT WOULD PROBABLY REALLY HELP IF YOU SAID WHERE ARE YOU PLANNING ON USING THE BOAT???

[QuickMick]

also when you go look at it if you know an experienced sailor i would def. take him/her with you, as they may see things that are problematic that may elude you

[Faster]

Here are some comparisons:

1985 hunter (Sail) Cruiser/Racer Boats For Sale

[jackdale]

You insurance company will probably want a survey. Have a mechanic check out the drive train. You might also have a rigger check out the rigging. As mentioned above, bring a experienced sailor along for the sea trial.

I would suggest it might make a good starter coastal cruiser. I would not take it off shore.

[Ramin]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

Ramin—

Without knowing what kind of condition the boat is in and what kind of equipment it has on it, there is really no way to say whether that is a good price or not.

I'd also recommend you read the Boat Inspection Trip Tips thread I started, as it will help you determine whether this boat is really worth going further with or not.

As for whether the draft is good, IT WOULD PROBABLY REALLY HELP IF YOU SAID WHERE ARE YOU PLANNING ON USING THE BOAT???

Thanks sailingdog, I did read that thread. I actually saved it and plan on following it pretty closely when I go look at it first hand. I was hoping maybe somebody had some first hand experience with this boat. I got the link to work, so you can see the add for the boat first hand.

Your right about the draft question....I would be sailing in the Kemah TX area. Gulf of Mexico I guess you could say.

I also have to question something I was told. I am looking at a slip to buy. I am trying to avoid renting if I can swing it. I found a slip but talked to the owner and when I asked about the depth he said it is over 6 feet but that sometimes durring the winter months the tide along with the northern winds can bring it down to 4 feet. That makes most of the boats sit on the bottom for those times the tides are out. He stated that was normal and just about all of the boats are like that then. I guess I will have to go out there and talk to some of the other boat owners there to see if this is a real concern, but I thaught "ANY" time with the boat sitting on the bottom was not good. Am I wrong or is this sometimes just the way it is with certain areas durring these different times of the year? I really talked to this guy for some time and he was very genuine and polite and put up with a ton of my questions so I really want to believe him when he says thats normal, but my wife says I'm too trusting so I'm asking here.

Tommy Tiptons Lauderdale Yacht Sales (League City, TX)

when you go look at it if you know an experienced sailor i would def. take him/her with you

Thanks QuickMick but I reallyy don't know a single sailer. Its been a few years since I sailed beach cats and even then I don't think those guys would be of any help with the workings of a real cruiser. But that is definately good advice. Want to meet me in Kemah TX?

You insurance company will probably want a survey. Have a mechanic check out the drive train. You might also have a rigger check out the rigging. As mentioned above, bring a experienced sailor along for the sea trial.

I would suggest it might make a good starter coastal cruiser. I would not take it off shore.

Thanks jackdale. I have learned from reading on this site that I will definately have to get a survey. Would the survey tell me what condition the standing rigging and running rigging is in? Also, I don't plan to take it "off shore" just cruising the intercoastal up down the coast of TX and maybe one day down into the Mexican waters. Being a newbie, what is ment by off shore? Do you mean like setting off for acrross the gulf or even just like 50 miles off the coast. Whats the marker so to speak for coastal and when do you reach the off shore point?

I would like to thank all of you for your help and I hope to get better at asking my questions in the futer. I'm doing the best a redneck can do.

[sailingdog]

If the water gets down to 4', you're going to be burying the keel in the mud quite a bit and putting more stress on the hull-keel joint than you would otherwise. Burying the keel will likely cause problems with the bottom paint, and increase the frequency you'll need to repaint.

I'd find a different slip or a shallower draft boat. Also, if the water is only 6'+ deep normally, any kind of storm surge or strong boat wakes will likely have the boat bouncing off the bottom, which is probably something to avoid whenever possible. For instance, say the depth is 6'6", and a powerboat goes by and leaves a 3' wake...then the water depth will vary from 5' (or having 6" of your keel bouncing on the bottom) to 8'. If the bottom is anything but very soft silt or mud.... imagine what it will do to the bottom of your boat.

I also have to question something I was told. I am looking at a slip to buy. I am trying to avoid renting if I can swing it. I found a slip but talked to the owner and when I asked about the depth he said it is over 6 feet but that sometimes durring the winter months the tide along with the northern winds can bring it down to 4 feet. That makes most of the boats sit on the bottom for those times the tides are out. He stated that was normal and just about all of the boats are like that then. I guess I will have to go out there and talk to some of the other boat owners there to see if this is a real concern, but I thaught "ANY" time with the boat sitting on the bottom was not good. Am I wrong or is this sometimes just the way it is with certain areas durring these different times of the year? I really talked to this guy for some time and he was very genuine and polite and put up with a ton of my questions so I really want to believe him when he says thats normal, but my wife says I'm too trusting so I'm asking here.

[CalebD]

$24,995 is not a reduced price for a 1987 Hunter 31' IMHO.
The engine type is listed as fueled by gasoline. If this is true or it has an outboard instead of inboard engine then this asking price is absurd.
This asking price might be believable if the boat has new sails, new rigging, low engine hours (diesel), new electronics and other goodies included.
I would offer 2/3rds of the asking price at best.
As an example I know of a Catalina 30' of similar vintage that had all new electronics, recently new sails, solid diesel engine that changed hands for about $18K last year. It was a sale between friends at our club though which helped keep the price lower (reasonable).
If you are worried about hitting the bottom at your slip why not consider a center board equipped boat? An example of this type of boat would be my boat, a Tartan 27' (3'6" draft with board up) and Tartan 34' among others.

[Faster]

The asking is about average of the listings I posted earlier.. one of which is the boat in question. The engine is not a gas engine, there's a picture of what looks like a Yanmar to me. The boat "looks" clean, but as ever there's no way to know how recent the pictures are (or if indeed they are the same boat).

I think, as Jackdale put it, that if a good example that boat would be OK as a coastal cruiser.

Just do your due diligence, get the survey and go from there.

Regarding the slip, it sounds ill advised, it's not uncommon necessarily for boats to occasionally sit on the bottom, esp if it's soft mud, but a 2 foot deficit in depth is going to put a strain on the boat, not only from sitting aground (and likely grounding the more fragile rudder) but possibly from the boat having to support the float (if it is a floating dock). Adequate depth at all time is going to be highly preferable.

[Minnewaska]

Can't help you with the value of the boat, but always assume when someone asks about something so obviously bad (ie. the slip depth in winter), there might be another motivation. Is it the least expensive in town, most convenient to your home, nicest place available, etc? I'm sure you know its not good for the boat your looking at. Even if you weren't sure of its impact on the keel/hull, you know you weren't going anywhere and may find yourself not getting back if you pushed your luck near that season.

If possible, I would go somewhere else, particularly if I was going to own it. No reason to pay for year round, if the value to you becomes seasonal.

So, if there is a serious attraction to this marina, some ideas would be to rent a mooring ball a bit further from shore for the few months that the water level it too low, or pass on this boat and buy one with a retractable keel.

Best of luck on the new boat !!!!