Catalina 27 '79 Had the survey today.... bah

saurav16 · #1 (**permalink**) 05-11-2007

So I got the boat I was looking at surveyed today. The boat is a '79 catalina 27 with a Universal diesel. I was a little disheartened by the initial results. The stanchions were pretty loose most of them on the port side and one that was rocking on the starboard side. There was also some deck delamination on the fore deck close to the bow of the boat. I just wanted to get this boat to learn how to sail on for the season and hope to get to the repairs in the fall. Is it possible to still sail with this boat. Most of the moisture is most likly due to the crazing on the deck and then around the stanchion bases. To repair this would I have to recut the marine plywood material to replace it or will it be sufficient to drill holes and dry it up with a vacum and seal with epoxy? Also around the rudder under the cockpit there was some epoxy which shows signs that there was some rudder repair done on the vessel. But instead of using fiberglass cloth they used epoxy? Does that make sense? Any advice is appreciated. I am new to boats so please take that into account, although I have time on my hands to learn to do repairs.

Insails · #2 (**permalink**) 05-11-2007

Would I buy that boat? NO. I have also been looking for a boat for over a year..Many ,many,many I walked away from..Granted all boats have problems ..You just have to find the boat with the fewest problems...Unless you are great at fiberglass work,I would not even concider that boat. By using the boat the rest of the season the moisture level would only get higher and the delamination area spread(big bucks)..The boat has a bursted rudder thats been repaired once so really its time to buy a new one(bucks)..You will have 3 times more in repairs than you will the boat ..RUN!!! go find a better boat for the money....

camaraderie · #3 (**permalink**) 05-11-2007

saurav16...I would walk away too. Too much to do and too many other and better C27's on the market. You are looking at a huge amount of work to put her right.

Valiente · #4 (**permalink**) 05-11-2007

Leave it. There are thousands of 27 footers in all conditions around, and that sounds like a project boat fit for a bunch of Sea Scouts with unlimited time to take apart a rotted deck.

BarryL · #5 (**permalink**) 05-11-2007

Hello,

What did the surveyor tell you? Did he provide an estimated value for the boat? Did he explain the problem areas and how to correct them?

I have had three boats surveyed. The older the boat, the more 'problems' the survey will find. Just because the surveyor finds something does mean you shouldn't buy the boat. Perhaps the owner will lower the price because of the problems found.

I have no idea if you should purchase this particular boat or not. You are really best off speaking to the surveyor and getting his opinion. You paid good money for the survey (and surveyor), why not listen to him?

Good luck,
Barry

saurav16 · #6 (**permalink**) 05-11-2007

Yeah I am hoping the owner will lower the price. The survey write up is due back to me next friday. I mean the fiberglass repair doesnt' seem like it is too bad of a job to do according to the Don casey's books complete illustrated sailboat maintenance manual. But I have never done it so I don't know how hard it really is. I mean for a boat in the 5-7k price range are these the kind of boats you will find, in such condition?

sailingdog · #7 (**permalink**) 05-11-2007

I would pass on this boat... there are a lot of boats out there that won't have as many problems. Unless you're on a really tight budget, take a pass. BTW, even if you're on a really tight budget, generally spending a bit more money to get a boat that is in better shape is far better than spending the minimum since the repairs will generally cost more than the difference in price between a boat that is in good shape and one that is a wreck.

tenuki · #8 (**permalink**) 05-12-2007

in that price range / size / age you should be able to get a boat that sails as well and doesn't have problems. keep looking.

Sailormann · #9 (**permalink**) 05-12-2007

It is going to cost more time and money than you think to fix these issues. They don't sound like they are major, with the possible exception of the rudder, but you need to factor in the cost of materials, tools, books, time and money spent sourcing materials, haul-out and launch, yard storage, etc., etc.

Sailing Dog makes a valid point as far as the difference in costs between repair and buying a better-kept boat.

If you have 5 to 7 thousand dollars to spend, I would suggest that you look at smaller, newer boats. It costs a certain amount of money to maintain a 27 foot boat that is in GOOD condition. It costs a LOT more to maintain the same model 27 foot boat in fair to poor condition. Lines have to be replaced, blocks break, engines are bigger and more complicated, there are more batteries, instruments, sails for a 27 can cost almost twice as much as those for a 22 foot boat.

If you don't have the money to put into the boat to bring her up to snuff, and keep her there, then the boat just continues to deteriorate. In three or four years, when you decide you want to sell, the boat you spent 7 thousand dollars on, and invested another 5 or 6 thousand in to maintain - is worth MAYBE 3 thousand, because it is in poor condition and is competing against newer and much better maintained boats in the market.

However, if you take your initial 7 thousand dollars, and buy a 22 or 24 foot boat in really good condition, and you spent the same amount of money on repair and maintaining her as you would have on the 27 - when you decide to sell, you will quite likely get more than your initial investment back. So you are much farther ahead.

I don't think that 7 thousand dollars is going to get you a good 27 foot boat. You might get lucky and find an 'okay' one, but you need to really do a lot of research about what you're going to have to invest once you have made your purchase.

Good luck and let us know what happens !!!

saurav16 · #10 (**permalink**) 05-12-2007

Yeah i think the suggestion to move to a smaller boat is valid. So basically do all of you agree that most 27' boats in that 5-7k price range will be in less than average condition? What is the price of a 27' boat in good condition just to get an idea? Also what do all of you consider as a price tag for an expensive repair? Just some questions floating around in my head for the last day and night therefore a sleepless night :-(