I overnighted a contract on a new, used, 38 footer

[john232]

Its a 1985 beneteau first 38 . at yachtworld web sight 1985 Beneteau First 38 Boat For Sale

I will fly out to the survey and test sail next week. Then I will have it delivered to my new home in the BVI. Very excited!!!

[Stillraining]

As well you should be..Nice boat..Hope it works out for you.

[knuterikt]

Fine boat, looking at the pictures it seems to be in good condition.
I have got a similar boat.. even the same year.

Good luck

[ozsailer]

good luck with the survey, but listen to what he has to say and dont let emotions get in the way of sound judgement. Hope everything works out


Greg and sue
Land downunder

[sailingdog]

congrats....but you need to post photos or it isn't official...

[lilblackbearcat]

I live in the BVI. We have an abundance of Benetau's coming out of charter fleets, that are refurbished then put up for sale complete with surveys etc. So, I am a tad sruprised you shopped in Florida (and plan to have it "delivered") rather than the BVI where the plethora of boats for sale certainly keeps the price competitive.

You may be a tad shocked when you see what a 7-10 day delivery offshore can do to a modest but let's be honest, SMALL sailboat. Benetau's are designed specifically for the charter industry, but of course are good for anything, just that their focus is more on barebaot creature comfort than on offshore passage making.

Be prepared to make repairs before leaving and after arriving. Before leaving the dock, make SURE the boat has NO (and I mean NO!) leaks at all. Even the teeniest tiniest leak will open up offshore and wreck an interior in short order.

I once went offshore from the Virgin Islands to Annapolis, MD, and while we left on a seemingly beautiful 38' boat that was merely going to Maryland for a "minor" refit, we discovered offshore that the rig was out of balance, so we had to fight the wheel without an autopilot and this put a strain on the 3 crew which should have been 4 crew, due to the 24 hour steering.

The tiny leaks around hatches and somewhere forrward in the anchor locker, quickly opened up to big leaks, and wrecked the overhead and all the upholtery. Not to mention salt water running across teak for 10 days and sloshing around the floorboards, which sometimes floated around due to the amount of water pouring in if a wave crashed over us. We had nothing offshore to repair with as this boat came with a screw driver and pliers and nothing else. Thankfully, the captain had a big roll of duct tape which repaired out exhaust later on.

The bilge pump failed as did the manual pump, so we had to scoop out buckets of water at every 3 hour shift change. We were too exhausted to do it any other time. The exhaust hose came off the engine during a storm and I woke up dizzy and coughing and managed to get outside, escaping certain death, the captain on watch, was horrified to see me open the hatch and this huge black cloud of sooty smoke came out from below. He rescued the other crew member who we had a hard time waking up and when we did he couldn't stop coughing for an hour it seemed. Daylight and we could see the entire interior of the boat was covered in black exhaust sooty muck.

When the engine cooled, we put nearly an entire roll of duct tape around the exhaust hose and prayed mightily.

Getting close to Ananpolis, we were ragged, exhausted and grumpy, everything inside was salt laden with black soot including our clothes and towels, which by now there was not a dry towel or cushion or peice of clothing anywhere on the boat. Then the sails split, first the jib then the main.

We limped into port, tied up where told to, and dashed out for REAL food. We were stared down, as we looked like a rough crowd I guess, salt encrusted, black soot, filthy salty clothes, we then crawled to showers and a laundremat, before venturing back in public. I moved to a hotel and slept 19 hours straight when I laid down next. I couldn't take one more night in a wet salty bunk.

I wasn't there when the owner took over his boat for a "minor refit" which now was going to be a major refit but I bet he about had a heart attack when he saw the wreck, um sailboat.

All I can say is TEST that boat for leaks, and fix ANYTHING that has the teeniest tiniest leak before having it delivered.

A ten day offshore delivery is the "age" equivalent of about 5 years of weekend/occasional sailing. So be prepared for the boat to take a beating if everything is not in tip top shape when departing.

I don't mean to scare you, but why not look at the boats in the BVI before you accept one that has to go on a 7-10 day delivery to reach you.

[Elby]

Sounds to me like the boats from the VI aren't that great. good job getting one in FL.

[blt2ski]

Along with the First series being designed a bit different than the Oceanus series that are used in Charter fleets in the VI's and elsewhere. Most of the First series boats are Racer/cruisers, and in many cases designed to sail in the offshore races. Where as the Oceanus versions are designed to be coastal cruisers, NOT to go that far off shore etc.

I personally have no issues buying a First boat, especially some of the ones designed by Farr, such as the current fleet, he/or his staff designed some going farther back also. A 40.7 won the Sydney-Hobart a few yrs back, IIRC a 36.7 won a pro class for one of the "To Bermuda" races this past summer.

Enjoy the new boat, assuming the survey is a good one etc.

marty

[Yado]

"I don't mean to scare you, but why not look at the boats in the BVI before you accept one that has to go on a 7-10 day delivery to reach you."

How do you think those Beneteaus and Jeanneaus got to the BVIs? Most were delivered from South Carolina or from boat shows in the States. I've delivered new boats and old to the BVI's and 2 "musts" come to mind and there are more: Must take duct tape and tape up any old hatches BEFORE leaving (some say wipe the gasket down with acetone and use silicone calk), and check that the tanks are clean and the fuel fresh!!!!! Can't charge the batteries if you've run out of Raycors and the lines are clogged.
Oh, and those new charter boats can be beat up even before they get into charter. I've spent several days at the Moorings/Sunsail repair port and to say it's primative is an understatement. Buyer beware.

[lilblackbearcat]

I did look at the FLorida boat, and it does appear to be in tip top shape, so I envy you on finding such a nice deal. THere is also a freighter that brings boats from the US to the USVI in the fall. Call a freight agent and you can get details. Then there is almost NO wear and tear on the yacht.

The above poster who said "Sounds to me like the boats from the VI aren't that great. good job getting one in FL." must be smoking something GOOD. To judge 10,000 boats based on one bad one I delivered over 10 years ago is ludicrous!

Some bareboat companies have their boats shipped in on freighters and some are delivered at sea but not all.

Had we duct taped the hatches as suggested above (duct tape isn't waterproof) we might have DIED when I had to make a hasty exit when the exhaust broke inside the cabin, so I don't advocate duct taping hatches, when they should be repaired and in good working order at the start of the trip.

I was lowly hired crew on the delivery I wrote about, I was not experienced enough at the time to know what to look for when delivering a boat, I trusted the well-paid Captain to check the boat over, a mistake I learned greatly from.

I just thought it ironic that the poster lived in the BVI but was shopping for a boat in Florida. It seemed like living in Alaska and shopping for snow shoes in Texas.

On the other hand I KNOW what it's like when you find THE boat and you fall in LOVE and nobody but nobody can stop you from having THE boat.

So good luck with your boat and sailing and we all will pray it arrives in the BVI without incident!