A dilema - 1989 Pearson 31-2

[Delirious]

I am faced with a dilema. We found a design we very much like for our sailing needs - a 1989 Pearson 31-2 - but it has a few problems.

The current owner thinks the world of it (of the 9 P31-2s I found in Soundings & yachtworld.com his is priced #2) but I think about 28% less of it.

Here is the worst of it. (Not yet having had it surveyed - I just visited it for the first time today). These images do not quite do it justice.






The deck was painted (brush & roller I'm guessing) with an as yet unidentified paint and is a shoddy job. Poor coverage and shiny in places but dull in others. I assume the product was designed for boats but that may be optimistic based on other additions and maintenance items. Looks like crap when you're standing over it, but not from a distance. Luckily he didn't go after the cabin top or cockpit.

Here's why I went 550 miles to see it:



Why I'm even still bothering is that the interior is very good, the engine looks clean and overall the boat is in good shape.

But then there's the details. Here's a typical bit of gear:



Rusted steel spring clips (a la Tractor Supply style as I would use in the clevis pins on my Ford 640) in about half the turnbuckles, home garage style battery charger (alligator clips and all) instead of a permanent mount, anchor shackle moused with #12 automotive wire - insulation and all. Real chicken-sh*t yardwork. The scary thing is he does all his own maintenence. I believe he has owned the boat only about three years, and I'm hoping he hasn't done permanent harm.

I pulled the dipstick on the cold engine and it was full to the top! I started the motor and it ran with thick black smoke for 15 seconds and then billowed white until I shut it down after a minute (and left a slick on the water behind the boat). His dock neighbors said that the boat is mostly a wine cellar and they didn't think it had been sailed at all this year and not much prior years. The marina office agreed with their accessment.

So, obviously I am still dumb enough to be considering her or I'd never have posted this much. As I said, my bid will go way low and pending a survey (my surveyor at my expense) AND at least $1,000 put up by him in escrow on that engine not having a serious problem. I am also going to have to get out of him exactly what he used on that deck so I can get a quote on how much it will cost to correct BEFORE I make an offer.

The hardware issues are correctable for $200 or less. A couple blocks have cracked sheaves & all the turnbuckles need dissassembly, bronze brushing and a wipe of Lanocote. The rest is small pins and a few shackles.

But that d*mned deck. Unforgivable.

I was alone on the boat when his broker took my wife back up to the office and I swear the boat whispered "help me!"

I think P.T. Barnum would have a field day with me.

[kale]

Dont Worry About The Deck If Its Not Soft You Got No Wories Worse Case Sand It Down And Recoat With Some Good Paint Like Interlux Or Two Part Enames Or Urethane I Wouldnt Let The Deck Deal Worry Me To Much I Be More Concerned About The Engine

[sailingdog]

Unfortunately, the diesel sounds badly neglected... and if the oil was overfilled, chances are good that it's done some damage, since overfilling the oil leads to the engine foaming the oil and preventing it from doing its job properly.

The fact that the guy has been using sub-standard hardware to do the maintenance should be a big warning sign... however, if you're still interested in the boat, low-ball him and make it contingent on survey and sea trial. If he isn't willing to move on price... move on.

[sailingfool]

Originally Posted by kale

Dont Worry About The Deck If Its Not Soft You Got No Wories Worse Case Sand It Down And Recoat With Some Good Paint Like Interlux Or Two Part Enames Or Urethane I Wouldnt Let The Deck Deal Worry Me To Much I Be More Concerned About The Engine

No way, the deck is a near fatal flaw...you can't sand down non-skid, whoever fixes the deck will need to replace the non-skid. I would hazard a gues of $6-8K to properly fix the deck. The cheap clips setup in the mainsheet is a busted head waiting to happen.

You can bet that a boat with such apparent mis-management will end up with a long, long laundry liust ot crap to fix. Unless the owner already appreciates his boat needs to be 50-70% below the average price, you can't get a fair deal on a boat like this. Yecch...move on.

[eMKay]

Is that RCR Yachts in Buffalo? It's only 4 miles from me, I could keep an eye on it for you, or go look again if you ask them to fix stuff. Good looking boat, looks a little overpriced for sure though.

[Delirious]

Yes it is. Thanks a bunch. From 100 feet away the boat looks great. And of course the sales images were from favorably far away or avoided showing the deck. Standing on it was a huge disappointment. It is right below the picnic pavilion (I think slip #40).

Based on the hardware upgrades I'm figuring it's diving board paint, but I'm waiting for a response as to what specific product was used.

The deck is cosmetic. It's the engine that now worries me more.

I have a nearby aquaintance who restores Tritons and he can make miracles happen . . . for a price. If he doesn't think this is a lost cause AND the current owner takes on the engine survey & required repairs at his expense we may still be on track; for an offer well below his asking price. ;-)

Loved the layout. Perfect daysailor/weekender. But if another freshwater P31-2 pops up we may be out of there faster than a bunny in a bazooka. I can just picture myself finding metallic hardware

Same day we looked at a CS36T in Fairhaven (how's that for coincedence, Sailingfool?) WoW! If I had seen this one before we bought the C34MkII there would have been no C34MkII in our silp. Just too much sail (and boat) for the two of us and the marina we're planning to stay at on Cayuga Lake. If we were still on Lake Ontario I'd have pounced. What a great layout and very respectable PHRF.

I'll keep everyone posted. Maybe I should start a "Save a Pearson" pledge drive?

[sailingfool]

Originally Posted by Delirious

....
Same day we looked at a CS36T in Fairhaven (how's that for coincedence, Sailingfool?) WoW! If I had seen this one before we bought the C34MkII there would have been no C34MkII in our silp. Just too much sail (and boat) for the two of us and the marina we're planning to stay at on Cayuga Lake. ..

Just don't shortsell the effort involved in getting the deck non-skid back to something acceptable.

If you liked the 36 but its too much for you, you should seek out a CS30. They are a great boat, excellent interior and very good performance.

[Faster]

Originally Posted by sailingfool

Just don't shortsell the effort involved in getting the deck non-skid back to something acceptable.

If you liked the 36 but its too much for you, you should seek out a CS30. They are a great boat, excellent interior and very good performance.

They also made a CS 33 - essentially a smaller sister to the 36T (same designer, same era, unlike the CS30/34/36M/40) with the same level of finish and build quality.

[arf145]

I think you've got 550-mile syndrome--you go that far to look, you really want it to work. I believe in signs when looking at used stuff--boats, cars, houses, whatever. If you see questionable work, assume there is more of it you don't see. And that engine would be the kicker for me.

[eMKay]

I looked at this boat today, it's on the hard now, and was open at their open house. The deck is terrible, such a shame but it's solid enough. But wow is the interior gorgeous, especially compared to the Hunter 31 and 33 right next to it. I do not like the tiny forward head but otherwise it's so nice compared to the new boats. One thing is for sure, there is no way it's worth $47,000 as it sits. If it had shiny gelcoat and a good engine, maybe. Rigging is rigging and can be replaced.