'76 Hunter 27' advice

[wduncan50]

Due to family issues I had to sell our 39' Gulfstar quite a while back and am missing owning my own boat.

I found a 1976 Hunter 27 (Cherubini) for sale here at a price I can pay cash for. This would be good enough for me and the wife to sail around Florida, the Dry Totugas and maybe even the Bahamas. I like the look of the boat but want some advice about one thing.

This boat has a Yanmar 1GM 8hp raw-water cooled diesel. Should I walk away from this boat due to the raw-water cooled engine, or pay for oil analysis?

The rest of the boat is great, very well maintained with many upgrades including:

Lewmar self tailing winches
Lewmar ports
Painted hull, deck and interior
Good sails (the main may be short on the foot size)
1 solar panel
fesh (last 2 years or so) varnished interior teak
Completely rewired
Custom SS swim platform

[sailingdog]

Why not buy it and convert it to freshwater cooled?

[wduncan50]

If the motor is trashed from 34 years of salt-water cooling, it wouldn't be worth it. I also think it is a bit expensive to convert this Yanmar to fresh-water cooling.

One of the main things that attracts me to this boat is the price.

[lickingcardboard]

Might you not find a boat with storm damage and a motor that will replace the one in the hunter?
best of luck with the 27'


still looking to fill my back yard slip.

[wduncan50]

No more opinions on raw-water (salt-water) cooled diesels?

[CaptKermie]

Excuse my ignorance but it seems most gas outboards (including my own) are raw water cooled and I have run mine in the salt chuck 8 seasons now and she still runs fine. What is the caution of raw water about?

[gulfcoastcruiser]

I previously owned a Hunter 27 with the Yanmar 1GM. It is a great little engine and ran like a top. It was a bit underpowered, but never had any problems with it.

[DulceSuerna]

Outboards are often flushed every use. Not sure if the Sailboat diesel would have the same treatment over its life. On the other hand their isa guy here locally who buys and scraps boats he has had 4 or 5 diesels very cheap with full running gear and FWC systems included for 1k or less. If the boat can move with less then 15hp, what about a transom mount O/b on a bracket? cheap alternative, and you could clean out he diesel tank to use gas?

[wduncan50]

An O/B is not an option due to the stern setup. Do you have any contact information on the guy with the diesels in case I do buy this boat? B.T.W. thanks.

[DulceSuerna]

Pm'd you