Termite damage

sailnaway · #1 (**permalink**) 11-11-2003

I found a Formosa Force 50 (fiberglass hull) a while back and it had sat for years with no maintance. I could see her sailing along all the bright work up to par and a margurita in my hand. Well as I got into the boat I found termites millions of the bugs eating all the floor supports and anything that was not teak. I am not sure if they are in the masts as I have not pulled them. I have not closed the deal with the owner as he is back sliding saying I replaced this and that new only three years ago,you can kind of see what is going on at this point. Gold mine or hole in the ground. What are your thoughts on this. Tear it apart a cabin at a time and rebuild the interior living in part of the boat as I go.Or the hell with it and go on I would hate to feel like I was in the Stephen King movie the Langoliers. The boat is one that will not be worth what I put into it, but it will suit my needs as a liveaboard with room to take care of my jewlery making which I need if I want to go cruising.Your thoughts on this hole in the water

P.S. Iam very experienced in boat building but not rebuilding.

Irwin32 · #2 (**permalink**) 11-18-2003

Run, run, run!!!!! If this boat is infested with termites, how can you evervbe sure that you have exterminated all of them? Think of all the impossible to get at places where they may have layed eggs. It seems to me that you could think you have gotten rid of them, only to find some 6 months later. You will wonder for a long time if you got them all. There will be other hot prospects. I say keep looking.

sailnaway · #3 (**permalink**) 11-18-2003

Yes I an think that RUN is what I will do I can''t seem to get through to the owner that this is a big deal and the boat is damaged real bad. He has not seen the boat in a long time and has no idea nor does he seem to care. He has more money than well people should have and owns two other boats.And the guy does not live here so has no way to look at it, hummmmm damm fustrating as this is the boat I was looking for and the only other one that is at a good price is on the west coast and north at that.