Wanted Mast for Beneteau 285

IAmSpartacus · #1 (**permalink**) 08-17-2009

I'm looking to purchase a Beneteau First 285 and she needs a new mast, rigging & sails. Does anyone know where can I buy a used mast? I don't want to spend that kind of money buying a new one.

I would appriciate any information

Thanks

brak · #2 (**permalink**) 08-17-2009

this must be a heck of a deal. I used to own B285. It is a nice enough boat, but there are so many to chose from out there and prices are not particularly high. Why go for one that has no mast?

Chances of finding a used mast that fits that one specific boat are fairly slim. It's got to be a mast from another 285 and presumably they are all attached to respective boats.

oldchief · #3 (**permalink**) 08-17-2009

I'm with BRAK on this one. A generic mast isn't really a good buy.

I see this one on EBAY, 28 Foot Sailboat Mast with gear:eBay Motors (item 280384650410 end time Aug-19-09 16:04:00 PDT)

I bought a Santana 525 with a bent mast, thinking I could get a used mast or a blank from the manufacturer. In the end it was much easier to repaire the bent one, but I am a metal fabricator.

If it doesn't fit right, you won't like it and it will look and sail bad.

Good luck.

IAmSpartacus · #4 (**permalink**) 08-18-2009

I think its a good deal! A 1988 First 285 for 4K. I have seen these boats listed for 24K and this one looks in great shape except for the mast and rigging & sails.
The owner told me that he was sailing in 20 knots winds and the mast just broke in half. Strange but I heard that before.

JohnRPollard · #5 (**permalink**) 08-18-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by IAmSpartacus

I think its a good deal! A 1988 First 285 for 4K. I have seen these boats listed for 24K and this one looks in great shape except for the mast and rigging & sails.
The owner told me that he was sailing in 20 knots winds and the mast just broke in half. Strange but I heard that before.

That sure is a low price for a 285 if it's in otherwise good condition. How's the engine? I wonder why the owner didn't just make an insurance claim and have the boat properly repaired? Make sure you get a competent surveyor to inspect the entire vessel.

Depending on where you are located, your best bet might be to contact a spar builder and just get a new one made. One thing to be aware of is that the 285s had standard and tall rigs.

Not sure how this particular boat is set-up, but if I were looking for a B285, I'd prefer the configuration with the fin keel, and the traveller mounted on the bridgedeck (rather than over the companionway hatch.)

Also, inspect the interior headliner -- particularly in the head and aft cabin. It had a tendency to fail and it's a pretty big/messy job to remove and replace it.

brak · #6 (**permalink**) 08-18-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by IAmSpartacus

I think its a good deal! A 1988 First 285 for 4K. I have seen these boats listed for 24K and this one looks in great shape except for the mast and rigging & sails.
The owner told me that he was sailing in 20 knots winds and the mast just broke in half. Strange but I heard that before.

Yep, that boat was no fun in 20 knots.
As a point of comparison - new mast costs about 10K. Rigging and other "stuff" that goes on it - at least 5-6K and then labor (unless you plan to do it yourself). So, a full new set of spar and rigging on a boat would cost over 20K. A new mainsail is at least $1000 (that's very cheap, likely twice as much) and same for new genoa.

I understand that mast broke in half - but why wasn't it repaired? And what happened to the rest of the rigging and sails, did they break in half too?

Personally, I'd be very suspect of any "deal" of that kind, but that may be just me.

brak · #7 (**permalink**) 08-18-2009

Is it this one? 1988 Beneteau First 285 without mast and sails:eBay Motors (item 140339659124 end time Aug-20-09 13:44:20 PDT)

Actually does not look bad at all, so I suppose if you want to invest in a new spar - it may turn out to be a reasonable deal if you are willing to invest into it.

It is a fin keel, which is good for sailing (but deep draft), and liner looks to be still "mostly" attached, not as bad as it can get yet

However, it isn't a fact that it will close at 4K. Since there are two more days left, and price is now up to $3200 I would expect it to close at at least twice that and perhaps as high as 8-9K (my guess, we'll see where it ends up)

tommays · #8 (**permalink**) 08-18-2009

The LOW price i found for a compleat boat was 20k with a Volvo diesel which may be its own issue

brak · #9 (**permalink**) 08-18-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by tommays

The LOW price i found for a compleat boat was 20k with a Volvo diesel which may be its own issue

AFAIK, all Beneteau 285 had Volvo diesel as originally equipped. I didn't care much for it, but it's hard to find any other engine for that boat unless it was re-powered.

Selling prices for these boats (back when I bought and sold mine) ranged from 15K to 22K depending on condition (asking prices differ, as always but no verifiable sales occurred at above 22K in recent past prior to that).

IAmSpartacus · #10 (**permalink**) 08-18-2009

I am going to personally visit the boat this weekend. If I lke what I see then I will bring a surveyor.

The boat was listed on Craigs List at 4K but he has it on ebay as well. Lets hope if the boat is in good condition it won't go much higher then 3200.

Thanks everyone for the input.