Need Help

[KnightsDream]

Need help:
I am looking at two Morgan 41 O/I sailboats both around the same age and one is in great shape very clean has great service records looks new but is a bare bones has no electronics just a depth sounder and hand help GPS and VHF radio the other one has a chart plotter autopilot wind direction wind speed GPS but it need a lot of clean up and some work before I would take it out.

My question is would you buy a boat that was in great shape and then add the equipment you want and need or get the other one and spend the time and money cleaning and fixing it up??

I have been looking at putting a autopilot 4kv radar and chart plotter and full instruments on and it is a pretty penny. The bare bones boat could sail away today and the other one would need about 3 grand to be ready. Any help on what you would do would be great.

Thanks and fair wind to you all

Knights Dream

[JohnRPollard]

Originally Posted by KnightsDream

My question is would you buy a boat that was in great shape and then add the equipment you want and need or get the other one and spend the time and money cleaning and fixing it up??

At the same price, that's easy. Take the boat that's in the best condition and add what you want/need to it. Don't over-value electronics -- they are relatively cheap, and quickly obsolete.

[KnightsDream]

The one in better shape is 6 thousand more than the one needing all of the work. I am sorry I did not make that clear

[sailingdog]

I would go with the one that is in better physical shape and better maintained, even if it has less in the way of electronics. Adding what you want to have for the way you're going to use the boat is often easier than fixing what they have to do what you want. Also, you don't have as much to worry about with fewer electronics, since electrical and electronics work is one area that POs often get very creative, often in a really bad way.

The sweat equity and labor of cleaning up the other boat may well cost more than putting in all new electronics in the better looking boat, especially if you are handy and can do most of the installation work yourself.

BTW, most work on a boat is easily done by anyone with half a brain, and the common sense God gave a monkey, since most of the knowledge and skills you need to do the work on a boat are 95% common sense, and about 5% esoteric knowledge, most of which can be gained from books, the internet and with a little trial and error. I'd also point out that if you're planning on going cruising, having done the installations of the electronics yourself will often make troubleshooting any problems far easier than trying to figure out what the PO or the electrician the PO hired did—especially in an emergency situation.

I'd also recommend you read the Boat Inspection Trip Tips thread I started.

[AjariBonten]

What Dog Said...............

Also, for every two things you can see neglected on the less cared-for boat, there will be 4.367 things neglected that will not be obvious ;-)

[KnightsDream]

Sailing dog thank you I feel the same way I have sold my house and business and plan to cruse for the next few years so I want a few things that make life better. I have had a bare bones boat before and lost it in Galveston this past storm so this time i want to have the things I want and will need and I thought it would be better to get the clean well taken care of boat.

[KnightsDream]

AjariBonten Yes I know that there will be so many things I don't see right at first and spend more time and money then I would care to. I like both boats and would not mind ether one that is why I am having such a hard time.

Thanks

[padean]

I agree with Sailingdog. Usually the better cared-for boat is also in better shape structually, either because it had not been used as hard, or has been maintained well. I would get a survey, however. Sometimes the owner may do the cosmetic upkeep without ever touching the chainplate he keeps cleaning the rust off of, or keeps the engine spotless but never changes the oil or transmission fluid. Electronic equipment is very easy to add to the boat, and you may end up changing the electronics in a few years on the boat that already has them anyway.

[JohnRPollard]

Originally Posted by KnightsDream

The one in better shape is 6 thousand more than the one needing all of the work. I am sorry I did not make that clear

Even at that spread, I'd take the better maintained boat. More than likely you can narrow the spread in negotiations. Good luck!

[sailingdog]

Glad to help...let us know how it all goes.