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I need help! Buy or don't buy?

3K views 23 replies 11 participants last post by  Freshbreeze 
#1 ·
Hey, I'm new here but not new to sailing. I've been a sailing instructor for the local yacht club and know my way around sailboats.

My problem is that I have been offered a Ensenada 20 for $500. It has new sails, the hull looks to be in decent condition. The rigging is newer. The interior needs work but just for cosmetic reasons. What has me concerned is that there is a lot of algae growth and quarter sized barnacles growing on the hull. I am used to small boats where we take them out every day so I have never run into this problem. I plan on taking this boat out with a trailer but is there any reason to believe that growth has weakened the gelcoat or fiberglass? Is this a good deal or should I pass?

Thanks
 
#3 ·
1. Well I have time and some money to work on it.

2. I'm trying to get a trailer for it but a place to park the trailer is no problem.

3. I got time to sail.

So yes, yes and yes.

Just curious, without ever seeing the boat yourself, could you say if $500 is a decent price? It does need work so I wanted to see if he would go lower but I don't want to cheat the owner if it is actually worth $500.

Thanks again.
 
#4 ·
if nothing else you could probably part her out, make more than your 5hundo and parlay the gains into something else.... heck the winches and the sails are probably worth 500bucks
 
#5 ·
Ahhh the value of money......

$500 to some is a fortune to others its a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label King George V Edition.

If you pay too much you loose a few dollars, if you pay too little you may sour a potential friendship. I almost never tell people what I pay for something because someone will always trump you by saying you paid way over the odds.

Haggle and try and end up with a win/win situation.
 
#7 ·
I wouldn't worry if the bottom was covered by 1" barnacles. They can be scraped off. It is highly unlikely that barnacles would cause any serious damage to the hull. Weeds can be power sprayed off the hull.
The owner probably has not painted the bottom with anti-fouling paint for a while.
$500 for a 20' sailboat in sail away condition is a good deal even if it does not include a trailer or motor. If it has a motor then it is a no brainer.
 
#8 ·
Well I'm sold. Thanks guys.

This is going to be a big jump from my open 15ft Albacore. Even though the Ensenadas are just 20ft long they are huge compared to some 22' and some 24'.

I'll let you know when I get it so maybe some of you can have a chuckle as I'm scraping barnacles. Haha
 
#9 ·
I have seen man boats come out the water loaded with barnicles, green growth, seaweed, and lots of other nasties.

Most of these boats are sound with no probles after a good scraping and pressure washing. At worst it could have osmosis, at best (and more likely) no problems. Just ask if the boat was built before 1990, and when it was last epoxied (if at all).

If you are still concerned, then get her hauled out, cleaned, and scraped, and then look for any signs of blisters. If there are any blisters on the hull, then she may have osmosis. If you are not sure, have a moisture meter reading done both above and below the waterline all around the boat.

Other than this, i think she is a bargain. Go for it!

Hope this helps you out.
 
#10 ·
She was built in 1975. Why the 1990 cut off date?

When I looked at her she was completely dry on the inside in the bilge and it was a rainy day so I think thats a good sign too.

I did have another question though, if I trailer her from now on, should I apply antifouling paint or some other kind of paint? She will spend a week or two in the water at a time and for around here thats enough time to get some growth but how will antifouling paint hold up against a trailer bunk?

Thanks
 
#15 ·
She was built in 1975. Why the 1990 cut off date?

When I looked at her she was completely dry on the inside in the bilge and it was a rainy day so I think thats a good sign too.
That is a very good sign that she is dry. As for the cut off date, i have been told boats built prior to 1990 can suffer with osmosis.:confused: Can some-one please correct me if i am wrong. It all helps wih the learning curve for myself!:eek:
 
#11 ·
I trailered for five years without bottom paint and left my boat in the water for 5-6 weeks at a time before hauling and cleaning and then rewaxing and back in the water for another 5-6 weeks. It is a dirty sweaty job but I liked a clean waxed bottom while trailering. I now have it in the water full time ecept for annual haul and clean so I epoxied & bottom painted it.
If I was to always trailer I would never bottom paint.
The bottom paint will will hold up fine against the trailer bunks if the boat is held secure in one place with no sliding motions.
A week or two at a time in the water is not worth painting for IMHO.
 
#12 ·
If you lent $500 to a friend who left town forever and stiffed you for the 500 clams, would you have to skip meals, miss paying bills and risk eviction and/or car repo?
If so, walk away from this boat. If not, what the hell are you waiting for?
Ensenadas are like the girls in high school who never got asked out much. They ain't real pretty, but they're acheap date, and they're happy for any attention you give 'em.
Yeah, anti-fouling is good. boats sail better without beards. your boat's bottom should not look like the ZZ Top.
Blisters are not a worry on a boat that age, but delamination and soft coring is.
 
#13 ·
What you need to watch for is bottom paint that will become inert if it is not kept in the water. The paint can label will tell you how long it can be left out of water and still retain anti-fouling properties.

You might consider VC Performance Epoxy. It will give you a good, very hard finish for underwater applications. It is not anti-fouling, however. It would be a good choice for a boat that is generally kept on a trailer. You won't have to worry about the trailer bunks wearing it off for a long time.
 
#19 ·
Congrats... I think.
 
#22 ·
Just an update. I did finally get the Ensenada. After a few mishaps (blew a tire, blew a brake line, and found out the gas motor didnt work for the boat) I finally got her home.

In case anyone wanted to know about the barnacles, they are, at some places, 3in thick attached to the hull. Surprisingly, even with the beard she sailed very well and quicker than I anticipated.

Lowering the mast scared the #$&@ out of me. It was the first time I had ever taken one down but now that I did I feel dumb for feeling that way.

Overall, a very good day.
 
#24 ·
...After a few mishaps (blew a tire, blew a brake line, and found out the gas motor didnt work for the boat) I finally got her home...

...about the barnacles, they are, at some places, 3in thick...

Lowering the mast scared the #$&@ out of me. It was the first time I had ever taken one down but now that I did I feel dumb for feeling that way.
I see you have had fun with her already! Glad to hear you are enjoying her.

As for the barincles, they shouldn't be a problem. Dry her out for a tide and give her a scrub and a quick coat of anti-foul - that will speed her up!

Masts need not be scary. How did you lower it? (i.e. block & tackle, 'a' frame, or big beefy muscle power!)

Enjoy your new boat, you got a good bargain there!
 
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