Hi all,
I've just joined this forum because I'm in the final stages of buying a '83 Newport 33. I like the boat a lot, but am having a hard time deciding if this is a good deal. This will be my first boat, used for SF bay day sailing and weekend cruising with the family to start, later maybe some coastal trips. I've crewed around the bay, up and down the coast, and to Hawaii once, but not much experience being responsible for a boat.
Plusses:
In the last three years, it gotten all new standing and running rigging, new cruising laminate sails, new prop and shaft, new Garhouer rigid vang, rebuilt masthead, new custom built gooseneck, adj back stay, all lines run aft, new lifelines, blisters ground and new bottom paint. Has Harken roller furling, cockpit cushions, Autohelm 3000 that works. The survey went well with no real problems -- a solid hull. Gell coat is not bad -- a few repairs on the hull, some cosmetic cracking on the decks but not too bad for a 27 yr old boat.The rudder bushings have little play. The interior looks pretty nice, with servicable cushions and pretty nice woodwork. Pressure water works, head and holding tank are good. 12V refridgeration works. New Marelon ball valves and hoses on all through-hulls. Transmission shift easily and smoothly and controls are nice.
Minuses:
Took it sailing Thursday, was somewhat discincerted when it became hard to control as the winds hit 20kts with full sail. It developed a heavy weather helm, and would round up somewhat violently with gusts. Furling the 125% genoa by 20% seemed to return it to sanity. I've read about this complaint with Newports before, sounds like shortening the forestay can help (or maybe just reefing). Universal diesel starts easily and runs well at 180deg @5.5kts, but has corrosion down the front and particularly on the oil pan from an old leak in the raw water pump (fresh water cooled). Mucky underneath. The hour meter is broken with 1200hrs so I have no idea how many it has. oil is black. The windows leak -- it was raining during the survey and water was coming in around at least two windows. Appeared to be coming under the frames rather than through the rubber; maybe some from port chainplate. Stains on the teak, but no rot. Teak and holly sole is thin veneer that was sanded through during a refinish. CNG stove and water heater don't work (Seller said the stove works). Masthead light doesn't work. The fiberglass hatches are ugly but appear sound.
I know he has $34k in the boat in three years. He's accepted my offer of $22k. This is a bigger boat than I planned on buying and more money than I was going to spend, and the monthly costs are of course correspondingly higher, but it's got a lot of big-ticket items done.
Any opinions/advice to push me one way or the other? Hope my long-winded post doesn't offend anyone.
Thanks for any input!
I've just joined this forum because I'm in the final stages of buying a '83 Newport 33. I like the boat a lot, but am having a hard time deciding if this is a good deal. This will be my first boat, used for SF bay day sailing and weekend cruising with the family to start, later maybe some coastal trips. I've crewed around the bay, up and down the coast, and to Hawaii once, but not much experience being responsible for a boat.
Plusses:
In the last three years, it gotten all new standing and running rigging, new cruising laminate sails, new prop and shaft, new Garhouer rigid vang, rebuilt masthead, new custom built gooseneck, adj back stay, all lines run aft, new lifelines, blisters ground and new bottom paint. Has Harken roller furling, cockpit cushions, Autohelm 3000 that works. The survey went well with no real problems -- a solid hull. Gell coat is not bad -- a few repairs on the hull, some cosmetic cracking on the decks but not too bad for a 27 yr old boat.The rudder bushings have little play. The interior looks pretty nice, with servicable cushions and pretty nice woodwork. Pressure water works, head and holding tank are good. 12V refridgeration works. New Marelon ball valves and hoses on all through-hulls. Transmission shift easily and smoothly and controls are nice.
Minuses:
Took it sailing Thursday, was somewhat discincerted when it became hard to control as the winds hit 20kts with full sail. It developed a heavy weather helm, and would round up somewhat violently with gusts. Furling the 125% genoa by 20% seemed to return it to sanity. I've read about this complaint with Newports before, sounds like shortening the forestay can help (or maybe just reefing). Universal diesel starts easily and runs well at 180deg @5.5kts, but has corrosion down the front and particularly on the oil pan from an old leak in the raw water pump (fresh water cooled). Mucky underneath. The hour meter is broken with 1200hrs so I have no idea how many it has. oil is black. The windows leak -- it was raining during the survey and water was coming in around at least two windows. Appeared to be coming under the frames rather than through the rubber; maybe some from port chainplate. Stains on the teak, but no rot. Teak and holly sole is thin veneer that was sanded through during a refinish. CNG stove and water heater don't work (Seller said the stove works). Masthead light doesn't work. The fiberglass hatches are ugly but appear sound.
I know he has $34k in the boat in three years. He's accepted my offer of $22k. This is a bigger boat than I planned on buying and more money than I was going to spend, and the monthly costs are of course correspondingly higher, but it's got a lot of big-ticket items done.
Any opinions/advice to push me one way or the other? Hope my long-winded post doesn't offend anyone.
Thanks for any input!