My Ericson Independance 31, is 33 & only sank once, (I think), just before I bought it. ending 18 months of trying to by her.
An addition. She didn't sink because she was ignored, quit the opposite. She sank because the access to the stuffing box was so bad after she sank, 2 surveys mist that the stuffing box hose had probably never been replaced, so since some how they broke the fingers off of the pinion gear in the injection pump. the poeple who were paid to take care of her, & her salted stuffing box sticking, caused the stuffing box hose to twist & it fell apart. But the full cover hid the fact that she was taking on water, But then she was under at 7 AM.
A little less care and someone should have noticed.
I had only seen the base of her fan tail rudder, and had fallen in love 18 months earlier. So while she napped on the bottom. I bid a thousand dallorr for her. Never haven seen her deck, cabin line or interior. IF I didn't tell poeple I dought anyone would know she sank. It just saved me 26,000 on the boat that was not for sail & only 69 were built. I think it was the only heave cruiser Ericson built.
I would like to point out the need to reveiw your coverage. the former owner had a very good policy, the raised the boat and took it to the yard, (7000) hauled it (5000) pickled the engine, cleaned her out,(?) paid off the bank.
and took my thousand leaving me three days yard time just enough to repair a few blister, clean her out, Have a structural survey to satisfy insurance company, do a hull inspection find the problem remove the engine, remove the shaft. rebuild the stuffing box, find and replace the stuffing box hose. and launch her.
As a note Some suppliers are selling exhaust hose in the place of stuffing box hose. they are not the same. Stuffing box hose is 4 ply (Nilon I think) while exhaust hose it 2 and may have wire, shich is a hole nother mine feild.
Excuse me I have a Tolly craft & hunter 34.5 waiting for some attention.
JC Boyce MDR Pacific