[cappinstabbin]

Hello All,

Long story short. I am completely infatuated with sailing/boating/boats/voyages/ even just anchoring out across the bay for a quiet night of meditation. I am finishing college and i am on a tight income, which is not ideal for our given passion. Right now i have an old RK-20 that has seen better days. I enjoyed many days and nights this past summer bringing her out from the dock, sailing around the bay, anchoring, entertaining, overnights, ext. I just do not trust the boat out front in the ocean. I got it for a couple hundred bucks, put some work in and got a great season out of it. I need something that i can take to the next level, short ocean trips, longer stays aboard, more amenities ect. I looked at a 1974 Irwin 28 last week. The boat was reduced from 3900 to 2600 online. It comes with roller furling, brand new depth finder, electrical system, a not installed atomic 4 inboard, 10 hp outboard, basically unused sails, great cabin, 5 year old standing rigging, running rigging all good and ready, nice winches, everything nice and ideal, brand new head, bimini top, the works. However there were 6 jackstands holding it up on the hard plus 2 brick columns under the keel and one under the bow. The foremost jackstand was deflecting heavily into the hull, i noticed it right away. This would turn almost any sane person away, but given all the boat comes with, plus my limited budget, my decision comes down to the problem this soft spot provides. Basically all i would need out of the boat is a nice 3-5 seasons and my question is, is this soft spot something that could ruin my day the first season? What could happen? I plan on taking it easy on the boat, ideal conditions, not trying to make any speed records, or be out in any heavy water. I got him down to 2200. It comes with the atomic 4 i could sell or part out that from what he told me ran when it was bench tested. The furling i could sell, depth finder, scrap or sell the mast, rigging ect. It basically comes down to a risk and reward situation. I have no experience with hull problems of this sort and don't know the worst case scenario (other than sinking) and the likelihood of a "buckle" or whatever could happen. I am working on getting pictures uploaded now. As my buddy at the marina i work at said it would be difficult to find anything perfectly ideal in my price range to dream ratio and i am willing to do a lot to make this work out.

 

[Bill-Rangatira]

1) is this a cored hull or "solid" glass layup?
2) and signs of osmotic blistering?
3) where does the soft spot sit in conjunction to bulkheads?
4) How much deflection is there over how big an area?
There are many reasons for this soft spot.
once you have answered the questions you will get a better idea of what is causing it
and we can help you figure it out
Bill

 

[cappinstabbin]

My buddy told me to find out if it is cored or solid hull. I was looking around online and wasn't sure how i could find this information out. It was tough to tell about blistering because of the bottom paint on it, he said he put it on last season and it wasn't in the water that season. I know it is suspect for new paint on a hull. Here is a picture of where it is sinking in. I couldn't upload it here and i can't post a link until i get 10 posts. Can i email pics or is there a PM option?

 

[bljones]

walk away- this is more boat than you want to handle and there are lost of better boats out there under $2500 with their engines already installed.

 

[Capt Len]

If a solid,not cored hull, get with the owner,move the support over and resupport. Does the hull pop back? Tap it with hammer, remember the sound, Get inside and whomp the deflect with a length of 4x4.Pop out? Tap again and around the area. Sound different or hollow? Now decided if you want to take on the project, even if he gives it to you

 

[Bill-Rangatira]

walk away- this is more boat than you want to handle and there are lost of better boats out there under $2500 with their engines already installed.

didn't see the engine not installed part yes jones is right finishing the engine install will cost you 1k +

 

[Bob142]

I don't understand the 1000 dollar install unless it is a new install and the boat newer had an engine... no engine beds and shaft...with engine beds and such it is just a lot of grunt work and a little finesse to line up the shaft...

 

[Faster]

I don't understand the 1000 dollar install unless it is a new install and the boat never had an engine... no engine beds and shaft...with engine beds and such it is just a lot of grunt work and a little finesse to line up the shaft...

If you're paying someone(or two) $80-100 /hour it wouldn't take long to rack up $1K.. even with a drop-in bolt-up scenario.

To manufacture & install beds, shaft logs, etc etc and THEN install the engine would probably rack up labour bills alone worth more than the engine, and far more than $1K - perhaps 3-4 times that.

If DIY that's a whole other scenario...

To the OP.. I reckon you can find similar deals with far fewer issues at the outset.. keep looking.

 

[cappinstabbin]

I wasn't planning on installing the motor. I think i would be fine with the 10hp evinrude it comes with. He told me that it does pop out when off the stand. Basically, it is ready to go as long as the hull doesn't break or something.

 

[cappinstabbin]

Does anyone know how i could find out if it is a cored hull or not?

 

[Bob142]

A small drill hole...If done from the inside you will know if it is cored without making a hole in the outside...If it is solid then you will have a small hole to patch on the outside...

 

[Minnewaska]

Sail Far Live Free - Sailboats, Sailing News, and Gear: Irwin 28 Sailboat Review

 

[OldEagle]

Looks like the hulls were fiberglass, not cored:
http://www.irwinyachts.com/aft-cockpit_files/I28/Irwin28.jpg

 

[miatapaul]

I don't think Irwin made any cored hulls, certainly not in the small boats. Pretty sure they are solid so it could be a thin section, or just a bit flexible. I think I have seen that add on Craigslist for a while now. They keep lowering the price.

28' Irwin Sailboat 1974

If that is the boat, offer $1800 he will likely take it. Show up with a wad of $20's

You might want to look at this one.

27" SAILBOAT FOR SALE- INCLUDES WINTER LAND STORAGE

I have emailed the owner and he said the boat is iced/snowed in and is supposed to get in touch with me once it can be accessed. Was a much better boat to start with, but don't know the real condition. It has a Yanmar but needs some work.

 

[Pegu club]

walk away- this is more boat than you want to handle and there are lost of better boats out there under $2500 with their engines already installed.

This ^^^^^^^ imo.

 

[mike dryver]

The stand/s have to much pressure on the hull, if they are deflecting it. Stands are only there to support the from falling over, not to support it. It sounds like the owner is a little short on knowledge, if he showed you that the deflection came out when the pressure was released on the hull, and then put the pressure back on the re-deflect it. The stand should have been moved to a different location. Slight deflection is tolerable only for a short time. When you store a boat you should check your stands periodically to make sure this does not happen! Everything settles over time from weight. My boat has been out for 4 yrs., and I check the stands every month for this reason!!!!

 

[cappinstabbin]

Hey guys thanks so much for all the input. Yes that is the boat in the craigslist ad. So if it is a solid hull what is the effects of the softspot? Will it sit lower in the water? Is it more susceptible to breach or buckling? I love the boat but that spot is really worrysome once i get 10 posts i can post a Link for the pics. It is kind of a significant defection as you can see in the pics. I am going to a boatyard in maryland this weekend to check out some similar boats they have available. Its so hard for me to make good calls in this because i fall in love with these boats so quick. Like what consequence is common for a soft spot on the hull? Jeffrey.w.odonnell at gmail please email me for the pics if you know about this kind of thing.

 

[cappinstabbin]

@mikedryver there were 6 stands on it plus 3 brick stacks under the keel. Do you think its really from to much weight on them? It was the foremost stand so it did have alot of the bow on it and the foremost bricks. How much do you think it would cost to get a surveyor out there and estimate how long i could get out of the hull? Can they even do that?

 

[cappinstabbin]

I offered him 1800 last week he said 2200 is best he can do. If that spot doesn't mean the hull is junk and i can get a good 5 years out of it i am so in. Its everything ive dreamed about to get through work and class and would love to give it a good home. I just can't have some catastrophe happen and im stuck woth a 28 foot peice of garbage fiberglass.

 

[Minnewaska]

.....get a good 5 years out of it i am so in. Its everything ive dreamed about to get through work and class and would love to give it a good home. I just can't have some catastrophe happen and im stuck woth a 28 foot peice of garbage fiberglass.

Can't help with the deflection. Personally, that sort of thing bothers me for a different reason. It gets me asking myself what other kind of abuse (likely ill informed) the current owner has inflicted that I don't know about.

To be clear on your 5 yr window, are you saying you're willing to lose it all, as long as you get 5 yrs out of her? That's totally possible with any $2k boat, as all it needs is to develop one significant problem that cost more than she's worth. The worst part is, you can't walk away. You'll actually spend money to have it scrapped. Perhaps you could part it out and scrap the keel to pay to have the rest taken away.

Good luck.