On Topic: The pain of boat survey...

External Since: Jan 07, 2004 Posts: 1072

Here's an object lesson for you boys and girls entering into the used
boat market.

I have been looking for a Pursuit/Topaz style boat to fill a gap
between the 20 foot Ranger Bay Boat and the 32 foot Contender (it's a
long story). I finally found one that I was very interested in. I
took a ride last weekend to look at it and, due to the fact that I am
reasonably well aquainted with boats and how they are built, I over
estimated my own ability to find problems. Hubris, thy name is me.

I looked it over, with what I thought was a reasonable eye to problems
like stringers, etc and didn't think there were any major issues. I
put in an offer which was accepted and I arranged with a surveyor of
some experience to look at the boat and sea trial it.

Well, let's just say that about three minutes into the survey, he
found one bad prop, the other was marginal, the rudders were pigeon
toed, there were holes where the transducers and speedo were removed,
there were stress cracks along the bottom chines, the swim platform
bracket was fubar. Once he got into the boat he discovered that the
stringers were bad, there was hardware missing from the rudder
assembly, the floor had been replaced once (probably to accomodate a
new gas tank) and we stopped right there.

At least I found the blowen out muffler, the rotten bulkhead plywood
and the soft spots in the floor. ;>)

Oh well, it was worth the money I paid to at least learn a lesson in
how it's done when it's done right. Worth every penny.

Take care.

Tom

"The beatings will stop when morale improves."
E. Teach, 1717

External Since: Jan 19, 2004 Posts: 1797

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
> Here's an object lesson for you boys and girls entering into the used
> boat market.
>
> I have been looking for a Pursuit/Topaz style boat to fill a gap
> between the 20 foot Ranger Bay Boat and the 32 foot Contender (it's a
> long story). I finally found one that I was very interested in. I
> took a ride last weekend to look at it and, due to the fact that I am
> reasonably well aquainted with boats and how they are built, I over
> estimated my own ability to find problems. Hubris, thy name is me.
>
> I looked it over, with what I thought was a reasonable eye to problems
> like stringers, etc and didn't think there were any major issues. I
> put in an offer which was accepted and I arranged with a surveyor of
> some experience to look at the boat and sea trial it.
>
> Well, let's just say that about three minutes into the survey, he
> found one bad prop, the other was marginal, the rudders were pigeon
> toed, there were holes where the transducers and speedo were removed,
> there were stress cracks along the bottom chines, the swim platform
> bracket was fubar. Once he got into the boat he discovered that the
> stringers were bad, there was hardware missing from the rudder
> assembly, the floor had been replaced once (probably to accomodate a
> new gas tank) and we stopped right there.
>
> At least I found the blowen out muffler, the rotten bulkhead plywood
> and the soft spots in the floor. ;>)
>
> Oh well, it was worth the money I paid to at least learn a lesson in
> how it's done when it's done right. Worth every penny.
>
> Take care.
>
> Tom
>
> "The beatings will stop when morale improves."
> E. Teach, 1717
>
>

Thanks for the post. You know, a lot of wary boat buyers have a surveyor
examine a brand new boat they are considering, so they can present the
manufacturer or dealer with a list of items that need attention before
delivery is taken.

--
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