Thread: I found this.........

Reiner , I believe PAR is "right on the money".
Don't buy anything , without a proper survey , by someone well qualified to give it.
She does look a beautiful boat , but there are all sorts of evils , waiting for the unwary.
You have spoken of the hull , but what , for example , about the engine ?.
If it were me , I'd now ring the broker , and profess a continued interest , and see what you can find out , push him a little further.
Something to feed the memory bank.
But a quality survey would be the foundation that your decision should be based on.
Regards Rob J.

Reiner,
Just out of interest I called the broker today. His name is Trevor Peck 0401 333337. When asked about rot, he said he "didn't think so". On closer questioning it was clear he had no idea, a survey had not been done, and "there quite possibly could be some" (the sound of backside being covered very quickly when he found out members of this forum were interested). When I suggested that either the owner or broker could share in the cost of a survey, he baulked at the idea. Maybe he was afraid of what it would show. He didn't mind if a potential buyer organised one though.
I also called a Port Stephens local marine surveyor Mike Elton 0412 202670 from Emarine Surveyors, who didn't know the boat, but could do a survey for $800 +GST. Slipping costs of around $250 for the day would be extra.
He said that a boat of this age would very likely need major work if it hadn't already had a major rebuild, due to the use of copper or bronze fastenings in 1938.
Hope this helps.

Simon , there would have had to have been a lot of work done on that boat in the last 70 years , to make it this far , looking that good.
It may well be the previous owner has kept her in good condition , and she is indeed good value for money.
Or , he is aware of "issues" coming up , and just wants to "bail out".
The engine won't be the original engine , but it too may now be ready for replacement.
I can tell you , from recent personal experience , that can be fairly expensive.
But I knew the engine of my prospective buy was a bit "suss" (by her surveyor) , and factored it in to my thinking , when I bought my boat.
Thats the way to do it , get a survey , get an estimate of what would be expected to be spent on repairs and replacements , and work out if its worth the time and money.
Is it possible to take an experienced friend for a test sail on her , with the owner ?.
That would tell you a lot too.
About whether that is the style of boat you want , and whether you want to investigate further , by getting a survey.
Regards Rob J.

A yacht of this class and scale will require about a grand for a full survey, which would include haul out. Most sellers will negotiate some, if not all of these costs into the selling price, but only if you write a check. If you were buying an old house, you'd have it professionally inspected too. This is one of the costs of yacht ownership. Again, getting into old wooden yacht ownership isn't for the meek or poor. Annual haul outs and bottom painting will be required, so will occasional inspections and surveys to keep your insurance company happy (plus the marina). Recaulking of seams, plus a host of other mandatory maintenance chores are necessary every year. A yacht of this vintage in good condition will carry a several thousand dollar burden in fees each year. This would include slip fees, pump outs, haul outs, bottom painting, having a few meters of caulk pounded in, occasional minor repairs and maintenance (like paint/varnish touch ups), new filters and seasonal duties, etc.

Trust me, I have a 48' ketch and a 40' powerboat, both in slips. The power yacht was built in 1960, so it's a youngster in comparison to the yacht above and lives in a covered slip (you have to take care of these old gals) for about 5K a year. The ketch is only a few years old, but being in a 50' slip makes a big difference in fees.

Spot on PAR.
Reading your post , I was reminded of advise I used to give in a "previous life".
I used to teach carriage driving , and train driving horses.
I used to say to prospective new owners/drivers, "The cheapest part in buying a horse , is buying the horse".
So too with boats , particularly the type of boat we are discussing.
Thats not to say its something we shouldn't do , its just that we have to have our eyes wide open.
It IS rewarding , if there aren't too many "surprises".
Regards Rob J.

When does a dream become a liability?
It's said the happiest days of a boat owner's life are the day he buys it, and the day he sells it.
Sometimes I'm grateful I only own my little trailer sailer which I can haul home every evening, and put to bed in a snug little shed. My wife and budget keep my dreams of owning a boat like this one from becoming reality.

Well , my dream has become something of a nightmare , with this arthritis .
I'm sailing again tomorrow , hopefully , I'll find the answers , somewhere !.
Regards Rob j.

Originally Posted by Simon Purser

Wooden Boats and Women:

Need constant attention and high maintainence
…

Hmmm. This is where I fall flat.

It is a pity she has gone off the market. She was very pretrty and was well worth a Survey. Had you taken her on I would have suggested you get her eready to sell to me when I get there.
There is only one thing you will ever regret with a lovely boat and that ius that you didnt get a survey first. It gives a clue as to what needs doing.

God luck with your hunt for another. There must be more available.

I clicked on the link and she still seems to be for sale.

If so, she's been so for a while, and the vendor might be fairly negotiable on the price (or there really is something wrong with her!)

Has some-one told you she's not for sale?