Larry,
That's surprising that the boat that you're looking at is set up similar to ours.* I didn't know there was one that close to our configuration.* We have made many changes to our boat in the last two years to make it more what we wanted.* We have had no structural or mechanical problems.* We looked at many boats before we bought this one, so we had a pretty well defined idea of what we were looking for in a larger boat.* I was looking at late 80's, early 90's trawlers.* None of them fit for us.* When we first got on our Westcoast, my wife's comment was "this boat has good bones, we can make it into what we want".*
An interesting note is that every commercial person that we've had on the boat has commented about how much they like it.* The surveyor said "if I was buying a boat right now, this is a boat I would buy."* He gave it a good report, with few items to change.* Our boat is simple to maintain.* There is no outside teak, big rub rails, good stainless rails, no high gloss interior finishes, easy wiring runs, simple systems.* We love the Jatoba wood floors, they are so hard that they can be refinished easily.* Because the engine room was designed for two engines and only has one engine, it's easy to get to everything.* We've grown to like her more instead of less as we've gotten to know her.*
Now for some things I haven't liked.* The cockpit doesn't have real scuppers, only 4 drains, one in each corner.* I don't like that because I don't think a big load of water in the cockpit would drain out fast enough.* I intend to add large scuppers.* There are two additional drains down below the lazarette hatch cover.* They are too small and can get easily plugged.* Even when washing the boat if those drains are plugged you can get water into the lazarette.* I'm planning on changing those drains when I get to it.* Because they added 3' to the stern, I think the stern is a little light if the two water tanks in the lazarette aren't full.* Unlike most boats, this boat needs more weight in the stern for the best balance.* A big dingy hanging off of davits would probably help this boat, not unbalance it.* We thought the interior colors were pretty dull and ugly.* When I asked about it, I was told that Forbes Cooper had made those decisions himself, he was color blind and he chose what he thought would be most durable and not show dirt.* We have changed much of the color scheme in the interior.
This boat doesn't have a name or pedigree, so you should be able to buy it right in this market.* Though well known in B.C., even in Washington State most people don't know what it is.* The boat is also an old design for a new boat.* We like that, but I'm sure that limits the market of potential owners.* The down side to that is when reselling you'll face the same issues.* I plan on owning this boat until either the boat is finished, or I am, so I wasn't concerned about resale.*
I've attached a picture of our boat out of the water, just in case you haven't seen a picture of the boat below the waterline.
Lyle