Gulfstar 36

I am considering buying a 36' 1975 Gulfstar Mk 2 trawler and wondered if anyone knows what a reasonable offer to make would be. The boat is in good shape and is for sale in the mid 30's. The NADA website recommends $18,230 as a reasonable price for this boat with comparable equipment. It seems low to me and would like to know what other members have paid for the same boat.

IMO with a boat of that vintage condition is difficult to compare and all that matters.

Hello everyone I forgot to say hi in my original post.

What engines? What kind of NAV equipment? Genset, and is it old or new? Lots of the value is in those things, and the condition. And then most important, what you are willing to pay!!

The engines are twin 85 hp Perkins. No Generator, and minimal electronics. A Garmin chart plotter, one on board vhf, and one hand held. The NADA website has drop down boxes to list equipment which I did, and the $18,230 number came up.

AK were in Florida are and is the boat near

I paid $17,000 US for a 1976 36MkII w/ Westerbeke generator and 2 Perkins 4-154 62hp mains. The boat needs electrical work, hull and deck surveyed well.
Bill

IMO, mid-thirties would be top price, and that only with the boat in superb condition, lots of electronics, and improvements done by the PO (or PO's). Mid-twenties otherwise. $18K seems a tad low to me, but as others have observed there are two rules to follows:

1. What condition is the boat in?
2. (See Rule #1)

Greetings,
Mr. ak. Welcome aboard.

Welcome, have fun.

Thanks for the greetings and the info guys.
It was a private seller, and he informed me that if I got a survey, he wouldn't be responsible for fixing any problems, but he was confident that they wouldn't find anything.
He was asking $34,900 and said he would sell it for $31,000. I had offered him $28,500.

akguit said:

Thanks for the greetings and the info guys.
It was a private seller, and he informed me that if I got a survey, he wouldn't be responsible for fixing any problems, but he was confident that they wouldn't find anything.
He was asking $34,900 and said he would sell it for $31,000. I had offered him $28,500.

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Wait for the survey before you talk numbers. You may get it for less or decide you don't want it.

akguit said:

...he informed me that if I got a survey, he wouldn't be responsible for fixing any problems...

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Fair enough, inform him you will walk if it fails survey. $28,500 is near top dollar for the boat, if it was $18,500 I could see his point. There's plenty of boats for sale.

CPseudonym said:

Fair enough, inform him you will walk if it fails survey. $28,500 is near top dollar for the boat, if it was $18,500 I could see his point. There's plenty of boats for sale.

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With the Perkins 4-236 (85hp) engines you are golden for longevity if they check out prior to purchase. If they were the Perkins 4-154 which was more common in these Gulfstars to my memory when looking for a replacement boat.

Not knowing then what I know now,
The 4-154 parts availability are slim to almost none where as the 4-236 is like having a 6-71 jimmy, where parts are everywhere for the 4-236.

I ended up with a Perkins 4-154 and the inherit leaking rear main seal.

I'd avoid any purchase where the Perkins 4-154 engine is involved- Ever!!!

As mentioned, condition is the factor, not the age so much. The price you are offering seems right in the ball park. Good luck on a purchase
Al

akguit said:

Thanks for the greetings and the info guys.
It was a private seller, and he informed me that if I got a survey, he wouldn't be responsible for fixing any problems, but he was confident that they wouldn't find anything.
He was asking $34,900 and said he would sell it for $31,000. I had offered him $28,500.

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Excellent advice above. You're in the driver seat offering high retail for that boat. Sellers can refuse to fix identified problems, but at the cost of selling price or lost opportunity to sell the boat. How long does he want to sit on a depreciating and slowly disintegrating asset? We all know that storing a boat, even if not using it, still costs money.

Make sure the language of any offer contract is very explicit about what would be reasons to back out ............."fail of survey" is a slippery thing a friend of mine just found out.

I believe the easiest is to pick a hard number for "to be fixed issues" and make sure it's in the contract. If it exceeds that number for either party...the offer can be terminated.

Don't both with NADA. There aren't enough comparisons.

Al I know you are concerned about your 4-154 Perkins. I on the other hand am not concerned. If the worst were to happen I'd probably repower with BETA Marine 50 to 55hp diesels. Although I have seen some great deals of rebuilt 4-108 and 4-236 diesels and or similar 4 cylinder diesels. Other than a major failure what are you worried about sourcing for the 4-154 engines? My engine surveys and the work I had done to my pair of 4-154's gives me no reason to doubt the reliability of these older diesels. Mine have slightly less than 2000 hours on them I fully expect them to run another 2000 to 5000 hours with the proper maintenance. For what I paid I still think the 4-154's and Velvet 71C's will give me years of cruising pleasure. Other than the parts availability for the Perkins 4-236 what would make you think they are any more robust or would outlast properly maintained 4-154's? I'm really curious and I am actually glad my horsepower and engine displacement is 62hp vs 85hp I doubt the 4-236 will move the boat much faster than the 4-154 duals? I'd think my NMPG might be a tad better with the smaller Perkins. I don't have any oil pan drip problems at least not yet.
Bill

Billy111 Will compose a PO. Then if it comes out to what I want to say, I will post on the forum. Regards, Al

My 4-154s start in a snap, run great, don't drip or smoke. The parts i've had trouble finding are odd things like a thermostat housing. The regular stuff that breaks I've been able to find but usually have to be ordered from somewhere rather than being an off the shelf item. They move the boat as fast as it will go so I haven't felt a need for more power.

Thanks Al, this wasn't meant to be confrontational. I'm curious about your concerns with the 4-154 Mazda Perkins diesel engine.
Bill

Bill111- None taken, you have my PM on the matter.

"On The Rocks"- Thankful you are having this level of success with you engines. It appears that I asked for and received supportive posts for these engines.
Our engine is performing at a wonderful level outside of the leaking main seal.
As you can see in above Billy111's post he is asking specifically about the Mazda Perkins. This is an example of what drives my concern. Our Perkins engine was manufactured somewhere between 1960 and 1966. Following that Perkins allowed another manufacture to use the engine. I don't know the sequence of ownership as it includes Caterpillar, Mazea, Westenbeke, Massey Ferguson to name a few.

To what I can ascertain some of these if not all, made minor adjustments to the original 4-154 configuration by Perkins. You seemingly receive "Hummm" Aaaaaaa" and "I am not sure" when you make inquiry as to the adaptation of parts you locate to the ability of those parts to interchange.

Not the case with the 4-107/108/236/ four bangers. Perkins retained control over these engines or that seems the picture I am hearing.

I have no grief with the W58 Westenbeke engine (Mazda) that I purchased as a replacement when that time comes around. I am fairly sure that I can use my Perkins bell housing including the starter, and the Velvet drive reduction gear.

I'd hope that by indications, the Perkins heat exchanger will bolt up to the Mazda block. With those adaptations, I am confident that Westenbeke has current inventory somewhere on replacement parts for the remaining requirements.

Trust this will clear up the intent of my advise to potential Perkins 4-154 ownership. Parts may be available to the extent that you will have to established a relationship with sources now for then.

Seeking them when the trouble develops will lead to a level of frustrations. For that reason I have taken a "Belt and Suspender" attitude in purchasing a newer model of the 4-154 a bit different.

Al-Ketchikan (Bridge to Nowhere) Alaska

Al said:

Billy111 Will compose a PO. Then if it comes out to what I want to say, I will post on the forum. Regards, Al

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Al thanks for the PM I see your concerns considering Perkins allowed various engine builders over the years to make their own modifications. This could make finding the correct part a bit of a pain. I do have the original engine manual that came from Gulfstar for my Perkins 4-154's. Since mine haven't developed the rear oil drip perhaps I have one of the models that addressed this problem? My ER is spotless and it wasn't cleaned prior to us purchasing the boat. However I might have to sell the boat now due to medical issues. Anyone in Maryland's upper Chessy (the Middle River) want to look at the boat?
Thanks again,
Bill

Bill111

You have raised an interesting question. In terms of what manufacture of the 4-154 you have. Our engine is of the original manufacture period of 1960-1966. The seal leak is an accepted weakness of this period it seems. I had asked a Westenbeke dealer in Seattle if Westerbeke had addressed the seal issue or had it been by a prior manufacture between 1966 and Westenbeke taking over the engine. He responded that he was aware of the seal issue and had no idea if Westenbeke or any had addressed this issue.
As you are indicating no failure with two engines, "On the Rocks" echo's the same and if I am not mistaken. "Flywright" also has 4-154's with no leak.
I am guessing here that the later engines had some sort of modification to address the subject OR- you folks are very fortunuate.

We are quite content with our boat even with this flaw. After adding the lead ballest (1000# now) the boat handles as close to perfect as we had expected.

Thanks for the offer and our prayers continue for improved health. (Down on our boat the other day and one came to mind as I was messing about the engine-did you feel it?)

Regards,
Al

Al said:

"Flywright" also has 4-154's with no leak.
I am guessing here that the later engines had some sort of modification to address the subject OR- you folks are very fortunuate.

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I have twin 4.236 Perkins, not the 4.154.

Fortunate, I lust for a 4-236!!!
Al

I feel your pain. Sometimes I wish I had the 6.354 naturals.

I just purchase 1972 for 20.000. I felt in love with that boat at firs time. Twin 80hp Lehman. Generator. Brought her from Daytona Beach to Green Cove Springs in day and a half. I love this boat.

Congratulations!

nodestination said:

I just purchase 1972 for 20.000. I felt in love with that boat at firs time. Twin 80hp Lehman. Generator. Brought her from Daytona Beach to Green Cove Springs in day and a half. I love this boat.

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