BlueSky: See if you can negotiate the price down as you are concerned about the hours. We have a 1987 KK42 with 7,330 hours on the engine and we should get 12-15,000 before we need to do a major. If you make an offer, it should state that the deal will go through with a satisfactory survey which would should include a good mechanical/hull survey and sea trial. If anything doesnt pass your muster, you walk away and you are only out the cost of the survey. Get a good diesel mechanic who is familiar with that engine to do the mechanical end in addtion to the marine surveyor. The engine is probably a Ford Lehman SP 135 which was pretty much standard for the years you are looking at.
Before we bought Hobo I flew to FL from the PNW to look at a KK42. We walked away from it. At the end of the day we spent ~$1,500 but it was worth it. When we looked at the next KK42, which we bought, we had a much better idea on what to look for and made up the money in negotiating the sale. Remember you are buying a 25 year old boat. Every boat that age has some issues.
Since we have owned Hobo, we have traveled over 12,500 miles and for the money, we havent been on another boat that we would trade her for.
Good luck. Keep us posted on what you decide.
Before we bought Hobo I flew to FL from the PNW to look at a KK42. We walked away from it. At the end of the day we spent ~$1,500 but it was worth it. When we looked at the next KK42, which we bought, we had a much better idea on what to look for and made up the money in negotiating the sale. Remember you are buying a 25 year old boat. Every boat that age has some issues.
Since we have owned Hobo, we have traveled over 12,500 miles and for the money, we havent been on another boat that we would trade her for.
Good luck. Keep us posted on what you decide.