Question about a boat

Hi everyone,
I found a Grand Banks I really like but it has issues.
https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/boa/d/seattle-1973-grand-banks/6922037336.html
I have a budget of 10-15k for this boat if purchased at this price, is this to much work for a newbie ( most experience on trailer boats). I am not afraid of bright work but I am worried about hull blisters. I love the twin Lehman’s, they are bulletproof engines.

I know it’s not a lot to go on but any input is appreciated! Thanks!
Grandbanks3642

Wood work,

Making the paneling look factory is going to be a challenge. It looks like the boat has been neglected for quite sometime. If you see there is a lot of a water staining in various other places throughout this boat. You will have repaired one area only to find another needs your attention.

Now with that said, if the mechanics of the boat check out and your willing to complete the work it might be something worth pursuing. Keep in mind though it always cost more and takes longer to complete than you initially think. The great thing, once pulled together if done right and in line with what the factory turned out you'll have a 50-75k boat.

If most of the work is cosmetic you can work and learn at a modest pace and see results.

If lots of woodwork is required , even with good skills hand tools will not be enough.

A table saw (portable is fine) and a 6x48 belt sanding table will need space to operate.Plus of course the usual assortment of circular saw, jig saw , vibrating saw and a couple of sanders of different style.

"The great thing, once pulled together if done right and in line with what the factory turned out you'll have a 50-75k boat."

IF the joiner work is up to boat standards.

offer 12.5-15 tops, no one else will

How wrong can you go if you offer $15,000? Unless you don’t have another $15,000 for maintenance. Any boat is going to require maintenance. This one is going to require more. At $15,000 you have hit bottom of the value chart. This means you won’t loose any money if you take short cuts on your cosmetic repairs.

I suggest you still do a survey so there are no unknow surprises. I wouldn’t even be concerned if it had blisters at that price.

I'd be concerned that the water damage is deeper than just the interior paneling. Check out this thread Show us your rot porn

If your intended use is Puget Sound in the summer then you don't need to do more than stop the leaks and achieve a level of finish you're happy with. If your goal is to cruise more open and potentially rougher water then you'll need to fully address the hidden rot.

I think a 1973 Grand Banks probably has a wood hull. You should have someone make sure there is no problems there and are comfortable with wood hulls. One problem these boats are noted for is deck leaks. If the decks are teak and have not been maintained they can get leaks that end up in rot under the deck. The only solution that I know of is to pull up the decking and rebuild. Spend some time walking around the decks looking for any springy areas. Probably rot underneath. I looked at quite a few boats during the winter and water would squirt up in those areas. Also leaky decks cause the iron fuel tanks to rust on the top.

It looks like the water tanks have been replaced. They initially came with a lot larger tanks.

FYI Just something to consider is that you will find that there are a lot of annual costs that you don't have with a trailer-able boat.

If I read your post correctly you have 10-15K extra if you purchase the boat at 26K? So you have around 35-40K total? If so I personally would not buy this boat.


If the motors and transmissions are in excellent shape I agree offering 12.5-15K max might be worth it, but your still taking on a jumbo size can of worms at that price imo.

I would guess you are looking at thousands of hours of work if you do it all yourself. Depends how much time and skill you have. Even if you do all the work yourself, it would be hard to stay in your budget.

They seem to be going out of their way to avoid showing the decks. I am guessing that means all the teak needs to be pulled, the fiberglass cut away, and all the core replaced. Most likely it also means the fuel tanks need to be replaced (google Grand Banks Fuel Tanks).

Just fixing the decks and tanks, assuming you do all the work yourself (except manufacture the tanks), is probably a couple of hundred hours and $10,000 or more.

Given your budget, I would look at something smaller. Maybe a GB or Island Gypsy 32.

Grand Banks started making fiberglass boats in 1973. According to the Craigslist add this is a fiberglass hull. I am not sure when they went to fiberglass houses so I would check and see if the cabin is glass or not.

I think it would be foolish to by this boat for extended Coastal Cruising. However for cruising the Puget Sound to Gulf Islands in the summer I think an old boat is fine. Sure the cabin top is full of rot and the decks are probably soft but at this price one could get by just patching the problems. Trying to restore this boat would be a mistake, patching it and using it would be the way to go.

Now if a survey finds structural issues in the hull I would bail.