79 Mainship Mark 1 thoughts

[Doodie99]

So I am new to TF but not new to boating. I am considering a 79 Mk1 that has been sitting covered in shrink wrap for 10 years. The hull seems solid and I am told the motor was ok when winterized. Interior is in marginal shape. Everything else is unknown. The decks ad bridge floors seem solid but I didn't spend alot of time looking. Thoughts on what its worth? The bridge seats are poor condition.

 

[Gdavid]

If it were in running condition, ready to go with the decks pretty solid (not necessarily perfect) I would say $30-35K in this market but a boat that has been sitting around for 10 years is bound to need some work in bringing it back online, new batteries, probably cleaning the fuel tanks, random other systems needing attention, I would start at $20k unless the seller is offering to bring the boat up to speed.

My two cents, I just bought a 1980 mark I for $28K this springs, it was in average condition and I have spend about $8k on it since bringing it up to speed but it still needs attention to the decks. I overpaid a bit in this crazy market but no regrets (so far).

 

[Jc180]

I just bought a Mark I. The asking prices are very much a function of condition. There are two currently on Market Place in Marriott Island and Daytona Beach; one with no motor or fly bridge for $4,000 and one in running but marginal condition for $17,000 (both have been for sale for a long time). Then there is one for $50,000 fully restored in Stuart, Fl. But generally, I found Mark Is in decent shape now in the $30s and $40s. Others may chime in, but I would guess the boat you are looking at is maybe $10,000 or less?

 

[Doodie99]

This is great input. I am told the engine had low hours. But my concern is just because its low it still is 42 years old so likely needs seals, gaskets and other items that corrode. The generator is likely in the same condition. I have experience with gas engines but diesel is different and also more costly to do.

 

[Jc180]

I now own two Perkins 6.354s. One is naturally aspirated 135 hp in a motor sailor that I have owned for 16 years and the second is a 160 hp turbo in the Mainship Mark I that I just bought. Both have slight oil leaks, one at front seal and the other at rear seal. Neither are severe enough to pull engine yet. My guess is that the mainship you are looking at has the Perkins 160 hp. Yes there are some risks to the engine needing work. My guess would be the raw water cooling system components. You might consider investing the money to see if the engine will start. If it starts immediately, it has good compression and fuel delivery (before start attempt would change oil, get fresh battery, change fuel filters, both raycor and on engine, and bleed high pressure pump and injectors which is a real pain with hand pumping the mechanical fuel pump).

 

[Jc180]

More thoughts on start attempt. Would bypass old fuel that has been sitting in tanks for 10 years. Get a small electric fuel pump and feed engine from clean fuel. A standard 5 gallon diesel fuel can would suffice. The electric fuel pump will make bleeding fuel system much easier. Fuel return would still go to boat tanks. You could do something similar with cooling water if wanted to start on the hard. A 5 gallon bucket with a mushroom type fitting with hose barb can be fitted to bucket (like you would do to winterize engine). With regard to initial start, may be rough initially during bleeding process. Shut engine down and see how restarts.

 

[CharlieO.]

Is this an as-is where-is deal? Without seeing any pics I'd start the conversation no more 10,000. If it's going to be launched and I can see that it will float, start and move under its own power, the offer could go up.


Are you a gambling man?

 

[smitty477]

So I am new to TF but not new to boating. I am considering a 79 Mk1 that has been sitting covered in shrink wrap for 10 years. The hull seems solid and I am told the motor was ok when winterized. Interior is in marginal shape. Everything else is unknown. The decks ad bridge floors seem solid but I didn't spend alot of time looking. Thoughts on what its worth? The bridge seats are poor condition.

We owned a 1978 Mk1 years back and it as a good boat... 10 years under cover is quite a long time....
There is no way to guess a value unless/untill a bunch more research is done and then it will still be somewhat unknown.
- decks and bridge floors are known probelms, fairly easy to asses
- value to replace interior to your satisfaction is likely an estimate that you can secure
- costs to repair/update all electronics, cnavas, belts, hoses, cutlass's, running gear, thru hulls, etc are likely also able to be secured.
- genset and main engines need closer exam for at least the basics, are the internals rusted, is the fuel fouled, do they rotate...
- if purchased you will need to add costs to store and insure the boat while it is being made sea worthy (may take a year or more).

In my opinion a boat like this stored for 10 years with no possibility to operater or test any systems has a value between a small positive number and a larger negative number dependent upon which tasks you would need to farm out to a professional.
YMMV

 

[Doodie99]

It's as is were is. And not a chance on running without work. I have not inspected the interior much yet but views from the cockpit it's in marginal shape. Its been in the yard near my father's boat for years and been there for some time. I would assume the engine is fixable with significant work.

 

[Comodave]

If it has been stored for 10 years then the owners must not put much value on it. IF you were to make an offer I would make it very small, like less than $10K, to take it off their hands. You can tap out the decks with a small hammer to see if they sound soft. Can you get insurance for it? Check before you make an offer.

 

[smitty477]

It's as is were is. And not a chance on running without work. I have not inspected the interior much yet but views from the cockpit it's in marginal shape. Its been in the yard near my father's boat for years and been there for some time. I would assume the engine is fixable with significant work.

I have taken on some major projects over the years and have learned that anything is fixable with enough work.
I would ask myself - do I want to be a boater or do I want a larger project?

Although there are exceptions I find that the 'best' boats are not the cheapest and the 'cheapest' boats are never the best.

 

[CharlieO.]

This is the type of boat that usually gets donated (for a tax write off) to a charity to be auctioned off. Check the Boat angel boats on ebay for a what its worth, usually at auction they go for from a few hundred to a few thousand.

 

[Jeff F]

I sold my '78 a year ago for about us$20k. It was in running condition with a good Cummins but pretty rough interior and coring deterioration in the FB. I didn't go anything to prep it for sale.

I agree that if you can't determine the operational status the price needs to be pretty low. It could be a lot of work and $$ to make everything right. Also agree that insurance may be a challenge until work is completed. Not for the faint of heart, but these are decent boats when operational.

 

[Doodie99]

So much good info... I currently have a smaller boat I do plan to keep and this will be my some day boat to travel and spend weekends on. I would like to get something with less work but college for my son is priority now. I think I could swing it if the initial cost is low.

 

[smitty477]

So much good info... I currently have a smaller boat I do plan to keep and this will be my some day boat to travel and spend weekends on. I would like to get something with less work but college for my son is priority now. I think I could swing it if the initial cost is low.

Perhaps make a complete list of the things you would need to do to the boat before you used it and add time and $$ (parts/labor) in the neigboring columns.
If you are retired and have plenty of time that may not be a larger issue if you do not mind spending larger amounts of time in that fashion.
When you get to the items that you will need to hire out like - restoring fuel tanks, engine work, carpets, canvas, eletrical/electronics, running gear etc you will have a way to 'add it up' and see what the total project looks like.
I would start the list with fixed costs for the unused boat such as storage, insurance, utilities, etc.
Good luck

 

[boomerang]

Regarding the mechanical aspect of the boat, if it has been sitting static for 10 years, you can count on the some of the engine seals and gaskets being dried out. It will probably start and run if it was laid up correctly but I'd bet you'll have leaks after running it a bit. The same thing with the water pumps, raw and circulating, plus the clutch.
Fuel disposal costs are crazy so you'll need to know how much is in there. If not much, maybe you can dilute it with fresh and burn it off but 200 gallons of old diesel is probably pretty crappy by now.
It would really help if you were handy with repairs. I just wouldn't expect to jump in and motor off into the sunset right away!
With enough time and a little money if you're up for working on it yourself , the 34 is a nice, inexpensive boat suited for a cruising couple or weekend jaunts with the family.

 

[Jc180]

So much good info... I currently have a smaller boat I do plan to keep and this will be my some day boat to travel and spend weekends on. I would like to get something with less work but college for my son is priority now. I think I could swing it if the initial cost is low.

We do most of the work on our boats ourselves, so well understand that it always takes longer and costs more to fix and restore than you initially think. Especially when every task is a first time learning experience. In our years in and out of boat yards we have seen and known a variety of folks taking on project boats. Some turn out great, but take many months or years to complete, and others invest years and never quite get the boat to float again. That said, if you do most of the work yourself, it is a great way to learn the boat and when completed, be self sufficient in maintaining going forward. But I would also say that it is a younger (40s or 50s, not 70s) mans endeavor. Good luck!

 

[Jc180]

So much good info... I currently have a smaller boat I do plan to keep and this will be my some day boat to travel and spend weekends on. I would like to get something with less work but college for my son is priority now. I think I could swing it if the initial cost is low.

If you do decide to take this boat project on, suggest you prioritize getting basics operational so the boat can be launched and used. Then can work on the rest over time. As you use the boat, it will become more apparent how you want to configure to suit your cruising style.

 

[Jeff F]

It might not be a project boat. If it was well loved and put away decently the commissioning list might turn out to be manageable. That's the optimistic case

Lots of good advice here for the OP. It sounds like you should go have a closer look. Maybe report back with pictures!

Edit to add: you can get pretty far along in scoping things out with the boat ashore under wrap. A lot of unknowns can be addressed early on before you need to agree on terms and price.

 

[ofer]

Perhaps make a complete list of the things you would need to do to the boat before you used it and add time and $$ (parts/labor) in the neigboring columns.
Good luck

and then triple that amount.

 

[Blissboat]

I would ask myself - do I want to be a boater or do I want a larger project?

Exactly. "As is, where is," especially after a decade on the hard, means they aren't selling a boat - they're selling a project. You might eventually turn it into a boat.

A preliminary "dry" survey might be worth considering. Sounds unlikely the seller is prepared to play the usual back-and-forth game about repairs and price concessions, but having a pair of professional eyes on the thing might at least help you reason through what can be seen that needs doing, and better inform your thinking about how much to pay.

 

[Solly]

Is the marina selling it, the owner, or are you thinking of making an offer out of the blue ? Figure 10 years of storage fees. The marina would like to get something for it sitting there. No telling if the storage is paid up. The owner would probably like to let it go to get out of paying and not using.
As is/where is/not running/no history... $5000 tops. But it does have potential. Of course the big question is the engine. And if it was winterized or stored properly I wouldn't worry too much about it. Try and check for antifreeze both in the engine and the raw water side. Sure it will need some work. Filters and impellors for certain, maybe seals. If the marina is selling and can help get it running add something extra to the price. Figure everything else will need to be replaced and that will cost real money but the engine will be the biggest chunk at 1 time.
For something like this it's more about what somebody will take to get rid of it, or to get a paying storage, than what it's worth.
Let us know. We love these kind of stories !! And to share the misery !

 

[Doodie99]

Absolutely i will share.. still working on a full inspection of everywhere on the boat.
I was thinking somewhere around 5K or less. I do have a few questions on inspecting the engine. I want to make sure it did not freeze so is there best places to look for cracks or areas of concern? Hopefully i can see inside soon.

 

[Sailor of Fortune]

Absolutely i will share.. still working on a full inspection of everywhere on the boat.
I was thinking somewhere around 5K or less. I do have a few questions on inspecting the engine. I want to make sure it did not freeze so is there best places to look for cracks or areas of concern? Hopefully i can see inside soon.

I think your 5k offer or less is more realistic than some of the other amounts suggested.... Good luck, don't over pay.

 

[Solly]

Absolutely i will share.. still working on a full I do have a few questions on inspecting the engine. I want to make sure it did not freeze so is there best places to look for cracks or areas of concern? Hopefully i can see inside soon.

Look and smell. Look in the bilge for antifreeze or diesel. Probably be some water there. Antifreeze is red or green usually. Diesel in Md. anyway is red. If you see or smell diesel it could be the fuel tanks are bad and leaking. Haven't heard of that being a problem in a Mainship. Take the coolant fill off and look and smell for antifreeze in there. Not much you can do on the raw water side w/o taking hoses off. Check the oil. Even with a recent change the oil will be black, your looking for it being way over the fill mark ( water leaking in ) or brown and sludgy.
If the boat was shrink-wrapped the engine was 'probably' winterized too. No way to tell for sure until it runs.

 

[Benthic2]

Give the owner your number and have him call you when he's ready to give it away for free. The pressure is on him to get out from under it, and you don't need it now.....wait him out. You still might be overpaying if he gives it to you. You aren't getting a boat. You are getting the opportunity to invest hundreds of hours of labor and tens of thousands of dollars to get a boat that might be worth $20-30K.

Here's a newer boat in running condition for $25k.

https://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1982/mainship-34-mkii-trawler-3836660/

Take all the hours that you would have to put into this boat and get a second job. Save that money and buy a boat that you know the history of. Between getting the engine operational, leaky fuel tanks, spongy decks, rodent eaten wiring, dead batteries, moldy carpet, liens from the marina, new electronics and insurance issues...you'll be signing a blank check if you take ownership of this thing, since you have no idea of the extent of the rehab required.

 

[Doodie99]

Well i do agree that going for a boat in better shape makes sense but I do enjoy restoration projects as long as in the long run it is worth it.
If i could get the boat for a low price and rebuild it myself i also will know the areas of concern. Maybe i am off but i estimate it will be somewhere around 5-10k in parts to bring it back to at least 90% and with that ballpark of 200 hours. In the end i will still have a 42 year old boat that may be worth around 25-30k, Maybe more but realistic. If i didn't have a son in collage i may have more funds for my toys but currently i can afford to trickle in to a project better than buying someone elses handy work.

 

[smitty477]

Well i do agree that going for a boat in better shape makes sense but I do enjoy restoration projects as long as in the long run it is worth it.
If i could get the boat for a low price and rebuild it myself i also will know the areas of concern. Maybe i am off but i estimate it will be somewhere around 5-10k in parts to bring it back to at least 90% and with that ballpark of 200 hours. In the end i will still have a 42 year old boat that may be worth around 25-30k, Maybe more but realistic. If i didn't have a son in collage i may have more funds for my toys but currently i can afford to trickle in to a project better than buying someone elses handy work.

"Maybe i am off but i estimate it will be somewhere around 5-10k in parts to bring it back to at least 90% and with that ballpark of 200 hours"
It would be great to see your list - we have done a 'couple' of these projects and our numbers were multiples of those (hrs and $$).

 

[boomerang]

"Maybe i am off but i estimate it will be somewhere around 5-10k in parts to bring it back to at least 90% and with that ballpark of 200 hours"
It would be great to see your list - we have done a 'couple' of these projects and our numbers were multiples of those (hrs and $$).

We bought the materials to rebuild our decks and flybridge floor in 2016,'17 & '18. The 3/4" marine ply, the 5 gallon buckets of resin & Corebond epoxy glue ,the fiberglass & paint was closer to 10k and that was before the price went sky-high. Maintenance cost of the 40 year old Perkins (turbo, riser, exhaust manifold, starter, alternator & water pumps has been $5-6K and thats not counting the work we're having done now replacing the engine seals & other items.
All of this and it was a running ,functioning boat when we bought it. I'm not even factoring in the stuff like electronics and complete rewiring of the electrical systems, portlights etc etc.
I'm not trying to scare the OP but don't be surprised to see 20K disappear in a few years of proper rehab if you want to make it a decent vessel that you can rely on and enjoy.

 

[Doodie99]

So a bit more of an update.
Until now i have not seen inside the sliding door. The owner is older and in poor health. One if his friends is trying to sell it.
I was able to get inside and it looks like it was properly winterized and the interior is in fairly good condition. The good is that it has a newer engine. It has a Cat 3208 V8 engine. Its the non turbo version with 210HP. The bad is that the boat has been under shrink wrap since ~2002-2003 It has an hour meter on the bridge that reads about 1400hrs
The generator looks original Onan and will likely need work based on appearance. I don't see any signs of mice or other critters inside the boat. I think the engine is around a 1990-1991. So I a little more optimistic with a newer engine. I don't know a lot about Cat Diesels but I assume its a good engine.