Wow... just simply, wow! You guys are absolutely amazing. Thank you so much for all of the candid, unfiltered feedback. Your passion for boating knows no limits!
My schedule over the last 10 days has been hectic so I finally found time to sit down in front of my computer and read through everything you all have said and I am disheartened; not by your comments, but by the appalling condition of the boat and the amount of work it looks like it will take to get her back into shape. Many of you have recommended that I run away from her while some of you have told me to go into this with my eyes open and that perhaps there may be something good to come out of it. I appreciate both viewpoints and still plan to get a professional opinion as to my best course of action. Now that I am back in the States, I am going to contact a shipwright in the local area and get an inspection. I will also contact a couple of marine surveyors for their ideas as well.
A few of you have expressed concerns regarding the black spots in the hull. I believe these to be deep chips in the fiberglass. When I was last on-site, I took a particular interest in these areas and poked around with my finger. They are not holes exactly, but have a substrate that to my untrained eye, seems to be another layer of a fiberglass-type material. I believe these may be cosmetic in nature but cannot say for certain.
Thank you again for all of your beneficial responses. I find this community to be incredibly active and a true resource for not only boat savvy sailors such as yourselves, but also the neophyte land lubbers like me. Thank you again and I will post once more as soon as I get this inspection completed.
My schedule over the last 10 days has been hectic so I finally found time to sit down in front of my computer and read through everything you all have said and I am disheartened; not by your comments, but by the appalling condition of the boat and the amount of work it looks like it will take to get her back into shape. Many of you have recommended that I run away from her while some of you have told me to go into this with my eyes open and that perhaps there may be something good to come out of it. I appreciate both viewpoints and still plan to get a professional opinion as to my best course of action. Now that I am back in the States, I am going to contact a shipwright in the local area and get an inspection. I will also contact a couple of marine surveyors for their ideas as well.
A few of you have expressed concerns regarding the black spots in the hull. I believe these to be deep chips in the fiberglass. When I was last on-site, I took a particular interest in these areas and poked around with my finger. They are not holes exactly, but have a substrate that to my untrained eye, seems to be another layer of a fiberglass-type material. I believe these may be cosmetic in nature but cannot say for certain.
Thank you again for all of your beneficial responses. I find this community to be incredibly active and a true resource for not only boat savvy sailors such as yourselves, but also the neophyte land lubbers like me. Thank you again and I will post once more as soon as I get this inspection completed.
