New Boat! - Hopefully

[timjet]

I have never owned a boat such as the one you are considering. However I've done almost all the work on my boat so I know a little about boat maintenance. If you truly have the time and inclination to spend the next year or so fixing up this prospective boat then you may have a good deal. But so many times buyers either don't realize the extent of the job or get tired of spending all their free time and money fixing a boat that in the end will still be an old boat that will yield a very poor investment potential.

Another option is to figure out what this boat will really cost to fix up and perhaps find a boat in better condition for that amount of money. Your time is worth something and using the boat is a whole lot more fun than constantly working on it. This may be a boat that you are constantly working on and probably why you're getting such a good deal.

[Delta_JimS]

J & K,


I have an older 34', and I tend to agree with Al. If you really like the boat and have the ability and inclination to work together to make it "yours", then by all means have at it, but don't pay too much as most folks will Run Away.


I also have some old soggy decks, but for the most part they are firm enough and I keep her under cover in a dryer area.


New tanks, good engine and mechanicals, and a Pristine interior is worth $25K - but don't pay that much!


I have been working on this boat for 4 years now and have enjoyed the work and upgrading. She runs well and really enjoy her.
I have not really touched the decks other than fill a few cracks and seams; 90% of the upgrade work has been inside, other than new canvas and exterior teak finishing.
Enjoy the trip and don't focus too much on the time it takes to the destination.


Take your time to find out just how bad they want to sell the boat. It is off-season, getting soggier, with few buyers.


The saying "a bird in the hand" was never better applied than in boat transactions.


Best of luck!

[Al]

Welcome 34 Europa- The 34 CHB is a very popular boat and for reason however there are the downsides that XsBank relates. Perhaps this very current ad on Craigslist in Seattle might entice you given the close proximity you are to it. It would appear much of the issues have been addressed and the price reflects a modest market amount. Yes, the fly bridge has been eliminated but so have the potential leaks.

1979 34 ft chb tri cabin trawler

Al (the other Al Johnson)-Ketchikan (Bridge to Nowhere) Alaska

[Al]

Sorry- Vancouver Washington, not Seattle
Al

[Art]

34 - Although I reviewed first page in thread fairly well... and briefed the second... I did not notice any mention of stringers.

Not knowing the boat model well I do not know if stringers have wood core and if that wood core was meant for structural purposes or just as a filler-form for a thick, structurally integrated hand laid FRP stringer into hull's FRP webs. But... if stringers are wood core, and if that wood is meant for structural purposes... and if that wood is wet/rotten - RUN BUDDY - RUN!!

[34 Europa]

Hi All!

Thanks everyone for all the input, it gave us lots to talk about!

We weighed all the pros and cons and did a rough estimate of what we figured repairs would be - and doubled that and figured we would still go ahead

We took another look at her yesterday, and made an offer today.....time will tell now!

Will keep you posted!

J & K

[Pura Vida]

A lot of good advice, it is your boat and your project. I chose newer in order to enjoy now, but you may enjoy the project. It is your choice good luck, keep us posted.

[34 Europa]

Well, we did it!! After much deliberation, research, calculations, and a few other complications...we made an offer (we think a good deal too!)!! It was accepted and we will do a sea trial in the next week! We are excited (and a little nervous) but more so...excited! Will post pics as soon as she is ours.

Thank you all for your input, and we hope that we can turn to you in the future when we have issues or questions!

J & K

[Art]

Originally Posted by 34 Europa

Well, we did it!! After much deliberation, research, calculations, and a few other complications...we made an offer (we think a good deal too!)!! It was accepted and we will do a sea trial in the next week! We are excited (and a little nervous) but more so...excited! Will post pics as soon as she is ours.

Thank you all for your input, and we hope that we can turn to you in the future when we have issues or questions!

J & K

Of Course!

[siestakey]

Originally Posted by 34 Europa

Well, we did it!! After much deliberation, research, calculations, and a few other complications...we made an offer (we think a good deal too!)!! It was accepted and we will do a sea trial in the next week! We are excited (and a little nervous) but more so...excited! Will post pics as soon as she is ours.

Thank you all for your input, and we hope that we can turn to you in the future when we have issues or questions!

J & K

Great and please keep us informed!!!!!!!!

[Mick Scarborough]

[Pura Vida]

Great! pictures please.

[34 Europa]

The deal is done!! It was a long drawn out process for a variety of reasons, but she is ours! We sailed her for 3 hours (and she did awesome!) to a local marina where we had her hauled out, so that we could bring her home. She now sits comfortably on our property and the work has begun.

Now she is out of the water and we have been looking a little deeper, we feel the work required is actually less than we originally anticipated.

We have taken out most of the stowed items, and have begun making priority lists, and tool requirement lists. ..... now the real work begins!!

Here are two pics of her, one in the water as we left the marina, and one on the hard. We will post more soon

[Peter B]

Europa34,
She looks good. Newer than mine, where I had to sort of create the extended hard-top with frame and canvas, but definitely the sedan or Europa style with roomy and sheltered cockpit is nowadays the way to go.

Don't go too all-out initially is my advice. Many issues will be more cosmetic than functional or seaworthy relevant. Take your time and prioritise things, addressing those which absolutely must be done for safety or usability/functions sake, then worry about the cosmetic.

In other words...if it ain't broke, don't fix it, Just saying'… from someone with same boat only even older.

I'd be interested to hear you summation now of what you think needs to be done, and in what order..?

PS. Sorry, I forgot what I had posted on this thread previously, so I have deleted some of the advice I repeated, as now looking back, I see the tanks have already been done, and the decks are a must do as well. That just leaves the front cabin. I might mention I had to replace all the front cabin teak lining, as the PO had stripped that out, then run out of puff, after doing the decks and main cabin repairs, etc, but I found it not that hard to do the Vee berth cabin lining, and I am definitely no expert. Also, I didn't have the full workshop and the boat at home like you do, so that should be fairly straight forward for you, and yet here, even my amateurish results are acceptable I think..


Cheers,

[Al]

Congratulations, The better model of the CHB inventory.
The nice of the Europa model of the CHB is the house side windows are somewhat protected from the rain and therefore the leaks which are historic with CHBs is mitigated. Not eliminated, just lessen. Other that this objection, the CHB in my opinion is one of the better buys for the dollar afloat. I parse that with the boat in question being sound in all other normal expectations other than the window issue if addressed-(Oops- Forgot the teak decks- If they have not been removed in time leaks develop-sorry to have not mentioned)- Please don't take my comments adversely these are time noted ills with the CHB fleet, The last being steel tanks that have been pin holed around the filler pipe as the deck fuel fittings become faulty allowing water to collect on the tank top. So- If you purchase a CHB with fiber-glassed decks, alumunum/stainless fuel tanks and after market windows. you will have acquired a total enjoyable boat.

Al-Ketchikan

[Northern Spy]

Congrats. Looks like another 13K registration boat found her way back home.

[Lollygag]

Welcome aboard! We love our '79 CHB 42' Europa. Sure she has some maintenance problems but I'm almost done fixing them. You can fix almost anything on your boat, just like on your sailboat. Get a good survey and don't listen to anybody who hasn't seen THAT boat.

[siestakey]

Congrats

[Art]

Get Er Done! - Congrats!

[34 Europa]

Hi Peter,
Thanks for the great advice!

I think you did a great job, I hope our V-berth turns out as nice!! Our boat came with a queen island bed.

We started this endeavor thinking we would fix everything before putting her back in the water, but a sunny boat ride home on the fly bridge, has made us think "get done what needs to be done to be safe and/or requires lots of tools" and the rest can be done at the dock.

Our priority list to build structure around the boat (including scaffolding to work on) re-do the decks, add a bow thruster, clean everything well, check all systems (water, electrical, engine etc), re-do V-berth, update electronics (as apparently the boat will float in 1' of water according to the upper helm depth guage ) , re-bed all fittings, fix small gel coat imperfections and give her a good coat of paint.

We will keep you posted with pics as we do repairs!

Thanks again for the advice!!