AZ2Loop
Senior Member
We are under contract on a boat with twin Cummins 250 HP 6BTA's. Despite being over 25 years old, the hours on the engines are low at around 1900 (not necessarily a good thing from what I understand). Over the last 7 years or so the boat has been used very little, and almost not at all for the past 3 years (again, not good).
Owner has since passed away so there will be no opportunity for owner information and familiarity with the boat to be passed on to me. This is quite a negative, but I know we can figure out the systems (with some help) if we move forward with the purchase. On a positive note, they did buy it new so there is some chance the family will be able to provide a fair amount of documentation since they are the original owners.
Of course there will be a (hull and mechanical) survey, a sea trial, and haul out, and I will certainly be present for all of this.
Help needed for now:
Prior to investing in the survey, etc. we are going back to have a closer look on our own where we can just poke around, look, get better acquainted with the boat, and make sure we cannot see anything that would make us eliminate this boat prior to investing in the survey. Given such light use, and almost no use over the past few years, does that change what you would be looking for even prior to the survey? During the survey?
I appreciate any suggestions. We have owned several boats over the years but this is our first boat over 30' and our first boat one might call a trawler.
It checks most of our boxes, but sitting in a covered (so protected from weather nicely) slip and not being used much at all makes me a little nervous about shaking out the cobwebs on our nickel post purchase.
Thanks for any help/suggestions.
Owner has since passed away so there will be no opportunity for owner information and familiarity with the boat to be passed on to me. This is quite a negative, but I know we can figure out the systems (with some help) if we move forward with the purchase. On a positive note, they did buy it new so there is some chance the family will be able to provide a fair amount of documentation since they are the original owners.
Of course there will be a (hull and mechanical) survey, a sea trial, and haul out, and I will certainly be present for all of this.
Help needed for now:
Prior to investing in the survey, etc. we are going back to have a closer look on our own where we can just poke around, look, get better acquainted with the boat, and make sure we cannot see anything that would make us eliminate this boat prior to investing in the survey. Given such light use, and almost no use over the past few years, does that change what you would be looking for even prior to the survey? During the survey?
I appreciate any suggestions. We have owned several boats over the years but this is our first boat over 30' and our first boat one might call a trawler.
It checks most of our boxes, but sitting in a covered (so protected from weather nicely) slip and not being used much at all makes me a little nervous about shaking out the cobwebs on our nickel post purchase.
Thanks for any help/suggestions.