Purchasing 2000 GB Europa 42 - advice, ares with potential issues?

[CaptnChuck]

Hello Grand Banks owners, I have decided to purchase a 2000 Europa 42, and have it under agreement. Survey is happening in a couple weeks. Twin Caterpillar 3116 TA's, I am aware of the soft block issue, and also that some had black iron fuel tanks. Are there any other issues/suggestions/concerns that experienced Grand Banks owners can share? Very much looking forward to this next chapter afloat, and would appreciate any quality suggestions/experiences. Thank you!

 

[Skeetsdad]

Congrats on the 42 GB. I have a 32 GB. I'd say fuel tanks, window frames, teak decks, exhaust/muffler are all worth paying attention to. Being a 2000 I wouldn't expect you would have those issues unless boat was neglected. If you're not already on Facebook, you should join. The Grand Banks Owners page is a great source of info. I searched that page with the hull number of my boat before I bought it to see if previous owner was on the page and referencing any issues.

 

[Chuck34]

Good luck with everything.

 

[CaptnChuck]

Thank you!

 

[Comodave]

It is an almost 25 year old boat. Doesn’t matter if it is a GB or whatever. Maintenance is the key. Any boat if neglected can be run down. As with any older boat I would check the decks for wet/rotted core, leaking windows and wet stringers. I spend a day on any boat that I am thinking of buying. I poke around and open every hatch, etc. i make notes of things I notice. Then when the surveyor comes show him/her the notes and ask their opinion on those things. The surveyor will/should do the normal checks but your list may find something the surveyor might miss. I take a phoenolic hammer to check the decks and stringers for rot. You tap with the plastic side and listen for the sound. A bad core will have more of a dull thud than a sharp sound with a good core.

 

[RSLARY]

Is that the one in Maine?

 

[RSLARY]

Is that the one in Maine?

Never mind, that was 52, sorry

 

[slowgoesit]

X 2 on what Comodave stated above! I do a walk thru, than a "pre-survey", write down everything I find that I have questions about, then "carefully" present it to the surveyor. I say "carefully" because I have run into some surveyors who are a tad touchy and take any suggestions from a layman as my questioning his authority/knowledge/experience . . .
I generally say something like "I don't have the vast wealth of experience that you do as a surveyor, but these are items I noted and I'd like you to keep them in mind as you go through the survey and tell me either that I'm wise to be concerned about individual points, or that they aren't a concern, and why".
I've not had any issues with a surveyor yet. . . . well, not about the list anyway. . . .
Pay particular attention as mentioned above to fuel tanks, teak decks (if equipped), and especially if they are of an age that they were screwed in. Not sure about the 2000 GB's, as ours was older. And fuel tanks . . . Did I mention fuel tanks?!? REALLY expensive to repair/replace, and better that the seller pay for it than the buyer.
A GB owner who I know who is attempting to sell his GB 42, boat is late '80's.
Boat was looked at by a perspective buyer. Wife (she was petit), crawled around behind the fuel tanks and reached back with her phone and captured pics of the fuel tank tops, and sides that were absolutely horrendous! Large, multi-layers of steel coming off in sheets on top of the tanks, sides that looked like they have been coated with grey fiberglass, showing huge bulges in the tops and edges where it was rusting underneath . . . .
Seller said it was all surface corrosion . . . . the buyer's passed.
Broker asked me my opinion . . . I told her $25k to $40K to replace, and that wasn't even addressing the decks were in such poor condition and a list of other items I saw on a casual walk-thru . . . .
Boat then went under contract with someone else, someone who had seen the pics, went in for a short haul last week . . . came back to the dock . . . . I don't think it passed.
Anyway, as stated, condition, Condition, CONDITION!
Fuel tanks, water leaks, and soft or leaking decks, the three most common issues with GB's. I love ours, and we had a blast with her, but when we went looking for our next boat, GB wasn't a contender.

 

[mvweebles]

If you have not already found it in the TF "Resources" section, download the Sea Trial template. Check-list during Sea Trial

 

[drewc]

Owned a 2000 GB 42 Europa and had a great experience with it! There was a minor issues with tabbing separating a bit in the bow (GB had an issue those years) and of course all of the brightwork requires huge maintenance $. We had 420HP 3126NAs which worked very well but were the last year before electronic control (may have been a good thing ;-) And of course usual issues with Vacuflush heads. Bon chance!

 

[koliver]

As GBs age, the issues above increase in importance. At a mere 24 years old, the one you are considering is in its glory years, with none of those issues likely to be or to become an issue any time soon. Be wary, listen to the boat as you inspect it. Take phone pictures in behind things, Look for the most likely places those photos will be useful. Look for signs of poor or neglected maintenance. Listen for the boat to call you or to warn you. Good hunting.

 

[CaptnChuck]

Thank you GB friends for all your wonderful advice! We had a very productive survey and sea trial last week. Long story short, I have accepted the vessel, but the purchase price is 60% of list price. Why? Because the Cat 3116's are shot. I will be re-powering the boat, most likely with Cummins. We did find some moisture at the bow, thanks to water intrusion at the un-sealed hawes pipe, and in the lazarette hatches. Otherwise she's a dry boat. Lightly used over the last decade, and always stored inside during the winters, I am very much looking forward to bringing her back to her former glory. Fuel tanks look good, but the corroded fittings will be replaced, tanks cleaned, etc. Also will be installing fire suppression system, domestic water filtration, laundry machine, Starlink, etc This is going to be a great project.

 

[gettaway]

Thank you GB friends for all your wonderful advice! We had a very productive survey and sea trial last week. Long story short, I have accepted the vessel, but the purchase price is 60% of list price. Why? Because the Cat 3116's are shot. I will be re-powering the boat, most likely with Cummins. We did find some moisture at the bow, thanks to water intrusion at the un-sealed hawes pipe, and in the lazarette hatches. Otherwise she's a dry boat. Lightly used over the last decade, and always stored inside during the winters, I am very much looking forward to bringing her back to her former glory. Fuel tanks look good, but the corroded fittings will be replaced, tanks cleaned, etc. Also will be installing fire suppression system, domestic water filtration, laundry machine, Starlink, etc This is going to be a great project.

Curious about your statement "Lightly used over the last decade" but the engines are shot. Are they shot because they are 3116's that were not replaced in the Caterpillar recall campaign? If so, get the serial numbers and get with your Cat Dealer and see if they will work something out with you. Caterpillar has tremendous customer support; I had a pair of 3208's in a previous boat and Cat still supports them and had the build sheets for your engine if you have the serial numbers. I am also in the construction industry and Caterpillar is pretty darn good to work with for support. It's worth a shot when you're looking at a $150K to $200K repower. (I have two direct boat neighbors who repowered on this year and one last year- that is the range they spent. Cats were 200K, Yanmar's were 150K both about were in the 375-400hp range.

 

[CaptnChuck]

The previous owner put about 350 hours on the boat in the last 14 years, so that's 30 hours a year. Very lightly used. Oil changes and winterization were done annually, but that's it. There's coolant in the oil, all sorts of issues. I was told it would take me about $40,000 to get the engines back to position where they might be OK for a few years. I'm not looking for a short-term fix. So I was able to negotiate a purchase price which will allow me to re-power the boat. Using Cummins QSB 6.7 SL, 2024 model. They're not cheap, but this will help bring the boat back to here former glory. Thank you for your interest!

 

[Choices]

Have you selected who is doing the work? With both engines out you should replace the tanks with fiberglass. Now would be the time.

 

[CaptnChuck]

That's the first input I've had about fiberglass fuel tanks. The existing tanks are steel, painted, in great shape, they will be emptied, cleaned, pressure tested, and all fittings replaced. I think they'll be fine. Thank you.

 

[Comodave]

Steel, or black iron, tanks will eventually fail. Fiberglass tanks are great for diesel, not so much for ethanol gas. Steel tanks will start to rust and will progressively get worse. A lot depends on the quality of the installation. And keeping water off them is critical. But if the tanks are steel and 24 years old they are getting to the point that I would question them. Good luck.

 

[MarkPaul]

I agree with the advice to look very closely at fuel tanks when repowering, Much easier to replace when the engines are out. However, my GB42Eu's 45 year old steel tanks are in great condition. I'm scrupulous about keeping them regularly inspected, dry, salt free and painted. Inside, I keep fuel levels topped up and biocide charged. There's plenty of older steel tanks in boats that are in serviceable condition. Yours have got 21 years to catch up to mine. How long will the Cummins engines last? Maybe look at replacing tanks at the next repower?

 

[CaptnChuck]

Thank you, MarkPaul for your quality input! Really appreciate it. Yes, we will be thoroughly cleaning the tanks, replacing fittings, painting where needed. They look to be in very good shape with the exception of one spot on the port tank, which saw saltwater spray from a leaking raw water pump for at least a year. Crazy. The 2024 Cummins will be good for my use of the vessel, which will be 5 to 10 years. I guarantee that at the end of my tenure with the boat she’ll be in much better condition than she is right now. Very much looking forward to trawler life, and stoked to be part of the GB family.

 

[MarkPaul]

Enjoy the fruits of your labor. With care, I'm sure you'll get long and reliable service from the Cummins QSBs and the steel tanks.