| I think that Seafarer has gone out of business, but I'm not sure.
It is difficult to say, given the information you've provided, whether
$30 000 is a good price for a thirteen year old boat or not. It really
depends on several things. Have you seen the survey? Some questions I'd
ask:
Is the standing rigging original? If so, it likely should be replaced.
Expensive.
How old is the engine? How many hours? Major repairs to the engine are
likely to be so expensive that it would be better to replace the engine
than repair it. A new engine might be $5000.
Original sails? I would expect that they should be replaced. Another
$5000?
How old are the electronics? Do they all work?
What is the cosmetic condition of the boat? A pristine boat is worth
much more than a dilapidated one. Does the interior need refinishing?
Does the hull need painting? A professional linear polyurethane paint
job runs $50 per foot and up.
Be sure to determine whether or not there are any leaks in the hull to
deck joint. These can be very expensive and possibly impossible to
repair. The owner of a Bristol 40 I know is trying to decide whether or
not to spend $2300 (minimum) having his hull/deck joint leaks fixed.
Is the deck cored with balsa or plywood? Has water gotten into the core?
(Very likely, by the way.) Has the deck delaminated? (Very likely, by
the way.) Again, very expensive to repair. Our not terribly serious deck
delamination repairs were $4500.
What you really need to do is determine what you must spend on the boat
over and above the purchase price to have a boat you'd feel good about
owning. Compare that investment with the cost of a newer, and more
expensive, boat. Be realistic about how much time you are willing (and
able) to spend working on the boat. Also be realistic about what
maintenance and repair skills you have or are willing to acquire.
Boatyard labor is ruinously expensive.
As a personal comment, I'd not buy a ketch. And given the state of the
used sailboat market, I think that there may be better values available.
But don't let me discourage you ...... I like owning a sailboat.
Alan
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| Thanks Alan, I appreciate the input. The boat is not something I
am personally looking to purchase rather the inquiry was for a friend.
I am not really sure what the systems are like except that the water
system is rusted and needs to be replaced. If the sails are original
then I suspect the standing rigging is also original. The boat is
in the water at this point and has been sailed this summer but the
exact condition is not known by myself or my friend, they will be
looking at it this weekend if all goes well. And yes Seafarer has
gone out of business as of 1983.
Thanks again,
Brian McBride
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