the list is never long enough...

Posted By: Marty Chafkin
Date: 2/17/08 6:22a.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: What I asked before I purchased my '81 C27 (link) (pic) (Joe McCary, Aeolus II-Catalina 27, West River, MD)

I read this list before I bought: http://bbs.trailersailor.com/forums/catalina27archives/index.cgi?read=3145,head,sink and compiled the following list, after my own inspection: Things to remember to ask about: Compression post support block Deck to hull joint Keelbolt nuts and washers Hull number Spreader sockets Rust Lead or iron keel I see light at the hull to deck joint in the chain locker The under side of the deck in the chain locker looks horrible Bow repaired? Cracks in gelcoat at motor mount Leaks at chainplates – old and repaired or still leaking? When I wiggle a stanchion, water oozes out on deck Ground to keel fitting Traveler car hangs up on track Various hatch and drawer trims do not fit to fiberglass – is this an issue? Under cockpit (engine) access hatch lower edge is delaminating plywood – concern? Rudder play – too much or normal? Base of starboard bulkhead, aft of head, is rotted away Then I gave both lists to the surveyor, with all my photos. Had a great survey, bought the boat. Here's what I did not look at and should have: The floor of the head, under the head, has rot around the lag bolts. The tiller is fitted for a Forespar tiller extension. This caused the varnish to degrade at that area. But it also caused a cross-wise crack in the tliier, which I missed. Find out what paints were used. You will want to avoid incompatible paints in the future, so ask now. (I got this info later.) Bring fuel to the survey, if the boat has an outboard. That was fun, at a marina with no fuel dock. Bring a cordless drill and 1/4" bit, to drill into the floor of the bilge and the wood block under the mast compression post. Bring some epoxy and 3M 4200 to plug/fill the holes, after. If you find mush, you will be replacing those wood pieces, but you don't want it to get worse. You may meet some resistance from the owner about this, but if you cannot drill, assume the worst. The keel bolts will look rusty, but it's really the nuts and washers, together with the mystery gook that Catalina poured over the bolts. Look at the wiring, carefully. If you see sloppy work, assume that you will be redoing things. Sloppy work means that things stop working at the least opportune times. Get a pro to look at the motor. I did, but by accident - he came along with the broker on the sea trial, for fun. $1000.00 worth of free information, combined with a hours worth of entertaining sarcasm about boats in general. Good luck. Buy the boat you are romantically involved with. Assume that you will have to spend money. Make sure you can go sailing, soon, so you don't wind up hating the boat. I bought mine in November and had it hauled. The yard work is done. The boat is now safe enough to sail, but I suspect that I'll be fooling around forever.