Lots of work to do....

Posted By: John (Breeze Courier, 1994 S25)
Date: 4/3/09 2:02a.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: Seaward 25 1994 Potential Purchase (link) (Bill)

Bill, I've been off this site for a few years, but have published many articles regarding the issues related to the bulkhead, rigging (chainplates) and others. Here's some free advice: 1. The bulkhead WILL be an issue on this boat if you actually sail the boat with properly tuned rigging (not 'hand' tight, spaghetti noodle loose). Here's a description of how it was fixed: www.okbayou.com/bulkheadfix.html. Trust me, you will have to do something similiar...have the surveyor carefully check for any signs of fracture under the mast, inside the cabin, too behind the starboard settee. 2. Replace, at the very least, the forestay chainplate. Mine broke while underway on a boat review with Small Craft Advisor Magazine (MARCH 2003). Yes, this actually happened DURING the review, not a joke. I replaced my chainplates with double the original thickness & width. I went ahead and replaced the shroud chainplates as well, double thickness/width. They were also 314 Stainless Steel (not 316, weaker). I had the 314 SS plates electroplated AFTER drilling the holes, then 'pinged' to reduce metal stress from necessary bending to shape. You could remove all plates and take to a professional metal fabricator, they'll know the lingo if they're good. 3. Check condition of mast...especially the Z-spar flimsy spreaders. I replaced my mast with the new version made by Dwyer that was ordered through Hake yachts. 4. The battery was installed under the V-berth. Bad idea for many reasons! cable length, gassing off of battery in living area, etc. It needs to be moved aft, I installed mine in the starboard lazarette, after epoxying in a shelf for it to sit on so it remained level. You can always add ballast of some sort to make up the difference forward. (like old anchor chain wrapped in a plastic bag). Survey condition of wiring VERY CAREFULLY. I know this is long, but wanted to give you some key points to look at carefully. I'm a recently retired USCG officer, still sailing my Seaward in the bay area. You should be able to negotiate the price down substantially, too. 1994 was a very bad year for this boat in terms of quality control issues, I'd offer no more then 12K considering what you are going to have to invest with that boat to make it truly seaworthy. I love my boat now only because I have 'resurrected' it so many times with blood, sweat and $'s. Cheers, John.