Hi all, been lurking anon for a while here as I been shopping for a small family cruiser for my family, my wife, twin girls 5-1/2 yrs and myself.
Budget's tight so we are looking at Late 80's 27-30 ft cruisers and I'm holding out for something thats been rebuit or repowered within the alst 6 years.
I'm a mechanical engineer with a varied hands-on mechanical and electronics background but relatively new and ignorant of all things Marine. I will have any boat I intend to buy surveyed however Im hoping to weed out 'bad' boats with obvious issues before I do a survey at a cost of $300-500, typical in NJ area for a 30 ft
One of the nicest things we've seen is this 1990 27` Bayliner 2755 Sun bridge 7,4 V8.with trailer http://newyork.craigslist.org/jsy/boa/391068233.html
Recently replaced engine and rebuilt drive which is critical for us.
Anyway looked at the boat in the water today at owners lake dock. We got to baot it had a camper? style cover on it and was not hooked up to any shore power.
I saw some issues that I really wasn't concerned about that I can correct but two things stood out that I would appreciate some feedback/guidance on.
[HEAD]
There was a small pool of stinky water about a 1/2 deep and 8" in radius on the head floor at the drain. Owner switched battery on and flipped a helm switch (I assume it was a head bilge pump?) and it cleared. I'm assuming this puddle based on smell was backflow from the holding tank. Is something like this caused by a leaky checkvalve? From my HVAC experience most small fluid pumps have buiolt -in check valves. Is this the case with shower pumps in marine applications? Or could I be looking at something more serious?
[Engine Compartment]
When I lifted up the engine hatch I saw what appeared to be a fairly new engine with all new auxiliary components. I have requested that owner provide me with copies of the service/billing tickets for the new engine install and outdrive rebuild. There was some standing water around the engine, I'd guess maybe a few inches but not sure. None of the critical components seemed to be submegred and the engine started right up. The owner flipped a bilge switch and the water level was pumped out. Could this be normal water accumulation from rain, etc? The boat prolly was sitting unattended for a week or so and we had had a few heavy rains recently.
Also will a surveyor who checks the boat both drydocked (intent is to put it on a trailer for the hull sounding/ inspection) and as well sea-trialed (well... lake trialed DEFINITIVELY determine if theres a hull fitting leaking.
I appreciate all feedback as I will be probably shopping/finding a marine surveyor shortly to check the boat before I purchase.
Me and wife are very excited and I'm attending the America's Boating Safety Course sponsored by the Coast Guard in our area tommrrow night in prep for a boat purchase. We have a marina on our property which has a nice slip ready for us. Also considering hiring a local skipper for a day's training on any boat I purchase. (I have been on quite a few boats and drove quite a few but never as an owner/skipper)
Budget's tight so we are looking at Late 80's 27-30 ft cruisers and I'm holding out for something thats been rebuit or repowered within the alst 6 years.
I'm a mechanical engineer with a varied hands-on mechanical and electronics background but relatively new and ignorant of all things Marine. I will have any boat I intend to buy surveyed however Im hoping to weed out 'bad' boats with obvious issues before I do a survey at a cost of $300-500, typical in NJ area for a 30 ft
One of the nicest things we've seen is this 1990 27` Bayliner 2755 Sun bridge 7,4 V8.with trailer http://newyork.craigslist.org/jsy/boa/391068233.html
Recently replaced engine and rebuilt drive which is critical for us.
Anyway looked at the boat in the water today at owners lake dock. We got to baot it had a camper? style cover on it and was not hooked up to any shore power.
I saw some issues that I really wasn't concerned about that I can correct but two things stood out that I would appreciate some feedback/guidance on.
[HEAD]
There was a small pool of stinky water about a 1/2 deep and 8" in radius on the head floor at the drain. Owner switched battery on and flipped a helm switch (I assume it was a head bilge pump?) and it cleared. I'm assuming this puddle based on smell was backflow from the holding tank. Is something like this caused by a leaky checkvalve? From my HVAC experience most small fluid pumps have buiolt -in check valves. Is this the case with shower pumps in marine applications? Or could I be looking at something more serious?
[Engine Compartment]
When I lifted up the engine hatch I saw what appeared to be a fairly new engine with all new auxiliary components. I have requested that owner provide me with copies of the service/billing tickets for the new engine install and outdrive rebuild. There was some standing water around the engine, I'd guess maybe a few inches but not sure. None of the critical components seemed to be submegred and the engine started right up. The owner flipped a bilge switch and the water level was pumped out. Could this be normal water accumulation from rain, etc? The boat prolly was sitting unattended for a week or so and we had had a few heavy rains recently.
Also will a surveyor who checks the boat both drydocked (intent is to put it on a trailer for the hull sounding/ inspection) and as well sea-trialed (well... lake trialed DEFINITIVELY determine if theres a hull fitting leaking.
I appreciate all feedback as I will be probably shopping/finding a marine surveyor shortly to check the boat before I purchase.
Me and wife are very excited and I'm attending the America's Boating Safety Course sponsored by the Coast Guard in our area tommrrow night in prep for a boat purchase. We have a marina on our property which has a nice slip ready for us. Also considering hiring a local skipper for a day's training on any boat I purchase. (I have been on quite a few boats and drove quite a few but never as an owner/skipper)
