JoLin
Vice Admiral
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2007
- Messages
- 5,146
After spending all last Fall looking for a boat with a real cabin to replace the Pro-Line, I've been working on a deal for a 1999 Chris Craft 240 Express w/5.7Volvo DP. The seller and I agreed on the price just before Xmas (a long 5 months ago!), pending results of a survey and sea trial, and the survey was completed today.
I had 2 guys go over the boat, the surveyor and a friend of mine who had recommended him to me. I used this guy last Fall to check out a different boat (passed on that one). The friend is a former surveyor, too- so I was in really good hands. After 2+ hours of checking 'er out stem to stern, they gave a short list to the broker, who promised to take care of most and go back to the seller about the rest. Here were the major findings:
1. Hull and transom dry as a bone (yippee!). They covered nearly every square inch with moisture meter and hammer tap tests.
2. Cabin lights not working (will be fixed)
3. Trim/tilt balky at times- hitting the switch would occasionally result in just a 'click' (will be fixed)
4. Intermittent Oil Pressure gauge- the guys found the short in the harness and pointed it out to the broker (will be fixed).
5. The rear prop has a small bend in the end of one blade- needs a refurb. I might have to pay for that.
6. One of the 2 110V outlets in the cabin not working (will be fixed)
7. Transom shower hose and head are missing (I knew that). That'll be up to me to fix or not.
8. The hydraulically operated engine hatch cover not operating. It's easy enough to lift by hand, so if the broker won't fix it I'll let it go unless it turns out to be something simple that I can do myself.
9. There seemed to be a bit of 'slop' in the steering when the outdrive was moved from side to side, but most of that disappeared when the motor was started and the power steering pump was running. Consensus is that it's probably fine, and we'll confirm during the sea trial.
10. No water in the outdrive lube- the old lube was still in it and looked okay. It'll be changed before I take delivery.
Everything else pointed to a reasonably maintained, lightly used boat. Both guys agreed I'd found a very good boat, and at a great price. Trying to arrange the sea trial for next Friday. That's the last hurdle before I have to part with the dough.
All in all, a pretty good day!
I had 2 guys go over the boat, the surveyor and a friend of mine who had recommended him to me. I used this guy last Fall to check out a different boat (passed on that one). The friend is a former surveyor, too- so I was in really good hands. After 2+ hours of checking 'er out stem to stern, they gave a short list to the broker, who promised to take care of most and go back to the seller about the rest. Here were the major findings:
1. Hull and transom dry as a bone (yippee!). They covered nearly every square inch with moisture meter and hammer tap tests.
2. Cabin lights not working (will be fixed)
3. Trim/tilt balky at times- hitting the switch would occasionally result in just a 'click' (will be fixed)
4. Intermittent Oil Pressure gauge- the guys found the short in the harness and pointed it out to the broker (will be fixed).
5. The rear prop has a small bend in the end of one blade- needs a refurb. I might have to pay for that.
6. One of the 2 110V outlets in the cabin not working (will be fixed)
7. Transom shower hose and head are missing (I knew that). That'll be up to me to fix or not.
8. The hydraulically operated engine hatch cover not operating. It's easy enough to lift by hand, so if the broker won't fix it I'll let it go unless it turns out to be something simple that I can do myself.
9. There seemed to be a bit of 'slop' in the steering when the outdrive was moved from side to side, but most of that disappeared when the motor was started and the power steering pump was running. Consensus is that it's probably fine, and we'll confirm during the sea trial.
10. No water in the outdrive lube- the old lube was still in it and looked okay. It'll be changed before I take delivery.
Everything else pointed to a reasonably maintained, lightly used boat. Both guys agreed I'd found a very good boat, and at a great price. Trying to arrange the sea trial for next Friday. That's the last hurdle before I have to part with the dough.
All in all, a pretty good day!
