Buying a 1988 SeaRay 390 Express....but...

[kts]

I'm hoping someone can help answer a question regarding MOISTURE.

I'm looking at purchasing this 390 EC but I just learned that a (partial) Survey was done and when a moisture meter was used in the engine compartment on the stringers, a moisture reading was registered.

I've been around boats for a lot of years but never purchased a 40 foot boat.

I'm nervous about the repair cost for this issue. The surveryer supposedly said that it wasn't a big deal and could be dealt with in 3 to 5 years. The rest of this boat is mint and the price is right but I'm concerned about this issue and need to understand more before making an offer.

Can someone PLEASE shed some light on this problem????

 

[Bondo]

Re: Buying a 1988 SeaRay 390 Express....but...

Ayuh,......... Just a Guess,......

If the Stringers are showing elevated Moisture,..... They're Rotting........

To Deal with it in 3 to 5 years would mean to Me,.....
That the hull will need to be Gutted,+ the Stringers Replaced........

 

[kts]

Re: Buying a 1988 SeaRay 390 Express....but...

Thanks for the reply.

Someone suggested that the if I lift the engines, cut the top off the stringers and replace the content (I'm assuming wood) and then apoxy and re-seal, this would solve the problem.

Is this the solution or am I opening a hornets nest???

 

[Bondo]

Re: Buying a 1988 SeaRay 390 Express....but...

Is this the solution or am I opening a hornets nest???

Ayuh,......... That's an Unanswerable Question.........

It'll depend on How Far the Rot has gotten......

It could be as simple as removing the Driveline,+ replacing some wood........
Or,.....
It could get as Bad as having to replace All the wood in the Stringers,+ Transom..........

 

[Mark42]

Re: Buying a 1988 SeaRay 390 Express....but...

Thats a big boat and stringer repairs will be difficult. Spend the money and get a new full survey from a different outfit.

1988 was a year where Bayliner apparently was cutting back on quality - specifically on encasing stringers in glass and gel coat in the smaller boats (from restoration projects on shareaproject.com). I don't know if the big boats were affected in the same way.

Rather than rely on the moisture reading alone, a core can be taken and actually inspect the woods condition. A half inch drill bit in a cordless drill will save a lot of guess work.