Taylor31
Cadet
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2012
- Messages
- 28
We had the survey done today on the 1989 Carver Montego 2557 that we were hoping to purchase. The owner has had the boat for the last 14 years with all service/maintenance records, maintained at the marina and winter stored indoors. Very clean boat, engine in great condition, seller very cooperative with a complicated haul out for the survey. While we were certainly not expecting perfection in a 23 year old boat, we were feeling confident that this boat would do well in the inspection and that we would come home today the proud owners of a well maitained older boat.
Well, the inspection was going exceptionally well. The surveyor made numerous comments about the overall condition of the boat for her age. That is, until he began tapping on the transom. He found two areas of delamination on the transom and was able to stick a small probe into a pin size hole in the transom (from inside the engine compartment) and it went right into the wet wood inside. He also found delamination and water inside three of the four stringers inside the engine compartment.
Here is our dilemma. The surveyor said that aside from the transom/stringers, the boat is in remarkable shape for it's age. He suggested that it might be worth repairing if we could get it for a good price.
We are generally looking at boats that are around this age because this is what we can get within the budget we are comfortable with. The surveyor has suggested that we will be lucky to find a boat of this age that does not have some delamination/water and likely more issues.
So, knowing that it is otherwise in excellet condition, do we buy this boat knowing it needs this one (albeit expensive) repair if we can get it for a good price? Or, do we keep looking and surveying, hoping to find one without any serious issues but, knowing they could be around the corner given the boats age?
Before anyone suggests getting something newer/spending more money, we have considered it and actually looked at a 10 year old boat that was 3 times the price. I just can't see that being better as there is no guarantee you won't have an expensive repair on a 10 year old boat.
Trying hard to apply logic to this one and do what makes financial sense.
T
Well, the inspection was going exceptionally well. The surveyor made numerous comments about the overall condition of the boat for her age. That is, until he began tapping on the transom. He found two areas of delamination on the transom and was able to stick a small probe into a pin size hole in the transom (from inside the engine compartment) and it went right into the wet wood inside. He also found delamination and water inside three of the four stringers inside the engine compartment.
Here is our dilemma. The surveyor said that aside from the transom/stringers, the boat is in remarkable shape for it's age. He suggested that it might be worth repairing if we could get it for a good price.
We are generally looking at boats that are around this age because this is what we can get within the budget we are comfortable with. The surveyor has suggested that we will be lucky to find a boat of this age that does not have some delamination/water and likely more issues.
So, knowing that it is otherwise in excellet condition, do we buy this boat knowing it needs this one (albeit expensive) repair if we can get it for a good price? Or, do we keep looking and surveying, hoping to find one without any serious issues but, knowing they could be around the corner given the boats age?
Before anyone suggests getting something newer/spending more money, we have considered it and actually looked at a 10 year old boat that was 3 times the price. I just can't see that being better as there is no guarantee you won't have an expensive repair on a 10 year old boat.
Trying hard to apply logic to this one and do what makes financial sense.
T
