BOAT wrote:Hey, what could go wrong?!
Wow, looks like there might be more to deal with hear than previously suggested. How does a person know when it's the right time to walk away? (Never bought a used boat before).
LOL. Is this sarcasm, or are you being sincere?
How do you know when it's time to walk away on a used boat? That's a really good question. I guess where I draw the line is here: If it's in good enough shape that it's comfortably useable as is and doesn't need a significant percent of it's value in repairs, then it's worth considering.
You don't find that many big boats with outboard motors. I personally like outboard motors...when all else fails, they are easy to replace. I realize they have disadvantages compared to inboard or inboard/outboard power, but it sure seems the expense of maintaining those is much higher in the long run. I *wish* there was a proliferation of diesel outboards in the US...that would be ideal power for sailing craft, IMO.
You can take a boat that's in good shape but has a crappy outboard, and turn it into a great boat by merely replacing the outboard. My Mac26X for instance had an old 50hp Tohatsu carbeurated 2-stroke motor on it. It started every time and ran just fine...it was also loud, smoky, temperamental about the choke, spews pollutants into the water, not very fuel-efficient, etc...I would have probably kept it if I was only going to use it in the local lake. But since I intended to use it in the ICW and take it offshore (within sight of land of course), I replaced the old Tohatsu with a brand new fuel-injected 4-stroke Suzuki DF-50 under warranty...now I know with almost complete certainty that it'll start every time I turn the key, so it's one less thing to worry about. That new DF50 motor is quiet, powerful, and barely sips fuel...the Mac26X is like 50% new boat with it! Right now, my centerboard is lodged (probably got sand or shells in the centerboard trunk last time), so this weekend I gotta dislodge that. Even though my 26X is in good shape, it still needs work periodically. I think even a brand new boat quickly starts needing problems resolved and things maintained. True?
So...if the worst thing that I'd have to do to that EC-30 is replace a little soft wood in a non-critical storage compartment that's not too hard to get to (not something I'd want to tear into, but I could...it's probably not a "rush item" though...I'd want to replace it with composite or something that wouldn't rot again), replace the outboard at some point, run a little sealant around the mast and along the rub rail, etc., then I think I could live with that. (The teak door and the teak/holly sole panels really need to be refinished to look good...but the sole panels would be easy enough to toss in my trunk, finish them at my home, and bring 'em back next time I'm at the boat. But that's just cosmetics...it doesn't impact functionality.) The cracks in the transom might be a different story (it's hard to tell from a pic, so I'll have to look at it very closely...my 26X has some hairline cracks around the transom...but they are surface cracks in the gelcoat only...the transom itself is solid as a rock, and I'm not at all worried it'll fall off and take the new outboard for a dip...LOL). I do know that EC30 has a thick tank-uva hull with positive floatation built into it (two big pluses IMO), so some minor cracks near the transom *might* not be a big deal, especially if they are surface-only. The rigging is in good shape from what I saw...if the sails are good too and all the systems (electrical, water, head, shower, water heater, stove, frig, etc.) work, I still think it's a deal for the price. If the outboard starts and runs well, the boat sails reasonably well, and everything works well enough that it's *comfortable* to spend time on, then I can live with a few warts that eventually need attention.
The thing that makes this potentially worth it is that the EC30 is a lot of boat for the money in this particular case, and (even though it needs a little TLC), it should be reasonably easy to maintain versus other similarly sized boats. (Both the folks at Endeavour and a prior owner have told me that there are not many surprises to the maintenance...basic stuff, like seal the mast footing and rub rail every couple years, paint it every few years, bottom paint every few years, replace the steering cable every few years, etc...so I'm pretty comfortable that the maintenance would be manageable.) I wouldn't think of taking the 26X down the coast from NC to Florida and over to the Bahamas for 2 weeks. It's just not big enough and well-equipped enough to be comfortable for that big of an adventure. (I'm sure there are those who'd disagree with me, but we're all entitled to our own opinions and that's mine.) The EC30 would definitely be capable and comfortable enough for a more adventurous trip along those lines (although no time soon...I still have a lot to learn). I love being on the water...love the beach and the ocean...etc. If I could get a small beachfront condo OR a well-equipped live-aboard 40-ish foot sailing yacht for the same price, I'd definitely take the yacht instead of the condo. If I get tired of the location of the "floating condo", I can just move it.
(Yeah, I know...the yacht
depreciates and the condo
appreciates in value...but some things are just worth it.) The EC-30 hits about the 50% mark of "floating condo that still performs reasonably well" at a really good price. (If it had standing headroom throughout the whole cabin including the salon area, I would have already bought it...it's got 6'+ everywhere except the salon though...and the headroom in the queen size bunks is a little tight, and I have to duck going down the steps to either hull. Other than that, I don't have to constantly stoop...the galley, head, shower, cockpit, bimini, boom, all the areas where I actually need to stand are 6'+.) Although I definitely like a lot of things about the 26X (I wouldn't have bought it if I didn't), it hits about the 20% mark of "floating condo [camper?] that performs reasonably well". Eventually, I'd like to end up with something like the Endeavourcat 36 or 44 (or equivalent)...those definitely hit the 100% mark for "floating condo that performs well"...but that's quite a few years and dollars away. I believe this EC30 is a good step in the right direction however...as long as there's no show-stopper repairs necessary.
Dave
) Obviously, the EC30 isn't trailerable at 30 feet long and 14.5 feet wide, so that means leaving it in a slip year-round...more expensive, but more convenient too. The EC30 still isn't quite the "floating condo" that I'm eventually after (check out the Endeavourcat 36 and 44...now THAT would do the trick!)...but it IS a huge step in the right direction. I really like the "lazy man's" sail plan on the EC30...big main and smaller self-tacking jib...very nice.
