Prospective Boat Buyers Info-tech ?'s

[glissando]

KM,

From your description of what the surveyor told you, I think he's talking about Nidacore, in which the honeycomb is bonded to mat on each side from the factory.  A true honeycomb core product is more difficult to install properly because of the small bonding surface; the mat layers on the Nidacore are designed with this in mind, and are already well bonded to the honeycomb of the core.  The mat, when wetted out with unthickened epoxy first, will then bond very effectively with the thick epoxy putty you use to resecure the deck panels and core in place.

Nomex is a foam product and is often used in one-off construction.  I would stay away from higher-tech foams and use either Nidacore or balsa in a recore job.  Many of the foam products can develop serious problems down the road, especially in high heat conditions or the combination of moisture and heat.  I don't know anything about Wescore and don't intend to randomly include it in the above broad statement.

Nidacore is relatively new and has not therefore been tested over the long haul in actual user conditions.  It seems like a good product that should hold up well, but only time will tell for sure.  I think I would/will use it next time I do a project boat.  I'm not sure how Nidacore stands up pricewise against balsa--balsa is fairly inexpensive.  It also makes a nice core if you install it right and keep the water out.  Don't be scared off of balsa, necessarily.  Lessons learned from the industry's last 40 years of core construction techniques will help ensure that even a balsa core can be installed securely and will remain dry--as long as the deck penetrations are maintained, or, better yet, done properly in the first place.

Tim

[D. Fox]

I looked at this boat last year before I bought my B27.  She looked real nice and had some good improvements - new paint, new roller furler, new outboard.  I couldn't get past the deck core problems.  She also has no stanchions, and the genoa was stolen off the furler a couple years ago.  Still, if you're willing to do some work, I think she could be a great buy.  When I looked at her, they were asking $5K, and I really think I could've gotten her for four; you might be able to get her for even less now.  She hasn't touched water in 6 years.

I took several photos of this boat when I looked at her.  Here's one showing the nice paint (daughter in foreground).  I have several others, including a close of up the deck problem, if anyone's interested.

Dan

Edit - just deleted this photo as it had their registration number.  Not sure if that really matters, but don't want to run afoul of somebody's lawyer somewhere.

[D. Fox]

Just noticed on rereading my post that it may be unclear - the boat I'm talking about, and the one pictured, is Hull #3.  When I saw her, the decks were in very bad shape, but on rereading the posts here, sounds like they've had them redone.  She definitely hasn't been back in the water as I've driven by several times this summer and she's stayed on the hard.

Dan

[mrgnstrn]

well, that is, in-fact, the exact boat i am looking at.
the topsides have a new-ish coat of paint and non-skid.
what i worry about is the they covered up any evidence with the fresh paint.

a few on the board here have asked me for pics.
maybe you can oblige since i have none.

she is currently asking $4k, and after teh surveyor tells me basically what i already know, we'll see.

-km

[Mike Goodwin]

Well , if they did the deck repair and glassed it back in with poly or epoxy , you must paint it or it will begin to degrade from the UV , especially epoxy .
Ask the owner or yard mgr. about the repairs , don't be shy !
How is it when you walk on the decks in the area of the suspected repairs ? If it feels solid dont worry about how it looks . Glass work doesn't have to be pretty to be strong .
$4K isn't bad depending on how it is equiped .
Offer them $2500 and see what happens .
How are the sails?
What kind of motor ?
Any electronics ?
Have the winches been upgraded?
How is the roller furling ?

[D. Fox]

Shot of the deck near the pulpit, taken Spring 2001.  I guess the question is whether they actually repaired this or just dressed it up.

[D. Fox]

Oops.  Here's the actual photo.

[D. Fox]

Another.

[D. Fox]

Another.

[D. Fox]

Last one.

[D. Fox]

mrgnstrn, I see you live in Alexandria and assume you work somewhere locally...I live in Reston and work in the building...would be happy to meet up to talk boats and sailing.  Could use a hand sometime in the next couple weeks dealing with my topping lift problem if you're interested...let me know.

Dan

[D. Fox]

mrgnstrn, got your note and tried to reply but the character limit was too low to say what I wanted:

That movement doesn't really mean anything...boatyards move boats around to make space as they see fit.  She's not in the same place as she was when I first saw her.  They've probably shifted her a dozen times since she first went on the hard.  If you look near the waterline on the starboard side, you'll find a place where the new paint is abraded - owner attributed that to moving the boat too soon after the paint job.

I'm really not trying to badmouth or otherwise dissuade you from this boat.  I think she could be a great deal so long as you're willing to put in the work to fix the decks (if they weren't done correctly).

Feel free to email me direct at "foxbd@comcast.net"

Dan

[mrgnstrn]

well, thurday is the marine inspection, and we'll know after that.

yes, live in alex.VA, work in DC (@Navy Yard).  used to live in herndon for a while, but too far from work.

dan, i am not sure what help i could be to you.  my current boat (hobie cat 16) doesn't have a topping lift, but i am sure that it will be a learning experience for me.

thanks for the heads up on the starboard paint.  over the last two weeks since i saw her, i have been building my list of points to look at, trying really hard not to let the *idea* of this boat get in the way of the *facts*.

thanks, and my email is:
mrgnstrn@hotmail
-km

[commanderpete]

Dan,

When were you going to tell km that you're planning to haul him up to the top of the mast to replace the topping lift? :eek:

[mrgnstrn]

riiiight...

dan,  uumm, i think i have something to do the next few weekends.  both days, all day.