FS:Commander in Ohio

[commanderpete]

Asking $ 5900

http://www.boats.com/sites/harbornorth/boat?entityid=13070641&mid=2049&showDL=false&showMD=false&clk_srclnk_name

Boat Details  
 
Beam  8  Max Draft  4    
 
Hull Material  Fiberglass  Engine  1974 Universal    
 
Fuel  Gas/Petrol  Horsepower (total)  30    
 
Fuel Tank  10  Length at Waterline  18    
 
Engine Hours  0    


Description  
ATTRACTIVE RED HULLED FULLED KEELED TILLER STEERED CLASSIC! With its large cockpit and cozy cabin this is the perfect Island Hopper.  
 
 
 
Inventory  
Dracon Main
Dacron Jib w/Roller Furling
Dracon #1,#2,#3, Genoa's
2 Nylon Spinnakers
Whisker Pole
Spinnaker Pole
5 Winches
VHF
Knotmeter
Depthsounder
Anchor w/100' Line
4 PFD's
Horseshoe Buoy
Fenders
Boat Hook
Throw Cushions
AM/FM Radio
Life Lines
Fire Extinguisher
Bow Pulpit  
   
 
 
Contact Information  
 
Listing ID  59089-1307064    
 
Name  Harbor North    
 
Phone  800-451-7245

[commanderpete]

Clever repair for a loose upper rudder shaft I think

[commanderpete]

The coaming label

[Tony G]

Who is that doll?  She looks good in red.  I may have to rethink topside colors. :cool:

Would I be a cad and a wanderer if I split my affection between two of these beauties???

Maybe it's this summer solstice making me feel all.........randy and such. :eek:

[willie]

Hey, is that about where the one for the Ariel is supposed to go? Have one floating around the cabin, somewhere.

randy? is that in Websters? lol I think i'm feeling that way too, but want to be sure.

[Anthony/Bina]

did all commanders have those logos on the coaming boards?

Mine are just plain wood?

[Bill]

Logo plate thread would indicate that the plates went on all the boats.

[commandertobe]

Had intended to be the rightful owner of #74 yesterday.  Had a cashier's check in hand.  I'm really disappointed.  The survey was problematic to say the least, and what looked like a boat ready to hit the water was not so.  At $5900, I expected better condition - or at least conditions commensurate with the posted photos.  The pictures on Yachtworld are at least a year old, but based on the current condition, maybe more??  Structurally, the boat is in "remarkably good condition" (per the surveyor.) His assessment was that "someone put a good bit of time and money into this boat... about 10 years ago."  Apparently, it has gone unkempt for some time "and it shows."  The owner wasn't happy with the survey and tangled a bit with the surveyor, but...  I will have more pictures soon, but going on what the surveyor said, the appearance of the boat was "poor."  "It looks like the goop in your gutters when you haven't cleaned them for a while."  "In and of itself, that isn't a huge issue, but this boat looks abandoned... and it makes you wonder."  The electrical system is "a bird's nest" of wires.  He put power to the system and it worked here and there only.  There were concerns about the safety of the tubing for the fuel system (a trend in the survey that things were addressed, but not "to code" or professionally/capably done.  Though the owner disagrees, the surveyor said he couldn't get the prop to turn with the boat in neutral.  The surveyor (Greg Group of Great Lakes Marine who is an old Triton owner himself) said "I understand why you're attracted to this boat, but I would call it a 'project' and wouldn't suggest you give him anywhere near his asking price."  I know I'm supposed to believe 1/2 of what the surveyor says and 1/2 of what the owner says, but the survey scared me off of this boat.  If you look at the interior pictures on yachtworld, you have to wonder what the seller is thinking - I wouldn't sell my house in that degree of disarray, why would someone present that mess to the buying public?  Puts a little doubt in my mind about what other things were left in disarray.  It would cost me a couple grand to get the boat here and if it was in great condition, I would be (was) more inclined...  Open to feedback if I am taking this survey too seriously.

If you knew there were electrical, fuel, and serious appearance conditions to be addressed, if the mast was buried in the marina's mast collection and unavailable at the time of survey, if the engine may or may not be frozen, and the owner is sticking to his guns at 5 grand, what would you do??

SO I'm looking at this Bristol 27 Weekender (Commander's kissin' cousin)  Will post a question about its dryrot at the strongback/forward port chainplate.  (clearly in the $5k range of old boat buying, nothing is perfect!)

Give me some guidance, eh?
Kyle

[commanderpete]

Most people sell their boat long after they should have, and can't summon the energy to even clean her up.

On an inboard, the condition of the engine is a deciding factor.

You have to go with your gut. You put alot of work into any boat you buy, so it has to feel right.

[commandertobe]

Thanks,
That would explain its trashed appearance.  Seems like a couple hundred bucks to a boat detailer would address the sale-appearance.  I've been smitten with this boat for a good year and have been keeping an eye on it.

Can the engine be fired up out of the water?  I know with an outboard, you can slap that earmuff-looking contraption on the intake and fire it up...  Short of spalshing the boat, how do I assess the engine's status?
Kyle

[bill@ariel231]

The engine can be test run out of the water. I've run my inboard with the raw water intake feeding from a bucket (filled as needed from a hose). If the boat is fitted with an inboard water strainer, you can fill that with the hose while the engine runs.... if it's an A4 don't forget to run the blower for 30 seconds (or so) before starting...

If the engine hasn't been run for a couple of years, just be happy if the engine spins when a fresh battery is hooked up. fresh fuel, oil, points, and a carb rebuild may be in order before it turns over under it's own power.

good luck!

[mbd]

Kyle, good move hiring the surveyor. He's a "disinterested third party" and working for your interests. Take his findings to heart and really try and figure out if the boat and all its associated costs (especially TIME) are worth it to you. I was in the same boat (so to speak) as you are, but with one big difference  the owner was reasonable and willing to negotiate his price based on my surveyor's findings.

As far as running the engine, you should be able to disconnect the water intake somewhere in the bilge, then put the hose in a bucket filled with water and a running hose to replenish it. To reiterate CPete's comment "On an inboard, the condition of the engine is a deciding factor." Make sure that baby runs - you'll have your hands full with all the other projects.

On the other hand, if you really love the boat and can't live without it - in the grand scheme of things, a few hundred (or thousand ) dollars doesn't amount to a whole lot - annual maintenance, dockage and projects add up fast.

Good luck and keep us posted with whatever happens! Be patient, there are plenty of boats out there. It's always a buyer's market, and the current owner is more anxious to sell their boat than you are to buy it - usually...

---------------------------------
I see Bill beat me to the post. Listen to him - he knows what he's doing...

[joe]

That boat has been for sale for a LONG time.  I would offer them 2500 and give 'em a week or two to think it over, you might just get her for that.  I saw her on the internet last year.  The only reason she was not a serious candidate was that I like more cabin and less cockpit, hence I now own an Ariel.  If the hull is sound and the engine runs and the standing rigging and sails are in decent shape, she's worth every cent.

[commandertobe]

Thanks for all of the input.  Open to more...!  Joe, I had considered a low offer like that.  The Bristol 27 here locally is 4 grand and has several dry rot issues.  This one being structurally sound is a bonus.  Will talk with the owner about the engine test.  

p.s.  Actually has been for sale for the same price since 2 years ago this June...  2500 in hand beats 5900 in Delusional World

[commandertobe]

I have about 250 pictures of this boat from the survey.  Up her skirt and down her top so to speak - sorry, but I use the analogy because they are pretty graphic.  Great bones, but as the surveyor said, "This is that woman who you can tell used to be beautiful, but has hung out at the bar smoking and drinking for too many years."
Let me know if you really want all of them and I will copy the CD of pix and mail it to you.
Kyle