I am in the process of buying a used boat. I will be attending the survey next week.

What should I look for?

Motors are fine. (Brand new 350‘s installed w/t a two year warrantee)

What else?

Thanks

Jeff

Make sure an oil analysis is done and the oil withdrawn at the end of the ride. Here is a link to some stuff to start you out.
http://www.yachtworld.com/mustangyts/mustangyts_3.html

BTW, what boat are you looking at?

Thanks for the link.

It may be a 34' 1987 Sea Ray Express.

I took my wife and 2 small daughters to countless CC boats with mixed reviews, most bad.

After hearing the complaints day after day about no head and no place to get dry I decided to relent. Remove 1 ball:(

This way the girls have a dry area and potty(head) and I have an 11' X 8' area to fish. Plus I can cruse from the top to the bottom of the bay.


Thanks for the link again

"Emasculated"
Jeff

Make sure the hull is sounded for moisture,you can have all the fluids analized Transmission oil,Antifreeze & motor.Get that the motors are new in writing.Look for a maintenence log.Ask if it has been run aground or sunk,Check the hull for Blisters,Check the cutless bearrings,check the stuffing boxes are dropping a drop about every 20 seconds is good.Check the steering you should be able to turn the wheel about 7 times from stop to stop.look at the electrical circuit panel and check that all systems are working.Check the head make sure the macerator pump works if it has a lectrasan run it it should run for 40 sec look for the indicator lights hey will tell you of any malfunctions.If you can get in the bilge just sit down there for 30 minutes and look over everything you can see.Take a good flash light,get a laser temp. gun at Pep boys $40 bucks you can shoot each cylinder as the motors are running,shoot the Risers,exausts ,Genset.Dont believe anything they tell you unless it is in writing.New motors has a wide definition coming from a person trying to unload a used boat.

Make sure the hull is sounded for moisture
Can do

Have all the fluids analyzed
Transmission
Oil
Antifreeze
Can do

Get that the motors are new in writing
Done

Look for a maintenance log.
Can do

Ask if it has been run aground or sunk
Can do

Check the hull for Blisters
Can do

Check the cutless bearings What is that? ***


Check the stuffing boxes are dropping
a drop about every 20 seconds is go Where is that? **


Look at the electrical circuit panel and check
that all systems are working.
Can do

If you can get in the bilge just sit down there
for 30 minutes and look over everything
Will do

Get a laser temp. gun at Pep boys $40 bucks
you can shoot each cylinder as the motors are
running,shoot the Risers,exausts ,
Will do






Here is a link to the boat. FYI
http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/pl_...ywo=mearspoint&

Thanks for all the tips. Please send me an address where I can send you a consultation fee. (not kidding)

Those laser temp guns are a great thing to have on any boat. You can even check A/C with them.You can check different parts of both motors and compare temps if one component is way off from your other motor you know something is going on.Stuffing boxes and Cutless bearrings are on Shaft driven boats.If youy boat isnt shaft driven dont worry.If the hull on the inside is clear Fiberglass look for dark spots and cloudy areas they are indicative of water intrusion.Another way you can tell is to weigh the Boat.If the Dry weight is 12000 lbs and your Hull weighs 17000 lbs you might have a problem.Check the Oil color ,look at the inside of the oil fill cap on the Valve cover if it is flaking brown varnish your motor probably wasnt taken care of.Look at all the filters on the Motor do they look old and rusty or are they fairly new.Check the motor mounts they should be in good shape old ones that have gone bad can cause transmission alighnment problems and lead to wear on the bearrings and shafts.

Ahhh, the joys of compromise. That boat will make them happy for sure, but methinks you'll be cursing as you turn wrenches. A boat that old will have something going on that will need addressing every time you turn around. I have a 1990 Shamrock Mackinaw that has much fewer accouterments than that one and maintenence takes up a significant chunk of time. A plus for you is the low hours on the new engines - just about broken in. That will alleviate alot of the aggravation and wrench turning, but not all.

That being said, that boat seems like a decent compromise - hope things work out for you!

Mega was pretty thorough but then he just went through this himself. Check the railing stanchions for loose screws or wobbly stanchions. Inspect every item that is screwed or bolted to or through the hull or deck & make sure it is tight. Water gets in around the screws & weakens the fiberglass. Check the hull very thoroughly for scrapes or bubbles, soft spots under the paint. Look carefully at the window bedding (area the windows slide in). Check them carefully inside & out. Run all the water pumps & bilge blowers to ensure they function properly. Look at the condition of the hoses, belts & filters on the engines. Also, check every seacock on the boat. ensure they operate properly & don't leak in either position.

My experience with marine surveyers in your area is that most either specialize in sailboats or power & neither of them are particularly thorough. I'm guessing either the finance company or the insurance company wants you to get the survey because of the age of the boat which is understandable but don't count on your surveyer to find problems with the boat. A lot of 'em only half know what they are looking for. Good luck.

By the way, there sure are a lot of Albemarles & Carolina Classics up in that area for a similar price & in similar condition. Not trying to influence you (yes I am) but they fish better & momma should still like 'em.

Steve is correct - you should find someone that has surveyed that make of boat before. My surveyor didn't know jack about Shamrocks; in fact, I pointed out some things to him. A surveyor that is familiar with the boat will be able to zero in on particular problems that boat is known for.

Sorry for the late response.
I greatly appreciate all the information and recommendations.

I stared the survey yesterday.---BRRRR

The first part of the survey was for internal defects and visual defects in all operating systems. Despite the time and location of 14 degrees, 20 mph winds and ice forming around the boat in a marina near Annapolis. It was nice to find that the enclosed boat was comfortable.

The surveyor inspected the vacuhead, electrical system, water system, generator, engines, fuel system, bilge, fittings, converter, sea cocks, rudder mounts, cabin, coast guard equipment, halon, interior hull and a few more items.

This resulted in a few minor defects (some hoses, battery mount and a few knickknacks that need to be repaired) One Piece of a stringer (“8 segment) had a dull sound when struck. That was my main concern.

As soon as the ice in the marina abates the boat will be moved then lifted and the hull inspection will be preformed by the surveyor and a fiberglass technician that will also be looking at the stringer spot for me.

Once that is complete and I am convinced that that dull thump is not a larger problem there will still be a sea trial where each operating component (Motor performance, generator and other components) will be tested.

I know it’s a wimpy fishing boat but if I get the keys the boat needs to accommodate not only me but my kids and old parents.

Once again, thanks for all your input.


Jeff