1982 Trojan 10 meter sedan - what to look for?

G

Grand Larsony

Member
Joined
Jul 29, 2005
RO Number
18485
Messages
155
Going to look at a supposedly well kept 1982 Trojan 10 meter sedan soon an was wondering if there is anything to pay attention to on an initial walkthrough (e.g. to rule it out if there is an obvious issue).

I'm seriously interested and will get both professional surveyor and my own mechanic involved if there are no up-front problems.

From what I have gathered, this is a generally well regarded hull and overall build. The owner is apparently a boat nut and I was told the condition is immaculate (both cosmetic and mechanical).

Here is the link to the boat with more information. Any tips or stuff to look for would be greatly appreciated.

http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/pl_boat_full_detail.jsp?slim=broker&boat_id=1742576&checked_boats=1742576&hosturl=signatureyachts&&ywo=signatureyachts&&ybw=&units=Feet&access=Public&listing_id=40304&url=
 
Oh, and it's been on the market with the broker for about 2 years. They have had absolutely NO CALLS at all on this boat (volunteered by the broker). I would plan to make a fairly low offer, but feel free to let me know what you think it's worth (sight unseen) or if any of you have first hand experience with this boat.
 
If they have had no offers, you may be able to get some perks for nothing.
I would get the owner to give you a ride for a few hours to see how she runs.
Be sure to test everything on her before making the decision to get a surveyor.
That way, you won't waste any money on a surveyor to find simple things.
 
Anyone know about fuel tanks on the 1982 Trojan 10 meters? Have read about ethanol, etc. and am wondering if Trojan used fiberglass tanks for fuel.

How about known issues with stringers, etc. and rot? I think this is an all-glass boat, but don't all manufacturers use wood to some degree?

What are the obvious things to look for before committing to a survey?
 
I had a 1984 F series which is a completely different boat.

Having roamed the web sites (do a search on Trojan as the host is a competitor), I don't recall any specific issues with respect to the stringers on the Internationals (F32s are a different matter), but check to see that they are fully encapsulated and there is no softness around the motor mounts and the spaces that allow bilge water to run through. I also believe that the hulls were solid below the water.

I'm sure someone else will chime in but the delta-conic hull was good riding and innovative for its time.

My .02
 
The fuel tanks will be aluminum, no ethanol issues per se. I believe the sedan's were built identical to the express models in terms of stringers. They had a synthetic "I-Beam" stringer with a hull liner. The glass and decking on them is generally very good quality as long as someone didn't leave unsealed holes to rot the wood (See my post on radar arch). The bottom is full glass.

I have a variety of gel coat cracks here and there but the boat is 23 years old. My gel coat still shines up nicely.

I will tell you that my boat is the most accessible boat I have ever seen in terms of maintenance. The wiring job is very high quality as is the internal plumbing. My boat came in very good condition as the previous owner took very good care of it. I suspect issue I have come from owners before the previous one. If the owner took good care of it, you will really like the boat.

RWS is the resident expert on these boats. There is also a trojan boat owners forum online. Googleit as it is hosted by a marine stroe and I don't want to violate any forum rules :)

These boats were ahead of their time and have some very interesting features. The ride on the boat due to the hull shape is incredible, very stable.
 
Have just looked at 2 of these in Michigan both are 1985's. The stringers are fiberglass no wood encapsulation in them. The fuel tanks on these 2 were aluminum 242 gal. mounted on flanges to the stringers under the aft deck. There is an air space under the tanks of 1-2". Check the aft bulkhead under the rear sliding door. One of the boats had had it replaced & the other boat needed it replaced. Overall nice solid boats. Hope this helps.

Don
 
Have just looked at 2 of these in Michigan both are 1985's. The stringers are fiberglass no wood encapsulation in them. The fuel tanks on these 2 were aluminum 242 gal. mounted on flanges to the stringers under the aft deck. There is an air space under the tanks of 1-2". Check the aft bulkhead under the rear sliding door. One of the boats had had it replaced & the other boat needed it replaced. Overall nice solid boats. Hope this helps.

Don
 
You will find very little wood in these boats, especially in the express cruiser (non mid cabin) which has a full liner fom the forward engine room bulkhead all the way to the transom and almost no wood in the hollow stringers.

Some of the mid cabin designs have a more conventional stringer system.

The aft engine room to lazarette bulkhead on the express cruiser is wood and should be checked.

RWS
 
Saw the boat. Absolutely showroom condition. Did a thorough visual check of all areas and found nothing of concern except for some water sloshing about on the outboard sides of each stringer under each motor. Wasn't sure if that was from shaft logs or not (as I could not see the stuffing box areas). Bulkheads were wood in places but no rot. Even the electric doors to head and forward berth worked !!! No fading on dashboards, all wiring original and orderly. Didn't try everything out but was told it's 100% funcitonal. Engines did have a slight oil sheen but that only proved they weren't dolled up (which I think was a positive).

Now only need to find out if my marina will allow a boat this large and with some serious windage. Might be an issue.
 
Know it's not something that can really be answered in the forum, but what about price? Broker said the owner (of 23 years) was getting too old and wanted out. Has had it listed for 2-3 years and no calls. Started at &60k, then $45k, now $39,900 asking price. Was thinking that I'd offer something in the mid-20's and not go higer than $28k (pending hull and engine survey, plus sea trial, etc.). Anyone think that's reasonable? It is really a fine boat in bristol condition, and seems to offer tremendous value.
 
I can say that the sedans seem to be priced higher than the express and mid cabin models. It's your money, but I would think that anything under $35K is doing well for that boat. The pictures look very nice and the cockpit sun screenawning is a nice touch. There is very little to any depreciation in a boat like this, (Present market excluded) and replacement value for soemthing liek thisis in excess of $300K. I think yuo will find the boat lives larger than 33ft as well.

As long as a survey cam eback clean in terms of hull and deck integrity, it's a lot of boat for $35K or less.
 
Given the present market you might get lucky.

Given the age of the boat and the age of the owner, your timing could be good.

Given the owner's situation combined with his ongoing costs for dockage and insurance, you just might be in the right place at the right time.

Remember, the broker takes the emotion out of the sale for the owner. Also, the broker will push for the owner to make a sale as no sale = no commission.

The broker will push the owner to accept the offer and will also push you to offer more.

Looks like a great boat. Maintenance here is truly the key. That ongoing maintenance adds tremendous value, however the market is what it is.

Good luck.

RWS
 
The *ONLY* thing I don't like about our Trojan are the spider cracks in the gelcoat. That's unavoidable in a 26 year old boat, I know, but it's a minor cosmetic that bugs me. The thing is built like a tank and anytime we've bumped into other boats (too much wake in a raft up) or dock, the boat always wins. Course it is ten tons worth of boat.

The Delta Conic hull has a great ride, very very stable and our F36 Tri-Cabin has more room inside than most 40+ footers. We have two complete staterooms with doors, two separate baths, each with it's own entrance off the stateroom in question and the master bath has a tub in it. ;)

Hmmm, I guess there's one other thing to discount about my Trojan. Since there's built in seating out on the bow (five adults fit on the padded couch there) everyone tends to go forward while we're out cruising, leaving me back at the helm alone!
 
Gary,

The Delta Conic hull was exclusive to the Internatioinal series of vessels from 9 to 14 meters.

I wasn't aware that it may have been used on some of the F series.

Can you confirm this?

Here' what that hull looks like...
RWS

delta_conic_hull.jpg


and another

Trojan_DeltaConic.gif
 
Yep, that is my hull. The 1982/83 F36 had the Delta Conic Hull. (Look at the last paragraph, right above the Trojan logo, it says "used in the Trojan American AND International") The Delta Conic is very evident too, as side roll on this boat is greatly reduced compared to most deep V designs. It's a really stable hull.

If anyone doubts that, pay my haul-out/in charges and I'll take some pictures for you! ;)

One of the nicest touches on my F36 though, is the through hull exhausts. Now I know what you're thinking, that's no big deal as most EVERYONE has through hull exhausts, but no, this one is different. ;)

The difference is, this exhaust system exits straight through the BOTTOM of the hull! It has small side exhausts, which are used when the engines are idling (under about 800 rpm) but as the pressure increases, the exhaust gas is directed straight down through the bottom of the hull and out through fancy dispersers.

If you've ever ridden in say, a Carver sedan, you know how much exhaust rolls back into the cockpit from it's transom mounted, under the swim platform exhausts.

There is none of that on the F36 as it's all injected into the water flow under the bottom of the boat. It really makes the boat a quiet runner too, just like the difference between a Mercruiser with transom exhausts compared to a through the prop Alpha/Bravo exhaust.

I do not know if the International series had that feature, but it's one I appreciate every day that I'm not choking on exhaust fumes like so many other cruiser boats are.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top