Self surveying

JeffN

JeffN

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Like being your own plumber or lawyer, I know it's ill advised but I'm looking into an '85 Formula 22' that was gone through maybe 6-10 years ago-painted sides, engine rebuild, upholstery & well maintained since.

I should probably pop for a survey now that I tapping these keys. It has a couple spider web shaped crazes on deck(cored I think) and a couple parallel areas on deck that flex, not like soft spots but maybe unribbed areas in the design. Can crazing let water in? Clean and well kept elsewhere-haven't sea trialed it yet.

Any good surveyors in the Stuart-Ft pierce area?

Will try to repost some pics.
 
Here's some shots of it:

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Somewhere water is getting into the V birth. Look at the carpet on the overhead and sidewalls.
 
Jeff, Crazing is a sign of stress to an area and yes moisture can intrude a crazed area. For what it would cost to have a survey done on a vessel of this size, it would not be wise to make the purchase without it.
 
Both good ideas-will survey if we come to terms.

Ans you don't see that seepage in person-maybe he cleaned it. That is the rode locker so maybe the drain's clogged.

Even if you have a 22' boat, you get 22' problems.
 
And can anyone recommend a good surveyor in ST Lucie-Martin counties?
 
Jeff,
Imho, pre-survey by yourself or a friend with you that knows boats, is what I would always recommend. When you guys find the obvious stuff, see how the seller reacts, then it is time to bring in the pros.Otherwise, IMHO, you may be spending a lot of money on surveys.

Just My 2C
 
Yeah Walter, just saw a $20/ft price from a local group down here with thermal imaging. $440 for a $5k boat...though the bilateral crazings on the deck need inspecting. They are above a small bulkhead by the V berth.
 
While I am normally a full survey kind of guy, I offer the following opinion for your consideration...

* This is where your "gut" will talk to you...
* This is the way that I would approach it...

* Assuming that you know a few things about boats and have boating experience...
* Remember... You are contemplating the purchase of a 25-year-old boat...
* The photos, assuming recent, show her to have been reasonably well-maintained...
* After looking her over very carefully (assume that you have already done this), ask to do what Pascal always recommends - go for a ride... nothing ventured nothing gained...
* The crazing that you describe sounds minor, though it is possible that H2O has permeated...
* You can moisture meter or sound the crazing areas assuming no other suspicious areas...
* More important (IMO) to check the mechanicals, ie. engine and outdrive...
* Thinking that the purchase price is not that strong on a 25-year-old boat...
* Dedicate $$$ for a mechanical survey...
* Remember... You are contemplating the purchase of a 25-year-old boat...
* If you are spending a ton of $$$ for the purchase, then consider a full survey; if not, then consider not a full survey...
 
Good advice also Bill. Had a boat on/off since 1966 so try to be pretty objective. This one was imroned with a new driveline just before the current owner bought it 5 years ago and seems well kept since though I think's been sitting a bit lately as he has parkinson's and wants a center console for the 'rest of his boating days'. He did risers last year(and just winterized it for our FL freeze 2 days ago!).

I made an offer 1/2 way between NADA retail #'s plus a free trailer and he wants 5oo more so that's like paying top nada + 250 for the trailer(1991 Loadmaster needs 4 tires). I still think it's a reasonable figure for an ancient formula and believe it or not, it's hard to find the type of boat in this small FL town that I'm looking for. Want a flats or fishing boat? this is the place, not so much on pleasure boats.

Seller is repeatedly saying he will trade it in on a CC but I think he'd be lucky to get 2k for it from a dealer. Will do a survey but not for 20/ft.
 
also, what a typical cost of a basic in/out of water survey per foot? I have one guy with a thermal camera who wants $20 per=440. for a 22'er that equals 10% the purchase price.
 
Honestly, don't even bother with the survey. If I am reading this right its a 4K boat. Hire an outside mechanic to come and check out the engine and drive. A surveyor can probably not access very much of the stringers in that type of boat anyway.

I'd highly doubt an insurance company would require a survey on a 4K boat.

As far as NADA, basically throw that number out the window on a boat this old. If it has what you want and admittedly you said you cannot find what you are looking for spend the extra 500 and buy it.

I'd say its a good deal, you can't even buy a center console inflatable for close to that price!
 
True enough. My only concern is buying cheap and staying cheap, not having to do 750. in stringers, 1000 transom, or a soaked cored deck which makes the oat almost worthless but I guess that's the cost of old boating. Removing my thumb from my mouth now...
 
Take the handle of a screwdriver and tap around in areas you might think be effected. It should sound the same in the area you are tapping all over with the exception of where a ridge might be formed or an area you think there might be thicker.

The sound you are wanting to hear is a hard tap like tapping the back of a screw driver handle on a granite counter top, if you hear a thud or a hollow sound in an area then investigate why. May be a compromised core or might just be an area they relieved the core from at the factory. You can use the same method on the transom and stringers in the engine room as well.

Like said earlier, do a sea trial with a mechanic on board and have him check out the engine and drive while keeping an eye on the motor mounts when shifted in and out of gear.
 
More good advice. I had a Larson for a year that started darting all over the place on accel/decel after planing-rotten stringers let the driveline dance enough to change course.
 
Jeff
Go down to the ships store at vero beach muni marina.
I remember seeing a lot of biz cards for surveyers and maybe the people at the marina can recommend one.
 
Good idea! Maybe even Waste Marine has some references...
 
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