[C320-list] Post 2004 320 inspection

[Scott Thompson]

Can you even get the boat insured or a bank loan without a survey?  A 
survey will be money well spent.

Having looked at a lot of boats when I bought mine at about the same age 
as the one you are considering, I can verify that there are a lot of 
boats with the symptoms you mention.  Most likely these are mostly 
cosmetic problems, but they could reflect some earlier poor boat 
handling (e.g. banging into pilings while backing into a slip).

I have the crazed gelcoat below the swim platform.  I am fairly sure 
that this is largely due to stress from where the swim ladder bears on 
this surface in the down position.  I've asked my kids and guests not to 
jump or push off hard from the ladder itself.  (They pay almost as much 
attention to these requests as to my requests that they not run around 
the deck!)  And I remove the swim ladder when the boat is hauled out so 
that no one will be tempted to use it for boarding the boat.  I suspect 
that the crazing is largely due to the latter.

Scott Thompson
Surprise #653 (1999)

Brad Kuether wrote:
> Hello everyone,
> 
> I just got back from Chicago, after having taken a look at very nice 2004 320.
> 
> As far as the overall design, layout, systems, and amenities, I was very impressed with the 320...  Would I like a little bigger head and more storage, sure but every boat is a compromise.  If they sail as well as everyone says, well I can see why everyone seems to really like this boat.  Its practical and smart.
> 
> Here are my questions to the group.....
> 
> Stern had two areas were I had a bit of concern.
> 
>   a.. Where the hull met the stern there were gelcoat cracks along what would be the joint.  This was conveyed to me as "normal" given the way it was built.  Is this true?
>   b.. Also on the stern, on the vertical part below the scoop an area between the two "vents" had some gelcoat crazing.  Is this normal?
> Owner removed the galley "storage area" aft of the icebox/fridge.  Anyone know how deep that is?  Think it was removed for storage considerations as all the "stuff" was in the locker.
> 
> Owner installed an anchor washdown that was run from the waste through hull.  Basically using the through hull for overboard discharge as a way to pick up seawater for anchor wash.  Anyone else have or know of this modification?
> 
> Final question, and its theoretical and something I would likely not do but I have to ask the current owners...
> But said that the boat has been in production for so long , that a survey may not really be necessary.  Would any of you take the boat just based on a visual knowing what you know about the boat now?
> 
> Thanks and look forward to discourse on any of the questions above......
> 
> -Brad, Mary, Monica, and Jarod
> "Scholar"
> C&C 29 Mark II
> Middle River, MD
>