[C320-list] Pre-Purchase Survey Recommendations - Need Advice

[Doug Treff]

Mike,

Welcome to the C320 forum. You won't find another group of people more willing to help than we have here. It's one of the best intangibles about C320 ownership - this group and its collective wisdom.

I would agree with others who've said that long-standing rain leaks are problematic, especially if the chainplates are involved. Did the surveyor take moisture readings if the deck around these laking areas and was any moisture found? Moisture in the deck is of particular concern because it is wood cored deck sandwiched between fiberglass layers top and bottom. When water gets into the wood core, you will have rot, deterioration, and structural issues. Rotten cores can be fixed but is very expensive.

Also on leaks: When something has been leaking long enough to damage the interior finishes, especially the cabin sole, it's been leaking for a while. I am seeing red flags about this situation.

As Dennis pointed out, there are other examples of more well-maintained vessels out there. I have a 1996 model and it exhibits none of the interior wood damage that you've listed because I have dealt with and repaired any leaks as soon as they have appeared, and before damage was done. Most of us have dealt with leaking windows - there's a really good fix for this - but it sounds like considerable damage has been done. There is a technical bulletin about the cracked stemhead fitting. Recommend that you ask for that to be replaced. Here's the detail on that: https://www.c320.org/filemgmt_data/files/Stemhead%20Article.pdf

There are procedures for dealing with leaking chainplates - you can even buy replacement chainplates if they are pitted and I would recommend that as part of the rigging refit.

What concerns me most is that the items you've listed show a consistent lack of preventative maintenance, and if I were you, I would be concerned about all the deferred maintenance that you may encounter that the surveyor has NOT uncovered. You will undoubtedly find that the survey did not catch everything. 

Also, your insurance company will want a copy of that survey and they will insist on confirmation from you that all of the urgent things are completed. I define urgent as anything that is safety-related or could cause the boat to sink.

If you're not up for doing at least some of the work yourself, and the owner is not willing to give you a heavy discount, I would RUN away from this particular boat. Sorry to say that, but I'm just being honest. 

--
Doug Treff
doug at treff.us

> 
> > On 22 Sep 2020, at 19:02, Mike Johnson <mikejohnson999 at hotmail.com> wrote:
> > 
> > Hi Everyone - Hopefully in a couple of weeks I can call myself a Catalina 320 owner. I think these boats are the perfect first family sailing boat and I can't wait to get on the water. I am also particularly encouraged by this community of owners who are ready to give advice and knowledge whenever someone needs it. (Thank you!)
> > We have an accepted offer in on a 2000 Catalina 320 and just received back the prepurchase survey report. Without going into too much detail, I would like to ask this group approximately how much it would cost to have the following work done. I realize much of this work could potentially be completed by myself but I am in need of approximate values to go back to the seller and finalize the sale. Of course, some might term many of these items just normal wear and tear but others may think differently.
> > What is the consensus/advice/approximate values on the following list of surveyor recommendations:
> > 
> > Attend to the following about the spar, sails and rigging:
> > 
> >  *
> > Almost 20 year old standing rigging. Industry standards would suggest the age of the standing rigging is cause enough for replacement. What appears to be pits in the lower swages of the port and starboard upper shrouds were visible after cleaning corrosion from swages. Abundant corrosion on chain plate caps, gaps in chain plate bedding and what appears to be cracks on the headstay chainplate after cleaning corrosion with wire brush suggest the need to remove chainplates for inspection of portions hidden from view, re-bedding and in the case of the head stay likely replacement.
> >  *
> > Replace the worn components of the running rigging; jib sheets, spare halyard, main halyard mainsheet and boom vang lines.
> >  *
> > Re-stitch sacrificial cover on genoa.
> >  *
> > Replace cracked hoses on a wholesale basis below the head sink; head sink drain, ice box drain and head intake plumbing.
> >  *
> > Replace rusted hose clamps on fittings of holding tank below starboard salon settee. Clean evidence of leaks directly below fittings.
> >  *
> > Fully seat hose over nipple of galley raw water foot pump intake seacock and add secondary hose clamp.
> >  *
> > Renew antifouling paint.
> >  *
> > Service toilet that would not draw in flush water.
> >  *
> > Attend to heavy corrosion on water heater, cure leak in plumbing of outlet side.
> > 
> > Attend to the following about the engine:
> > 
> >  *
> > Change all fluids, filters, set valves, have injectors serviced and perform all other routine maintenance procedures.
> >  *
> > Replace cracked hoses for raw water injection/ exhaust vented loop antisiphon fitting.
> >  *
> > Clean and treat corrosion on engine mounts, adjust mounts to better dampen the excessive vibration of the engine.
> >  *
> > Cure the ongoing leak from the engine’s raw water pump at engine speeds in excess of 2900 r.p.m.
> >  *
> > Replace the cracked hose for the water heater’s engine heat exchange plumbing. Replace cracked exhaust hose from muffler to discharge fitting.
> >  *
> > Sediment in coolant overflow tank, cloudy coolant in heat exchanger, suggest the need to service the engine cooling system.
> > 
> > Evidence of long-standing leaks in cabin interior present as damaged cabin sole and moisture trails on the hull topsides inboard. This damage is particularly bad in the forward cabin and salon, inboard of head compartment. Persistent rain on survey day showed these areas were actively leaking. Cleaning lenses of deck hatches, port lights and re-bedding chain plates, stanchions and other deck hardware will all work to slow these leaks. Replacement of cabin sole may be required as the veneers have lifted and sole appears wavy in these areas.
> > 
> > 
> > 
> 
>