T&T: Digging a hole in the water

[Bill Donovan]

To continue with the ideas Jim Spence offered on narrowing a boat 
search, I would add following:

I had a survey done last week.  It was performed by a very well known 
yacht surveyor and his right hand "mechanical surveyor."

First thing they pulled out was a "SeeSnake" made by 
Rigid,  http://www.ridgid.com/seesnakemicro/.  Man!  What an 
impressive tool!  I recommend it to all gearheads and folks looking 
for boats.  Can't see the joint between the fuel fill and the top of 
the tank?  SeeSnake can.  Check it out.

Some other things to look for that are not as "engines" oriented as Jim's list:

1.  Get a small phenolic hammer and, with the host's permission, tap 
on ALL the reachable fiberglass.  You are listening for "dead" or 
not-clean sounds as you tap.  The dead sound could indicate water 
penetration and big costs to cure.

2.  Look for interior water stains -- those lighter sections of 
panelling below ports, joints and doors that indicate water leaks.

3.  Operate and check EVERY piece of equipment, including house water 
pump, heads, sink faucets, ports, doors, electronics, windlasses and 
galley appliances.  Ask to operate the dinghy davit system and try 
the dinghy engine, if practical.  Check dates on flares, etc.  A 
sloppy job of maintaining these things means the big stuff (engines) 
may have been ignored.

4.  Try to look in every space on the boat -- bilges (all of the 
little areas), storage (yes, under the V-bunks and in the chain 
locker), flying bridge, cabinets, deck boxes, etc.

You will soon develop a "good boat," "not so good boat" or "bad boat" 
feeling about the subject boat.  Walk away from anything except the 
best.  There are a lot more out there.

Just my $0.02 and not an exhaustive list.

G'luck,

Bill