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Dastardly53

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Hi Everyone 

A similar question may have been posted before, if so just direct me to that thread. 

So to keep a long story short, I have recently put down a deposit on an Inland GRP Cabin Cruiser with the main intention as using as a 'liveaboard' (Bit crazy, I know). 

I planned to have a pre purchase survey to double check the boat is all good around the hull, however due to a long series of events i.e. high water levels, surveyors who don't cover GRP cruisers etc. 

I have since decided to carry out the survey myself, I have already booked and paid the fee to have the boat lifted out the water anyway. I know this might sound a bit daft since I have little to no experience about boats and only have a small understanding of internal combustion engines. 

My aim here is to assemble a list of things I should look out for such as common faults that are overlooked, areas on where to look and what in general to check. This is one of the few times the boat will be taken out the water I hope, so I want to make the most of it. 

For context of what I'm planning to do with the boat: I'm planning to have it moored at the marina for the majority of the time and using it as a 'floating apartment' using shore power. Leisure cruising is not a top concern right now.

(I know you experienced boat goers are gonna be reading this thinking "he's way in over his head" however any advice, tips and pointers would be more than appreciated)

Cheers! 

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Welcome to CWDF, Dastardly!

Whilst carrying out a survey yourself may be an attractive proposition financially, it might cost you more in the long term if, being (as you say) inexperienced, you miss something which a qualified and experienced professional surveyor would notice. Certainly, if the boat is out of the water you'll be able to inspect and prod the hull to ensure that there are no obvious defects, but things such gas safety issues might be less obvious to a tyro.

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Depending on the age of the boat your insurers might want a professional survey anyway and with a GRP boat will want some sight of the hulls moisture readings if you plan to insure fully comp.

Any surveyor worth his salt will find enough faults with the boat to bargain on the price at least getting the cost of the survey back if not more.

Ian Lumley is who I would recommend.

You have already said you don't know much/anything about boats so why risk being lumbered with a wreck?

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17 minutes ago, Naughty Cal said:

Depending on the age of the boat your insurers might want a professional survey anyway

Very Important, and very true.

Depending on your insurers they will require a 'proper' survey if the boat is 20 / 25 / 30 years old (depending which company you go with)

Without a survey you will not get insurance* and without insurance you will not get a licence or a marina mooring.

 

*Unless you go for third-party only, but, then you boat is not covered.

Edited by Alan de Enfield
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Just now, Naughty Cal said:

So you would save a few hundred quid not having a survey and risk losing everything if the worst happens and the boat sinks?

 

Think I answered already. 

 

I would of course not recommend it to others, just advising fully comp insurance is not the only option

 

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11 minutes ago, Naughty Cal said:

You are more of a fool then I had you down for :rolleyes:

Steady, barker (I am not sure where that phrase comes from, people in Sheffield used to use it when I was a boy!)

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1 hour ago, Dastardly53 said:

Hi Everyone 

A similar question may have been posted before, if so just direct me to that thread. 

So to keep a long story short, I have recently put down a deposit on an Inland GRP Cabin Cruiser with the main intention as using as a 'liveaboard' (Bit crazy, I know). 

I planned to have a pre purchase survey to double check the boat is all good around the hull, however due to a long series of events i.e. high water levels, surveyors who don't cover GRP cruisers etc. 

I have since decided to carry out the survey myself, I have already booked and paid the fee to have the boat lifted out the water anyway. I know this might sound a bit daft since I have little to no experience about boats and only have a small understanding of internal combustion engines. 

My aim here is to assemble a list of things I should look out for such as common faults that are overlooked, areas on where to look and what in general to check. This is one of the few times the boat will be taken out the water I hope, so I want to make the most of it. 

For context of what I'm planning to do with the boat: I'm planning to have it moored at the marina for the majority of the time and using it as a 'floating apartment' using shore power. Leisure cruising is not a top concern right now.

(I know you experienced boat goers are gonna be reading this thinking "he's way in over his head" however any advice, tips and pointers would be more than appreciated)

Cheers! 

When you say "Inland" cruiser do you mean it's an Inlander cruiser or just a grp cruiser for inland waters?  

If it's a cheap and cheerful little thing I wouldn't bother with a survey either, if it's very wet inside something is probably amiss you don't need to be a surveyor to work that out.  If you're not cruising you don't need to worry too much about the engine at this stage.   Same applies to insurance, TPO will do unless the boat has some real value. 

More details about the size/type of craft would help.

 

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1 hour ago, Neil2 said:

When you say "Inland" cruiser do you mean it's an Inlander cruiser or just a grp cruiser for inland waters?  

If it's a cheap and cheerful little thing I wouldn't bother with a survey either, if it's very wet inside something is probably amiss you don't need to be a surveyor to work that out.  If you're not cruising you don't need to worry too much about the engine at this stage.   Same applies to insurance, TPO will do unless the boat has some real value. 

More details about the size/type of craft would help.

 

Which could well land you with something that is less then cheap and cheerful to keep running. 

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4 hours ago, Athy said:

Welcome to CWDF, Dastardly!

Whilst carrying out a survey yourself may be an attractive proposition financially, it might cost you more in the long term if, being (as you say) inexperienced, you miss something which a qualified and experienced professional surveyor would notice. Certainly, if the boat is out of the water you'll be able to inspect and prod the hull to ensure that there are no obvious defects, but things such gas safety issues might be less obvious to a tyro.

Thanks Athy! Thats appreciated! 

I'll take that into consideration over the next couple of days! 

4 hours ago, rusty69 said:

Osmosis is a potential problem with grp, particularly older boats. 

Cheers Rusty! 

Yeah I've been reading about osmosis and trying to look at examples online so I can get a better idea of what to look for.

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4 hours ago, Alan de Enfield said:

Very Important, and very true.

Depending on your insurers they will require a 'proper' survey if the boat is 20 / 25 / 30 years old (depending which company you go with)

Without a survey you will not get insurance* and without insurance you will not get a licence or a marina mooring.

 

*Unless you go for third-party only, but, then you boat is not covered.

Yeah I've noticed on the quotes I've received so far, a fully comprehensive policy is required of a boat this age.

Thanks for the advice! 

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2 minutes ago, Dastardly53 said:

Thanks Athy! Thats appreciated! 

I'll take that into consideration over the next couple of days! 

Cheers Rusty! 

Yeah I've been reading about osmosis and trying to look at examples online so I can get a better idea of what to look for.

The small amount I do know suggests that unless the blisters are obvious, it can be difficult to spot, but wetting the area or shining a torch along the hull may highlight it better.

 

A moisture reading as someone else suggested would also give an indication of moisture content but would obviously required specialist equipment.

Older grp layups tended to use poor quality resin, but things are much improved in recent years 

Good luck. 

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2 hours ago, Neil2 said:

When you say "Inland" cruiser do you mean it's an Inlander cruiser or just a grp cruiser for inland waters?  

If it's a cheap and cheerful little thing I wouldn't bother with a survey either, if it's very wet inside something is probably amiss you don't need to be a surveyor to work that out.  If you're not cruising you don't need to worry too much about the engine at this stage.   Same applies to insurance, TPO will do unless the boat has some real value. 

More details about the size/type of craft would help.

 

Hi Neil 

I'm probably getting the terminology wrong but the boat is built for inland rivers and canals. So a GRP cruiser built for Inland waters, rather than the brand your referring to? 

Yes the vessel itself is priced under £6000 and during the onboard inspections the cabin appears dry as far as I can see. 

The boat is 24ft long, built in 1978 and a widebeam. The engine onboard is a yanmar 12hp job. From this you can probably determine that its getting on abit in years but as stated, my purpose for buying is simply as a 'floating apartment'.

Appreciate the reply! Cheers! 

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6 minutes ago, Dastardly53 said:

Yeah I've noticed on the quotes I've received so far, a fully comprehensive policy is required of a boat this age.

Thanks for the advice! 

Do you mean a survey is required for fully comprehensive insurance? 

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7 minutes ago, Dastardly53 said:

Yeah I've been reading about osmosis and trying to look at examples online so I can get a better idea of what to look for.

You can 'smell' osmosis.

If you 'pop' a bubble / blister it will contain a small amount of fluid (normally vinegar coloured) and it will smell strongly like vinegar.

 

This site has some details and pictures of the blisters.

 

http://www.yachtsnet.co.uk/osmosis.htm

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1 minute ago, rusty69 said:

Do you mean a survey is required for fully comprehensive insurance? 

Yeah thats right, especially since the vessel is nearing the 40 year mark (built in 1978). This is for the companies I've checked so far anyway. 

As for the osmosis, I'll remember to bring a along a torch and some other bits to try and identify any problem areas 

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