Camano 31 Purchase - What to Look For?

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SeattleWind

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Joined
Oct 11, 2024
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Location
Seattle, Wa.
We've narrowed our cruising boat search down to the Camano 31. This will be our first cruising boat, stepping up from ski boats. I want to give my kids the experience of cruising the San Juan Islands like I had as a kid and make family memories on the water. The Camano looks like a great boat our needs.

Of course we will get a professional survey, mechanical inspection and do a sea-trial on a boat that we put an offer on, but can any Camano owners share specific things to look out for and specific issues that you've come across with Camano's? Is there anything you wish you would have known before buying your Camano or any surprises? Are leaking fuel tanks an issue or any other big ticket items that are cause for concern?

Thank you for your insight!
 
Welcome aboard. I've always admired the Camano's. I've never heard of anything bad, so that's something. Wonder what changed when Helmsman took them over.
 
A lower helm seat would be a plus. Not all have them.

David
 
A friend had one of the early Camanos and liked it, I think with a Yanmar. Maybe there's an owners' forum that would be helpful to you.
 
We owned our 2005 Camano for 9 years and it was a great boat. We would still have it if we hadn't lucked into our Mainship at a price we couldn't pass up. The only drawback we found was the small holding tank, although with a Vacuflush toilet and not flushing every time that was not too big a deal. Very well built boats, with all wiring and plumbing easy to get to, engine accessible for maintenance.
 
Current Troll owner here. I will echo the others; these are lovely pocket trawlers with excellent access to their relatively simple and straightforward systems.

I don’t know of any “known issues” with them, although if I were buying one I would look for a later year (2000+? Not sure when the changes were made) with the larger fuel and water tankage. The black water holding tank is small at ~15 gallon as stated. The big ticket items on the boat are the engine and to a lesser extent the generator (if equipped). Make sure they are mechanically sound and well cared for. A Yanmar is preferable to a Volvo if for no other reason than parts availability and cost. With that said, I would not let the presence of a Volvo TAMD41P-A in the engine room keep me from buying another one as long as it checks out mechanically.

I would avoid one with carpet in the salon for no reason other than I don’t like how it looks. Luckily most seem to have the oak flooring. If you can find one with a recent electronics refit that would be a big plus. I’m about to put about $15k into mine updating the navigation suite and bringing it into the NMEA2K world since it still has all original Raymarine stuff from circa 2003.

Any specific questions, just ask! There are quite a few current Troll owners here.
 
I have a very nice 2007 Camano 31 that I'm planning to sell in the spring. I'm simply not using the boat enough to justify keeping it. I'll sell it sooner than springtime if someone is interested. It has new reverse cycle heat pump, new Marine Elegance head, new all-leather upholstery, new carpeting, new 3M crystalline window treatment,
new electric engine hatch lift, etc. Bottom paint is 4 months old. Volvo Penta D4 225 power, generator. Installing oil change system at this time. Garmin insturments -autopilot still needs installation configuration. Very clean, inside and out.
Location: Kitsap County, covered moorage.
 
Welcome aboard. No experience with a Camino but buying an older boat is pretty much the same thing. Look for rotting decks, stringers, leaking windows etc. a good surveyor should, should find those things. I always spend a day by myself before I put in an offer opening everything and looking at everything. I usually find everything that the surveyor finds but the insurance company and bank will want a survey so you get the survey even if you have looked at everything yourself.
 
Bought 2005 hull 232 in 2014, still very happy with it. Volvo has started within 2 seconds every time. Tips:
1: With any used boat, have fuel polished and then filters changed, unless survey prove fuel, tank and filters are good. Make sure survey addresses all fuel lines and raw water lines.
2. Learn from locals about fuel quality availability.
3. Bow thruster zinc needs replacing more quickly than others.
4. Learn from locals about need for using a dehumidifier.
5. Flybridge sole does not drain well, partially due to drains being small, and incline aft not being sufficient. Keep drains clear, narrow tooth brush helps.
6. ValveTect fuel and Full Synthetic oil make engine quieter, smoother, smoke less. Several years of this has end of season oil looking lighter than ever.
7. Running a 200 hp Volvo TAMD41P -A too much below (guessing) 1800 rpm lead to accumulating carbon sludge in exhaust system, creating back pressure. Have surveyor check exhaust system. Find a copy of Steve Zimmerman’s PassageMaker article about slow rpm, % of effort, etc.
8. Get ready for admiring comments about timeless design, owners of boats requiring varnish and teak oil to enviously grumble as the walk by your slip, boat owners being blown away by the fantastic visibility from your cabin helm station, and much more. Try not to smirk or chuckle…..
 
They are indeed great boats. I have been thinking of selling and am 50% of the way there since i just bought another big toy. Mine is located at skyline marina which can't be beat for San Juan adventures. If you have not had the pleasure of going out on one I need to change the oil in the next few weeks and you could go for a ride while I warm up the engine.
 
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