DBG8492
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jan 16, 2023
- Messages
- 288
- Vessel Name
- Sovereignty
- Vessel Make
- 1986 Marine Trader 36 Sundeck
So I know someone looking at a boat - it's a former charter. They used it for expensive dinner dates, bachelorette parties - stuff like that where a captain and crew were onboard the whole time. It wasn't for private charter rental. However, the charter no longer owns it. It was purchased a few months ago by a couple who were new to boating and "just wanted a boat." It's bigger than 45' - and it turns out that it was way too much boat for them, so they are now selling it. Note that being new boaters, they bought her without a survey so there's nothing to go on there.
I looked at it with him, and it's a very nice boat for a 40-year-old. The decks are solid - and I mean solid - like concrete. I took the meter to it and could only find two places - both near the bow pulpit - where there was any moisture that would register. The stainless is all nice and shiny, and there are no signs of any rails or stanchions rusting or even slightly loose. No inside water damage I could find anywhere. Nice twin Detroit V71 power plant with less than 2000 hours, Electra-scan and fifty-gallon tank with vacu-flush freshwater heads, commercial fire extinguishers everywhere...etc. The charter company made some mods to it - like removing the helm in the saloon - I'm assuming because that prevents the drunk ladies in the "bachelorette party" from deciding they want to go to the Bahamas and then doing something(s) stupid. And they also hid the electrical panels and disconnected the showers.
So my question is: Given that the current owners haven't used it long enough to do much with it - they only took one trip on it and decided that was enough - does the fact that it was a charter for several years prior to that help it, or hurt it?
My initial thought was that it helped because I would figure they get inspected often enough - seeing as how they're carrying passengers - and that would mean that they're going to keep up with the important stuff. Also, it's making them money, so it behooves them to keep up with all the mechanicals.
However, I'm not super familiar with the charter world and started thinking maybe it was like a lot of other things, where sometimes, they'd just cover things up or gundeck records or whatever, and maybe do a little money-changing with the necessary power-brokers and just keep passing inspections.
I'm sure there are opinions out there, so what do you think?
I looked at it with him, and it's a very nice boat for a 40-year-old. The decks are solid - and I mean solid - like concrete. I took the meter to it and could only find two places - both near the bow pulpit - where there was any moisture that would register. The stainless is all nice and shiny, and there are no signs of any rails or stanchions rusting or even slightly loose. No inside water damage I could find anywhere. Nice twin Detroit V71 power plant with less than 2000 hours, Electra-scan and fifty-gallon tank with vacu-flush freshwater heads, commercial fire extinguishers everywhere...etc. The charter company made some mods to it - like removing the helm in the saloon - I'm assuming because that prevents the drunk ladies in the "bachelorette party" from deciding they want to go to the Bahamas and then doing something(s) stupid. And they also hid the electrical panels and disconnected the showers.
So my question is: Given that the current owners haven't used it long enough to do much with it - they only took one trip on it and decided that was enough - does the fact that it was a charter for several years prior to that help it, or hurt it?
My initial thought was that it helped because I would figure they get inspected often enough - seeing as how they're carrying passengers - and that would mean that they're going to keep up with the important stuff. Also, it's making them money, so it behooves them to keep up with all the mechanicals.
However, I'm not super familiar with the charter world and started thinking maybe it was like a lot of other things, where sometimes, they'd just cover things up or gundeck records or whatever, and maybe do a little money-changing with the necessary power-brokers and just keep passing inspections.
I'm sure there are opinions out there, so what do you think?
