Capt. Joe
Veteran Member
cappy208 brought up a good point re cored hulls - you do not want core below waterline! So, that will not be the case with a Taiwan made older trawler, but their fuel tanks and such structural members as stringers and bulkheads did not stand up well for moisture ingression.
Having said that, in fact there are a lot of them out there, who's owners have taken care of them, they did not serve in the charter trade and they will survey well!
Re the other point brought up by cappy208:
After making my living for the last 30 years consulting with recreational passage makers (under power), I never steer a client away from a first big boat purchase.
You will eventually want to go up in size and so you might as well do it right out of the starting line. Otherwise you are paying brokers and surveyors while you move up one at a time.
Remember this (my disagreement with the good captain who had thrown off many of 100 ton masters from their watch) is that big boats handle better. More weight, less weather born influence, it's that simple. Once you learn the boat's peculiarities, an 80 footer (obviously has more below the waterline surface than smaller boats) will handle a hell of a lot easier than a 25 or 40 footer under the same conditions - do not be afraid to buy the biggest boat you can REALISTICALLY afford!
Having said that, in fact there are a lot of them out there, who's owners have taken care of them, they did not serve in the charter trade and they will survey well!
Re the other point brought up by cappy208:
After making my living for the last 30 years consulting with recreational passage makers (under power), I never steer a client away from a first big boat purchase.
You will eventually want to go up in size and so you might as well do it right out of the starting line. Otherwise you are paying brokers and surveyors while you move up one at a time.
Remember this (my disagreement with the good captain who had thrown off many of 100 ton masters from their watch) is that big boats handle better. More weight, less weather born influence, it's that simple. Once you learn the boat's peculiarities, an 80 footer (obviously has more below the waterline surface than smaller boats) will handle a hell of a lot easier than a 25 or 40 footer under the same conditions - do not be afraid to buy the biggest boat you can REALISTICALLY afford!