robs523
Senior Member
- Joined
- Dec 24, 2014
- Messages
- 103
- Location
- USA
- Vessel Name
- Magnetic North
- Vessel Make
- 1985 Californian 34
Hi everyone, I spent a couple days in Seattle looking for a boat and am hoping to get a few more questions answered before I make an offer on anything. I saw 3 Californian 34s, two of which I ruled out pretty quickly. The third I'm considering but there are several concerns I have. We will get a survey, sea trial, mechanical inspection before making anything official. My questions are the following:
1- What's the difference between a Europa and LRC? This one is a Europa. The V-berth seems a little cramped (even if I remove the top bunk), I don't know if they are all like that or if that is unique to a Europa model
2- Water damage from windows leaking- Is that a pretty easy fix? It didn't look too complicated but I've done enough DIY to know better than to assume anything is going to be easy, and I haven't done any on boats yet
3- Steel fuel tanks- I've read about the tanks rusting on some of these. The idea of steel tanks makes me a little nervous and sounds like an expensive fix (if necessary), is this a major concern?
4- The boat has been sitting without much or any maintenance for at least a year from what I've been told. In my mind that means a lot of things like seals and gaskets are just waiting be replaced. The engines are Perkins 6-354s with under 1200 hours.
The other boats I looked at were Bayliner 32s. My wife really likes the "newness" of the Bayliners and really does not want a major project. She's fine with the window repair if it doesn't turn in to a major disaster that keeps us from using the boat, and she's pretty adamant about new upholstery. I love the Californian, but have to admit she has some very good points. There are Bayliners out there with more recent motors with fewer hours and updated interiors for the same or less $$, so I'm trying to decide if the Californian will be worth it or not. The Californian didn't have a bowsprit and the swim step wasn't very long, so I think it will be under 36' which means I only wait 12-18 months for a permanent slip instead of 8 years. The Bayliners were all over 36' so I have that going for me.
This was the last boat I looked at and I was running late for my flight, so it was a very quick tour. Any feedback, ideas, suggestions, comments are greatly appreciated. Thank you!
1- What's the difference between a Europa and LRC? This one is a Europa. The V-berth seems a little cramped (even if I remove the top bunk), I don't know if they are all like that or if that is unique to a Europa model
2- Water damage from windows leaking- Is that a pretty easy fix? It didn't look too complicated but I've done enough DIY to know better than to assume anything is going to be easy, and I haven't done any on boats yet
3- Steel fuel tanks- I've read about the tanks rusting on some of these. The idea of steel tanks makes me a little nervous and sounds like an expensive fix (if necessary), is this a major concern?
4- The boat has been sitting without much or any maintenance for at least a year from what I've been told. In my mind that means a lot of things like seals and gaskets are just waiting be replaced. The engines are Perkins 6-354s with under 1200 hours.
The other boats I looked at were Bayliner 32s. My wife really likes the "newness" of the Bayliners and really does not want a major project. She's fine with the window repair if it doesn't turn in to a major disaster that keeps us from using the boat, and she's pretty adamant about new upholstery. I love the Californian, but have to admit she has some very good points. There are Bayliners out there with more recent motors with fewer hours and updated interiors for the same or less $$, so I'm trying to decide if the Californian will be worth it or not. The Californian didn't have a bowsprit and the swim step wasn't very long, so I think it will be under 36' which means I only wait 12-18 months for a permanent slip instead of 8 years. The Bayliners were all over 36' so I have that going for me.
This was the last boat I looked at and I was running late for my flight, so it was a very quick tour. Any feedback, ideas, suggestions, comments are greatly appreciated. Thank you!