Don’t know if it’s worth pursuing the former owners, the surveyor and / or the broker that sold us the boat for issues that were not disclosed and I believe deliberately hidden from us prior to purchase… Has anyone been successful in doing it after the sale ?
We purchased our boat based on a recent survey, sea trial and an inspection by a Diesel mech. As such, there was no visible reason not to go ahead with the deal. After the sale, the broker offered to deliver / float the boat to our marina ( approx 200 miles and 1 week ) and that’s when the issues showed up.
a) Main Bilge Pump was not working ( admittedly a minor issue )
b) One of the twin 8D batteries had a “ dead short “ in it. ( I had to replace them as a pair )
c) The glass Holding Tank ( buried under the Gen. and advertised as a 50 Gal. but in fact was only a 25 Gal. .. ) had a major leak / split. Specifically: when we viewed the boat prior to purchase, we were told that the owners just launched and never used the boat. The bilges were bone dry and there were NO smells whatsoever. This Holding Tank got filled I assume, during the broker’s one week delivery to us and let me tell you …. When they arrived, they just wanted off this boat and were gone within less than one hr. and shortly after, we discovered waste water in the bilges.
Long and short of this, I got quotes for the needed repairs and contacted the owners & broker. I disclosed the costs of repairs and was hoping that in interest of good will, we could split these costs 50 / 50, as I truly believe that BOTH of them knew of this pre existing condition prior to sale, to which I was told, “ boat was bough as is “ ! I did all the repairs, replaced Both batteries, and replaced the holding tank with Stainless 50 Gal.
Of Note: The old glass tank, did NOT have a pick up tube on the pump out elbow ( it was not even inside the tank ! ) so it could never be pumped out properly. I believe the owners may have been dumping overboard OR, not using the heads at all ! well …. until the broker used them.
Just venting here ……… as I’m really pisssed ! and am thinking of suing in small Court ..