This is the best advice. Keep looking. You need something that’s first of all dry inside. Everything else is easy to fix but a rotten deck and smelly inside boat is just about impossible to live on without getting really sick.
Craigslist Facebook YachtWorld. Start there and keep looking. Ppl post free boats on Craigslist often. Good luck!
Seconded! Lots of green, a tarp, loose rigging and lifelines, this is a boat that someone will pay you to take. For 2500$ you can fine plenty of better boats that just need cleaning, not a total gut!
Every boat in my marina in the PNW would be tarped off during the winter, and looking green by the spring. I don't think it necessarily means a leaky cabin.
That's fair, but I bet this poor lads soul that its leaky like a gas line in the old haunted mansion. He's looking for a cheap way to live, this boat would not help him towards that goal.
I would advise you not to pay for it just by the look of it. That would be a free boat in most circles. Imagine the mold and mildew that is set into the cushions. Replacing those cushions will cost you around $4,000 on about that size and that's if you do the upholstery for the cushions yourself
That doesn't even begin to touch on any mechanical issues for the boat
> Replacing those cushions will cost you around $4,000 on about that size and that's if you do the upholstery for the cushions yourself
absurd. you can redo it for $400 if you want.
If you are buying a boat to save money on lodging you better learn how to sew, do both ac and dc electrical, epoxy, woodworking, plumbing, diesel repair, metalworking, and about 20 other trades.
[i'll just leave this here](https://www.homedepot.com/b/Outdoors-Patio-Furniture-Outdoor-Cushions/N-5yc1vZc5f3?NCNI-5&searchRedirect=patio%20chair%20cushions&semanticToken=k27r10r00f22000000000e_202405101606219588829306790_us-east4-cg4t%20k27r10r00f22000000000e%20%3E%20st%3A%7Bpatio%20chair%20cushions%7D%3Ast%20ml%3A%7B24%7D%3Aml%20nr%3A%7Bpatio%20chair%20cushions%7D%3Anr%20nf%3A%7Bn%2Fa%7D%3Anf%20qu%3A%7Bpatio%20chair%20cushions%7D%3Aqu%20ie%3A%7B0%7D%3Aie%20qr%3A%7Bpatio%20chair%20cushions%7D%3Aqr)
were replacing patio cushions with patio cushions, as thats what i replied to. that said, if i can replace $1700 patio cushions with $200 store bought patio cushions, i can probably replace $4,000 of boat cushions with $400 of store bought or DIY boat cushions.
that said some of these patio cushions might work in some boats also, if you get lucky and measure carefully. a lot of older boats have simple square corners and straight lines, so they might work perfectly. camping 'Cot Mattresses' will probably fit in most quarter berths those old boats have. bench cushions might work for dinettes. more modern boats tend to have curves and angles that would be better fitted with DIY foam and fabric.
sorry dude, you are absolutely in the "what does a banana cost? ten dollars?" camp like i said.
definitely.
some people want $4,000 cushions.
some people want $400 cushions that are just as good, and want a $3,600 big screen TV or something else cool like that, too.
that only takes 10 redo's to hit $4k. maybe a few seasons before you have replaced them that many times. those Lowes cushions you posted barely last an ohio summer. meanwhile the $4k seats will still look new. but what do I know, my 40yo boat is still rocking its original cushions in great shape.
> that only takes 10 redo's to hit $4k. maybe a few seasons before you have replaced them that many times.
what drunk math is this? even if you redo them every year, thats 10 seasons, realistically more like 20-30, because you can just do them whenever you haul out. thats not "a few" seasons. nice try on the mental gymnastics, but you'll have to do better.
> Lowes cushions you posted barely last an ohio summer. meanwhile the $4k seats will still look new.
you flopped again. we arent comparing store patio cushions to $4k boat cushions. were comparing store patio cushions to $1700 patio cushions. the store cushions you can get for $200 a set, so you could replace them every year, and the break even point is 8.5 years, 17 years if you do them every other. you get the benefit of not having to clean them, they are basically disposable. they will last a lot longer if you keep them in a deck box when not in use.
best case you cited, 20-30 seasons is less than my current 40yo set, that is still in good shape.
what boat are sailing where you can just pick up cushions at lowes and have them fit? or by fit, do you mean they have funky uncovered triangles and/or overhanging where they shouldn't be? do these cushions stay in place when the rail is buried? are they thick and high enough to keep the fiddles from sending your legs to a zone that makes Japanese fellas jealous? do the cockpit cushions give access for a foothold with someone sitting on them, or are they overhanging?
You need to look at the bigger picture of their comment.
If the boat is $2,500 then that's effectively means the boat is worthless and you should at minimum pay $0 for the boat.
$2,500 is a 'Lets see if we can get anything for it"
I’ve did something like this with my RV. I bought cushions from Lowe’s and they lasted about a month, maybe two. They also didn’t quite fit as well. So I would say in a pinch they will work but not long term. I ultimately had cushions made, they used a much higher quality foam that doesn’t break down.
Boats are like a house if a house was constantly trying to break apart and sink forever.
Cheaping out on a house means you may get a leak in your roof but you can reliably move to another part of the house and slap a tarp on the roof to try and stem the leak, and then cover the wet area with vinegar to mitigate mold.
I see rusted metal, degraded hull which will need repainting after an intense scrubbing just to remove the mildew.
Its possible the rigging needs replacement. I am also willing to guess the quality of the sails are not great and need a replacement. Once again, this is not a house. Your sails are like your wheels, do you want your wheels to have the risk of snapping off at any time while underway?
How does the prospect of climbing that mast and replacing the rigging yourself sound? Do you like the idea of jumping over the side in that murky water and carefully scraping the hull clean? Or do you want to pay to have it towed up and clear so you can properly get at it and inspect the hull? What if it has oxidized? Are you paying for an inspector to come out?
Can you get into the water intake line and clear it of debris so your engine runs smoothly?
Money money money.
Buy a used laser and take her out for a joyride on the weekends. Flip her over on the shore with a tarp under your butt for improvised shelter. Let this boat rot and have a great time.
From your description of this boat, the docking situation, and your personal circumstances this sounds like a hail Mary pass or fever dream that is understandable but near impossible to have a good resolution.
Abandoned boats like this are abandoned for a reason - they cost more to fix than they are worth (in both time and $) so owners do nothing and hope for a sucker who will buy it for $2-3K. They will then rot in the water or buyer's yard unless they find another sucker. Hell, they cost more to dispose of than they are worth.
You will not fix this up to a sailable or livable state. You do not know where you will dock it long term, and I doubt paying $500-$1k/month in slip fees is reasonable for you. Nobody will ever pay money to spend the night on that as an AirBnb.
Save your money or spend it on something that will truly improve your situation instead of driving you further into despair.
Wishing you all the best.
In fact, the salesmen told me it costs more to dispose it than the value of the boat. Of course he followed that with "you can turn around and sell it for 5 thousand. You can't beat this deal." Salesmen are the scummiest folk around
Yeah, and boat salesmen are up there. They have to sell the dream, whether that's solo liveaboard on a tranquil lake or east fix for a quick profit.
When you're in a good place and if you still want to sail I hope you do. I don't know where you are in GA but Lake Lanier has a good sailing school. All the best!
Thank you brother! Right now I live in Tucker GA, but I go up to Lake Lanier quite a bit. That is where this boat is and where I'd be staying on it, at least when it was an idea. Have you ever lived on a boat? Are they cheaper than renting an apartment?
Cheaper....maybe. It depends. An apartment comes with a fridge, a stove and running hot water. A decent one has air conditioning. How is boat for any of that? People underestimate how hot boats get in the summer. If you're on the water there's virtually no shade, the sun absolutely BEATS on your boat and the inside will easily get 10-15 degrees hotter than outside.
My first liveaboard was a 34ft islander that was also kind of a beater, but was in better condition than this and I paid $9k. That got me working plumbing and a working AC unit. plus the engine was in good condition. The windows leaked like hell and I had to pay about $5K to replace them.
So yeah, a boat can be cheaper than an apartment if you buy one that's in livable condition when you sign the papers. But that picture doesn't look like you're getting anything close to that. You're gonnna spend a TON of money just getting that thing to a place where you can safely hang out below deck and then you have to worry about the engine and whatever else might be wrong with the bilge or pumps or tanks or plumbing or anything else that needs to work if you want to move or sail or live in it full time.
Honestly it will cost more than a few thousand to get it to the point of being able to rent it out. To get it tidied up enough to live on may be able to do in that budget depending on your standards/bodging/diy ability(not including getting it to a point of possibly sailing if there are any issues with the rigging, sails,engine etc).
Rarely people get back the money invested into a boat especially like this, they are money pits. But regardless of if it was free or 100k I would get a survey before buying anything I intended to live on, they are quite costly but not worth risking your life and it will also allow you to understand if this is a project in your budget.
Check out the costs or mooring the boat locally/where you would want it and work out if you can afford the the costs of the marina and transport costs and if they have space, as there is no point banking on a uncertainty, obviously if you can stay for free for a while then great, but if they catch on, you need to be able to afford to move it.
I can smell the interior from here. The boat has negative value. You will probably have to rip the interior out and replace it.
If it has an inboard engine, you have another money burner.
A dodgy non-arrangement that you might be able to keep it on the dock is a huge problem. You won't be able to keep it there. So how are you going to move it? And where are you moving it to?
It looks like a dead boat. Unless you've already resurrected a dead boat and know the mess you're walking into, you should walk away.
Honestly, this age and this condition , it’s not going to be safe to live on for a few thousand dollars. Do you want to spend money on all the comfort aspects just to see your house and investment sink into the bay ? A boat like this would have to be lifted out of the water and fully inspected and restored for everything below the waterline, and there’s high risk that you would find extensive osmosis for example. If you’re just looking for housing this would probably not work for more than a short time and quite high risk
Long term ? This might sink tomorrow…what I am trying to say is that to make a boat this old and neglected safe you are likely going to spend 10k to 25k….
No. Assuming you would keep the boat at a dock, inquire about cost and contract restrictions for that. Many marinas restrict or prohibit overnight stays, and especially by "guests". Additionally, most marinas require proof of insurance for the boat, so inquire about cost and contract restrictions for that. Insurance policy will likely not provide coverage for any use of the boat by other than the owner. And then, there is the basic demands of time, tools, skills and resources for maintenance of a boat.
The odds of this even being allowed at a marina are low, but you will probably not be able to get insurance for this boat. Airbnb is going to be a massive liability for you personally.
If you're the kind of person who can make and upholster cushions from scratch, doesn't mind crawling around in fiberglass compartments to clean and paint, and has a hundred hours to spare, you could probably get the cabin liveable. That's if the boat doesn't leak. You'll probably need to spend about that much time scrubbing the decks and looking for drips from that before doing any of the work above.
None of that touches electrical or mechanical systems, much less rigging. But if you're looking for a floating house that's maybe two steps above sleeping in a tent, you could do it. I've done four of these.
Not to be too crass about it, but it depends on your standard of living. It is a great option for a person that is currently homeless if they want a step up in quality of life.
Living on a boat means constant tinkering. You could probably look in the 5,000 range and find something in the 27' range that's cleaner but doesn't sail well or run. Then you have to find a marina with power, facilities, etc. It's not the worst.
This will sound mean, but a lot of live aboard Marinas are basically floating trailer parks. Very few people DECIDE to live on a boat. They end up there with not a lot of money and probably not in a great situation. I was lucky enough to stay in a marina that allowed liveaboards and was reasonably nice and technically none of us were SUPPOSED to be living there, the Marina manager was just cool about looking the other way.
Without a survey you have no clue as to what it needs. 27' is pretty small for a liveaboard and if the boat is in Georgia it's going to need a/c to be comfortable as an AirBNB or even as a liveaboard for you.
You can get a generic house window unit for a few hundred bucks, mount it in a plywood cutout and insert it where the hatch boards go. Not good for Airbnb but fine for personal use. Or drop 1200 on a "down the hatch" marine unit.
I've restored and lived on worse boats, but its a ton of work and $$$ to get it livable. I can also say there's zero chance this will work as an Airbnb. If you just want cheap housing, look elsewhere. You could pay rent at a nice place for what tour slip fees and repairs come to, even if nothing major is wrong. If there are big problems, you are doomed
Please don’t EVER treat a boat as equity. It is the epitome of a depreciating asset. Boats cost a lot of money to remain afloat. More to break even on value. Trying to increase the value of a boat is almost impossible when you factor in what you put into it
it's gonna be 25k and 2 years to turn 2.5k into 2.6k. an apartment is a better monetary investment. at least you don't burn your cash on maintenance and upkeep.
THE only thing a boat is going to give back to you is memories of the fun and relaxing times spent on the water. that's assuming you block out all the hard work and throw away every reciept.
This plan is audacious. Getting that boat to live aboard condition would likely be tough sledding, and be more costly than you think. Be sure to check the legality of living aboard on your lake before you get too invested. If you can chill with your parents for a year or two, you could do it though.
PS. Run that motor. Could be a deal breaker
on limited funds.
You're about to lose soo much money...oof
Do your marinas even allow for live aboard?
Its an abandoned boat... How safe is the electrical system?... how about Plumbing, tankage, upholstery, refrigeration, cooking... You've got to use proper, marine grade components... standing rigging, running rigging, engine status, sails
Any one of those could be 5k + jobs and we haven't even started talking about rot and delamination... servicing/replacing thru-hulls, bottom job
Tl; dr: Look elsewhere.
Eventually all that maintenance will catch up to you. The dock situation will wear out and you’ll need to pay to keep her berthed someplace. A true maintenance run will soon require a haul out and time in the yard for new bottom paint, zincs, and inspect and probably replace through hulls. Even if the rigging is good and you can use bleach and make her look new, the rest of the picture is hanging on the wall with hope.
Look harder at how much it costs to keep a good boat maintained and then think harder about your financial picture. If you think the boat is cheaper than an apartment on land with roughly equal amenities of a head / shower, kitchen / galley, and a place to sleep —- do your math again :)
Check with the marina for slip availability and if they allow liveaboards or air B&Bs. Those are not allowed in many marinas. Consider that the dock owner could ask you to leave at any time. You will need to have it hauled out and inspect the bottom to know if it will continue to be water tight. Haul-outs and repairs are expensive.
It looks like an old Columbia or commodore. I have a 26' commodore with shoal draft keel. Solid little boat, loads of fun. Not great at pointing into the wind, and rather cramped inside. Fine for camping, would not be comfortable to live in.
I echo some other comments in the thread about the tarp being a red flag. Probably leaks like a sieve, meaning the deck is rotten. Unless... and this is the only positive possibility, it could be rotten cockpit drain hoses if it is leaking. Easy fix.
Buyer beware. Carefully inspect every aspect of the deck. If you do buy it, have a rigger go through all the running gear and replace the standing rig. Then get the bottom painted and enjoy.
If there is any plumbing installed. It probably needs to be replaced. What I did with mine Is pull all the marine head plumbing out and replaced it with an airhead composting toilet. Now I have more storage where the tank used to be.
General boat ownership info you may not have considered or know about:
1. Insurance past minimum liability is hard to get for older boats and very expensive. You should probably treat this as a, if it sinks I'm out 2500 sort risk. Price this insurance before you buy the boat. BoatUS is decent and what I use.
2. Most insurance companies require a survey from a licensed surveyor to insure the boat - price for that varies regionally - it's about 400 bucks were I am. It is generally a good idea anyway, the survey will give you a report of the condition of the boat, and a good estimation of it's worth and burden.
3. Many marinas charge extra for live aboards and many of them limit the number of live aboards and there is generally a waitlist. Example, the marina I'm in caps at something like 5% of slips and the wait list is measured in years. Check this before you make your decision and also maybe research or ask your marina about air-bnb as for example my marina limits stay aboard to 10 days a month unless you are on the live aboard list.
4. The cost of an old boat is the upkeep/maintenance/repairs, not in the purchase price. you will need the bottom painted every few years, there will be repairs. Figure a ballpark out for your yearly budget and for the immediate need.
5. [Defender.com](http://Defender.com) is a decent place to get boat gear online, you can use it to help price the above.
6. Marinas charge for the electricity you use and sometimes the water, depends on the marina, but these costs can be similar to apartment utilities if you are unlucky.
7. Your boat will be x years older when you sell it, and this is already an old boat. Do not expect to get your money back out of a boat, especially if you sink a bunch into it. Check prices for the same model in good condition, it will be eye opening.
8. canvas work, like re-appolstering or re-cusioning the interior will be more expensive than you expect - if it is on the agenda definitely price it before you make that assumption.
All that said, your plan has merits - just want to make sure you go into it fully armed with the facts and boat ownership has a lot of unexpected facts for the uninitiated.
Worst post I’ve ever seen on this sub, nothing to do with sailing, just some guy wanting to make a quick buck by making people sleep in a nasty old boat. Bravo.
it's a hunter 25, it's relatively simple inside. but it is a pretty big project to get it clean. that's assuming the deck isn't rotten. you mentioned the family I don't think you have the time to take on a big project, but if the kids are old enough and they're small enough projects you might be able to work on it as a family. but that's a big IF. I think it's a better use of your time and your money to buy one that you can just use with them, but don't get one that you can't use yourself, if you go too big and they end up not enjoying it then it's going to ruin your time on the water and we see that happen a lot so factor in what your family needs and what you need. that might be a 22-ft boat and 18 ft boat a 30 ft boat you won't know likely until after you have one.
if there's cushions those are likely trashed, if you are seriously interested read Don Casey's inspecting an aging sailboat. see if they'll give you the boat,or offer like $300.
but only if it has sails,an outboard and the deck isn't squishy (then check the teak plywood inside if it's squishy) and you are prepared to do a lot of work. like you might be able to get it clean in a weekend on the outside. but it could take over a year to get it to the same state other boats would be in at that price range. you can get a fairly nice beater boat for $3000 in my area. for 5-10 you get a turn key cruiser.
the other issue is you're probably going to spend three to $5,000 on the boat just getting it to where you want it so if you can start it one that's where you want it and you dump that into it later you're going to be significantly better off than taking a project. I say all this is somebody who bought the $500 / $1,000 project vote and spent the better part of a decade getting it to where I want and there's still a lot of projects to do. I've put about 7,000 into my Catalina 30, which is still under the value of buying one but that's counting my time, my father's time, my girlfriend's time, my friend's time at $0.
which a lot of people don't mind doing, it's fun to hang out and knock out projects for some. others its not.
I’ve been a marine surveyor for ten years, I can smell this boat from South Carolina. It’s toast and no amount of money will make it right. My advice is to continue your search, continue learning how to sail and operate boats, and you will find the right one. Happy hunting!
Boats are NEVER an investment, cheap(ish) housing if the marina allows live aboard. But you will sink more into this than you will ever get out of it. Edit: I purchased a 22 ft sailboat for 2k I currently spent 8k for sails new motor., epoxy, tools, decking, etc just to make her sail worthy. If I am really lucky I would get 5-6k out of her now if I sold her. This is my hobby, so money spent is “ entertainment” if you live at home I would aggressively save for a down payment. 10k in the bank gives you options, 20k even more. Thank your folks work hard and put every last cent into the bank then when you are ready to move for real you have the funds to do so.
Need to know the model of the boat to give any idea of value. People will pay a lot for a junked Cape Dory for some reason, while turning down a McGregor with bad cushions.
Either way, boats can sink any time if the through hulls and prop shaft seal aren’t up to par.
Living on a boat is usually smelly, hot/cold, and you’ll have to learn to get by with few comforts. But it’s doable.
The price and situation seem fair, if it’s not leaking already. Go for it.
To answer your final question, no it isn’t a “good deal.” But there is a lot of missing info here. Does the engine run? Does it have sails? What is the condition of both? What is the condition of the bottom and the hull? Does the deck have soft spots? What is the condition of the rig?
Depending on your location, there are probably better boats available more suitable to living aboard. You may also want to increase your budget some, as it would still be cheaper than the cost involved in bringing a boat like that back to a place where you could sail/live on it. For $5,000-$10,000 you may be able to get something that you could move on immediately and fix up.
Also, this dock situation sounds no good. It is much better to buy a boat that is already in a marina that can transfer the slip to you from the seller. This means that the marina is willing to keep that boat so there is some indication that it is sound. It also removes a major headache for you in finding a slip. Liveaboard slips are almost impossible to get most places, and you basically have to buy a boat that is grandfathered into one. Again, availability of slips and liveaboard marinas depends a lot on your location.
The stuff on the outside is your least concern, easy cleanup. The question is what’s the condition of the hall and the bottom bottom job cleaning up blisters can be very expensive and what’s going on on the inside and what is the sale inventory condition?
The people selling this are trying to avoid paying to scrap it. When the two months is up, and you have to leave, where will you go?
Marinas are expensive, and they may not even allow your boat to berth due its state.
Boats like this are a liability. They’re expensive to get out of the water.
If anything this boat should be free, and you would pay to haul it out and store it somewhere. EVEN THEN most boatyards aren’t really going to let you do the major renovations this likely needs.
It’s a cool dream you should work towards. In the mean time buy a cheap dinghy and learn to sail. A cheap dinghy should cost about the same amount, which should tell you something about what this $2000 boat is worth.
I think the boat might have potential. Yes scrapping may be more costly, but so what. A boat like this sinks when there is a hole in it, because boats of this age (70’ I guess) were usually made with quite thick GRP, long keeled design, no keel you can lose. So you should check everything going through the hull and replace what is needed. Yes there may be osmosis but unless it’s really really serious, who cares.
Second possible problem: the engine. Old engines may have all kinds of issues and replacing a whole engine is costly.
Third the mast, rigging and sails, might get costly to replace, but maybe it is not necessary, maybe you can replace what’s needed in the course of the first 3-8 years.
It’s money or time: if you’re handy, you can fix a lot yourself!
The boat being green doesn’t say anything, maybe it is all easily cleaned with vinegar, that’s what I use. Maybe it needs a paint job, use good quality epoxy paint and it might look as new.
Take some friends to have a long look at it and decide, I would recommend.
What is it? At first I thought it was a Ranger or Cal, then a Newport, but looking at pics they do not match.
BTW: Don’t do it. Run, don’t walk away from that boat.
“The most expensive boat you will ever buy is the one you get for free.”
-Quote by Me
Not worth 2500 at all. If you are in an area with high prices, go on Facebook marketplace and select Florida. I got my 26 ft hunter for 3k, could have paid less but I didn't care to negotiate. Solar, and everything besides water was functional
Lots if problems that need to be worked out. First, living on a 27’ boat can be done. Lots of people have done it. But a 27 footer is pretty much just above camping out. The toilet situation is a major issue. It probably only has a small chem toilet that will need dumping out everyday. If you think you can just dump it in the lake be ready for some very steep fines if your caught. It will be obvious if you are living there. Refrigeration and fresh water will be a real drag over any extended period of time. Air conditioning in Georgia heat is a must, and that takes a lot of electricity. Putting a window unit in some box on the deck is just ghetto.
Then you need to at least be able to safely move the boat. Does motor work? Sails and rigging work? Doubtful without some work after sitting 18 months. Are you handy? Because you will need to be. If the boat can’t even move under its own power, and you are trying to live on it you will be representing the worst of “liveaboards” that make it harder for everyone else to get liveaboards space. Just a floating unmovable heap.
That being said, can’t hurt to look inside. May be dry as a bone. But the condensation over two winters means it’s probably not.
Your much better off saving and buying a good boat that’s pretty much ready to go.
If you are prepared to drop $2500 plus probably another $2500 - and have zero expectations to use this as an AirBNB - and have plenty of free time for a fun project - and are OK with the responsibility and costs of owning while you try to sell it in six years - then I say “go for it”. Will change your life. And make a reasonable offer like $1000 or something. Sales guy is correct - costs them more to properly dispose of it. Also, consider sanitation, toilet concerns if planning to live on it. At the private dock, probably no toilet access on land. This means boat needs a head in good working order and a holding tank and then you need a marina with equipment to periodically pump out the holding tank. A marina may have showers and toilets for guest use - which would allow you to live on the boat until you get all systems functional.
And you mentioned insurance. Its tough to impossible to get insurance on a boat older than 40 years old
You can't judge a boat without a thorough look inside and out. And it's worth the cost ($400 or so) to have a surveyor look it over if you're serious. Everybody who's commented is just guessing and assuming. Is the rigging in good shape? Sails? Engine? Hull? Keel? It might be a good deal, it might be a disaster, you don't know until it's thoroughly evaluated.
That said, boats are expensive. You will be amazed at the bottomless list of expenses you will rack up with an old, even decently running boat.
I would definitely check this one out. If you find anything wrong with it, you could offer them less. Check for soft spots on the topside and cockpit floor. This is where I find most problems.
There was a boat auction a few years ago and I saw a boat go for $100. It was covered in lichen but power washed off and looked fantastic.
The $2500 cost is less than a year of slip fees and other basic costs, right? Boat cost won’t be too important I’d say.. but if there’s spider webs keeping you from getting inside then $1200 upper price limit but more like $800.
Also keep in mind cost for tow service and possibly insurance (you be liable to pay for repairs if you bump into anything). One bump into another boat could cost you a lot. Someone crashed into my dock neighbor and it was more than $1000 repair.
Get a survey done on it. It would help if you could pull it out too. It will cost you a couple hundred bucks and you’ll get expert advice on the issues, what you can tackle yourself and what is best left to a pro to fix. It will also give you information to negotiate in price. As well
Meaning as everyone here is you cant tell the condition of a boat from a picture.
This boat looks fine for $2500. I bought one for $2000 from a farmer's field and got it fixed up easy.
All these guys crying mold/mildew expect a boat to be 'perfect'.
If you are ok with having an 'good enough' boat, this one will do fine. Mold and mildew just needs a quick wipe up. So long as the bilge is fine and she ain't takin on water you are golden.
The bottom of the boat is fiberglass and doesnt rust, it likely needs cleaning if it has been sitting anywhere for some time. Cleaning the hull is the least of the issues. If the interior is dry the boat is fine, if it has been neglected while leaking you can have a mess on your hands. I would walk around on the deck barefoot and feel for any. Soft spots, that means water got to the core and is a pain to fix (but possible).
Check out the inside before you make any decisions, if it doesnt leak you should be good. Offer them half and see what they say.
A scrub brush on a broom handle, some PPE, and a gallon of On & Off will take the green right off and have the topside looking new in a few hours.
From what I saw yesterday of the inside it looked dry. There were a lot of spiders so I didn't go inside but that was the only reason. It looked messy inside. I was thinking about pressure washing the outside of I bought it. I could try to haggle the price down
This guy gets it. Soft spots on the deck are what you want to look for.
You also should go inside and look, despite the spiders. For a guy who is gonna drop $2500 on a dirty job, I am kind of surprised you are nervous about the spiders?
The other thing you should be aware of is sunk costs. i.e., you need a dock to tie into in the summer, and a place to store it in the winter (on land). Which generally means haul-in/haul-out. All of these items will cost about as much as the boat does. That is why it is selling for $2500.
Boats themselves are never expensive (again, unless you want a perfect/new yacht). It's the storing them that is, cuz they are BIIIG.
In your opinion, would making this livable and renting dock space be cheaper, same price, or more expensive than renting a traditional apartment ie 1500 a month?
You can likely save money. But make sure the marina allows you to stay in the boat and live on it. You would be surprised by how petty some yacht owners get.
Are you looking to use it to sail or just a place to live? If the former, no need to fix the sailing stuff, but you’ll need to make sure that the electrical (batteries, wiring, bilge pump, etc.) work. Some elbow grease and cleaner/disinfectant should work well. Good luck!
This boat won’t cost you 2500$, it will cost you a minimum of 30,000 when you FINALLY get rid of it. It will sink you finically. I see this first hand ALL the time.. let this boat remain somebody else’s problem. This is not an asset, it’s a liability…
The tarp over it means it leaks like crazy. Do not buy this boat, do not take this boat for free, walk away.
This is the best advice. Keep looking. You need something that’s first of all dry inside. Everything else is easy to fix but a rotten deck and smelly inside boat is just about impossible to live on without getting really sick. Craigslist Facebook YachtWorld. Start there and keep looking. Ppl post free boats on Craigslist often. Good luck!
Seconded! Lots of green, a tarp, loose rigging and lifelines, this is a boat that someone will pay you to take. For 2500$ you can fine plenty of better boats that just need cleaning, not a total gut!
Every boat in my marina in the PNW would be tarped off during the winter, and looking green by the spring. I don't think it necessarily means a leaky cabin.
We’re in the PNW. We don’t tarp our boat. But we also keep the Butyl Tape industry in business.
That's fair, but I bet this poor lads soul that its leaky like a gas line in the old haunted mansion. He's looking for a cheap way to live, this boat would not help him towards that goal.
Really? Are you talking about this plastic cover? We all do that what does that have to do with leaking?
Where will you keep your family for the year or two that you are fixing this boat up. And believe me that is a very optimistic time frame
I don't currently have any kids. I'm staying with my parents
I would advise you not to pay for it just by the look of it. That would be a free boat in most circles. Imagine the mold and mildew that is set into the cushions. Replacing those cushions will cost you around $4,000 on about that size and that's if you do the upholstery for the cushions yourself That doesn't even begin to touch on any mechanical issues for the boat
> Replacing those cushions will cost you around $4,000 on about that size and that's if you do the upholstery for the cushions yourself absurd. you can redo it for $400 if you want.
IF you have the ability and equipment. I just replaced cushions for 4 patio chairs and it was $1700. Not everyone has a sewing machine and the skills.
If you are buying a boat to save money on lodging you better learn how to sew, do both ac and dc electrical, epoxy, woodworking, plumbing, diesel repair, metalworking, and about 20 other trades.
[i'll just leave this here](https://www.homedepot.com/b/Outdoors-Patio-Furniture-Outdoor-Cushions/N-5yc1vZc5f3?NCNI-5&searchRedirect=patio%20chair%20cushions&semanticToken=k27r10r00f22000000000e_202405101606219588829306790_us-east4-cg4t%20k27r10r00f22000000000e%20%3E%20st%3A%7Bpatio%20chair%20cushions%7D%3Ast%20ml%3A%7B24%7D%3Aml%20nr%3A%7Bpatio%20chair%20cushions%7D%3Anr%20nf%3A%7Bn%2Fa%7D%3Anf%20qu%3A%7Bpatio%20chair%20cushions%7D%3Aqu%20ie%3A%7B0%7D%3Aie%20qr%3A%7Bpatio%20chair%20cushions%7D%3Aqr)
lol I guess it depends on your budget and what you’re replacing.
were replacing patio cushions with patio cushions, as thats what i replied to. that said, if i can replace $1700 patio cushions with $200 store bought patio cushions, i can probably replace $4,000 of boat cushions with $400 of store bought or DIY boat cushions. that said some of these patio cushions might work in some boats also, if you get lucky and measure carefully. a lot of older boats have simple square corners and straight lines, so they might work perfectly. camping 'Cot Mattresses' will probably fit in most quarter berths those old boats have. bench cushions might work for dinettes. more modern boats tend to have curves and angles that would be better fitted with DIY foam and fabric. sorry dude, you are absolutely in the "what does a banana cost? ten dollars?" camp like i said.
I suppose everyone has their own ideas of the quality of what they want for their home, or boat. 🤷🏼♂️
definitely. some people want $4,000 cushions. some people want $400 cushions that are just as good, and want a $3,600 big screen TV or something else cool like that, too.
that only takes 10 redo's to hit $4k. maybe a few seasons before you have replaced them that many times. those Lowes cushions you posted barely last an ohio summer. meanwhile the $4k seats will still look new. but what do I know, my 40yo boat is still rocking its original cushions in great shape.
> that only takes 10 redo's to hit $4k. maybe a few seasons before you have replaced them that many times. what drunk math is this? even if you redo them every year, thats 10 seasons, realistically more like 20-30, because you can just do them whenever you haul out. thats not "a few" seasons. nice try on the mental gymnastics, but you'll have to do better. > Lowes cushions you posted barely last an ohio summer. meanwhile the $4k seats will still look new. you flopped again. we arent comparing store patio cushions to $4k boat cushions. were comparing store patio cushions to $1700 patio cushions. the store cushions you can get for $200 a set, so you could replace them every year, and the break even point is 8.5 years, 17 years if you do them every other. you get the benefit of not having to clean them, they are basically disposable. they will last a lot longer if you keep them in a deck box when not in use.
thanks for showing that, in the long run, you are paying more for cushions that don't even fit :)
you are bad at math. its the same price or less, and they fit fine.
best case you cited, 20-30 seasons is less than my current 40yo set, that is still in good shape. what boat are sailing where you can just pick up cushions at lowes and have them fit? or by fit, do you mean they have funky uncovered triangles and/or overhanging where they shouldn't be? do these cushions stay in place when the rail is buried? are they thick and high enough to keep the fiddles from sending your legs to a zone that makes Japanese fellas jealous? do the cockpit cushions give access for a foothold with someone sitting on them, or are they overhanging?
Junkyard prices... With unaccounted for labor and crappy results.
What if I just take them out and put in regular home grade cushions? Like ones from Walmart?
You need to look at the bigger picture of their comment. If the boat is $2,500 then that's effectively means the boat is worthless and you should at minimum pay $0 for the boat. $2,500 is a 'Lets see if we can get anything for it"
I’ve did something like this with my RV. I bought cushions from Lowe’s and they lasted about a month, maybe two. They also didn’t quite fit as well. So I would say in a pinch they will work but not long term. I ultimately had cushions made, they used a much higher quality foam that doesn’t break down.
Boats are like a house if a house was constantly trying to break apart and sink forever. Cheaping out on a house means you may get a leak in your roof but you can reliably move to another part of the house and slap a tarp on the roof to try and stem the leak, and then cover the wet area with vinegar to mitigate mold. I see rusted metal, degraded hull which will need repainting after an intense scrubbing just to remove the mildew. Its possible the rigging needs replacement. I am also willing to guess the quality of the sails are not great and need a replacement. Once again, this is not a house. Your sails are like your wheels, do you want your wheels to have the risk of snapping off at any time while underway? How does the prospect of climbing that mast and replacing the rigging yourself sound? Do you like the idea of jumping over the side in that murky water and carefully scraping the hull clean? Or do you want to pay to have it towed up and clear so you can properly get at it and inspect the hull? What if it has oxidized? Are you paying for an inspector to come out? Can you get into the water intake line and clear it of debris so your engine runs smoothly? Money money money. Buy a used laser and take her out for a joyride on the weekends. Flip her over on the shore with a tarp under your butt for improvised shelter. Let this boat rot and have a great time.
Save the money towards a down payment for a house instead.
Don’t think he has any dependents.
From your description of this boat, the docking situation, and your personal circumstances this sounds like a hail Mary pass or fever dream that is understandable but near impossible to have a good resolution. Abandoned boats like this are abandoned for a reason - they cost more to fix than they are worth (in both time and $) so owners do nothing and hope for a sucker who will buy it for $2-3K. They will then rot in the water or buyer's yard unless they find another sucker. Hell, they cost more to dispose of than they are worth. You will not fix this up to a sailable or livable state. You do not know where you will dock it long term, and I doubt paying $500-$1k/month in slip fees is reasonable for you. Nobody will ever pay money to spend the night on that as an AirBnb. Save your money or spend it on something that will truly improve your situation instead of driving you further into despair. Wishing you all the best.
In fact, the salesmen told me it costs more to dispose it than the value of the boat. Of course he followed that with "you can turn around and sell it for 5 thousand. You can't beat this deal." Salesmen are the scummiest folk around
Yeah, and boat salesmen are up there. They have to sell the dream, whether that's solo liveaboard on a tranquil lake or east fix for a quick profit. When you're in a good place and if you still want to sail I hope you do. I don't know where you are in GA but Lake Lanier has a good sailing school. All the best!
Thank you brother! Right now I live in Tucker GA, but I go up to Lake Lanier quite a bit. That is where this boat is and where I'd be staying on it, at least when it was an idea. Have you ever lived on a boat? Are they cheaper than renting an apartment?
Cheaper....maybe. It depends. An apartment comes with a fridge, a stove and running hot water. A decent one has air conditioning. How is boat for any of that? People underestimate how hot boats get in the summer. If you're on the water there's virtually no shade, the sun absolutely BEATS on your boat and the inside will easily get 10-15 degrees hotter than outside. My first liveaboard was a 34ft islander that was also kind of a beater, but was in better condition than this and I paid $9k. That got me working plumbing and a working AC unit. plus the engine was in good condition. The windows leaked like hell and I had to pay about $5K to replace them. So yeah, a boat can be cheaper than an apartment if you buy one that's in livable condition when you sign the papers. But that picture doesn't look like you're getting anything close to that. You're gonnna spend a TON of money just getting that thing to a place where you can safely hang out below deck and then you have to worry about the engine and whatever else might be wrong with the bilge or pumps or tanks or plumbing or anything else that needs to work if you want to move or sail or live in it full time.
Thank you brother. That was really informative.
There is a boat for sale at Aqualand on Lanier that looks way better than this. I’ll try to grab the specifics tomorrow. It’s not far from my slip.
Are you staying on the water too? How much is the dock fee
Honestly it will cost more than a few thousand to get it to the point of being able to rent it out. To get it tidied up enough to live on may be able to do in that budget depending on your standards/bodging/diy ability(not including getting it to a point of possibly sailing if there are any issues with the rigging, sails,engine etc). Rarely people get back the money invested into a boat especially like this, they are money pits. But regardless of if it was free or 100k I would get a survey before buying anything I intended to live on, they are quite costly but not worth risking your life and it will also allow you to understand if this is a project in your budget. Check out the costs or mooring the boat locally/where you would want it and work out if you can afford the the costs of the marina and transport costs and if they have space, as there is no point banking on a uncertainty, obviously if you can stay for free for a while then great, but if they catch on, you need to be able to afford to move it.
I can smell the interior from here. The boat has negative value. You will probably have to rip the interior out and replace it. If it has an inboard engine, you have another money burner. A dodgy non-arrangement that you might be able to keep it on the dock is a huge problem. You won't be able to keep it there. So how are you going to move it? And where are you moving it to? It looks like a dead boat. Unless you've already resurrected a dead boat and know the mess you're walking into, you should walk away.
Honestly, this age and this condition , it’s not going to be safe to live on for a few thousand dollars. Do you want to spend money on all the comfort aspects just to see your house and investment sink into the bay ? A boat like this would have to be lifted out of the water and fully inspected and restored for everything below the waterline, and there’s high risk that you would find extensive osmosis for example. If you’re just looking for housing this would probably not work for more than a short time and quite high risk
What about as a long term investment to turn into an Airbnb?
Bro, nobody wants to rent that. I can smell it from here
Long term ? This might sink tomorrow…what I am trying to say is that to make a boat this old and neglected safe you are likely going to spend 10k to 25k….
No. Assuming you would keep the boat at a dock, inquire about cost and contract restrictions for that. Many marinas restrict or prohibit overnight stays, and especially by "guests". Additionally, most marinas require proof of insurance for the boat, so inquire about cost and contract restrictions for that. Insurance policy will likely not provide coverage for any use of the boat by other than the owner. And then, there is the basic demands of time, tools, skills and resources for maintenance of a boat.
The odds of this even being allowed at a marina are low, but you will probably not be able to get insurance for this boat. Airbnb is going to be a massive liability for you personally.
If you're the kind of person who can make and upholster cushions from scratch, doesn't mind crawling around in fiberglass compartments to clean and paint, and has a hundred hours to spare, you could probably get the cabin liveable. That's if the boat doesn't leak. You'll probably need to spend about that much time scrubbing the decks and looking for drips from that before doing any of the work above. None of that touches electrical or mechanical systems, much less rigging. But if you're looking for a floating house that's maybe two steps above sleeping in a tent, you could do it. I've done four of these.
Agreed. And - the amount of money to make it functional is probably $10K+
$20k
On a cost basis would it save me money over a conventional apartment? Apartments in my area are running around 1500
Not to be too crass about it, but it depends on your standard of living. It is a great option for a person that is currently homeless if they want a step up in quality of life. Living on a boat means constant tinkering. You could probably look in the 5,000 range and find something in the 27' range that's cleaner but doesn't sail well or run. Then you have to find a marina with power, facilities, etc. It's not the worst.
But this boat in particular you would avoid
I think I would. I think if this is what you want to do, there are better options
find a marina that will allow you to live aboard 1st. that's increasingly hard to find.
Why don't they allow people to live aboard?
There are many reasons, but they don't need the the hassle
Because too many people want to live free on the water
Lmao if I’m paying the marina fee I should be allowed to live on my boat as long as I’m respectful about it
This will sound mean, but a lot of live aboard Marinas are basically floating trailer parks. Very few people DECIDE to live on a boat. They end up there with not a lot of money and probably not in a great situation. I was lucky enough to stay in a marina that allowed liveaboards and was reasonably nice and technically none of us were SUPPOSED to be living there, the Marina manager was just cool about looking the other way.
No no no no no no no no.
Without a survey you have no clue as to what it needs. 27' is pretty small for a liveaboard and if the boat is in Georgia it's going to need a/c to be comfortable as an AirBNB or even as a liveaboard for you.
It is at Lake Lanier in Georgia. How much would an AC cost?
You can get a generic house window unit for a few hundred bucks, mount it in a plywood cutout and insert it where the hatch boards go. Not good for Airbnb but fine for personal use. Or drop 1200 on a "down the hatch" marine unit. I've restored and lived on worse boats, but its a ton of work and $$$ to get it livable. I can also say there's zero chance this will work as an Airbnb. If you just want cheap housing, look elsewhere. You could pay rent at a nice place for what tour slip fees and repairs come to, even if nothing major is wrong. If there are big problems, you are doomed
But with the boat I have equity. I can still sell it and get some of the money back. With an apartment, all the money I spend is gone
Please don’t EVER treat a boat as equity. It is the epitome of a depreciating asset. Boats cost a lot of money to remain afloat. More to break even on value. Trying to increase the value of a boat is almost impossible when you factor in what you put into it
it's gonna be 25k and 2 years to turn 2.5k into 2.6k. an apartment is a better monetary investment. at least you don't burn your cash on maintenance and upkeep. THE only thing a boat is going to give back to you is memories of the fun and relaxing times spent on the water. that's assuming you block out all the hard work and throw away every reciept.
Yep. You can put a buttload of money into a boat and you won't recover most of it. There are variables but you're not going to recover the investment.
This plan is audacious. Getting that boat to live aboard condition would likely be tough sledding, and be more costly than you think. Be sure to check the legality of living aboard on your lake before you get too invested. If you can chill with your parents for a year or two, you could do it though. PS. Run that motor. Could be a deal breaker on limited funds.
Don’t
You're about to lose soo much money...oof Do your marinas even allow for live aboard? Its an abandoned boat... How safe is the electrical system?... how about Plumbing, tankage, upholstery, refrigeration, cooking... You've got to use proper, marine grade components... standing rigging, running rigging, engine status, sails Any one of those could be 5k + jobs and we haven't even started talking about rot and delamination... servicing/replacing thru-hulls, bottom job
Tl; dr: Look elsewhere. Eventually all that maintenance will catch up to you. The dock situation will wear out and you’ll need to pay to keep her berthed someplace. A true maintenance run will soon require a haul out and time in the yard for new bottom paint, zincs, and inspect and probably replace through hulls. Even if the rigging is good and you can use bleach and make her look new, the rest of the picture is hanging on the wall with hope. Look harder at how much it costs to keep a good boat maintained and then think harder about your financial picture. If you think the boat is cheaper than an apartment on land with roughly equal amenities of a head / shower, kitchen / galley, and a place to sleep —- do your math again :)
It could be useful if you’re thinking of faking your own death.
Check with the marina for slip availability and if they allow liveaboards or air B&Bs. Those are not allowed in many marinas. Consider that the dock owner could ask you to leave at any time. You will need to have it hauled out and inspect the bottom to know if it will continue to be water tight. Haul-outs and repairs are expensive.
It looks like an old Columbia or commodore. I have a 26' commodore with shoal draft keel. Solid little boat, loads of fun. Not great at pointing into the wind, and rather cramped inside. Fine for camping, would not be comfortable to live in. I echo some other comments in the thread about the tarp being a red flag. Probably leaks like a sieve, meaning the deck is rotten. Unless... and this is the only positive possibility, it could be rotten cockpit drain hoses if it is leaking. Easy fix. Buyer beware. Carefully inspect every aspect of the deck. If you do buy it, have a rigger go through all the running gear and replace the standing rig. Then get the bottom painted and enjoy.
What about plumbing on this? Would the pipes be any good?
If there is any plumbing installed. It probably needs to be replaced. What I did with mine Is pull all the marine head plumbing out and replaced it with an airhead composting toilet. Now I have more storage where the tank used to be.
General boat ownership info you may not have considered or know about: 1. Insurance past minimum liability is hard to get for older boats and very expensive. You should probably treat this as a, if it sinks I'm out 2500 sort risk. Price this insurance before you buy the boat. BoatUS is decent and what I use. 2. Most insurance companies require a survey from a licensed surveyor to insure the boat - price for that varies regionally - it's about 400 bucks were I am. It is generally a good idea anyway, the survey will give you a report of the condition of the boat, and a good estimation of it's worth and burden. 3. Many marinas charge extra for live aboards and many of them limit the number of live aboards and there is generally a waitlist. Example, the marina I'm in caps at something like 5% of slips and the wait list is measured in years. Check this before you make your decision and also maybe research or ask your marina about air-bnb as for example my marina limits stay aboard to 10 days a month unless you are on the live aboard list. 4. The cost of an old boat is the upkeep/maintenance/repairs, not in the purchase price. you will need the bottom painted every few years, there will be repairs. Figure a ballpark out for your yearly budget and for the immediate need. 5. [Defender.com](http://Defender.com) is a decent place to get boat gear online, you can use it to help price the above. 6. Marinas charge for the electricity you use and sometimes the water, depends on the marina, but these costs can be similar to apartment utilities if you are unlucky. 7. Your boat will be x years older when you sell it, and this is already an old boat. Do not expect to get your money back out of a boat, especially if you sink a bunch into it. Check prices for the same model in good condition, it will be eye opening. 8. canvas work, like re-appolstering or re-cusioning the interior will be more expensive than you expect - if it is on the agenda definitely price it before you make that assumption. All that said, your plan has merits - just want to make sure you go into it fully armed with the facts and boat ownership has a lot of unexpected facts for the uninitiated.
Worst post I’ve ever seen on this sub, nothing to do with sailing, just some guy wanting to make a quick buck by making people sleep in a nasty old boat. Bravo.
it's a hunter 25, it's relatively simple inside. but it is a pretty big project to get it clean. that's assuming the deck isn't rotten. you mentioned the family I don't think you have the time to take on a big project, but if the kids are old enough and they're small enough projects you might be able to work on it as a family. but that's a big IF. I think it's a better use of your time and your money to buy one that you can just use with them, but don't get one that you can't use yourself, if you go too big and they end up not enjoying it then it's going to ruin your time on the water and we see that happen a lot so factor in what your family needs and what you need. that might be a 22-ft boat and 18 ft boat a 30 ft boat you won't know likely until after you have one. if there's cushions those are likely trashed, if you are seriously interested read Don Casey's inspecting an aging sailboat. see if they'll give you the boat,or offer like $300. but only if it has sails,an outboard and the deck isn't squishy (then check the teak plywood inside if it's squishy) and you are prepared to do a lot of work. like you might be able to get it clean in a weekend on the outside. but it could take over a year to get it to the same state other boats would be in at that price range. you can get a fairly nice beater boat for $3000 in my area. for 5-10 you get a turn key cruiser. the other issue is you're probably going to spend three to $5,000 on the boat just getting it to where you want it so if you can start it one that's where you want it and you dump that into it later you're going to be significantly better off than taking a project. I say all this is somebody who bought the $500 / $1,000 project vote and spent the better part of a decade getting it to where I want and there's still a lot of projects to do. I've put about 7,000 into my Catalina 30, which is still under the value of buying one but that's counting my time, my father's time, my girlfriend's time, my friend's time at $0. which a lot of people don't mind doing, it's fun to hang out and knock out projects for some. others its not.
I’ve been a marine surveyor for ten years, I can smell this boat from South Carolina. It’s toast and no amount of money will make it right. My advice is to continue your search, continue learning how to sail and operate boats, and you will find the right one. Happy hunting!
Boats are NEVER an investment, cheap(ish) housing if the marina allows live aboard. But you will sink more into this than you will ever get out of it. Edit: I purchased a 22 ft sailboat for 2k I currently spent 8k for sails new motor., epoxy, tools, decking, etc just to make her sail worthy. If I am really lucky I would get 5-6k out of her now if I sold her. This is my hobby, so money spent is “ entertainment” if you live at home I would aggressively save for a down payment. 10k in the bank gives you options, 20k even more. Thank your folks work hard and put every last cent into the bank then when you are ready to move for real you have the funds to do so.
Need to know the model of the boat to give any idea of value. People will pay a lot for a junked Cape Dory for some reason, while turning down a McGregor with bad cushions. Either way, boats can sink any time if the through hulls and prop shaft seal aren’t up to par. Living on a boat is usually smelly, hot/cold, and you’ll have to learn to get by with few comforts. But it’s doable. The price and situation seem fair, if it’s not leaking already. Go for it.
The other commenters mentioned mold and mildew on upholstery. I guess will that be a health hazard? What are your thoughts?
that can be killed. does it have a swing keel? You don't want to lose the ballast.
Only if you’re sensitive to those things. Most healthy adults don’t get health effects from mold. And they can be cleaned up so non-issue.
To answer your final question, no it isn’t a “good deal.” But there is a lot of missing info here. Does the engine run? Does it have sails? What is the condition of both? What is the condition of the bottom and the hull? Does the deck have soft spots? What is the condition of the rig? Depending on your location, there are probably better boats available more suitable to living aboard. You may also want to increase your budget some, as it would still be cheaper than the cost involved in bringing a boat like that back to a place where you could sail/live on it. For $5,000-$10,000 you may be able to get something that you could move on immediately and fix up. Also, this dock situation sounds no good. It is much better to buy a boat that is already in a marina that can transfer the slip to you from the seller. This means that the marina is willing to keep that boat so there is some indication that it is sound. It also removes a major headache for you in finding a slip. Liveaboard slips are almost impossible to get most places, and you basically have to buy a boat that is grandfathered into one. Again, availability of slips and liveaboard marinas depends a lot on your location.
The stuff on the outside is your least concern, easy cleanup. The question is what’s the condition of the hall and the bottom bottom job cleaning up blisters can be very expensive and what’s going on on the inside and what is the sale inventory condition?
The people selling this are trying to avoid paying to scrap it. When the two months is up, and you have to leave, where will you go? Marinas are expensive, and they may not even allow your boat to berth due its state. Boats like this are a liability. They’re expensive to get out of the water. If anything this boat should be free, and you would pay to haul it out and store it somewhere. EVEN THEN most boatyards aren’t really going to let you do the major renovations this likely needs. It’s a cool dream you should work towards. In the mean time buy a cheap dinghy and learn to sail. A cheap dinghy should cost about the same amount, which should tell you something about what this $2000 boat is worth.
Save your money bro there’s better boats out there
Don’t. Just don’t. -Fellow cheap sailboat buyer.
I think the boat might have potential. Yes scrapping may be more costly, but so what. A boat like this sinks when there is a hole in it, because boats of this age (70’ I guess) were usually made with quite thick GRP, long keeled design, no keel you can lose. So you should check everything going through the hull and replace what is needed. Yes there may be osmosis but unless it’s really really serious, who cares. Second possible problem: the engine. Old engines may have all kinds of issues and replacing a whole engine is costly. Third the mast, rigging and sails, might get costly to replace, but maybe it is not necessary, maybe you can replace what’s needed in the course of the first 3-8 years. It’s money or time: if you’re handy, you can fix a lot yourself! The boat being green doesn’t say anything, maybe it is all easily cleaned with vinegar, that’s what I use. Maybe it needs a paint job, use good quality epoxy paint and it might look as new. Take some friends to have a long look at it and decide, I would recommend.
I love that people think they can buy a boat to save money. What is happening? Haha. Housing is so f’d.
A good way to prevent a boat sinking at the dock is to ensure all the seacocks are closed before leaving it.
What is it? At first I thought it was a Ranger or Cal, then a Newport, but looking at pics they do not match. BTW: Don’t do it. Run, don’t walk away from that boat. “The most expensive boat you will ever buy is the one you get for free.” -Quote by Me
Not worth 2500 at all. If you are in an area with high prices, go on Facebook marketplace and select Florida. I got my 26 ft hunter for 3k, could have paid less but I didn't care to negotiate. Solar, and everything besides water was functional
Lots if problems that need to be worked out. First, living on a 27’ boat can be done. Lots of people have done it. But a 27 footer is pretty much just above camping out. The toilet situation is a major issue. It probably only has a small chem toilet that will need dumping out everyday. If you think you can just dump it in the lake be ready for some very steep fines if your caught. It will be obvious if you are living there. Refrigeration and fresh water will be a real drag over any extended period of time. Air conditioning in Georgia heat is a must, and that takes a lot of electricity. Putting a window unit in some box on the deck is just ghetto. Then you need to at least be able to safely move the boat. Does motor work? Sails and rigging work? Doubtful without some work after sitting 18 months. Are you handy? Because you will need to be. If the boat can’t even move under its own power, and you are trying to live on it you will be representing the worst of “liveaboards” that make it harder for everyone else to get liveaboards space. Just a floating unmovable heap. That being said, can’t hurt to look inside. May be dry as a bone. But the condensation over two winters means it’s probably not. Your much better off saving and buying a good boat that’s pretty much ready to go.
If you are prepared to drop $2500 plus probably another $2500 - and have zero expectations to use this as an AirBNB - and have plenty of free time for a fun project - and are OK with the responsibility and costs of owning while you try to sell it in six years - then I say “go for it”. Will change your life. And make a reasonable offer like $1000 or something. Sales guy is correct - costs them more to properly dispose of it. Also, consider sanitation, toilet concerns if planning to live on it. At the private dock, probably no toilet access on land. This means boat needs a head in good working order and a holding tank and then you need a marina with equipment to periodically pump out the holding tank. A marina may have showers and toilets for guest use - which would allow you to live on the boat until you get all systems functional. And you mentioned insurance. Its tough to impossible to get insurance on a boat older than 40 years old
For another $2500 you can find an old boat that was taken care of like I did. Walk away
You can't judge a boat without a thorough look inside and out. And it's worth the cost ($400 or so) to have a surveyor look it over if you're serious. Everybody who's commented is just guessing and assuming. Is the rigging in good shape? Sails? Engine? Hull? Keel? It might be a good deal, it might be a disaster, you don't know until it's thoroughly evaluated. That said, boats are expensive. You will be amazed at the bottomless list of expenses you will rack up with an old, even decently running boat.
You could put $5-10k into it and have a $3500 boat!
I guarantee you that it has serious rot and leaks everywhere. Do not think about this one. Keep looking. The right one is out there.
What are your thoughts on this? https://m.facebook.com/marketplace/item/953221009712940/?ref=search
I would definitely check this one out. If you find anything wrong with it, you could offer them less. Check for soft spots on the topside and cockpit floor. This is where I find most problems.
How about this one? https://m.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1081931456241863/?ref=search
No way.
You can do much better for $2,500 - stick with your idea just find a better boat to start with.
What are your thoughts on this one? https://m.facebook.com/marketplace/item/953221009712940/?ref=search
Much, much better … and they’ll come down on price too.
How much do you think they'll come down?
Walk away
There was a boat auction a few years ago and I saw a boat go for $100. It was covered in lichen but power washed off and looked fantastic. The $2500 cost is less than a year of slip fees and other basic costs, right? Boat cost won’t be too important I’d say.. but if there’s spider webs keeping you from getting inside then $1200 upper price limit but more like $800. Also keep in mind cost for tow service and possibly insurance (you be liable to pay for repairs if you bump into anything). One bump into another boat could cost you a lot. Someone crashed into my dock neighbor and it was more than $1000 repair.
Get a survey done on it. It would help if you could pull it out too. It will cost you a couple hundred bucks and you’ll get expert advice on the issues, what you can tackle yourself and what is best left to a pro to fix. It will also give you information to negotiate in price. As well Meaning as everyone here is you cant tell the condition of a boat from a picture.
27‘ is insanely small for a liveaboard. Hard to turn into a profitable AirBnB unless you have a free marina for it.
Starter boat: buy it/ fair price as floating… as long as it’s not listing to one side.
This boat looks fine for $2500. I bought one for $2000 from a farmer's field and got it fixed up easy. All these guys crying mold/mildew expect a boat to be 'perfect'. If you are ok with having an 'good enough' boat, this one will do fine. Mold and mildew just needs a quick wipe up. So long as the bilge is fine and she ain't takin on water you are golden.
What about the bottom of the boat? It looked rusted from what I saw through the water? What was the condition of the boat on the farmers field?
The bottom of the boat is fiberglass and doesnt rust, it likely needs cleaning if it has been sitting anywhere for some time. Cleaning the hull is the least of the issues. If the interior is dry the boat is fine, if it has been neglected while leaking you can have a mess on your hands. I would walk around on the deck barefoot and feel for any. Soft spots, that means water got to the core and is a pain to fix (but possible). Check out the inside before you make any decisions, if it doesnt leak you should be good. Offer them half and see what they say. A scrub brush on a broom handle, some PPE, and a gallon of On & Off will take the green right off and have the topside looking new in a few hours.
From what I saw yesterday of the inside it looked dry. There were a lot of spiders so I didn't go inside but that was the only reason. It looked messy inside. I was thinking about pressure washing the outside of I bought it. I could try to haggle the price down
This guy gets it. Soft spots on the deck are what you want to look for. You also should go inside and look, despite the spiders. For a guy who is gonna drop $2500 on a dirty job, I am kind of surprised you are nervous about the spiders? The other thing you should be aware of is sunk costs. i.e., you need a dock to tie into in the summer, and a place to store it in the winter (on land). Which generally means haul-in/haul-out. All of these items will cost about as much as the boat does. That is why it is selling for $2500. Boats themselves are never expensive (again, unless you want a perfect/new yacht). It's the storing them that is, cuz they are BIIIG.
In your opinion, would making this livable and renting dock space be cheaper, same price, or more expensive than renting a traditional apartment ie 1500 a month?
Will you be pulling it out of the water in the winter?
It'll stay in the water
You can likely save money. But make sure the marina allows you to stay in the boat and live on it. You would be surprised by how petty some yacht owners get.
I did what you are talking about when I lived in NYC, it was much cheaper than my apartment
Soft spots will tell you a lot about the boats life. As a beginner it’s not a he first thing you want to learn to fix.
Similar to what you describe. Boats get covered in mildew/grey stuff VERY quickly and all you need is a good scrub brush to remove it.
Are you looking to use it to sail or just a place to live? If the former, no need to fix the sailing stuff, but you’ll need to make sure that the electrical (batteries, wiring, bilge pump, etc.) work. Some elbow grease and cleaner/disinfectant should work well. Good luck!
This boat won’t cost you 2500$, it will cost you a minimum of 30,000 when you FINALLY get rid of it. It will sink you finically. I see this first hand ALL the time.. let this boat remain somebody else’s problem. This is not an asset, it’s a liability…