How do you check a boat hull/keel?

[Colorado04]

I am interested in buying a little 14' fiberglass boat locally. This would be my first fiberglass boat. My question is, how do you check the hull and keel area for water absorbtion from the outside, or can you? It's a 14' Sunray runabout circa 1960. What other things should I be looking for?

Here is the listing.

http://toronto.craigslist.org/boa/351894252.html

I am thinking I can get it for under a $1000 CDN. What do you guys think?

C.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: How do you check a boat hull/keel?

C - that is one old boat/motor combo. The motor is from the '50s, and is a bit small for that hull. You will not be doing faster than 17MPH, if that fast. That boat should have a 35HP motor.

It is hard to tell water absorbtion from the outside. I would expect that that boat may not have any foam (or little) foam, but it it does have foam under the floor, I think you should figure it is wet.

Bottom line, unless you are interested in that model and year, I think the price is too high, and the condition is likely to be poor. If you plan to restore it for antique value, you might find it worthwhile.

 

[Colorado04]

Re: How do you check a boat hull/keel?

Thanks for the info Chris.

I think I will pass on it.

C.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: How do you check a boat hull/keel?

On a boat like that I would go with alum. Several brands out there that have survived over the years. Only thing to rot on that is the transom and seldom did they. BTDT

Old fiberglas boats are just problems. BTDT

The reason FG boats of today are built the way that they are is because of the lessons learned over the years "from old fiberglas boat problems".

Mark