Sea Ray and balsa core bottoms

[skipjack27]

A friend has recently (in unseemly haste, I fear) bought a 40ft Sea Ray 400 Sedan Bridge (built in 2002) - which, as I understand it, are the models that suffered serious problems of rot in their balsa core bottom. He got it extremely cheaply: $60k, when very similar boats retail in my area for at least $300k.

Tellingly, he bought it while it was on a hardstand and was told that it had "hit a rock" and was sunk for a couple of days - but that there was no lasting damage to important components like engines, etc. The owner nonetheless confessed that he had been quoted "more than $150k" to bring everything up to scratch. My friend is prepared to spend this money - but my concern is what he'll end up with after investing the $60k + $150k. I don't want to rain on his parade and have so far kept quiet about the rumors I've heard about these boats - until i can at least get a bit more info.

Can anyone shed any light on the wisdom or otherwise of this purchase? How bad are these problems? Can they be satisfactorily resolved with a bit of hard cash (e.g., $150k)? Or, as I have read around the place, are these boats doomed?

Jeff

 

[Grub54891]

Re: Sea Ray and balsa core bottoms

Well,a good survey would tell ya alot. Anything can be fixed it just depends on what ya want to spend,with money you'll never recover.
Grub

 

[lkbum]

Re: Sea Ray and balsa core bottoms

Old but may be relevant.. Sea Ray and Balsa Core Bottoms - by David Pascoe, Marine Surveyor

 

[sea wolf]

Re: Sea Ray and balsa core bottoms

Yep, Pascoe called them a ticking time bomb.

 

[steven_p]

Re: Sea Ray and balsa core bottoms

Ticking time bomb for sure. All it takes is a very slightly compromised thru hull fitting to allow water to penetrate the balsa core little by little.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Sea Ray and balsa core bottoms

I'm not sure your area, but the 4 on yachtworld are from $150k to $210k...

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Sea Ray and balsa core bottoms

An owner of a '96 boat of another builder found balsa core to be a problem. That builder used balsa core in the sole. An aftermarket T-top was installed. The mounting screws were not properly sealed. After several years the balsa wicked water and passed it to foam which the fuel tank was encased in. A chunk of floor, some foam, and a 200 gallon fuel tank had to be replaced.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Sea Ray and balsa core bottoms

EDIT 12. Please do not post to threads that have been inactive for more than 3 months UN-LESS you are the original poster. We have very active forums and any thread that remains inactive for that long should be considered "dead". It is especially confusing when there is an entirely new question posted to an old thread. This is considered a hijack. Please start a new thread of your own.


WIMUSKY