If you've read my active thread, asking for suggestions/advice on what to look for on a '76 E23 I may buy, at: http://www.ericsonyachts.org/infoexchange/showthread.php?t=7466 , I DID visit the boat yesterday, (Wednesday), with an experienced Ericson owner (E25) and experienced at what to look for in general on sailboats.
Now that I've seen it and took notes of what we found, I'd appreciate the honest opinion from anyone that cares to share it with me, based on the info I'll try to present here. If you need more info, please ask.
Please feel free to ask me things and/or offer your opinions here, in a post, or in a private message, your choice.
Thanks in advance!
It's a 1976 E23.
All standing and and sail rigging cables appear to be in good condition.
Front and back headstay turnbuckles need to be replaced with longer ones and the toggle on each should be replaced with straight ones.
Mast head slightly twisted (I didn't notice this myself).
Shrouds and chainplates appear okay.
Stanchions (sp?) are broken off on port side, entirely missing one on starboard and the other is bent. No lifeline cable for them. Are they expensive? Are they special for Ericsons or same as others' boats? Are they required for this boat, or can I leave them off for awhile (or longer)?
Mast head antenna cable cut at mast base. Did not see antenna anywhere on boat. Used VHF radio in cabin, don't know if it works.
Although my notes say that deck and cockpit surfaces are marginal, I noticed that running fresh water on the deck (cabin roof?) and rubbing areas seemed to clean them up a bit. Did not notice typical crazing of fiberglass.
Some cracks in fibergass were seen where fasteners may have been overtightened and one mounting flange edge on front pulpit has been bent or pushed into fiberglass surface and one of same flange on rear pulpit has cracked fiberglass possibly from overtightening of pushing against the pulpit in that area.
Tiller handle and its mount to rudder and rudder itself appear okay. Surface of wood tiller appears good and did not notice much cracking or separating.
Appears to have 3 sails. Main is on boom with cover over it. In bags are what appears to be a working jib and a genoa. Did not remove and open any sails, but all seems to feel usable, with life left in them.
In the battery compartment, inside the starboard storage area in cockpit, there are 2 marine batteries that appear clean, possibly recent purchase? Mounted near them is a small automatic charger, likely wired into the dockside power input plug, under a small cover, mounted on starboard side of cabin, just forward from the cockpit.
Did not check any lights or wiring or any electrical to see if anything works. On wall in cabin is a rotary switch for the batteries, allowing to select Batt 1, Off, Batt 2 and both batteries. In the same area is a switch panel for the boat's lights and such. Also a volt meter and another panel, apparently for 120vac power, when connected to dockside power.
Checked the bulkheads where the chainplates attach. Starboard side, where the 5 bolts appear to go through a very thick piece of fiberglass (is that a solid piece of fiberglass, as it looks to be?), there appeared to be a little sign of discoloration on that fiberglass. Don't know if any leakage caused that. If there is wood inside that fiberglass, I'd not know how to check it without cutting it open.
On port side, no repairs were noticed, but the varnished (or?) wood that's there seemed okay. No soft spots or discoloration were noticed. Could it be that this E23 did not have the chainplate leaking problem? Or maybe the caulking around the chainplates, on the exterior, solved any possible problem before it started?
In the cabin, what may be the original cushions are on both bench seats and the V-berth. The two in the V-berth seemed a bit flatter than the others, that don't seem bad in any way. Storage area covers are all there. No porta potty, but there is a mini fridge sitting in it's place (did not check if it works, since dockside power was not connected). No galley area at all. The folding table is missing. Not sure how or where it mounts. There are two household 120vac double outlets mounted (one on each side), for dockside power. Did not check them.
Boat comes with a older Yamaha 3hp, 2 stroke engine. Did not try to start it. Owner says it needs a tune-up, so I don't know if it runs or not.
Owner will sell a 1991 Yamaha 6hp, 2 stroke that I did check. Outboard mount lowered engine into water. I set choke and it started with one pull. Sounded okay to me. Owner says it had recent rebuild, that's why he's firm (so far) on $500 for this engine. (He does not seem interested in keeping the 3hp engine at all.)
Okay, last but not least... I paid a local diver/hull cleaner to check out the bottom and the fixed keel. He spent a lot of time doing so. He's experienced at examining boat bottoms for owners.
He told me that the bottom seemed okay, no cracks, dents, or bubbles that he could find. No problems where the fixed feel meets the hull.
BUT, he told me there were a number of circles, slightly raised from the fiberglass surface, on the keel. He said they did not feel soft and no cracking or other issues, besides these raised circles, about the size of nickles and quarters.
Are these the bubbles that people hear write about?
If so, and they're only on the keel, how serious are they?
Can these be ignored? For how long and what happens if they are ignored?
If or when they need to be repaired, is it worthwhile spending the money to do so, for this boat? (asking opinions, since one person told me that the whole job would probably cost at least $1000)
No trailer for this boat.
No bimini or other top or cover for any part of the exterior, aside from a used main sail cover that's on the mainsail, on the boom.
Okay, I tried to be as detailed as I could here.
The price for this boat, with the 3hp Yamaha that may or may not work, is $900. I mentioned that the 6hp Yamaha that seems fine, is an extra $500. Not sure if I have wiggle room on price for either, but so far he seems firm on both.
Opinions please. Advice.
If I buy it, it'll be my first mono hull sailboat. One that does not need a lot of work or money to enjoy right away. I know that over time, maintenance and repairs will be needed on most any boat. I just don't want to buy a project boat, but rather one I can enjoy without doing much or anything to start.
I'd appreciate your help. Thanks!
Marshall
Now that I've seen it and took notes of what we found, I'd appreciate the honest opinion from anyone that cares to share it with me, based on the info I'll try to present here. If you need more info, please ask.
Please feel free to ask me things and/or offer your opinions here, in a post, or in a private message, your choice.
Thanks in advance!
It's a 1976 E23.
All standing and and sail rigging cables appear to be in good condition.
Front and back headstay turnbuckles need to be replaced with longer ones and the toggle on each should be replaced with straight ones.
Mast head slightly twisted (I didn't notice this myself).
Shrouds and chainplates appear okay.
Stanchions (sp?) are broken off on port side, entirely missing one on starboard and the other is bent. No lifeline cable for them. Are they expensive? Are they special for Ericsons or same as others' boats? Are they required for this boat, or can I leave them off for awhile (or longer)?
Mast head antenna cable cut at mast base. Did not see antenna anywhere on boat. Used VHF radio in cabin, don't know if it works.
Although my notes say that deck and cockpit surfaces are marginal, I noticed that running fresh water on the deck (cabin roof?) and rubbing areas seemed to clean them up a bit. Did not notice typical crazing of fiberglass.
Some cracks in fibergass were seen where fasteners may have been overtightened and one mounting flange edge on front pulpit has been bent or pushed into fiberglass surface and one of same flange on rear pulpit has cracked fiberglass possibly from overtightening of pushing against the pulpit in that area.
Tiller handle and its mount to rudder and rudder itself appear okay. Surface of wood tiller appears good and did not notice much cracking or separating.
Appears to have 3 sails. Main is on boom with cover over it. In bags are what appears to be a working jib and a genoa. Did not remove and open any sails, but all seems to feel usable, with life left in them.
In the battery compartment, inside the starboard storage area in cockpit, there are 2 marine batteries that appear clean, possibly recent purchase? Mounted near them is a small automatic charger, likely wired into the dockside power input plug, under a small cover, mounted on starboard side of cabin, just forward from the cockpit.
Did not check any lights or wiring or any electrical to see if anything works. On wall in cabin is a rotary switch for the batteries, allowing to select Batt 1, Off, Batt 2 and both batteries. In the same area is a switch panel for the boat's lights and such. Also a volt meter and another panel, apparently for 120vac power, when connected to dockside power.
Checked the bulkheads where the chainplates attach. Starboard side, where the 5 bolts appear to go through a very thick piece of fiberglass (is that a solid piece of fiberglass, as it looks to be?), there appeared to be a little sign of discoloration on that fiberglass. Don't know if any leakage caused that. If there is wood inside that fiberglass, I'd not know how to check it without cutting it open.
On port side, no repairs were noticed, but the varnished (or?) wood that's there seemed okay. No soft spots or discoloration were noticed. Could it be that this E23 did not have the chainplate leaking problem? Or maybe the caulking around the chainplates, on the exterior, solved any possible problem before it started?
In the cabin, what may be the original cushions are on both bench seats and the V-berth. The two in the V-berth seemed a bit flatter than the others, that don't seem bad in any way. Storage area covers are all there. No porta potty, but there is a mini fridge sitting in it's place (did not check if it works, since dockside power was not connected). No galley area at all. The folding table is missing. Not sure how or where it mounts. There are two household 120vac double outlets mounted (one on each side), for dockside power. Did not check them.
Boat comes with a older Yamaha 3hp, 2 stroke engine. Did not try to start it. Owner says it needs a tune-up, so I don't know if it runs or not.
Owner will sell a 1991 Yamaha 6hp, 2 stroke that I did check. Outboard mount lowered engine into water. I set choke and it started with one pull. Sounded okay to me. Owner says it had recent rebuild, that's why he's firm (so far) on $500 for this engine. (He does not seem interested in keeping the 3hp engine at all.)
Okay, last but not least... I paid a local diver/hull cleaner to check out the bottom and the fixed keel. He spent a lot of time doing so. He's experienced at examining boat bottoms for owners.
He told me that the bottom seemed okay, no cracks, dents, or bubbles that he could find. No problems where the fixed feel meets the hull.
BUT, he told me there were a number of circles, slightly raised from the fiberglass surface, on the keel. He said they did not feel soft and no cracking or other issues, besides these raised circles, about the size of nickles and quarters.
Are these the bubbles that people hear write about?
If so, and they're only on the keel, how serious are they?
Can these be ignored? For how long and what happens if they are ignored?
If or when they need to be repaired, is it worthwhile spending the money to do so, for this boat? (asking opinions, since one person told me that the whole job would probably cost at least $1000)
No trailer for this boat.
No bimini or other top or cover for any part of the exterior, aside from a used main sail cover that's on the mainsail, on the boom.
Okay, I tried to be as detailed as I could here.
The price for this boat, with the 3hp Yamaha that may or may not work, is $900. I mentioned that the 6hp Yamaha that seems fine, is an extra $500. Not sure if I have wiggle room on price for either, but so far he seems firm on both.
Opinions please. Advice.
If I buy it, it'll be my first mono hull sailboat. One that does not need a lot of work or money to enjoy right away. I know that over time, maintenance and repairs will be needed on most any boat. I just don't want to buy a project boat, but rather one I can enjoy without doing much or anything to start.
I'd appreciate your help. Thanks!
Marshall
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