Storm damage to hull to deck joint

[polczech]

I'm looking at a CP 23-II that rode out a storm being pushed into and rubbing against a piling, with damage to one spot on the hull to deck joint about midships near where one of the shroud straps is attached.  A previous owner had it repaired and the current owner replaced the rub rail.  How concerned should I be about that damage?  The repair is visible and is in a limited area.  Presumably there is a lot of hull to deck joint that was unaffected and so this is not a structural issue, and leaks can be addressed with 5200.  I wanted to avoid hiring a surveyor for a boat in this price range -- asking price is on the move down but is above $5000.  I guess what I am asking is whether I should walk away or offer to buy the boat at a discount that reflects the damage.  The boat is in OK shape for its age with the exception of this repaired damage.  Also, NADA values on this boat (however reliable that may be) are roughly $5200 average retail ($4600 low retail).    (Boat is without trailer.)  It seems like the owner is asking a price that would be for an undamaged boat.  Even if properly repaired, I suspect a boat that has been damaged should go at a discount.

Thoughts?

[MacGyver]

I am in the repair business, and can tell you a boat that has been repaired properly will not deter the value.

But I can also say that not all repairmen do repairs properly, as some have no actual schooling or anything to have properly taught them the processes involved. And most DIY repairs are done on the cheap..... if people werent concerned about money they would pay the right people to do the work right.

If the repair is visible, meaning a coloring in the GelKote repair difference, then I probably wouldnt worry about it a whole lot, GelKote is hard to get a solid match on color, few are able to get it done right.
For example, I have a VIPER 640 in the shop right now with factory color, and yet it still doesnt match........ It is all about age, etc.
Black is not black, and white isnt white...... it is one of the most aggravating parts of my job....

Check the inside of the repair and the outside. If you are handy, it may not be a issue to you, if you arent, well......might be a problem.

As far as a surveyor, be careful if you do get one...... We just had one jackass, fully certified, come and tell us a immaculate Pearson 30 had 15,000 bucks of deck damage! There isnt a spec of deck damage on this boat.
He also said the DIESEL engine was a GASSER.............
The owner has had his license pulled following a 8 page review..... yet he lost that sale..... and it is still sitting on the lot.

Good luck to you, I hope with my response I answered some form of the question. 

Mac

[brackish]

Has the boat been sailed a few times since the repair?  If so, the repaired area would be stressed  by the standing rigging and you can get an idea of how well the repair was done.  If so, hang a hose on the hand rail and let water flow over the area and down the outside of the hull.  Go inside the boat and open the locker on that side and look for leaking on the inside of the hull.  You can also go forward of the bulkhead and remove the screws on the batten at the inside of the joint, pull the batten back and look for leaks there.  If it is a trickle, don't worry, they will eventually all leak in that area because of the working of the shroud tangs, and you can address that with sealant behind the batten. My 2005 has a trickle on the starboard side that dries before it reaches the bilge.   If it is a major flow, more repair is indicated and you can make your offer based on how comfortable you are with that aspect.  Not even sure a surveyor would go that far unless you specifically asked, but it would be a good indicator for your specific concern.

[NateD]

There is nothing that ruins a nice sail like the nagging feeling that the mast could come down on your head at any time. If you're not comfortable assessing the quality of the repair, and don't want to pay someone who is, then pass on the boat. ComPac 23's aren't rare (unless maybe you're on the West coast or outside of the US). For an idea of prices, check recent sales at Sailing Texas (http://www.sailingtexas.com/cboats99compac23.html). Take a poke around that site and compare the boat you're looking at to those boats. Does the boat you're looking at have newer sails? Roller furling? Newer motor? Other upgrades? The trailer adds $1,000-$1,500 or so to the price, so make sure to adjust for that. The right boat is worth waiting for.

[Salty19]

I agree with NateD.   The price does seem high--older boat, no trailer and hurricane damage.  Doesn't sound like a deal to me for that money...that's about the price of a mid-80's version with a good trailer and no damage.

One of the things I'm even more concerned about is what damage don't you see?  It's not like the boat hit the dock once causing the one issue, it likely was slamming against it for hours on end stressing the entire structure.

I say pass on it, not worth the risk, it's not like you're getting a super good deal on it that might justify the cost of a trailer (which by the way will be about $4K for a new one!). Let alone an unknown repair bill if that area is not soundly repaired.

[Bob23]

   My thought...it's worth about half. If the repair is visable, chances are it wasn't done by a professional. Take a real close look and offer half but that's only my opinion. Other questions:
What year? Motor included? How are the sails? Lot's of variables here, mate!
Bob23