Tazzy Devil 18 Posted July 8, 2015 Share Posted July 8, 2015 So my search for the right boat continues. As much as a Cat appeals parking is an issue and the convenience of the local pile moorings is appealing, so back to looking at monohulls. There's a couple of interesting boats that are GOP (T28 and a Young 30) that I'm thinking of looking at that leave a bit of cash left over for other bit's and pieces. I'll be getting a survey done but would love to hear from experienced Crew.org people on whether these older GOP boats are worth considering. I think Spencers are the same construction too? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,235 Posted July 8, 2015 Share Posted July 8, 2015 Solid GRP is HEAVY! GOP is good if properly done and maintained. Mostly the issue is finding a good example.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tazzy Devil 18 Posted July 8, 2015 Author Share Posted July 8, 2015 Ahh so survey, survey, survey, survey, but worth looking at then? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Black Panther 1,584 Posted July 8, 2015 Share Posted July 8, 2015 i won't answer as I am biased. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
erice 732 Posted July 8, 2015 Share Posted July 8, 2015 solid grp stands up much better to years of neglect Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,235 Posted July 8, 2015 Share Posted July 8, 2015 True erice, but who wants a boat that has been neglected for years, and weighs way more that it should, so sails slowly! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
erice 732 Posted July 8, 2015 Share Posted July 8, 2015 some of us enjoy turning trees into tools - GOP others getting old tools working again - GRP currently fettling my collection of old tools Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GregW 28 Posted July 8, 2015 Share Posted July 8, 2015 Most GRP boats are production jobs and designed to allow for the weight, although a wooden version will often be lighter. Years ago my Harmonic spent a couple of years stuck on a mooring without being used, grew a mussel farm etc. I hauled out, waterblasted, new antifoul, rolled a couple of coats of of Marinecoat on the topsides, oiled the teak toerail, fixed a few minor bits and re-launched. On the hard stand I was parked not far from a guy with one of the very early DD wood Harmonics. He was digging out rot and bogging it when I hauled and he was doing the same when we launched. Both materials have their issues; ply boats can get rot, glass boats can get osmosis. A lot of 40 YO NZ built glass boats have ply components so you can get the worst of both worlds if you're unlucky. Best thing is to buy a boat that has been in continual use and kept maintained. You might pay more for a boat that's been kept up to scratch, but that 'bargain' that's been sitting abandoned on a mooring for ten years may swallow a lot of coin to rejuvenate and make reliable - whatever its built of. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,235 Posted July 8, 2015 Share Posted July 8, 2015 I have to agree with that KM. Ideally a GOP boat was epoxied on the INSIDE as well. There are still some good examples around, but you'd have to have a careful look (if you know what you are doing) or a survey (or both!). In my comments above I was thinking more of solid GRP (Like a Raven) rather than a cored construction. Cores can have issues as well, and in some cases ply has been used as a core. It's interesting that in my boat (Coremat hull, Divinicell deck), in some of the interior joinery, where ply has been used, with just a light coat of varnish on top - like bunk tops- it is falling apart. Not because it is wet, but after 30 years it has dried out and the glue in the ply is failing! The bits where it was used as backing plates and encased in epoxy are still fine., but the dry bits are weak as.. Replacement bits I've done are epoxied BOTH sides - and edges of course! Replacement is ongoing... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John B 106 Posted July 9, 2015 Share Posted July 9, 2015 A well known boatbuilder told me back in the 80's to watch for plywood problems in some of the popular types. He thought that some of the ply used was going to be letting go 20 ( or 30)years in , as some of it was not necessarily proper marine ply. But , on the other hand , they are pretty easily repairable. The glass boats have the pox to deal with and that's been attacked by all sorts of people for the last 20 odd years too. I remember an H28 next to us on the hard in about ooo late 80's or early '90's. The guy shaved the thing down so far with his grinder that you could literally see him moving through the boat above the ballast. I thought that thing was going to fold down over its keel like a gumboot with a brick on top. Lots of well built cold moulded boats out there. Good timber helps longevity , kauri for example over ply cold moulded. More tolerant to abuse as mentioned previously. 2 skin , 3 skin and ( as a gift to y'all) 4 skin as well. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
erice 732 Posted July 9, 2015 Share Posted July 9, 2015 bought some sails off a reasonably cared for 3 skin kauri boat broken up as had succumbed to freshwater rot of the inner skin presumably over its long life someone hadn't taken enough care sealing the gunnels? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tazzy Devil 18 Posted July 9, 2015 Author Share Posted July 9, 2015 So I really like a Townson 28 so will have a close look. It appears well maintained (thought the interior looks dated). The consensus I'm picking up is that if it's been used and loved it could be a good sound boat and provided i keep on top of it all I should get a plenty of years out of it, but be prepared for a bit of work if stuff goes bad? If the boat checks out, I'll get a survey put over it and if that's all good then maybe a good sand back, paint and new squabs down below and I may be looking at a good family cruiser. Then again for not much more coin I can get into a D28 and a wee bit more I could look at the E7.9 Fx. or wait till an SR26 comes up (missed Spacestation waiting for funds to be released overseas grrrrrrr.....) So many options, so many compromises to make! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
erice 732 Posted July 9, 2015 Share Posted July 9, 2015 love those eyebrow windows and the 1 in westhaven looks + reads like it would be well worth a visit Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chewing Gum 17 Posted July 9, 2015 Share Posted July 9, 2015 Wood is good but must be properly built and maintained. If fresh water has got into it rot is a problem. Our boat is built in 82 from 3 skin kauri with ply decks and has no rot at all but is well maintained ie lots of dollars thrown at it and built by the Lidgards who have a reputation second to none. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.