Quick & Easy- Essential Checks YOU can do Before Buying a “cheap” project Boat. This may save tears!

[@RefitandSail]

PLEASE NOTE - The boat in this video as been sold to one of the viewers of the channel and will be undergoing a refit by the owner. I look forward to seeing it on the water once again.

[@southernpaths2986]

Oh lord… if I could affordably have it sent to the US I’d be all over this one. It’s a project for sure, but an actually DOABLE project… good luck to whomever ends up with this one, I just wish it could be me.

[@RefitandSail]

Indeed, that’s exactly why I saved it. Thanks for the comment.

[@mrstephenthomas100]

When you say about the feel of a boat you are completely right. I saw a Forgus 35, in fact the 1979 Boat Show boat in Elephant Boat Yard a few years ago. I wasn't going to buy it.........but I did. 18 months later she was on the water, fully restored mostly my work but with help where I needed it. New, virtually everything, and I went over budget. My point is the boat felt right, had one careful owner, and even though it had 12 inches of water in it from time to time due to deck leaks, I knew it could be saved. Golden Grain in now with new owners in Eastbourne.

[@RefitandSail]

Nice job

[@hatatfatcat]

We bought our Colvic 28 last year from a retired sailor who could no longer sail or maintain the boat so he kindly sold it to us very cheaply as there was this feel good vibe for him handing the boat over to somebody who would TLC her, and we wanted to get her sea worthy because it is a lovely boat. So your comments about happy boats makes a lot of sense. Even so it took us a year to get her lifted, cleaned antifouled etc, plus various repairs and we roughly spent the same amount of money on top to be able to use for day sailing, basically to learn the boat. Next year after this winter's maintenance/ repair cycle we are hoping to do some short passages. I think it's worth mentioning that it can be very time consuming and involved and depends on your capability as to whether an old boat is "worth" getting involved with. I expect realistically that in a year or two we will have her the way we want her and it might have cost us our initial investment plus the same again x2 which is not bad honestly but we do all the work ourselves and of course two pairs of hands is a bonus. Your contessa looks very good to me and if it were local to us I'd be tempted to do a refit on it at that price. I guess it would be a different proposition if the buyer pays for the labour and refit instead of doing it themselves? Maybe that explains the wildly varied prices of similar old boats? People wanting to get back every pound they tore up while standing in the shower lol.

[@sailingheretic]

Great video; thanks for sharing your expertise. I found Don Casey’s book “Inspecting the Aging Sailboat” very useful when I bought my 40 yo sailboat. He covers many of the same things you did, but in greater detail.

[@RefitandSail]

Thanks very much for the comment, there is only so much detail I can get into a relatively short video, but I hope it helps as many aspiring re-fitters as possible

[@jeffwillis731]

Excellent informative information, Great for folks starting out.

[@PeterCarrStav]

I know what you mean about the 'feel' the boat give you. There is alot that can be determined by how shipshape and well taken care of the boat is. When I was looking to puchase my current boat, interestingly she gave of very conflicting messages! She was in a dreadfull state of neglect but had at the same time many many details that indicated caring owners. My initial thougts were to run away but I felt there was more to the story... Following some extensive research (talking to the boatyard, class and local crusing clubs & internet searches) I discovered the boat had several very proud and meticulous owners up to the last who apparently neglected her in the last 5 years of owning. She turned out to be a solid boat (following a good measure of low cost TLC) at a bargain price. Now after 4 years of owning her myslef, I'm looking at taking her to the next level with plenty of good advice and ideas from your videos George!

[@RefitandSail]

Great! Always nice to be able to find out the history of a boat as much as poss although that’s not always easy.

[@TheMickybutler]

Compared to similar aged boats, your asking price is very reasonable. At least a buyer has your professional assurance of its structural integrity. Having researched a fair bit recently, I find the asking prices extraordinary, for these old boats. What you actually get for 40-50 year old GRP boats in need of extensive rework, is a money pit and yet they are asking £30K+. It' seems inflated to me, especially when you add material and boat-hard costs. Moan over.Another fab vid with helpful tips. Good camera work too! Cheers.

[@normanrubenis7283]

Really great episode packed with tips, thanks for sharing your wealth of knowledge.

[@RefitandSail]

My pleasure!

[@Manny_Akamotakis]

Great vid. Thank for sharing your knowledge. I bought a cheap boat to learn how to sail . Still going over things that need repairing on the vessel ,and whilst I enjoy tinkering I have experienced highs and lows. I can definitely see the value in spending more for a boat that’s in good condition, rather than a cheapy that needs work.

[@briandbird6339]

Excellent video. Looks just the boat for someone younger to sail and improve over time. Not everyone has capital but many have the skills and enthusiasm to bring a boat up to scratch as income becomes available.

[@RefitandSail]

Yes I agree. Needs some initial work to get it on the water and usable then the rest could be done over time.

[@brianbrowne206]

Definately perfect for the younger person.

[@jeffh5220]

I so want to see the media blasting and power washing in a video. 😂 I’m sure someone would self-tail your cabin sole for that price George, she looks lovely.

[@waterboy8999]

Great video George, very informative indeed. That will be great boat when finished, even more so if you end up doing most of the work!

[@gohanovago2288]

Greate list - thx for the effort

[@RefitandSail]

No problem 👍

[@patrickabas1112]

great episode full of very useful information

[@RefitandSail]

Pleased you think so, thanks for watching and the comment

[@Topsailor-iw4ql]

Nice.. Well worth that price.

[@rolandstockham1905]

Great video. I have also done a few restorations and I think you cover all the important things to assess. I would add a couple of points. If you want to get and keep sailing on a low budget be prepared to invest in developing skills and tools. If you can service/make/repair sails and canvas including cushions you can save significant costs. The same applies to woodwork and electrical systems. The labour cost for these areas are high. The hourly rate for an electrician who actually knows what they are doing is eywatering and rewiring a boat is a fiddly time consuming job! The other thing is expectations. If you want to finish up with a boat in 'new condition' with all the modern services that you would see on a new boat at the bost show it is possible but super expensive and will probably take more time than she took to build in the first place. If you set out with the goal of getting the boat serviceable but excepting the 'pattern of age' as part of the character of the boat you are more likely to finish within budget and on time. Which brings me to the final point on quality. Give me an old blackend interior with not a trace of varnish left but originally build of solid hardwood and I can restore it to a glowing classic look. Give me a modern on in lightweight plywood that looks superficially OK but when you look into the corners the water has got in and it is starting to delaminate and I am going to have to rip out everything pretty much back to a bear hull.

[@bodywood]

Great video with great advice. I am hoping I will get to do my own project soon. Boat is effectively free but need to get it on a ship first. My cost of purchase will be the shipping. Not cheap but there are ways of making it worthwhile. Two years work on the hard I recon and I will be good to go. Just need to stop working.

[@RefitandSail]

Go for it! Stop working soon so the work can start 😁

[@limosalimosa]

Not sure I could detect old damage to the keel. by just touching it. Like the boat in the video, it might just as well have been covered with a new layer of fiberglass and paint and ! would never know what's underneath.

[@robinmilledge9434]

The longest sales pitch for the lowest price tag🤣

[@RefitandSail]

Haha, it’s an instructional video (with a boat for sale as an example)

[@CanadianGrenadian]

Hey man, awesome info

[@RefitandSail]

Hey, thanks!

[@martynallen5402]

Well presented video. Has the boat in the video been sold?

[@RefitandSail]

Thanks. Yes that boat is sold.

[@hernia01]

Great video!! And what a beautiful Contessa!!! ❤

[@RefitandSail]

Thank you!!

[@koolkats724]

Great boat! Wish it was here in Florida!

[@farmerjimbob67]

Umm could have done with this a couple of years ago!😂 thank you George with your help both on and off the camera.

[@RefitandSail]

I guess I know you IRL but I’m not quite sure who you are FarmerJimBob 😬

[@c.a.mcneil7599]

Nice explanation

[@aaronp1434]

hello from ontario canada, in my search for a boat my biggest worry is deck coring- it’s an absolute show stopper for me. i didn’t know the contessa was a non-cored deck! which other boats have a non-cored deck? For simplicity let’s set the date at vintage 1977-1985 years

[@bendaves77]

She's a wonderful old boat for her age and you can see she's been really taken care of.. unfortunately I'm in America or I'd be interested in seeing her in person..

[@_instabil]

Excellent!

[@shawnbartley9223]

Cheers mate, fantastic video, looking forward to getting into your channel.

[@knickebien1966]

10:35 "specticularily"? is that a new word George invented? perhaps a portmanteau of specifically and particularly.

[@RefitandSail]

Haha, chewing over my words there… “particularly” is what I was going for. 😂

[@earthstick]

The boat I have, and keep commenting on, is a 23 ft GRP crusier/racer. I've got into this later in life so I''m not young, but I am putting more into the boat financially than I think I can ever get out of it. That isn't necessarily a disaster because I bought it to learn with, not to make money out of. But the thing that is starting to worry me is that it's not great to sail. I have to motor down a river to get to a bay in the Bristol channel, where I can sail. The boat hardly moves under the motor, and when I get to the bay, if there is reasonable wind, then the headwind and chop means I practically stop moving before I can get the sails up. If I put the sails up early, then it's too much of a handful in choppy sea. If there is less wind and flatter sea, then I can get the sails up, but I still don't move because there is not enough wind. Is it just my novice sailing skills, or is it that small boats have a very narrow window of opportunity? Would a bigger boat 26/28 ft be any easier?

[@RefitandSail]

A larger boat is going to sail a bit faster generally and may progress better but I really can’t comment on your particular boat because I don’t know what it is. I wouldn’t say that a 23’ boat has a small window of suitable weather but it is perhaps going to me a more challenging boat to sail in stronger winds until you have the appropriate experience and skills. Have you considered trying to get a more experienced sailor to come out with you and maybe learn a few things. I have not sailed the Bristol Channel but do understand it can be quite challenging with the tides.

[@pohjoinenkala9301]

Brilliant videos but please, put the music and talk levels so that the music does not wake up all neighbours 😮

[@RefitandSail]

Have been accused in f that before… thought I got the intro and outro music at an ok level in this one. Sorry. I’m a boat builder not a video maker but am getting better 😬

[@pohjoinenkala9301]

😊 it's allright, thank you for the reply and the wonderful clips!

[@MrDoyley35]

Beautiful boat. Would it be a practical boat for Mudeford harbour. Have been looking at a bilge keel Sadler but just love the classic lines of a contessa. Not into racing but looking to do blue water crusing one day.

[@RefitandSail]

I don’t know Mudefoed hbr so can’t comment, not a great boat if it’s shallow or drying unless the mud is very soft and the keel will sink in. Good short/singlehanded blue water boat though. Every boat is a compromise!

[@Topsailor-iw4ql]

What surprises me about Contessa 32 s is the range in sale prices. My second choice the Twister 28 has a range of 5,000 up to just under 30,000. Contessa 32s on the other hand range from oooo up to in excess of over 100,000. Not entirely sure why!!. Still if you have one of these your know why we live with a foredeck designed for crew under 4ft tall and not much to get round on cabin sole wise. Outside the box often people compare the Contessa to a fulmar. Not sure a Fulmar will ever look anywhere as cool as a Contessa on or off the water. I used to get by with 32 gibb winches , no chance on a Contessa, can be hard with 46s.

[@RefitandSail]

Size 40 is just about ok for co32 primary winches but not easy if windy and/or pushing hard… 44/46 definitely a nice upgrade to make life easier. Co32’s have always kept their value… it’s a bit of a cult boat. Can’t really compare to a fulmar wish is a much more modern design (although still a very old boat now), it has more space inside and while similar or slightly faster on the water than a co32 most westerly yachts are not exactly pretty (and I have owned two!). Fulmar is fractional rig so smaller Genoa and larger main… different to the MH co32. For pure sailing pleasure on the water a co32 is hard to beat but I’m not blind to the compromises.

[@aonuryilgin7535]

Very useful video,thanks a lot.What I'm curious is the encapsulate keel.is it the surrounding polyester that holds it in place? If so,the humidty levels at the surrounding polyester will concern risks.for example there is % 35 moisture at around keel polyester,what actually want to learn is if this weight can just drop in storm.wish you the best.

[@RefitandSail]

Not too sure if I understand your question but so that you understand the build…. Once the hull has been made in the factory a large lead casting is lowered into the keel area and then fixed in place with a large amount of polyester resin (probably with chopped glass and other thickening agents), the top of the lead filled area is them glasses over from one side of the keel to the other so it is a very strong structure.

[@juliedouglas2888]

Great vlog...........Thanks.

[@RefitandSail]

Thanks for watching

[@davidsaucedo3]

I would love to find one in California but they are almost non existent here.

[@olivierorban787]

Hello Georges, After looking for a contessa 32 🇬🇧months and months, I buy a Henri Wauquiez Centurion 32🇫🇷In good condition, 1973, original Volvo MD11C,new sails Elverstrom Quite similar to the contessa 32. I put new B&G triton 2 kit + Vulcan 7 I followed your advice for up date Battery to lithium Next step is to change engine… What you think about Beta 25 or Vetus 29? Love your KZbin channel

[@RefitandSail]

Beta 25 is a good option, I don’t have much experience of the vetus engine as they are not so common in the uk.

[@rudbeckia885]

Osmosis, soft decks, bulkhead damage , stress on keel .

[@colint6788]

but don't wooden hulls have better seakeeping characteristics than fiberglass?

[@RefitandSail]

Not really, the material of construction has little to do with sea-keeping or sea-kindliness. That’s all related to the design of the boat, the underwater shape and the general build quality. I’d argue that a GRP boat is, generally speaking, a safer boat than a wooden one as there is far less to go wrong, no planks to spring open, no hood-ends to detach, etc, etc. that’s not ti say that modern production boats are high quality builds (a lot of them are far from it). But a well made and well designed GRP boat will inherently be safer than an equivalent made from wood (cheaper too).

[@colint6788]

@@RefitandSail thanks for that, maybe wooden boat enthusiasts are a little biased, 😄

[@RefitandSail]

@@colint6788wooden boats tend to have been built either back in the era of more traditional design or if built now are replicas of those older more sea-kindly designs. But that’s not to say that they are more sea kindly because they are wood - it’s just the method of construction at that time. But GRP boats feom 50 years ago or built now can be made to a similar design if that’s what people want but the reality is that most people want more speed, better manoeuvring, more interior accommodation but often at the compromise on the design I’m other areas. Oh and wooden boat owners are probably biased- just as GRP boat owners are too. 😂

[@jackwright9016]

Thanks George. Now I want a Contessa.

[@mathew5315.1]

Hi george great vid, quick basic question. Best way to strip varnish of old panel

[@RefitandSail]

It depends… on solid wood I favour a carbide scraper but on veneer that may be very thin a chemical stripper may be safer. Funnily enough we just started a complete interior strip for revarnish today.

[@mathew5315.1]

@RefitandSail thanks George, I actually have both scenarios and have been agonising over the best approach, so I really appreciate your advice. 👍

[@Kevin-hj2mb]

If a boat has obviously been grounded and requires that a bolt on keel be dropped, it and hull inspected, and major repairs performed, what are your thoughts on the seller's obligation to disclose the grounding and needed repairs in the listing? Must they? If they don't, to me, it's a signal to run, not walk, away.

[@RefitandSail]

Generally speaking I think most in the sailing community are pretty honest but there are definitely exceptions. All boats touch the bottom occasionally… that’s sailing for you and if the bottom is soft then no issue but if it’s a hard grounding then damage could be caused, hopefully any problems could be highlighted by a surveyor inspecting the boat prior to purchase but on cheaper boats the cost of a survey may not be warranted. Unfortunately it’s up the the buyer and his/her surveyor to find any issues rather than the seller to point them out so very much “buyer beware” but I would take a dim view of someone selling a boat and withholding a known and serious issue (but it definitely happens!).

[@churchofthegreenflipflop2436]

My only suggestion in improving your video would be some techno behind the dad dancing segment. Also maybe a glossary for words and terms such as ‘woo woo’. 😂😂😂😂

[@RefitandSail]

Haha, good tips… always appreciated

[@Captain-Paul]

Any suggestions for links to a purchase checklist for a contessa 32?

[@RefitandSail]

There used to me a checklist for the purchase of co32’s on the class association website. It may be in the boat sales section.

[@Captain-Paul]

@@RefitandSail yes found it - very helpful response thank you 👍

[@johnjosephmontemayor4449]

Hi George, is this the Beige boat?

[@RefitandSail]

This is “A” Beige boat, not sure if it’s “The” beige boat

[@OnzeManInKazakhstan]

An old boat with several owners will have treated better than a boat with one owner. Every new owner will have at least put in some effort to care for their new boat. A single owner is well capable of creating a nightmare of customisation.

[@redsailor101]

Got an 80s boat thats been on the hard for 11 years. Most is original. How do i restor the deck that is not painted?? I pressure washed it but want to get some protection on it

[@RefitandSail]

Non-slip areas can be polished and waxed to keep them looking good. Don’t wax the non slip though…

[@redsailor101]

@@RefitandSail Thank you for your reply!🤗

[@bendaves77]

My problem is that I look at everything with that point of view.. I see the diamond in the rough rather than a peace of junk.. I was born poor and will die poor and when you live life like this in order to have the nice things others have you're not able to go spend a few hundred thousand dollars on a sailboat. Instead no matter what it is you buy something that someone else has given up on and you make it a masterpiece.. I live in a house that's 120 years old and was in rough shape.. I bought it for 40k.. have redone everything besides the front porch and the garage, just had it appraised and I was shocked when they said current condition its worth 130k.. I might have 65k into it and many hours of hard work and determination..

[@junk_rig_sailor1698]

@bendaves77 I could have written what you wrote Sir.

[@markthomasson5077]

First check, open bank account, if it has an extra zero or over the boat value, proceed.

[@RefitandSail]

I like it!

[@waterboy8999]

Or a fur coat on a tramp as mate Niall used to say.

[@blaaaaahhhh15]

Whoever fitted those speakers deserves a severe telling off!

[@RefitandSail]

Hmm, yeah, I kinda feel the same way, but it’s hard to find a place for speakers sometimes. On my larger boat I just use standalone box speakers as I didn’t want to cut holes in the interior.

[@blaaaaahhhh15]

Agree. So many many more options these days as tech has moved forwards. It in no way detracts from what is a very lovely boat with great potential.

[@waterboy8999]

​@@RefitandSailget an Anker sound core 3 Bluetooth speaker, no cables......

[@DarylSaunders737]

The difference between honest and a pig in make-up.🤔😊

[@paulfitzgerald1466]

After fifty years of owning boats, my basic rule is if it ain’t broken don’t fix it…

[@RefitandSail]

That’s fair but what if you think it may break … ?

[@paulfitzgerald1466]

Everything on a boat is broken, you just don’t know it yet…The real story is to only have things on a boat that are within your skill set, and redundancy for the important stuff, ie two autopilots, several chartplotters, extra anchors and that sort of thing. I have re-engined three boats, my current one has the original RWC VP 2003, I will replace this one after it breaks, not before.@@RefitandSail

[@philipritson8821]

Then fix it once it breaks?

[@stephenburnage7687]

My philosophy is fix it before it breaks. Better to fix it at the dock than at sea.