Mildew

R

Roarque

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I earlier posted a request about propellor rotation and got some good advice

"We are about to leave the world of Boston Whaler and join the long list of Grady White owners with the purchase of our first 232 Gulfstream. Karen and I have chosen to start with the Gulfstream because of its size - we are not quite ready to jump from an 18 foot Outrage to a 28 foot Sailfish! Since we expect our Gulfstream might be a stepping stone, we have decided to buy a used boat and then migrate to new when we know more about the Grady White family of boats."

Can we ask another question please?

Our marine surveyor ( a professional local to the purchaser) has just informed us that the overhead fabric in the cabin of the Gulfstream we are planning to buy is "very mildewed" and he believes the mildew cannot be treated but rather the fabric needs to be replaced. He went on to say that the interface between the portholes and this fabric should also be suspect and could be compromised.

Further, there is a one eighth inch gap between the engine bracket and the transom of this 2005 Grady White on the port side - apparently the caulking has been torn apart by this gap.

When confronted with this news, the boat seller, through a marine dealer, told me that all boats sold in his state had mildew problems and they know how to fix that and further that in his opinion the engine bracket properly fits the transom.

We are trying to complete this sale from far away and use the marine surveyor as our eyes and ears. Since we're paying him and he has no ulterior motives, we must believe his observations. My questions to you veterans is:

Are these two issues common in Grady White Gulfstream boats? Should Karen and I be concerned? Are there permanent fixes to these defects?
 
A lot of boats will leak some where around a cabin if old enough or pounded enough. Personally... I'd listen to the surveyor and NOT the seller... and walk away... unless you want to buy a project boat and have the cash to do the retsore. If's that's the case then the seller should be offering his boat at a price that takes into consideration the cost of repairs pointed out by the surveyor. That cost should be based on skilled labor doing the job... not you or the seller. I know it's hard to walk away after you find the boat you want only to have bad news dropped on you... but think of it as the surveyor just did you a major favor. Good luck.
 
Can't speak to your mildew issue, but I do have a bracket. If it fitted correctly, there will be rounded edges where the base contacts the transom, and the round over is enough to hold a bead of caulk. But then it should be in firm contact with the transom! I'd call Grady Customer Service and let them be your guide. I doubt they'd lead you astray ... :uhm
 
Just to slightly change the subject I have to wonder if the lack of counter rotating lower units and now your note that the bracket is askew indicate a previous collision with something. :hmm If the numbers on the motors indicate counter rotating lower units and your motors are not counter rotating it sounds to me like the lower unit was damaged and replaced with the lower cost standard unit or maybe they replaced a complete engine. Have you gotten the numbers off the motor yet? I think with that issue and now the mildew there are enough unanswered questions that I would walk away and keep looking. There have to be other boats out there.

As an aside for the outboard guys which motor, port or starbaord, is usually the counter rotating one?
 
JeffN said:
Just to slightly change the subject I have to wonder if the lack of counter rotating lower units and now your note that the bracket is askew indicate a previous collision with something. :hmm If the numbers on the motors indicate counter rotating lower units and your motors are not counter rotating it sounds to me like the lower unit was damaged and replaced with the lower cost standard unit or maybe they replaced a complete engine. Have you gotten the numbers off the motor yet? I think with that issue and now the mildew there are enough unanswered questions that I would walk away and keep looking. There have to be other boats out there.

As an aside for the outboard guys which motor, port or starbaord, is usually the counter rotating one?
Click to expand...
I think its the port engine. Why would the bracket be "Torn" Apart? Maybe he hit something on the port lower and it cause the gap with the bracket.
 
jellyfish said:
Why would the bracket be "Torn" Apart? Maybe he hit something on the port lower and it cause the gap with the bracket.
Click to expand...

Thats what I was thinking but did not know if the port engine would be the counter rotating one. Bracket damage to port and a non counter rotating engine, maybe its all innocent but....

My two cents - move on.
 
Considering your original post where you stated this boat will be a "stepping stone" a primary consideration should be resale value and ease. This boat doesn't fit that criteria. I agree with the likelihood of a collision or impact of some sort.

As for which engine should have counter clockwise rotation (viewed from the rear), it's the port. Counter rotating props turn away from each other at the top.
 
We just walked away from the deal . Case closed.
 
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