PROSPECTIVE GW PURCHASE QUESTION

Y

Yellow Boy

GreatGrady Captain
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I am looking at a 1990 GW Sailfish Sport Bridge. The broker says the cockpit floor is a little "soft". Does anyone know what this means. If so what and how difficult is the "fix"?

Thanks in advance. This forum has been a real asset for me in my "newbie" gathering of information and advice!
yb
 
The coring is shot under the panels. To do it yourself it's a couple hundred. Most get the problem sooner or later, as long as the stringers are OK it's not that bad. How's the fuel tanks?
 
I asked if the fuel tanks have ever been pulled and the broker said not to his knowledge. He sold the boat several years ago and at that time the fuel tanks were pumped and "inspected" whatever that means. Should the tanks be pulled and inspected? Should a competent survey catch any problems with the stringers? The deck sounds like not a big deal but doesnt that mean fresh water has penetrated the glass?

Thanks for the feedback.
yb
 
The tanks, and the scuppers, are at the age where they should be replaced, especially with the decks being soft (rotted core). If the previous owner/s had take precautions maintaining the deck access plate seals, and cleaned and ventiated below decks every year, then you might have been ok.

But she's 20 years old, living in a hostile environment, and some things will need to be done. Get a survey, and ask the surveyor to pay particular attention to transom and stringers. If the transom has rotted, due to holes for transducers, etc. that were not properly bedded, then that might be your most expensive repair.

If you're serious about this particular boat, the survey is worth the cost.
 
Even if the tanks are good, the fuel fill and vent hoses will be dry rotted after 20 years....they need to be changed.
 
Capt. Bill,
What is involved in cleaning and ventilating below deck? Is it simply popping all the access ports and taking a shop vac and cleaning out the bilge? My boat is under cover of one of those metal pole barn sheds. I bring it up.solely to point out I can leave the access ports open without fear of rain or snow entering the bilge. Funny, or not so, but with my first Grady, I cleaned the interior and did little under the deck stuff. Now, I am getting more into the care of the boat through and through.
 
I make it a point to remove the access ports and rinse the gas tanks a couple of times a year. They've never appeared to be too grimy but the salt has a way of getting into these types of hiding spots. Make sure to leave the plates out and let things dry out when you're finished.
 
I had the '93 Sailfish for about 12 years (she was a year old when I bought her), before Brian bought her. During the time she was mine, I took the deck plates up a couple times a season, and rinsed, and wiped the top of the fuel tank. Left the deck plates off for a day, to dry out below. I also left the deck plates off during winter layup while she wa shrin-wrapped. Inspect, and clean or replace the O-rings from time to time, and lube them with plumbers grease (used for lubricating faucet valves.

When Brian had the boat surveyed, the surveyor made a comment to the effect that the tanks looked like new. In fact, the whole boat surveyed so well, that the only things he could find wrong, (remember this was a pre-purchase surveyor hired by the buyer), was the forward blge-pump float switch was stuck, and there was a spider in the anchor locker!!!

I think that's a pretty good survey for a boat over 13 years old.
 
Survey any boat, any brand, wood construction, no wood construction, old young.

The best advise you will ever get off this site, just have to adhere to it.

Ask here or over at TheHultruth.com for recommendations, for your area .

I used a (rubber stamp) surveyer the (in cahoots) dealer recommended, what a mistake that was. Nicest guy around, still sends me Christmas cards every year. Stevie Wonder could have done a better job. Stevie Wonder's seeing eye dog could have done a better job.
Live and learn.

Interview the surveyor and ask what Gradys he's done, and what he found wrong or not. If he tells you never found anything to mention on Gradys and no reason for such a concern, go to next surveyor on list.

Good luck.
 
Yellow Boy:

Been there done that! The wood core underneath the deck has rotted. Needs attention ASAP. When the deck goes soft the fiberglass deck has to assume all the structural weight (which it is not designed to do) and will crack. Then bigger problems start. Once the deck panels are removed scraping off the old glass and wood core is a long, tedious and difficult job. Re-installing the wood core and fiberglass on the underside of the panels is difficult. There are several threads on THT and Great Grady on this topic. Check it out first before you do anything.
 
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