?? Regarding purchasing '83 241 Weekender

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DennisG01

GreatGrady Captain
Joined
Sep 1, 2013
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Location
Allentown, PA & Friendship, ME
Model
Offshore
Hello everyone! I'm very glad to have found this site. I'm brand new to this site, but not at all to boats. I come from a large boating family, with lot's of different boats (including some Grady's) in our past and present... and I'm sure future, as well! I also have worked in the marine industry for the past 25 years.

My brother's family and mine are considering yet another boat. This time it will be used primarily at our cabins on the coast of Maine where it will stay in the water for the season on a mooring.

I'm comfortable doing most service work myself and am also comfortable doing the marine survey myself. But, I'm more comfortable with mechanical work than fiberglass work, although I do have some experience doing large repairs and am not shy to do it again.

My main question is regarding the floor/stringer construction in this boat as I am not familiar with it's general construction. The floor is noticeably soft, starting at the forward, starboard corner of the cutout for the engine (front, starboard corner of the dog box). The softness continues in a relative arc for about 2-3 feet in each direction. It's obvious that the plywood core of the deck is soft, especially since it is exposed around the edge of the engine cutout in the floor (kinda surprised to see that, by the way).

OK, finally on to the question!

The engine mounts are on a separate stringer system than the main stringers, which I'm glad to see. My big question is in regards to the main stringers. Does anyone know if these are encapsulated SEPARATELY from the floor? Other than cutting into the floor, I'm not sure of any other way to figure out if the rot has extended into the stringers. I will likely give a call to Grady to see what their thoughts are, but would love to hear from some of you guys that know these great boats inside and out!

Dennis
 
I am trying to picture your boat layout. On my 25' IIRC the stringers were encapsulated before the liner went in but am thinking there must be some 80's era goop on top of them between the deck and stringer. If you remove the panel over the gas tank are the stringers at each side of the tank supporting the sides of the deck cover? On my boat when you take up the deck I am looking at the top of the stringers and they are encapsulated with glass at least in the tank area. You may be able to poke around there and get at least an idea about the condition of the stringers. Also you can probably inspect the rear bulkhead between the tank void and the engine compartment. You could drill into the stringers with a small bit and see what you find and fill the hole after. The screws that fasten the deck down go through the cover/deck and into the stringer, when I recored my deck I drilled the holes in the stringer larger and filled the holes with a mixture of west and filler. The stringers were in much better shape than I thought they would be, I found very little water intrusion. I think that if you removed the tank you would be able to access the stringers on the inboard side all the way to the hull - I THINK. If you search here for deck repair or similar I believe there are some threads dealing with floor recoring on 241's with pictures. Also I have not been on a 24' in years but on my 25' there are a couple of places I can remove panels inside the cabin at the rear of the cabin and see into the void "outside" the two stringers between the hull and underside of the deck and inspect from there. Perhaps you can do that on your 24'. There are a couple guys here with 24's that are very sharp on repairs/modifications etc. "84 Offshore" is one of them and there are a couple more. Hopefully they will weigh in. There are a few of us "classic" Grady owners around.
 
Thank you, Jeff, that is very, very helpful. The 241 WE is like (I believe) the 24 Offshore's - just with a stern drive. I don't know if that affects the stringer setup, but I would think not?

I opened the deck plate that's covering the "hole" that is just in front of the bilge, under the floor. It was completely empty and, yes, I could see the stringers so removing that part of the deck would give me good access to the stringers as they move forward. It wasn't until later that night until I figured out that empty "hole" would of been for the optional, auxillary fuel tank. Guess I can convert that into a big storage locker!

This is great information and it gives me more to food for thought. Much appreciated!
 
I too am like you more mechanically inclined than with fiberglass.

I have replaced my fuel tank and hoses.
The floor was solid except for the hatches over the tank areas.
Last fall/spring I recored the main hatch........wasn't pretty but it's strong.
Plan on doing the other this off season.
Haven't touched the stringers or transom.......

I was also considering converting that aux tank space for storage........but haven't done so.

Not sure if this helps but I'd be willing to answer any questions if I can.

Mine is also an I/O.
 
Thanks, '84 - I appreciate you taking the time to comment.

Do you have a 305 or 350 in there? What have you found to be a good cruise RPM/speed for this hull? Is it the typical 3500-ish RPM? How 'bout your top speed?

I'm going to go look at it again this afternoon.
 
It has a 350 w/ Vortec heads and a 4bbl Eddelbrock.
I have a 1.5:1 outdrive and turn a 17" prop.
Cruise at 30MPH @ 3600RPM's, WOT ~4500 RPM's at ~40MPH.

I think it would be underpowered w/ a 305.........
 
No problem Dennis hope that all helps. You are correct about the model names from what I can tell. My boat is a 25' Kingfisher which in '83 was a Sailfish with I/O power in '84 the 25's all became Sailfish just using the numerical designation to call out power type. In '84, looking at old catalogs on the Grady site, all the 24's became Offshores - the I/O powered version being a 241 Offshore. If you pull up that rear deck/cover you can probably get a real good idea of stringer condition. That deck panel should come up easily if the owner will allow you to lift it. I would think that the stringers on outboard powered models would continue straight to the transom but that is just a guess. On the 25 the stringers forward butt into the bulkhead between the tank and engine compartment and then are farther apart in the engine compartment. I don't know with a single I/O what the configuration is, the good thing is you should be able to inspect them.

Let us know what you find.
 
'84 - thanks for those numbers. To be honest, that's much better than I was expecting. That 30 at 3600 is quite impressive - I was guesstimating it would be in the low 20's, maybe 25. That's nice!

Jeff - yes, there is good access to the stringers. I looked at it some more yesterday and my initial findings with the stringers are that they seem solid - at least from the "knocking" method. There are some wires that are run along the stringers and fastened in place with cable clamps & screws. I'm going to check with the owner and back those out and check the condition and then also see about a few small exploratory holes.

Something I would change out right away... The raw water washdown was not exactly "up to code"! :) There was a hose attached directly to the thru-hull mushroom which went to a garden hose bib/turn-off and the washdown hose attached directly to that. Missing one important item... the seacock!

I did notice that one of the motor mount bolts was missing - but the wood inside the mounting block didn't seem too bad. If we get the boat, I'll probably just pull the engine out, anyways (which itself seems very good (replaced about 10 years ago, which I confirmed with the serial number)... good compression, manifolds are newer... fresh water cooling, too. That way I can add the seacock easier, address the mounting blocks for the motor mounts (if they are indeed, soft). I would also add a remote oil filter kit. Check out the coupler, too.

I'm really hoping I don't find anything that scares me away - this would be a really great boat for us.
 
Curious as to what engine and outdrive is in her......
Was the whole bobtail replaced (engine and outdrive)???

How much is he asking if you don't mind..........:)
 
The final "looksee" will likely be Friday. I'll put some numbers to the things that need addressing (wiring is a 30-year mess of add-ons and "mods" - but I'm planning on rewiring) and then give an offer, contingent on test drive of course. Price? I'm gonna hold off on mentioning that... yet. Once it's mine I'd be glad to share. Don't wanna jinx anything.

It does have a 350 (carb'd) with an Alpha drive - the drive is original, but looks very good. I don't think this boat was left in the water... if it was, it wasn't for long periods at a time.
 
Good luck...........wasn't prying about the price, just wanted to see what my battleship is worth....... :mrgreen:
 
Well??????????

Just got back from fishing and checked this thread.........was hoping to see something........ :hmm
 
Still is "discussion" mode. The owner seems to think that, among other things...

-- A rotten floor, approx 9 square feet
-- Motor mount missing a bolt
-- Semi-soft motor mount stringer
-- Using a garden hose bib on a 3' length of hose, instead of a seacock, for the raw water washdown
-- 30 years of wiring add-ons, changes, etc = complete rat's nest of wires and various electrical/electronics don't work
-- Missing 3 trailer rollers (wrapped with a rag)

... seems to think that this qualifies for "good" condition. Maybe it's just me, but... :huh

Oh... he's had it on the market for 2 years!

How was the fishing?
 
I was curious how you made out too. As an aside are there any 241s up that way with the old OMC "stringer" I/O set up? You might be able to find a boat in better condition and just repower. A new Merc. 350 I/O would be reasonable and for you guys not too big a project. Then you are good to go with brand new power. I would rather repower than fool with that soft deck area I think. Just a thought. At any rate good luck with the negotiating.
 
That's a good thought, Jeff. Thanks. I just did a cursory look on boat trader, but didn't really see anything that stood out to me. I'll keep checking while I continue (hopefully) to move forward on this one.
 
Saw a few on YachtWorld, but they all were Sandy boats and the prices are nothing to make me take a second look - at least not the asking prices. I know for a fact that this current one I'm looking at was not damaged in Sandy - it was located well inland in PA.

We need to stick with that Weekender cockpit style (or possibly an OB on a bracket). Fishing is secondary to just overall, general use so the extra seating in the transom is important. Regarding the OB, there's numerous small kids that will be in the boat and am not too comfortable without a solid/full transom. If I could be picky, though, I would prefer the OB simply because the boat will be staying in the water for about 6-7 months at a time. BUT, I'm concerned that the typical single 225HP OB I see on the back may not be enough? Especially since it will be normal place to have 700lbs+ of people in the boat.
 
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