Used Grady White and advice on buying one

[ayacht]

This is a repost of my question over @ Hull Truth. It was recommended that I post it here too.

I know I am probably opening a big can of worms and especially being newer to the forum. But I would like some comments and advice on buying a newer used Sailfish 282 say year 2005 or newer. Have my eye on an 06 right now with 340 hours. I have been boating all my life and now i am in the position to get my own. I have a lot of experiance running boats and the ride aspect but as for deep inspection my common sense is one thing but you all have some tricks and advice way above my pay grade.

First some back story. I was looking at Sailfish 2660 WAs and a few used that were 4 years old that I looked at really looked like 10 years old. They may have been rode hard and put away wet but the one I was set on buying got a deposit before I could make up my mind. I was looking at them because of the no wood construction a major fear beat into me from reading posts on this forum of wood in a boat. I should note i am also looking at Pursuits and Southports, may find some others that I like. I am targeting a WA because I have smaller children and it seems to be a better fit for them. Also hoping to extend the season with the limited enclosure.

I have been reading all these posts on poor construction and I can live with some of them but the wood really has me scared and the glass work. Especially the transom and stringer horror stories. Granted most of them are on 10 year and older boats but I do not want to be there in 5 years. So a few questions.

Grady does not mention in the 2006 catalog does not mention the construction of the transom is it plywood or something else?
They do mention the stringers are plywood and how concerned should I be with their glassing technique or lack of there?
I understand the wiring issues are they better now or do we just live with it and plan to have to replace it later? How hard is it to replace in the chases they give?
I am sure there is a ton more and let me know?

I would really love a good list of what to look for when going out the first time to see if it is a lemon or good GW? What hatches to look in and open and what to look for the out of the way stuff. I am pretty good at the superficial stuff.

I do plan to have a surveyor out but I don't want to waste his time and my money on junk. I would like to get a good boat for him to then give it the fine tooth expert opinion on. I have three solid survey guys from other post reviews up here in the northeast that folks recommended on the board. So I fell good when I can get to that stage it is just getting the confidence to get to that stage.

I appreciate all you help and please let's try not to just try to bash them looking for good advice on how to shake out the good from the bad. We can find good and bad in anyone and anything. Education is the real growth I need.

 

[capeguy]

Ayacht,
I just made this purchase of a 2006 Sailfish 282 with T225 Yammies. I've had the boat for 2 months, having moved up from a 1999 GW Sportsman 180.

I do not share your concern with wood, so I am not the best person to discuss that with you. You need to make that call yourself.

This boat is incredibly well built and laid out. I have small children and the WA is superb, they are very comfortable moving to the bow with the high bow rail. The transom bench seat is a MAJOR advantage over others in that it takes so little room and allows for superior storage and fishability.

So far my complaints are limited to auxiliary equipment, not the boat itself. The head indicator is stuck on full, the Raymarine c80 system blows in my opinion, and the head water intake is cumbersome to access. Otherwise, I think this boat is superb.

while time has not allowed it, my wife and I think we could fit 5 of us for a night in the cabin. we have 10, 7 and 5 yr old kids. Four is easy.

I had a surveyor and I knew the seller very well, so I knew what I was getting. The 225s are plenty of power for me, I cruise at about 28mph at 3800rpm.

This model year had some issues with the cabin headliner cracking. I heard it had something to do with the adhesive and GW repaired free of charge. I would check on that with your seller and have teh surveyor check it out.

Not sure this helps, if you have any questions other than the wood issue, fire away.

 

[ayacht]

Thanks for the reply. I went out to look at her today and I had your same thought about my kids. Much better then the sailfish 2660 I was looking at for them. Also alot more room. What a great boat. I never had a wood problem until all the threads I read at hull truth but after looking at this boat. I think would problems are probably not as big of an issue and if the thru hulls are done right I think it is not an issue. The boat just seems really solid.

If you don't mind telling me what you paid and how many hours were on it. The condition seemed mint. Keep up the good survey pointers please like the cabin headliner issue.

There was not a crack anywhere that I saw from the outside. I took some pics and will try to post some.

Mark

 

[ayacht]

]I went out to look at the boat today. I took some pictures of the rear bilge area. To my untrained eye things seemed to be good here. I noticed that the motor bolts appear to be fine with no sinking or leaking goop.

 

[ayacht]

Few more pics

 

[GulfSea]

ayacht, I see you're struggling over wood built vs composite built but like what you see in Grady. The people on this board definitely know pretty much everything there is to know about Grady's. Concern over wood is valid to a degree but understand one thing on Grady's, you'll see 30 year old boats and stories of problematic wood. But what you're seeing is people willing to put time in to rebuild a 30 year old boat! Guess where most boats that old... actually much younger than that go? Out to a field somewhere, a dump or maybe to make a reef offshore. There's a reason people are willing to work on those old boats; they're great products!

I bought my 228 nearly a year ago and am still finding "the little things" Grady does to build quality and creature comforts into their boats. I'm fairly tenacious when I start researching anything. Well I went on a study binge on Grady about 14-15 months ago before buying mine. What I found was a company taking pride in what they do and backing up their product with excellent customer service. I think you'll find much of the same if you do the research. After buying my boat and logging probably 50 or so trips out, I could not be happier! And it just gets better as I customize to fit my own use. My biggest struggle will be resisting to move up to the next size.... and the only concern with wood will be if I buy used. That will be addressed with a solid, qualified surveyor and my own inspection. But it won't stop my interest at all. Wood has been used in boats as long as there have been boats and probably will be used long after we're all gone.

Follow this link and start reading. And I wouldn't hesitate talking with a local dealer about your concerns; sure they want to sell boats but you'll get a feel for how they treat customers. Still even better would be to visit the factory which I would like to do someday. Of coarse, next thing you know, you'll be pulling a new Grady home.... :mrgreen:

http://www.gradywhite.com/grady-built/

 

[ayacht]

I here you on the wood being used in boats look at Old Iron Sides (USS Constitution) Still around from the revolution. I got spoke by doing too much research I think. A good quailty inspection with the right tools from a good surveyor seems to be the trick and a recurring theme on used purchases. I rarely by new now unless I can get 0% financing and have done well buying used. My first inspection was in the water and to really look at the hull it needs to be out so you can inspect all the penetrations.

Funny that you mention the 30 year thing because as I was leaving after looking at the boat I saw a 70s Grady on a trailer on the side of the road. Trailer had a blown tire but the boat still looked good. Boat is still running. If you take care of it, it will last. Hey if you get 30 years and have to replace a transom to get another 30 it is like reroofing a house.

We have the storm coming through so it will be a few days before I can get back to looking at the boat. The marina is swamped with pulls for the storm. I am hoping they pull this one so I can get a good look at the hull now.

The boat has a great layout for me only downside is the passenger seat wish it was a bench but the door does not allow that. Other then that a nice boat and I will probably narrow to this model.

I appreciate the help on this forum. The tips are great.

 

[ayacht]

Close to making a deal but need some help on a few items. The boat has been neglected and I have attached some photos. A lot of scum on it but around the thruhulls there is staining. Any chance of cleaning this up and how hard will it be. The boat really is a mess from a care perspective. Any comments on that too. I have lined up a surveyor and hope he will have some good advice. For a 2006 it looks like a 2002. No meticulous owner here.

 

[ayacht]

Good news is the only thru hull not factory done is the transducer and there were no aftermarket holes in the transom.

 

[ayacht]

For damage in the engine arena I found the bolt below to have gel coat crack around it. Is this a big concern? Also the have chipped one of the skegs should this decrease the price.