Hello all and thanks in advance.
I have been looking around for a J30 to purcahse but have only seen 1 boat in my area for sale.
I am interested bu the boat has some problems and I see it as a project boat.
I was wondering if someone could comment on what I have found and what it will cost to fix.

1- Interior woodwork on sides moldy/dryrotting
2- Motor -condition unknown, hour meter disconected
3- Crack all the way around keel stub at point of attachment to keel fin and some grounding dammage to bottom of keel
4- Stantion bases loose, some stantions bent (and I assume leaking into deck core/interior of boat)
5- Hull- deflected in at cradle pad at stbd rear. I think there is water in core of stbd rear quarter. Perhaps this is due to water penetration at exhaust thru-hull (read about this on this list.)
6- Bilge full of black fluid - could be oil? or could be really nasty water I did't want to investigate at the time, the smell in the boat was so nasty I had to keep coming up for air.

My main concern is the wet core in the hull. How much does this devalue the boat or is it really just a write-off?
thanks
Francois

Hi Francois,
How much of a project do you want? There are lots of nice boats out there. Searching far and wide for a better J/30 may cost you less time and money in the long run than buying a neglected one "in your area." Unfortunately, it would take a very detailed survey or a very cooperative owner to determine the scope of damage. Good luck.

I don't mind a project as long as the price reflects condition. I'm pretty handy with repairs and upgrades. Rather have it done right (by me) than pay for someone elses quick fix. I figure any 15 year old boat will have some issues unless the owner is as picky/anal as I am. I find that many owners of boats for sale seem blind to major problems though.
Francois

The deflected hull may simply mean that that pad needs to be lowered down its threads a bit. If cradle pads are too far unscrewed (toward the hull) on any boat, the hull deflects. To see it is disconcerting, but normal.

Think of it this way, all the pressure of the keel is trying to push the boat down on the cradle, and that little 6x6 pad is trying to counteract it.

I shopped for the finest J/30 I could find, and I am very pleased. They are such sweet boats.