Considering a 1986 F-32 convertible

[Sacriverfolks]

Hello all! looking for Trojan info and I came across this board. We are looking very seriously at purchasing a 1986 F-32 convertible here in the California Delta region. I was hoping to get some info from current Trojan owners in order to be more objective in the negotiations.

The asking price is 29,900. It is in great shape both in and out - clean as a whistle and well kept up. It is fully equipped electronics-wise (FUNRO radar/GPS/VHF/Depthfinder). No generator or invertor but four battery banks. There is no refrigerator (broker claims it runs about $1300). No visible problems (i.e. - corrosion or rot) except a small crack in the helm side window (not an issue for use). The engines have - 741(port) and 798(starboard).

My first inclination here is to offer low (he has had it listed for over three months and dropped the price three times - started at 44,900), as I am going to need to install at least the fridge and Genny to use it the way we want to (weekend sleep-on, Delta trip/cruise and Bay (SF) runs. Eventually we would want to add an A/C (or hopefully an A/C-heater combo), but that would be a little down the road. This would obviously affect the final price as it is pretty standard stuff on most boats in this area of this size/design.

Any info or commentary or suggestions would be greatly appreciated - especially from other current or former F-32 owners as this is our first bigger cruiser purchase and we really want to do it right.

[rossjo]

Sounds like a great boat - and fairly priced.

[fpawn1]

I have 1981 f-32 and think it is great---price does not seem bad, but u always could offer lower and go up--i have an onan 6.5 generator-its old, not many hours--and would recommend a gen. for yours--good luck

[Sacriverfolks]

Thanks fellows. This is my first cruiser class purchase, and anything offered here helps in the long run.

[Don Lumber]

I don't think boats are selling very well right now as a rule. I took possession of a 1976 F32 for $1. It runs great and needs a little work but it's worth between $15-20k. They didn't want to sit on it for yet another year and pay storage and marina fees.

[Sacriverfolks]

That is kind of where we are at. The guy has dropped 10-15k in price over three months of listing. I figure to come in low (with the addendum that we have to put in @10k worth of electronics to get it to OUR idea of usable as a family cruiser), and see what happens. If he doesn't go for it, then we will wait until the weather turns and see if he is still trying to sell then.

[Don Lumber]

Not a bad idea. He just might bite if he's really hurting to get rid of it.

[randyp]

Don't forget a good marine surveyor. You may have justification to drop your offer lower once you have objective information from the surveyor in hand. Don't buy it because the price is low unless you know you can handle the repairs and replacements. The Norcold was and is the standard AC/DC fridge for Trojans, but there are some good subs out there (of course, they can cost about the same). Battery banks are great if they have enough amp-hour capacity to handle your needs when you're at anchor and not plugged in. Gen set is great but you can get a decent Honda 2000 or 3000 unit and put it on the swim platform. They're very quiet and worth the $$. Typical to the Trojans of this era are soft decks (due to water intrusion into the balsa core), lack of decent caulking under some of the fittings (like rail mounts, etc). All of this can be repaired. Just know what you're getting yourself into. The price of gas IS coming down, did you notice??

Good luck with what can be a great purchase!

[Sacriverfolks]

The Norcold is the one I was looking at online, but the prices are not to different - like you said. I was also thinking of installing something a little bigger by increasing the cabinet frame there (as long as I keep the weight down i think it will work OK, but if anyone thinks it will overbalance because of a larger fridge, speak up). The Honda generator was also something I figured would work, but I was hoping that by installing a breather conduit that I could mount it in the standard space between the motors where an Onan would go. Again, I do not know (due to lack of experience) if this would actually be doable, but I would love to hear what people think about it.

As it stands, we are holding fast while we come into the part of the year where the Sacramento/Delta area boat market starts to get inundated with boats for sale and becomes super soft and very buyer-friendly. We will watch and see if he drops the price, then go in with a lower offer. If he doesn't bite, then we will wait until it drops more. It is a risk, of course, but it isn't the only boat out there and we are patient.

[prowlersfish]

I don't thing a larger refrige will be a proplem at all .

As far as the honda genset DON'T mount it in the engine room ( or elsewhere in the boat) Where is the exhust going to go ? what about gas fumes ? sparks ? these gensets are not Coast Guard aproved for a resone . they not safe in a enclosed area . To make it safe you would make a wet Exhust system ( a breather conduit won't cut it ), a C.C. aproved ingtion system change the fuel system a down draft carb remote tank etc) and thats just the engine part of the genset . in others word don't do it .it could kill you in sevrel diffrent ways

F you want 110 get a inverter or a real marine genset

rember the norcool will run off you battery if needed

[Sacriverfolks]

Thanks, I didn't realize that you can't run a normal exhaust, etc. with the Honda. I would like to know more about the inverter. I honestly don't know much about them. How does it compare to having a running a/c generator? I would guess that cost is significantly less than a Marine Onan or similar generator. Also, if I decide to go with a jenny, how does anyone feel about a diesel vs. gas? Is better efficiency worth the additional cost?
Also on the Honda, I had considered setting a fixed mount spot on the aft deck to keep it in place while running. Will the deck accept this unmodified, or would I need to reinforce it somehow?

[prowlersfish]

Sacriverfolks , the deck would hold the honda But you will be filling the boat with exhust fumes . not good . You could put it on a swim platform
make sure you have a CO detector .

Your best bet would a marine genset (and the most costly ) on you boat gas is the way to go , most diesel gensets are not rated to safe in a gas boat ( I think one brand is ) and they are even more costly .

A inverter can be used for light use I would not use one for a AC system as it would have to be very large and would run the batteries down in a hurry .

[Sacriverfolks]

OK, thanks for the tips. I'll keep you all updated about things as they happen. Have to be patient for a little bit now until purchase time!

[prowlersfish]

Have you looked at other f32 s that may have what you want all ready installed ?

[Sacriverfolks]

There are not very many Trojans at all in our area here. We had looked at a LOT of different boats to try to narrow down what would work best for us. The F32 was the last one we were going to see on our last boat shopping trip and my fancee fell for it immediately. For myself, it is exactly the body style, size and type of cruiser that I was looking for. I have done a few searches of sales sites gong out as far as LA (south) and Seattle (North) figuring that I would feel comfortable running a fully equipped model close in to the coast to bring her back. But nothing is coming up in the price range/age range that we are looking for.
The fortunate/unfortunate thing is that this is really THE perfect boat for us (us plus three kids and a dog) to fit all that we are looking for in a boat. We really wanted to keep a limit of $30,000 starting price, try to stay less than 25 years old, glass and as close to turnkey/ready to use right now as possible (we could finish out the warm boating season here using a cooler until we get the fridge, and I can borrow a friends' portable jenny and run it on the swim platform when we're just on the river).
So unless anybody knows of anything or any sites that I'm missing that might list a California F32 for sale that falls into this range of needs, then we'll just sit this one out a little and see if we get our price on her.