Buying my first Trojan

[Jerry737]

Greetings all! I'm happy to have found this board. I'm in the process of buying a 1976 F30 Express Sportfish. The boat is in great condition other than the deck paint up front (starting to peel) and the cushions showing some age. Cosmetic stuff really. Because of the price I'm considering going thru with the purchase without a survey. I'm enough of a mechanic that I feel comfortable with the engines as they are. The current owner has documentation of all the repairs he's had done, so I have a fairly comprehensive idea of the basic soundness of the engines. Based on my experience working and playing on boats all my life while living in Florida, I'm also comfortable with the basic seaworthiness of the boat. However, this is my first large boat purchase. Since I haven't owned one of this size before, but merely worked on them, I wanted to ask you folks what you think about pros/cons of not having a survey done. Thoughts?

I also want to ask if anyone has experience with this year model and how it should perform. I like it, and both from what I've seen and read, I think they are solidly made. But I've never operated one in rough seas or close quarters under stress, so any insight into her handling characteristics is greatly appreciated!

[ready123]

Trojans are subject to wet decks and stringers... so I would say don't even think about no survey. If the $600 to get a good survey is not affordable then maybe you should not be buying a 1976 boat.
Sorry to be blunt.. Just how I see it from here.........

[aaronbocknek]

welcome aboard. to be honest, you should at least get the stringers and decks sounded. where do you hail from?
looking forward to seeing some pics.
aaron in baltimore

[Jerry737]

Thanks guys. I decided to go with the survey, but we're skipping the haul out. A small investment for peace of mind plus a list of projects to start off with if we buy her

Aaron, nice to meet ya. I'm down in Accokeek, but we're looking in Chesapeake Beach, Deale, or Annapolis for a marina. We're doing the survey tomorrow just before the current owner winterizes the motors ahead of the coming freeze. Based on the outcome of the survey, we'll purchase tomorrow after he's done the re-winterize work

Pictures coming as soon as we buy.

[prowlersfish]

Hope it goes well

[rossjo]

Get the Survey - money well spent.

Be wiling to walk away -... its a buyers market.

[rickalan35]

What's the update, Jerry. Still awaiting survey results??

[rbcool]

Welcome aboard Jerry!
I'm down in Accokeek twice a week for my company, awesome area.
Chesapeake Beach is nice..... great Rock fishing outta there in the spring.
RB

[prowlersfish]

I wish you would send some of the rock to the lower bay , 2 very bad years down here

[Jerry737]

Thanks, RB! The survey was a great idea. I got an education on older boats from a great surveyor. If anyone needs a surveyor in the Baltimore area, let me know and I'll pass you his info. Having said that, I could have skipped it. The port engine has a blown head gasket at the least. Before the sea trial, we pulled the dip stick and there were water droplets in the oil. Hmmmm ... Then immediately out of the no wake zone, port side stuttered and would not stay running. That was the end of the deal for me. There were some cosmetic issues and little collection of mechanical "you ought to"s that I was willing to accept as part of it being an older boat, but the engine was a no-go. Sooooo ... I'm in the market still

[P-Dogg]

The best money you'll ever spend on a boat is to find out that it is not worth buying.

[aaronbocknek]

Thanks, RB! The survey was a great idea. I got an education on older boats from a great surveyor. If anyone needs a surveyor in the Baltimore area, let me know and I'll pass you his info. Having said that, I could have skipped it. The port engine has a blown head gasket at the least. Before the sea trial, we pulled the dip stick and there were water droplets in the oil. Hmmmm ... Then immediately out of the no wake zone, port side stuttered and would not stay running. That was the end of the deal for me. There were some cosmetic issues and little collection of mechanical "you ought to"s that I was willing to accept as part of it being an older boat, but the engine was a no-go. Sooooo ... I'm in the market still

glad you did the survey. it was money well spent i think, especially when the engine issues cropped up. what size range are you looking at? minimum and maximum LOA? just curious.
aaron

[Jerry737]

I agree! Money well spent on not only the boat I was looking at first, but the guidance that the surveyor has offered afterwards to help me find a real value.

Aaron, I'm looking in the 28-34ish range. Depending on use of space in the cabin layout, we could go smaller, I suppose. Alternatively, I'd be willing to move up to 36 as long as price didn't push them out of my range.

[rickalan35]

Jerry, you probably know this already, but in my opinion a "buyers survey" is also a great sales tool, if and when you decide to go ahead and buy a certain boat.

Surveyors usually find issues of some kind in every boat they survey.

In your offer to purchase, you can ask the seller to deduct the cost of these issues from the sale price. A $700 survey can often save you a few thousand dollars or even more.

[aaronbocknek]

I agree! Money well spent on not only the boat I was looking at first, but the guidance that the surveyor has offered afterwards to help me find a real value.

Aaron, I'm looking in the 28-34ish range. Depending on use of space in the cabin layout, we could go smaller, I suppose. Alternatively, I'd be willing to move up to 36 as long as price didn't push them out of my range.

hmmmm, 36' eh?........