Trojan Boat Forum

State Farm, no survey, agreed amount.

We used a Farmers agent that got us covered under a company other then Farmers for liability only when we first purchased the boat. We needed it for the marina; they covered our 48 year old boat with no survey for liability only.

rossjo wrote:

Frink98 wrote:Currently the broker says that engines will turn over but that they couldn't get them to start, so we are working a tow.

How long has the boat been sitting? The fuel tank is full of phase separated gas/ethanol/fuel, so it wil have to be pumped out, fuel lines purged and the carbs rebuilt. I'd push this on the broker (or walk away if it was me).

The survey should include a sea trial. I would not buy a boat that I didn't sea trial, so the fuel problem really needs to be cleared up to move forward.

At the price they are paying and knowing 1 V dive is missing I would not expect a sea trial . Of the last 3 boat I bought I only sea trailed 1 and it would not go over 7 knots . I told the survey to skip the sea trial , as I knew the bottom was loaded . the other 2 where fixer uppers one had a engine removed the other had one taken apart .

when you buy a boat at a fixer up price you can't expect much. If you want a turn key boat then you need to pay a turn key price .

But if told it runs I would expect it to .

Your tow may exceed the cost of the boat! There used to be a place to haul
on the Anacostia river(Anacostia Marina) but i do not know if they are still there or not

United Marine Underwriters...1979 / F-36 / ($681.00) year.

At this point my advise to you would be walk away!! I tell you this because the money you think you are saving you will end up spending just to get this boat hauled and in running condition. There are to many good deals out there on boats that do run and are closer to where you live. Just think, they are selling this boat for $3K for a reason.

If I understand correctly after you have made the deal you will be moving the boat to Hampton once the engines are running, do you plan on replacing the Transmission before the move or not? if not that's a long way to go on one engine, 200 miles at least.

I would spend a little more money up front for something that is in better shape!!

Just a suggestion

rossjo, the fuel has been a nagging concern of mine throughout this process. From what I've read, we could be looking at over 200 gals. of bad fuel. At least with diesel, you can have it polished & use it, but once this nasty corn gas separates there's no fixing it. At this point, I'm a bit concerned that the broker tried to turn her engines over. I once did that with a diesel engine in an abandoned sailboat I acquired. It spun fine on 2 or 3 occasions and then one day it wouldn't budge. I gave it to a friend of mine who rebuilt the engine. It took something like 16 tons of force to get the piston out of the cylinder. I don't think he yet believes that I turned the motor over only a couple of weeks before I pulled it. It turns out that there was water in the fuel tank &, when it cranked it over, I introduced it to the engine. I think I'm going to fog the engine when I go up to DC to prep her for shipping.

prowlerfish, you're right. At what we're paying for this boat, we can't expect the owner/broker to jump thru too many hoops.

willietrojan, if it wasn't for the fact that I enjoy bringing old boats back from the brink, I can do the work myself, and I can get most of what I need to do the job at a reduced price I would agree w/ you that it's not worth messing with. There's not much I can't do on a boat. We even have an industrial sewing machine that allows us to do canvas work & ragtops (my wife does most of that because I can't sew a straight line with the monster yet.) I've been wearing these rose colored boat glasses for over 20 years now.

Keelbolts there was a ad in craigslist down here offering to take old fuel If you do have bad fuel it maybe worth looking into when you get the boat down here .

rossjo, the fuel has been a nagging concern of mine throughout this process. From what I've read, we could be looking at over 200 gals. of bad fuel. At least with diesel, you can have it polished & use it, but once this nasty corn gas separates there's no fixing it. At this point, I'm a bit concerned that the broker tried to turn her engines over. I once did that with a diesel engine in an abandoned sailboat I acquired. It spun fine on 2 or 3 occasions and then one day it wouldn't budge. I gave it to a friend of mine who rebuilt the engine. It took something like 16 tons of force to get the piston out of the cylinder. I don't think he yet believes that I turned the motor over only a couple of weeks before I pulled it. It turns out that there was water in the fuel tank &, when it cranked it over, I introduced it to the engine. I think I'm going to fog the engine when I go up to DC to prep her for shipping.

prowlerfish, you're right. At what we're paying for this boat, we can't expect the owner/broker to jump thru too many hoops.

willietrojan, if it wasn't for the fact that I enjoy bringing old boats back from the brink, I can do the work myself, and I can get most of what I need to do the job at a reduced price I would agree w/ you that it's not worth messing with. There's not much I can't do on a boat. We even have an industrial sewing machine that allows us to do canvas work & ragtops (my wife does most of that because I can't sew a straight line with the monster yet.) I've been wearing these rose colored boat glasses for over 20 years now.

Well I hope you get het down here , it'll be nice to have another boater that uses it And I'm sure you'll find hands on help when needed.

If it keeps going in the direction it's going now, we expect to have her on the hard within the next week or so. We're planning on slapping a coat of paint on her exterior surfaces & splash in May. We'll motor sedately from haulout to here home slip, under the one engine, & do the interior & the v-drive in the water.

At 18 kts, Mobjack Bay is just around the corner. As for help, this site's forumites have already been tremendously helpful and prowlerfish is in the marina where I keep my sailboats. I've warned him that I might have a question or two for him. I plan to keep his favorite liquid refreshment onboard X-isle in the hope of luring him (& his store of knowledge) over.

$3.5k with no running engines, missing V-Drive, a long tow, a haul, $300-$500/month dock fees for 6 months+ during rebuild, etc. aren't really a deal in my opinion. But boats become love affairs - and we don;t always make the most sensible decisions in situations when we get that loving feeling.

Paul - the broker said the engines ran - and they don't - hold him to it. He can be reported for misrepresenting the boat in fact.

The Free boat I posted earlier would be my choice for a 1st rebuild project (free, smaller, 1 engine, trailerable so you can work at home) but that's just me. In general, I don't see the point in rebuilding a boat in this economic climate - its a buyer's market and there are a lot of good boats that people just don't want to pay to own/run anymore. For me, I would never own a gas inboard either ... gas problems will make you crazy. Dumping 200 gallons of fuel because it goes bad is a PITA. I'm converting my home generator over to Propane for example, run off of the 200 gallon propane tank I have.

Anyway - I wish you luck - you do have a good support network of Trojan owners in your area!

Having fresh Redfish for breakfast ...

$300-$500/month dock fees ??? not where he will be on the hard maybe 100. and maybe less if you keep the owners brand of beer on hand. LOL .

I have seen Keelbolts work so I am sure he has a good idea what he is getting into . And I believe he will be ahead $$ wise over a turn key boat . From the photos ( if that is the boat ) it looks in good shape other wise .

Other then the Boat I have now I have always bought boats in that cond . and then one I have now was all there but would not run over 7 knots so I took a chance there too , what was a good price at the time .

When you motor it around I will be glad to give you a escort .

Keelbolts

Well my old is up for sale again, and I can tell those engines were running great last summer before I sold it. She is located in the Hampton area so may want to consider it.

http://norfolk.craigslist.org/boa/2289082280.html

Why is every one trying to show him other boats that are not anything like what he has bought already ?? A free boat that will need a lot more $$$ then the tri and is a lot smaller and worth a lot less, a 15k boat that is a 15k boat ? lot more money and still not the same type on boat .

Do you think maybe tri was was bought to live aboard ? ( I don't know) If so would a F26 do ? or even a f32 come close ?

Whats done is done. Lets help out !