Trojan Boat Forum

I am looking at buying (really cheap!) a 1975 F32. If I decide to buy it, I will get a full marine survey done, but was wondering if anyone has any advice as to problems that may have been present in this model year. Specifically structurally. Also, I want to put a few upgrades into it and am looking for recommendations on finding decent deals (not that they really exist when it comes to boats!)

Items I would add:
Bow pulpit (wood, figerglass, or other)
Windlass
larger swim platform
Transom door

Regarding the transom door, I would need to cut the wood railing that surrounds the stern where the door would be. On the '75's they have a hinged section of the railing on both the port and starboard sides for boarding. The hinges and connecting hardware is a nice polished crome. Where can I find this hardware?

I know - a ton of questions, but any and all feedback is greatly appreciated!

The biggest thing is core damage in the topsides caused by water intrusion.
Here is a URL with pictures of the fore deck repair that I'm currently working on.

http://picasaweb.google.com/MemberYacths/Trojan

Have an experience surveyor take a look at the stringers in the boat. Early models before 1978 or so had problems with stringer rot because there was not an automatic pump in the bow and they sat low when docked and the water would rot out the stringers all the way back to the engine room if they were not pumped out and kept dry. You can get some left over parts from Bob at Beacon marine for the deck rail hinges that you are looking for. Ditto the previous poster on the deck rot as well. Also take a look at the flybridge roof to make sure there are no soft spots there. A good surveyor familiar with this boat model can find most of the expensive problems. Everything is expensive but you don't want to spend money on fixing up a basket case boat.

You'll find really good advise here, as the replies above suggest.
Take time and read some of the topics here on this forum (many pages) for ideas and some answers to some of your questions too.


Good luck with your purchase.

Kullby, if you are getting to boat cheep enough, and don’t mind doing some hard work , Then if you have wood rot this is no problem. There is an article posted (stringer replaced?? Author (Beachouse)) you should read. Just keep paging back you will find it. Also, go to http://WWW.Rotdoctor.com Pick on Fiberglass Boat, this is 19 pages of information needed for any glass boat owner. My 1976 E26 had wood rot in the front stringers and this boat had the pump installed. Hell I replaced just about everything, it was found in the weeds. Anything is a piece of cake if you want to do it.
In my opinion, there is no better looking boat on the water than a Trojan, and if it can float you can fix it.

Thanks for all the great feedback fellas. I'm glad I stumbled onto this web site... good to come across knowledgeable owners.

I would imagine it would be relatively easy (even for a novice) to find wood rot in the stringers, but are they readily accessible? Especially up near the bow??

Yes the stringers are all accessible by removing the access boards in the floor. You cand take a pocket knife and poke up inside the limber holes which are an arched shape cut into the stringer to allow the water to flow bow to stern in the boat. Trojan did not cover the arch with fiberglass when they built them and they soaked up water over time if it was left in the bilge and not pumped out regularly. This water lead to the rot. You should poke a knife up inside as many limber holes as you can get to and if it is not hard and the knife goes through easily like balsa wood then you have stringer dry rot and they will have to be replaced. It is not impossible to replace but will take a lot of time money and patience. Many an owner have done this and their boats are now ready to go another 30 years.