1.1.4.3.1.2
Check Condition
Look at the general condition of the boat, equipment, and accessories, to help decide if the boat fits your criteria. Determine also if the trailer is roadworthy, and, if not, what work is required.
Lightning
10745 had sat in Doc’s barn for the past 14 years, and when I first saw it, it
was covered in dust. The seats and
floorboards had long ago been removed, part of a wintertime project started,
but never completed, to replace the broken pieces and refinish them all. All the pieces were there, in a pile in the
bottom of the cockpit, although at the time I would not have been able to tell
if any were missing.
This
boat has drums to provide mechanical advantage for the centerboard uphaul, the
boom vang, and the jib halyard downhaul (i.e. the jib wire). They were in very good condition, looking
nearly new.
On
the hull, the gel-coat was somewhat oxidized, and I could see evidence of good
repairs made to a couple of places in the hull that had been smashed open
during collisions.
But
the ribs, framing members, and keel (all fiberglass over wood) looked solid,
and Doc’s asking price was very reasonable, so there was no doubt that this
boat met my criteria.
The
running rigging all looked good, although I thought probably I would replace
it, if for no other reason than to have consistent color-coding for the sheets.
The
wire standing rigging on the mast looked good too, as did the halyards and
uphauls.
The
trailer had one weld that looked like it had partially come apart, and that
caused me concern, ultimately unjustified as it turned out, since the boat one
the trailer did make it to my garage workshop after we took possession.
One
problem I did not notice was in the centerboard trunk, where the centerboard
pin goes through the hole drilled there for it (it is covered with face plates
on both sides of the trunk). More on
that later, but here I’ll mention that had it been worse, it could have been a
showstopper.
The
included accessories included four old life jackets, a good anchor, and a bag
full of old line of various materials, diameters and lengths.
There
were three mainsails, three jibs, and two spinnakers. The spinnakers were in very good condition, the jibs fair, and
the mains only serviceable at best. The
best spinnaker had been acquired from another boat, and still had that boat’s
sail number on it.
On
the strength of all of this, I decide I was more than interested in the boat; I
was eager to acquire it at Doc’s asking price!