Black sludge and mold in bilge General Forum Forums

That boat has been for sale for a long time. It was on the market a year ago when I started looking for my 38.  My first thought would be that this boat may have had water sitting high in the bilge for some period time creating a sludge line and the following mold, an indication of being wet. My water tanks have a 6 inch access installed so I can open and physically look inside the tanks. Not sure what the factory access was. (my front tank has a drip in the aft corner and is not being used, it will need replacement. It has already been coated sealed on the inside and that has failed after 5 years) You could pressure test the tank to see if it is sound. These tanks are stainless steel and what happens is the welds that hold the baffles inside the tank in place rust thru at the baffle welds and these are really difficult to get to or not repairable at all.

Be very cautious with this boat, if a lot of the systems are original and inoperative. Getting a deal in price and then having to spend 50k+ in refit and upgrade is not a deal. Unless your looking for a project. These boats although classics are seemingly not holding any value. My 77 has a brand new motor yanmar40, <200hrs. complete new wiring, standing & running rigging, sails, canvas, batteries (735amp hrs), cutlass brg, peeled new bottom, completely new painted awlgrip hull and topsides, Bow sprit, davits, wind gen, solar, inflatable, She's a real beauty to look at and it was only considered BUC above condition only (which was what it surveyed at). You may want to look up the valuation on" BUCValu". This is the site boat mortgage companies and surveyors reference for vessel valuation. If BUC says its only worth X$$ that's all it's worth based on its condition, regardless of what the owner thinks its worth. This one sounds to be in Fair, closer to Poor condition. That puts valuation around 18k.

Good luck

SV Paper Moon, Port St Lucie Fla.