Inspecting the Hull
A boat survey is an important part of any boat purchase.
Look at the hull from as many angles as possible. Does the gel coat look chalky even though it has been polished for your visit? If a dull or chalky-looking gel coat cannot be restored to gleaming brilliance with a light rubbing compound, then the hull needs painting.
If there has been hull damage, a good, professional repair should be invisible but if there is a blemish or deformity in the hulls otherwise smooth curve it may be a sign of a less than competent repair.
Fiberglass does not like sharp angles so if you see one, for example where the hull meets the transom, look to see if patches of gel coat have broken away to reveal voids underneath. Check for stress cracking in the gel coat in and around the chain plates and deck fittings such as the bow roller.
Imagine the boat coming alongside a pontoon or jetty and think of where the hull would bump if the maneuver went badly. Once you have worked this out, check port and starboard for any signs of the topsides having been given a good thwack. If there is a wooden rubbing strip, check it for damage or to see if a new length has been scarfed in. Examine the bow to see if it has had a run-in with a pontoon.
If the boat is out of the water, check the keel for bumps or dents which suggest a close encounter with something hard. Are there signs of rust weeping from where the keel joins the hull? If so, then at the very least, the keel needs to come off and be cleaned up before being replaced. New keel bolts may also be required.
Check the hull for hull blisters. Small bubbles and blisters are the most obvious sign and most common below the waterline. Blisters are not fatal and can be cured but the remedy is costly.
Has the hull been painted? If so, with what type of paint and when? Was it painted above and below the waterline? Two or three coats of epoxy paint below the waterline reduces the risk of osmosis.
Alastair Buchans book, How to Sail on a Budget, is full of money-saving advice on the best way to buy, maintain, sail and enjoy your sailboat. Purchase a copy here at Practical Sailor.
