Need advice on a Typhoon Weekender purchase

[Brett Freeman]

I'm thinking of buying my very first sailboat. A Typhoon. A friend's mother talked wistfully of their big mistake in selling theirs and after I spotted one, and saw her lines, knew why.

The boat has been neglected but is still sailable. The owners are asking $2000. Too much or just right? Here are her specs as I know them:

1) Typhoon. Circa 1983?
2) Starboard rub-rail is damaged and, about 3' from the front is demolished. Apparently from breaking her moorings during the No-name storm in this area several years ago.
The owners claim the hull to deck joint is not affected and remains sturdy.
3) She has 2 sets of sails in (and I quote) "Servicable" shape.
4) A trailer
5) The large teak rails to which the winches are attached are black from being ignored and have weathered to a point where they are very rough to the touch. Grooved along the grain in fact. Should I wonder about their strength?
6) She has been run aground (sand) far enough along the keel that the rudder popped out from the upward pressure. This I assume is normal and no big deal, but near the bottom pintle, just in front of where the pintle-plate is attached to the keel is a material that has a 'crumbly plaster' look and would crumble if I picked on it with my finger, I suspect. What is the material and is it something to worry about or just get fixed?
7) There is a 1 sq ft section on her amidships (starboard again) where there is a stress fracture (all parallel lines) in the gel coat, just above the water line. The hull however seems okay...
8) An owner installed pulpit has stress cracks around the pulpit stanchions. Potential leaks, or just unattractive? I brought a flash-light for my interior inspection and noticed pretty small washers for most of the backing nuts on the bolts and no nuts at all on some of the bolts...
9) She needs paint. Badly. Her below the waterline look sports 2 large sections where the trailer supports were when the owners last tried to paint her. Not exactly sporty.

A long list, but please help where you can. I love the boat's design and dont mind the hard work to fix her, but I want to sail her while I work on her, not watch my bank account succumb to my ignorance.

Thanks
Brett.



freebs@tampabay.rr.com

[AlanandAnne]

Classic sailboats remind me a lot a classic sports cars. My own experience has found that if I want a particular model I look until I find an excellent example of what I want then pay the $$$$ up front to get it. I have saved thousands on buying a "hobby project" and also ended up buying a million worth of aggravation. These days I prefer sailing and driving to fixing and fretting. Granted that anything used needs some work but I have to decide whether I want to sail it or have a backyard "hobby job". Just my nickels worth... alan



alanXXXgm@mail.swbell.net

[Ron Fitzpatrick]

In my opinion, you should look for another Typhoon. I didn't see any mention of an outboard, but the boat sounds like it's starved for TLC. If you need to buy an outboard for this one, you should definitely continue looking. $2K for this one plus the cost of repairs and a motor will probably far exceed what you'll pay for a well-loved Typhoon.



rjfitz@worldpath.net

[Don]

Brett,

You might want to post some pictures of the boat, if you can, most importantly being the areas that need the most attention. Perhaps others or myself can offer some advice on repairs before you give up on the boat. Two thousand is a low price, and should the boat be structurally sound, you could save a classic old boat.

Don


I'm thinking of buying my very first sailboat. A Typhoon. A friend's mother talked wistfully of their big mistake in selling theirs and after I spotted one, and saw her lines, knew why.

The boat has been neglected but is still sailable. The owners are asking $2000. Too much or just right? Here are her specs as I know them:

1) Typhoon. Circa 1983?
2) Starboard rub-rail is damaged and, about 3' from the front is demolished. Apparently from breaking her moorings during the No-name storm in this area several years ago.
The owners claim the hull to deck joint is not affected and remains sturdy.
3) She has 2 sets of sails in (and I quote) "Servicable" shape.
4) A trailer
5) The large teak rails to which the winches are attached are black from being ignored and have weathered to a point where they are very rough to the touch. Grooved along the grain in fact. Should I wonder about their strength?
6) She has been run aground (sand) far enough along the keel that the rudder popped out from the upward pressure. This I assume is normal and no big deal, but near the bottom pintle, just in front of where the pintle-plate is attached to the keel is a material that has a 'crumbly plaster' look and would crumble if I picked on it with my finger, I suspect. What is the material and is it something to worry about or just get fixed?
7) There is a 1 sq ft section on her amidships (starboard again) where there is a stress fracture (all parallel lines) in the gel coat, just above the water line. The hull however seems okay...
8) An owner installed pulpit has stress cracks around the pulpit stanchions. Potential leaks, or just unattractive? I brought a flash-light for my interior inspection and noticed pretty small washers for most of the backing nuts on the bolts and no nuts at all on some of the bolts...
9) She needs paint. Badly. Her below the waterline look sports 2 large sections where the trailer supports were when the owners last tried to paint her. Not exactly sporty.

A long list, but please help where you can. I love the boat's design and dont mind the hard work to fix her, but I want to sail her while I work on her, not watch my bank account succumb to my ignorance.

Thanks
Brett.

donald.metznik@mail.trincoll.edu

[Brett Freeman]

Great idea! I will try to take some tonight before it gets too dark. I will scan 'em in as soon as I get them developed.
Brett.

You might want to post some pictures of the boat, if you can, most importantly being the areas that need the most attention. Perhaps others or myself can offer some advice on repairs before you give up on the boat. Two thousand is a low price, and should the boat be structurally sound, you could save a classic old boat.

Don

freebs@tampabay.rr.com

[Bruce Bett]

Brett:

You couldn't do better than a typhoon for a first boat! It is truly a legendary little craft. More than any other boat it defines Cape Dory.

As to the particular boat you describe it's hard to evaluate without seeing it. We've seen several of these boats advertised on this board at $3,000 to $4,000, so at a $2,000 asking price you have something to play with. Keep in mind too it's a buyers market for old sailboats. If you think it's too high offer less.

The stress fractures and cracks around the bow pulpit could be serious, or not, only a knowledgeable person on site can tell you that. The deck hull joint is potentially serious so check that out.

The rub rail should not be too hard to replace if you are a reasonably good woodworker. As for the cockpit combing ("large teak rails to which the winches are attached") I would not worry about the weathering and raising of the grain. Sostenuto's teak has that "textured" look. Clean it up with two part teak cleaner and put some Cetol on it.

I often suggest having a survey be done on an old boat in questionable condition. For a $2,000 boat that may be over kill. On the other hand if, as I perceive, you need to know were to start in fixing her up, then what you learn in a survey may be well worth the price.

My best advice is this. Don't buy an old boat certainly not an old Cape Dory, unless you enjoy working on it. A brief perusal of this board will reveal more postings on maintenance than on sailing.

Good Luck
Bruce Bett
Sostenuto
CD 25 #496

I'm thinking of buying my very first sailboat. A Typhoon. A friend's mother talked wistfully of their big mistake in selling theirs and after I spotted one, and saw her lines, knew why.

The boat has been neglected but is still sailable. The owners are asking $2000. Too much or just right? Here are her specs as I know them:

1) Typhoon. Circa 1983?
2) Starboard rub-rail is damaged and, about 3' from the front is demolished. Apparently from breaking her moorings during the No-name storm in this area several years ago.
The owners claim the hull to deck joint is not affected and remains sturdy.
3) She has 2 sets of sails in (and I quote) "Servicable" shape.
4) A trailer
5) The large teak rails to which the winches are attached are black from being ignored and have weathered to a point where they are very rough to the touch. Grooved along the grain in fact. Should I wonder about their strength?
6) She has been run aground (sand) far enough along the keel that the rudder popped out from the upward pressure. This I assume is normal and no big deal, but near the bottom pintle, just in front of where the pintle-plate is attached to the keel is a material that has a 'crumbly plaster' look and would crumble if I picked on it with my finger, I suspect. What is the material and is it something to worry about or just get fixed?
7) There is a 1 sq ft section on her amidships (starboard again) where there is a stress fracture (all parallel lines) in the gel coat, just above the water line. The hull however seems okay...
8) An owner installed pulpit has stress cracks around the pulpit stanchions. Potential leaks, or just unattractive? I brought a flash-light for my interior inspection and noticed pretty small washers for most of the backing nuts on the bolts and no nuts at all on some of the bolts...
9) She needs paint. Badly. Her below the waterline look sports 2 large sections where the trailer supports were when the owners last tried to paint her. Not exactly sporty.

A long list, but please help where you can. I love the boat's design and dont mind the hard work to fix her, but I want to sail her while I work on her, not watch my bank account succumb to my ignorance.

Thanks
Brett.

Bett@smtp.munet.edu

[Paul D.]

Brett,

I too recently purchased a Typhoon for around the same price. Being neglected for two years left it in a similar state. We have already done a massive cleaning assault and purchased a Sailrite kit for a new main as well as done some minor woodwork...I could go on here! I believe you might try to get the seller to come down a bit for there is no motor and the hull and rudder need work. The rudder specifically would concern me. There should be little play in the shaft and it should definately not be popping out. All this can be repaired though. If you buy this boat and fix her up nicely you may spend more than the additional amount that is needed to purchase a well maintained Typhoon. They are not like homes to buy, fix up and sell for profit. I purchased mine with the intent to restore as much as is reasonable learning from the experience, to sail her a bit, and then find a worthy new owner. I may or may not (read this as "no way buddy!) make a profit but I will have enjoyed bringing it back for another 25 years. You make the call. Good luck and email me if you get her as we will both be "in the same boat".
Sincerely,
Paul



nyeme001@tc.umn.edu

[Rick Parish]

Send me an email. I live in the Tampa area and am refurbishing a 1965 Typhoon. I would be willing to tell you about my experiences and look over your possible purchase and give you my two cents worth.

I'm thinking of buying my very first sailboat. A Typhoon. A friend's mother talked wistfully of their big mistake in selling theirs and after I spotted one, and saw her lines, knew why.

The boat has been neglected but is still sailable. The owners are asking $2000. Too much or just right? Here are her specs as I know them:

1) Typhoon. Circa 1983?
2) Starboard rub-rail is damaged and, about 3' from the front is demolished. Apparently from breaking her moorings during the No-name storm in this area several years ago.
The owners claim the hull to deck joint is not affected and remains sturdy.
3) She has 2 sets of sails in (and I quote) "Servicable" shape.
4) A trailer
5) The large teak rails to which the winches are attached are black from being ignored and have weathered to a point where they are very rough to the touch. Grooved along the grain in fact. Should I wonder about their strength?
6) She has been run aground (sand) far enough along the keel that the rudder popped out from the upward pressure. This I assume is normal and no big deal, but near the bottom pintle, just in front of where the pintle-plate is attached to the keel is a material that has a 'crumbly plaster' look and would crumble if I picked on it with my finger, I suspect. What is the material and is it something to worry about or just get fixed?
7) There is a 1 sq ft section on her amidships (starboard again) where there is a stress fracture (all parallel lines) in the gel coat, just above the water line. The hull however seems okay...
8) An owner installed pulpit has stress cracks around the pulpit stanchions. Potential leaks, or just unattractive? I brought a flash-light for my interior inspection and noticed pretty small washers for most of the backing nuts on the bolts and no nuts at all on some of the bolts...
9) She needs paint. Badly. Her below the waterline look sports 2 large sections where the trailer supports were when the owners last tried to paint her. Not exactly sporty.

A long list, but please help where you can. I love the boat's design and dont mind the hard work to fix her, but I want to sail her while I work on her, not watch my bank account succumb to my ignorance.

Thanks
Brett.

rick.parish@hbcfield.honeywell.com