Next message: Andy Woods: "Re: TWL: RE: Age: Was Great Loop: Solo at 73"
At 06:28 PM 10/1/03 -0700, you wrote:
>I have been looking for a 34 or 36' double cabin trawler, 1978 to 1990.
>These years have been chosen to keep the price down. I have looked at 8
>Marine traders from 1978 to 1986. I live in Connecticut and flew to
>Florida twice in the last month. All of the Marine Traders have awful soft
>spots all over the boat. Almost all have severe water damage from leaking
>windows. Almost all have gas tanks that are about to rust out. I truly
>like the boat but it seems that they turn to junk within fifteen years. I
>went to Florida this week after signing a contract for a 1986 Marine
>trader. The survey was over in one hour, due to the weather damage. What
>gives? I guess I am venting a bit, but I sure am disappointed.
>
>
>I don't really like to knock an entire line of boats based upon looking at
>only a few examples, but when I purchased my boat a couple of years ago I
>also experienced the exact same thing. Seemed that every MT I looked at
>suffered problems identical to what has been expressed by you. Research
>quickly indicated that MT's were poorly constructed and basically "bottom
>of the barrel" boats. Their problems go way beyond what has been
>described here including poor wiring, plumbing, cheap "Chinese" stainless,
>etc. etc. I understand that not everyone can afford a better boat and I
>have indeed talked with owners of MT's that like their boats and it is not
>my intention to offend any MT owners. One big difference in the MT line
>is that they are totally unforgiving boats. What I mean by that is if
>they are maintained to the highest standard, they may survive, but if
>you turn your back on them for just a short period of time they will
>deteriorate at a horrible rate. It did not take me long to rule out the
>MT as a possible purchase. I would assume given your mind set about them
>you have finally reached the same conclusion that I did and will just stop
>wasting your time and money looking at them. Actually, there are quite a
>few far east imports that are worthy of your time. Boats built in the Kha
>Shing Yard - Vistas, Kha Shings, Spindrifts, etc. are all much higher
>quality boats as well as the Ocean Alexander line and several others with
>the Grand Banks probably topping out the list, as far as reputation
>anyway. I know your money is probably tight and you are looking for a
>bargain, but with a boat much like a lot of other things in life, you get
>what you pay for so you better be prepared to dig just a little deeper
>into your pocket if you want a nice quality boat.
Jim Alexander, Realtor
Vista 43
Port Charlotte, FL
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