Not a repair you can handle unless you are a pro. You need an expert without a conflict of interest (insurance company surveyor). Without be being alarmist, this could cost more than the boat is worth. Could be simple but not likely.
Make sure you check the limber holes or you may be very disappointed if they were not glassed and the stringers are rotten. Stringer repairs cost more than you paid for the boat.
Also Crusaders are blue. The engines have non-original valve covers. I wonder what engines are installed. Crusader...
I owned one new. It was a very nice boat. Nice beam and quality was consistent with the competition. You do need to glass the limber holes to prevent stringer rot. The straight inboards were wonderful for handling and trim. It's an old boat now so likely needs work.
Insurance can be resolved by working with a captain for a short period of time. I have a friend who bought a 60 foot Hatt as his first big boat coming from smal MC sailboats. Needed a captain aboard until he was trained to handle the big boat. Went onto cruise the power boat all over the Great...
You need a more comfortable boat. Most transient marinas have dirty public washrooms. I can’t tell you how many I have seen and the Great Lakes have have pretty good facilities. Nothing better than your own clean boat.
Who in their right mind would want to use the boat head when there is a perfectly fine, filthy, smelly, public facility at the end of a long walk down the dock in inclement weather. Maybe someone who was severely toilet trained?
40 feet is a good size for comfort, usable space and the availability of slips at transient marinas. If you end up becoming a serious cruising couple you will end up wanting a boat about that size. You might as well start with the size you will eventually need. A big boat with twin engines and a...
It would be good if you could add the places to get a good breakfast, lunch and dinner in each port. Also you skipped Leland, Charlevoix and Harbor Springs going north out of GH. Ludington too. Those are all great ports. More emphasis on the towns and less on going through the water unless the...
Good full service marinas in West Michigan. Also good independent mechanics service boats in Spring Lake/Grand Haven. Not seen an issue that could not be fixed in a reasonable time period.
The best thing to do is to personally take the cap off and put it in a safe place inside the boat when fueling. Then exercise extra caution when replacing the cap. If the gas dock attendant handle it, you will lose it.
In the 50s today in west Michigan. The crocus are blooming and the forsythia have lots of green buds. I cleaned the garage today and moved the snow blower back to its summer spot. I will probably need it again but it felt good to move it out of the way. Spring is in the air.
This 2024 A5 is the first white car I’ve owned in many years. We usually drive black, silver or grey with an occasional red car. Also the first time we have owned two convertibles at the same time. Liking the way the A5 drives. It’s comfortable and very quiet.
I had planned to retire at 55 and kept pushing the date back because I enjoyed my job. Finally retired at 67. That lasted 6 months and I went back to work teaching at a University for 8 years. Work gives you a sense of purpose. I believe we are hard wired to work.
We owned a 13 foot whaler for the years our boys were old enough to single hand a boat. My wife and I would take it out the Grand Haven channel once a year on a rough day for the fun of it. Great little boats.