52 Sedan - Bulkhead Split Question

[Ericinmich]

I have an accepted PA on a 2006, starting down the path of survey's, etc.

Looking through the floor access between the two cabins, on the port side I found what seems to be a crack/split in a bulkhead. I attached the pic below, and a snip of which bulkhead it is.

Hull survey by "expert" has not been done yet, and I know anything can be fixed, but does this look to be something I should run away from, or move on to see how it should be addressed? The unfinished top of the bulkhead looks to be as delivered from mfg. There doesn't seem to be any signs of issues on the hull from the outside (or inside I suppose).

The boat is well taken care of, looks to be by an open book type of owner.

 

[tc410]

What you have there is a bulkhead made from two pieces of 3/4” plywood. It is not “split” or “cracked” it is just the two pieces somewhat separated. I wouldn’t be overly concerned myself. Looking at your picture where the bulkhead fuses to the stringer and hull, it appears to be very sound with no signs of additional failure. The “raw” wood looks as though someone trimmed back the finished edge for additional clearance. Point it out to your surveyor, but I would look past it in consideration of the rest of the vessel condition as you describe.

 

[Ericinmich]

tc410 - Thanks for the reply and agree now that I look closer, it's plywood, not a split beam. It would be interesting if any 52SB owners have noticed anything similar.

There are decent service records, the props look to have been reworked in pitch per the recommendations. That was done in 2010, just wondering if that issue was known back then?

Excited to move forward, grew up on Sea Ray's as a kid, 17' SRV and 26DA that parents had in late 70s and 80s.

 

[tc410]

If you move forward, I would suggest getting some west system epoxy down in the separation and clamp it back together as best you can, just to re-mate the two and increase the integrity. Again, another question for your surveyor to direct you on.

 

[Ericinmich]

OP here, a follow up to my own post/question. Turns out after the survey in storage the bulkhead was the least of the issues. The seller's broker was my only contact, and for some reason there were records on everything but mechanical areas. There were a number of issues that pointed to a recent grounding that had been repaired, and some of the repairs needed to be redone (cutless bearing not all the way in and hack sawed off). Anything can be fixed, but with the unknowns of no records and no willingness to budge on price it was a no go. Also, engines showed soot around turbos and manifolds (QSMs) and with new props no prop scans another area of unknows.

The larger story is that the owner had passed away last fall, that was the reason the selling broker couldn't get me more info on the history. I'm convinced that there was a lot of good cop bad cop going on...

 

[tc410]

@Ericinmich , always follow your instinct. Good detective work on your part possibly saved you from dealing with a multitude of future issues. Thanks for reporting back with your findings.

 

[Ericinmich]

@Ericinmich , always follow your instinct. Good detective work on your part possibly saved you from dealing with a multitude of future issues. Thanks for reporting back with your findings.

It does piss me off the cost of the survey. The sad story, owner passed away so broker couldn't get any more info on it's history. I got a bit sucked in, boat in general was in good shape, updates, etc. There just isn't many boats around so thought I had a good one.

 

[Strecker25]

Sawing off the cutlass bearing is wild move

 

[ttmott]

It does piss me off the cost of the survey. The sad story, owner passed away so broker couldn't get any more info on it's history. I got a bit sucked in, boat in general was in good shape, updates, etc. There just isn't many boats around so thought I had a good one.

Don't pass on a boat because of survey findings; those are cost negotiating elements. The more important thing is how complete/competent is the survey. Running gear and engine maintenance issues are only cost and time. The surveyor may or may not provide estimated cost for the findings so I would contact a reputable repair facility and have them tender an estimate then add margin as your counter offer differential. Secondly, other than changing hose clamps or hoses I wouldn't have the boat's owner undertake much if any maintenance / repairs as a component of the cost negotiations - they just never seem to get done correctly...
The 52DB is one of the most desirable SR yachts and are beginning to get hard to find.
One thing to look at carefully on the 52DB if it has been grounded is the struts and shaft alignment; look through my posts over the last couple of years..

 

[Ericinmich]

Don't pass on a boat because of survey findings; those are cost negotiating elements. The more important thing is how complete/competent is the survey. Running gear and engine maintenance issues are only cost and time. The surveyor may or may not provide estimated cost for the findings so I would contact a reputable repair facility and have them tender an estimate then add margin as your counter offer differential. Secondly, other than changing hose clamps or hoses I wouldn't have the boat's owner undertake much if any maintenance / repairs as a component of the cost negotiations - they just never seem to get done correctly...
The 52DB is one of the most desirable SR yachts and are beginning to get hard to find.
One thing to look at carefully on the 52DB if it has been grounded is the struts and shaft alignment; look through my posts over the last couple of years..

Agree with what you said, but the selling broker said they were firm on the price and not willing to negotiate. And yes, both shafts were reported out of alignment in the survey (one bad, one not as much.. maybe just from blocking in storage). One of the struts was new, and both props. For us in the frozen north the season is 4 months at best, and with launch not until mid-late may (per their marina) the much of the summer would of been written off due to resolving the issues, etc.

If the service records would of shown up I would of started trying to negotiate, but with them and the firm statement on no negotiations the package was a no go.

I did see the bill of sale from 12 years ago, and the contract price was only $120k less than what they paid (2010, just coming out of last recession). Good job for those that bought then!

 

[Ericinmich]

Sawing off the cutlass bearing is wild move

Yup, the guy doing the survey said he's never seen that done. Lazy and/or didn't have the corret part.

I will say that of the 4 guys I've had do a survey over the last 25 years, this guy was outstanding, worth every bit. He grew up working at a marina his dad owned, did about everything kind of work but engines (knew them well though), he's been doing survey's for 20 years or so... I'd pay to fly him anywhere!

 

[Strecker25]

Yup, the guy doing the survey said he's never seen that done. Lazy and/or didn't have the corret part.

I will say that of the 4 guys I've had do a survey over the last 25 years, this guy was outstanding, worth every bit. He grew up working at a marina his dad owned, did about everything kind of work but engines (knew them well though), he's been doing survey's for 20 years or so... I'd pay to fly him anywhere!

finding someone like that is invaluable, we have one too and I’d never go elsewhere as long as he’s still in the business

 

[Ericinmich]

And now I see the "sale pending" is off the boat.

It still has the worlds "mint condition" and "freshwater vessel" on the listing, even though both are completely false.

It goes without saying, don't believe everything... or much of what you read.