Beneteau First 235 Forums

seb5thman · Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 1:51 pm Post subject: How to find the perfect boat???

I posted a wanted ad on the 'for sale' site and recieved several very helpful leads on F-235's for sale in and around Colorado. So here is my question. With the number of boats available, how do you actually find the boat you're looking for? I know you will question the owner, have pic's sent, etc. But the majority of the boats are a long distance to travel. Do you buy sight unseen based on the research hoping the owner is being honest or make the numerous trips in the quest to find your perfect boat? I've looked at a few boats described as 'excellent condition' only to realize that my definition of 'excellent' is different from the sellers!!!

kent pulliam · Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 4:50 pm Post subject:

Don't want you to be disullusioned about this boat. But the newest model you will purchase will be about 12-14 years old. So excellent is not going to be new. Many things will be cosmetic. In watching this for several years, biggest thing to worry about is a boat that has been in a hurricane or tropical storm that may have been damaged during the storm.

Frequently you can find someone on the list nearby to the boat you are looking at. When you get a lead, post questions.

I know of one boat for sale in the Topeka, Ks. area. I believe it is posted on the for sale area of this website -- probably under a post I made. I was in the water all summer last year, but not sailed once as far as I could tell. Will try and track down an owner's e-mail for you.
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1990 - Freelance - wk - #351

kent pulliam · Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 4:53 pm Post subject:

This address and boat was available a year ago. I don't know if he has sold it. I know they didn't sail it much (if at all last summer)

No. 381 is Chris Newell's boat. It is a 1989 model, with full head (I think).
cnewell@cox.net

You can contact either through the list serve or via these e-mails. If I hear from them that they don't want this posted here, I'll revise it.
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1990 - Freelance - wk - #351

sunfishracer · Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 9:27 pm Post subject:

I know what you mean... you cannot go by the sellers ad alone... i just looked at a Sunfish, and the seller was off on the manufacture year by two years, the hull was soft, not "good condition" as written....etc, etc... and his avertising also had flaws, like he overstated what a dolly cost by 110 dollars... This shoots his credibility even more.

for those in difficult to travel situation I would suggest lots of pictures over email... the boat we just bought i found 72 pictures somehow and they still didnt do justice to the live viewing... several exchanges of email questions and answers can guage the honesty of the seller (hopefully)... I bought a powerboat sight unseen (4 hours away) except for ebay pictures, private pictures and several emails... I was happy with that transaction cause i learned as much as I could from the seller AND he promptly returned all correspondence with credible answers.

I am not an expert on the 235, but what I have gathered: get pictures of keel bolts, inside liner in several different places, carpeting (to check for mold), rudder/gudgeon areas, areas of possible stess, the windows... then pictures of any scratches, gouges, damage, broken shrouds, sails (hanks, areas where the halyards go/headboards closeups if possible... a boat of these ages should have SOMETHING wrong with them so they should be pictures of that...

with these you maybe able to grade the overall condition of the boat and estimate if will need work... maybe something you are willing or not willing to do.... lastly if you are serious, I would get a survey done.

I am sure others have better things to say. I repeat, I am not familiar with the 235 at all, i have yet to even place it in the water... but I have bought several boats (two from different states), and a boat is a boat--- which is a hole in the water that you keep throwing money into;) so you might as well spend the least you can on it:)

Lee
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Kind of Blue ~ Hull #408

Brad Leslie · Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 10:15 pm Post subject:

I think you have to get all the information you can gather and try to make an informed decision as to which boat to pursue. I looked into four and visted one other before buying mine. From where I live, all of them are a long way away. When you find the right boat at an acceptable price, it will be worth it.

These are really nice boat and well made. I am not trying to be an F235 evangilist, but for this size boats, these are really exceptional!
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Brad Leslie
89 Wing #251, Gigi
PO of Grip Fast, 87 Fin #92
PO of Sun King, 89 F285, #166
PO of Sojorn, 93 F210, #76
04 361, Grip Fast

fireondeck · Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 11:48 pm Post subject:

Pictures are great but still feel you have to go out and kick the tires. On another note, today is a sad day for me and since we our on the "Boats For Sale", I can say I just sold my beloved Hobie Cat 16 last night to a family from one state over "CT". Had the boat for about ten years and I feel, now that I'm in my mid 30's it's time to move on and devote all my time to the Wife.......nah just kidding no no to my 235 Ship of Fools. Good luck on your boat hunt.
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#405 ~ Jink

mike · Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2008 12:45 am Post subject:

pictures are really helpful, but if you rely on them in any important way make sure they are contemporary. i have seen people use old pictures because they make the boat look better but they can hide all kinds of neglect.
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Mike Hayden
'89 F285 WK, Hull #127 s/v Enchanté
'89 F235 WK, Hull #253 s/v Windependent my ex

artkey · Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 11:40 pm Post subject: pictures

Driving 1500 miles to pick up what looked liked a dream F235 on the web to find a low resolution/photoshopped beater, and then driving back home w/ an empty trailer, a better way led me a few boats later to #429:

Contact the owner and prospect the boats history.
If the owner and boat sound good, request s/he buy a throw away camera (or two), shoot a complete tour of the boat and then SEND THE CAMERA.
I promised to have the film developed and return the photos if it wasn't the boat for me.

One cannot fool film, nor fool with it.
The photos were sure to be up to date.
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"Ballerina," 1992, hull #429, wing keel, FL Keys

Jon · Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2008 9:25 pm Post subject: Re: pictures

logs · Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 8:09 am Post subject: Re: pictures

Jon · Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 9:49 am Post subject:

lol
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Jon
85' Laser 28 #167*Pandora*
87' F235 WK #69 my ex

Lake Ontario NY

audeojude · Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 9:57 am Post subject: Re: pictures

good advice......[/quote]
anyone know if it works for internet dating too?[/quote]

lol.. just ask for current close up pictures of the teeth, and other pertinent areas :) rofl. If at this point you haven't been assassinated you know that you are on the right track. However if they actually send you pictures then run like hell :)
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Scott Carle
Sea Puppy
Hull # 27
Wing Keel
Conway, SC

logs · Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 10:06 am Post subject: Re: pictures

audeojude · Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 1:13 pm Post subject:

rofl
way to much..
lol
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Scott Carle
Sea Puppy
Hull # 27
Wing Keel
Conway, SC

hawrylyshyn · Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 10:26 pm Post subject:

And I was going to recommend getting a professional survey done.

Peregrine91 · Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 12:56 am Post subject:

Your doctor or theirs?
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Mike Joseph
'91 WK #340 "Peregrine"
Lenexa, KS

audeojude · Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 11:49 am Post subject:

alisdairs · Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 11:54 am Post subject:

Another good thread down the toilet...lol !
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'Highland Fling'
1997 Oceanis 281
South River, Edgewater, MD

Former owner 'Atlantic Reach'
1989~WK~#276

Jon · Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 6:13 pm Post subject:

I was thinking the same thing........................heh
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Jon
85' Laser 28 #167*Pandora*
87' F235 WK #69 my ex

Lake Ontario NY

Peregrine91 · Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 10:20 pm Post subject:

Yes, but it was fun while it lasted....
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Mike Joseph
'91 WK #340 "Peregrine"
Lenexa, KS

logs · Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 9:11 am Post subject:

audeojude · Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 11:25 am Post subject:

logs · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 9:17 am Post subject:

abstrait · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 11:56 am Post subject:

audeojude · Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 8:34 pm Post subject:

Tell me about it. Sea Puppy has been out of the water for 18 months now :( and lately ive been looking at 38 to 45 footer pilot house models. its an awesome buying market. I plan to live aboard in the next couple years and my fiance is all about it if we don't live on a itty bitty thing! I have been going over in my head all the stuff I could sell to raise part of the money I would need to buy a bigger boat. Sea Puppy keeps coming up as one of the top fund raisers. I'm trying to not do that though. Even if I get a bigger boat I would like to just store sea puppy for a few years while I cruise and then downsize back to her later.

there hows that for getting back on topic!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Scott Carle
Sea Puppy
Hull # 27
Wing Keel
Conway, SC