Anyone got any tips on what to look at when buying a fibreglass yacht on a swing mooring? I found a large catalog of yachts and boats here, but I want to choose something really durable.
Fibreglass yachts are all durable. That's the basic problem, no one knows what the life of a fibreglass hull is. This means that lemons from the 50's and 60's are still with us.
Decide how much you want to spend and buy a production yacht in that price range. Buy a yacht that has been in constant use. A little caution is required at this time of the year as all the dross that has been cluttering up moorings and sheds gets dragged out for sale.
There are two main types of secondhand yachts. Ex racers that have been put away wet. Lot's of first class gear but not cosmetically perfect. The other is the so called cruiser that spends a lot of time on the motor and sails around with a headsail only. The stainless steel sparkly and the varnish work perfect.
See 2 very good articles, a checklist and a sample survey here;
www.mysailing.com.au/cruising/do-your-own-pre-survey-survey
yachthub.com/pdf/How%20to%20conduct%20your%20own%20pre-survey%20survey%20of%20a%20mono%20hull%20sail%20boat.pdf
www.klubko.net/wp-content/2008/09/Survey_checklist.pdf
medusamarine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Sample-Full-condition-survey-GRP-yacht.pdf
Anyone got any tips on what to look at when buying a fibreglass yacht on a swing mooring
Yep. I sure do.
Take an experienced disinterested person with you.
Gary
Select to expand quoteperfectrollper said..
Anyone got any tips on what to look at when buying a fibreglass yacht on a swing mooring? I found a large catalog of yachts and boats here, but I want to choose something really durable.
Nice avatar name.....
That's a great article in Mysailing submitted by R13.
Look for boats that are 'exceptional' 'immaculate' 'turnkey' etc.
You will pay more upfront but maybe save a fortune down the track.
Do not buy a 'bargain' that needs work, unless you would rather work on the boat than sail it.
Select to expand quotegarymalmgren said..
Anyone got any tips on what to look at when buying a fibreglass yacht on a swing mooring
Yep. I sure do.
Take an experienced disinterested person with you.
Gary
And try to get some sailing experience on other people's boats.
Select to expand quoteBundeenabuoy said..
That's a great article in Mysailing submitted by R13.
Look for boats that are 'exceptional' 'immaculate' 'turnkey' etc.
You will pay more upfront but maybe save a fortune down the track.
Do not buy a 'bargain' that needs work, unless you would rather work on the boat than sail it.
Dead right - do not buy a cheap "project" unless you are very experienced. Good yachts are very cheap these days.
When I bought my boat, it came down to two. One was cheaper and came with less gear. but when I added up the retail price of the gear to bring it up to the standard of the dearer one the total was actually higher. And that didn't include any allowance for paid labour or my own (back then very inexperienced) labour.
And you have to add in the sheer pleasure of"plug and play" - pay the $ then jump in and enjoy sailing it from day 1 versus months of hard work and delayed gratification.
Good on you for seeking advice, good luck and keep us posted.
Cheers, Graeme
If it is your first boat i would ask friends with yachts if they would let you help with maintainence. That way you know what your getting into maintainence wise.
The hardest thing is to find a boat with good "bones" at a reasonable price, they are out there, and not rush into one that someone has recently purchased, thrown a coat of paint on, added a couple of do dads and doubled their initial purchase price.
If you have someone that can help to sort the wheat from the chaff prior to engaging a surveyor then you will be miles in front.
Good luck. 
Yep take your time and make sure you buy something that's been loved. The fella that bought Cisco's boat didn't get a bargain but he did get a reliable well restored boat that will look after him for a few years to come.
"I found a large catalog of yachts and boats here, but....." where???
It would be beneficial if not courteous to tell at least the state you are residing in!
Select to expand quotesirgallivant said..
"I found a large catalog of yachts and boats here, but....." where???
It would be beneficial if not courteous to tell at least the state you are residing in!
Perhaps they may have brought Ciscos non bargain, non advertised absolutely perfect fixed keel trailer sailor and now finds himself not needing to use this forum ever again? stranger things have happened!
Select to expand quotesouthace said..
Perhaps they may have brought Ciscos non bargain, non advertised absolutely perfect fixed keel trailer sailor and now finds himself not needing to use this forum ever again? stranger things have happened!
Don't count on it.
Didn't you say you were leaving and never coming back??
Select to expand quoteshaggybaxter said..
I think you may find a clue to the 'mystery' in the OP's chosen avatar name.
"I found a large catalog of yachts and boats here"
?????
There are 8 ads currently in the SB Sailboats section-
3 are for s/h gear
2 are for off the beach cats
1 is a crew call
1 is a wooden project yacht
1 is a fibreglass yacht suitable for a mooring.
So i guess you're looking at 1 boat?
Merry Christmas
Oopsss! I am a bit rusty! 
Btw, you two, do not start it again! 
Peace man, peace! 
In relation to the original question, when I stepped aboard the Santana for a visual inspection the boat felt 'solid' underfoot. Luckily,
that's exactly how it turned out to be, no osmosis, no rot, no problems, no nothin'. Maybe you should look for how it 'feels'.
For us we had the yacht for about two months prior to purchase.
Nine plus years on we still have no regrets.
If the purchase looks too good to be true then it most likely is!!!
Select to expand quotesirgallivant said..
Btw, you two, do not start it again!
I didn't start it. The other dickwit with the enormous ego did.
Hey Cisco!
C'mmon! 
www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DWqkjYKUXERQ&ved=2ahUKEwi42-P39OztAhVAyjgGHfgkDIcQ3ywwAnoECAIQAg&usg=AOvVaw1KbTu5zed9D8S0Cs48s2iL
Happier New Year Mate!
Select to expand quotecisco said..sirgallivant said..
Btw, you two, do not start it again!
I didn't start it. The other dickwit with the enormous ego did.
No ego with me , Im just living the Dream owning Aussie built/designed cruising yachts.
comeon then lets have another peak of your little international sports car that admin removed pics previously.
I bet she's the real ego pleaser just waiting for the heads to turn as it passes sounds like a sick fart.
Yes my dear mother recently departed, always said if you don't have something good to say, say nothing.
Select to expand quotewoko said..
Yes my dear mother recently departed, always said if you don't have something good to say, say nothing.Select to expand quotesirgallivant said..
Si tacuisses philosophus mansisses!
(Boetius)
You chaps are too nice. Southace and Cisco, for gods sake go get a room and sort your s@&^ out.
You're both as bad as each other.
Braggarts that denigrate other people are obviously lonely and lack purpose to their life.
So sad that it's come to this again...
