new to boats-is older boat ok?

cyclops- 'fraid I'm no traveller, but everyone should pass on the devil's-advocate lesson to anyone who's buying anything- house, car, boat, whatever....

 

Were you the winner?

 

yep. still recovering from the "what did we do" . Thanks to you all it's contingent on a surveyor; and our boat friend turned out to be friends with the owner's mechanic. Also we think we can get an immediate slip in moss landing- 25 mins away. so we get the mech. out to check the engine, give him 1000 deposit and truck it down to the harbor- spend a week before we can get a hull guy to check it out. then I will be here bragging on my salmon.

 

Well awesome, sounds like you got a good deal.

 

I'd start to worry, but that's just me. Again, have someone experienced look at the hull (fiberglass, I assume) for blisters and strength and have a mechanic do a runthrough of all primary systems: W/C, water, fuel, engine, steering, throttle etc.
Buy some nice SOLAS Type I PFDs, a good set of flares (check out landfallnavigation.com) and 2 or so good inflatable PFDs for you and your husband to wear all the time on the boat. Get a Switlik RescuePod or something of that nature as well.

 

What mackid said.

I'd add that if you're new to boating it's worthwile to take a short course in the basics.... something that covers colregs, navaids, weather, etc. as it will make you a lot more confident and a lot safer on the water.

Happy boating!

 

Thanks- So far we have found a basic boating course through the coast guard aux. that my husband will take this spring- than next fall I will take the long, detailed version. They also have a new boat check- nothing structural, just safety and info. Of course now my husband is looking for a truck to tow the boat- sigh... the money sink has started.

 

Truck...truck...fuel...costly...Take the course, it'll help. Also, read Ted Brewer's basic boat design guide. I forgot the exact title, but it is a boat design bible and it'll help you choose hull types and what not.