I am trying to buy a H25... i need a little help.

[sharsp]

Hi all,

Thanks to those of you who started this forum. It's great that the power of the net can be used to unite the right people and to educate. And even better is the fact that I'm trying very hard to purchase a H25 and am hoping the members of this forum can help me out even if you are hundreds of miles away! Would love to become a member of the site with my own boat and experiences to add to what you have here so far.

I've literally just got back from my local marina where I took my first look over a H25. The boat looks straight but the broker has little to bugger all info on her and I want to make sure that I'm not wasting my cash.
What i know: the boat is being sold at about half the market rate. The engine is a concern because of damage to the cooling system (a large corroded(?) hole in the plumbing) and the engine exterior looks terrible (probably due to the fact that radiator type coolant that has leaked out the afore mentioned hole which has flooded the engine compartment and with the engine cover on the coolant has affected the paint on the engine)
The boat has been sitting for at least 12 in the water and has associated beard of growth so anti foul required.
The broker has no records from the current owners re: age of rigging or sails or age of the boat for that matter.

I am prepared to work on the boat myself to remove/repair the engine and at worst cases replace the engine but would love some real world figures ($) of worst case scenarios re sails/rigging/engine and other areas I may have not considered. I am not looking for a race boat but understand from the forums on this site what she may be capable of; instead I want my first keel-boat cruiser, nothing too big but nothing too small. From seeing in the flesh and from what I have read here, she looks good to fit the bill.

Due to my current finances I cannot afford to buy a boat in top condition and am happy to spend 12 months or so on the hardstand fixing her up for next season.

What do y'all think?
Any advice appreciated and thanks in advance.
;D

[Mystique R333]

We bought a dismasted old hull and have spent way too much on new mast and rig, paint job on deck, below and above waterline, motor, etc.

My advice would be pay for as good a yacht as you can afford that has young quality mast and rigging that won't need replacing (ours cost over $12,000) as you'll get more value buying a young existing rig than replacing it with new gear.

Most motors will be old and past their use by dates but often keep on going but buying one without a motor would allow fitting a cheap newish outboard (a bit harder on sloping stern).

Sails are worth as little as $1,600 new for main and jib without exotic materials as they are not large. So don't worry about the sails as much. A sound hull and rig with acceptable paintjob and antifoul would be my main advice.

Let us all know how you go.

Cheers, Colin

[paulmac]

Hi there Sharsp. I'm in the process of negotiating to buy a Holland 25 in Hobart. The best advice I can give you, is to do what I have just done - and that is to engage a marine surveyor to inspect and report on the boat you are interested in. The surveyor will slip the boat and inspect the hull above and below the waterline and then they will go over the rest of the boat with a fine-toothed comb. I have just done this two days ago, and I'm now waiting on the final written report. It will cost you a few hundred dollars but I firmly believe it is money well spent. Although I haven't received the written report on this boat just yet, the verbal information the surveyor has given me has been invaluable. I will have an accurate picture of the current condition of this boat, which positions me well in terms of negotiating the purchase price. Cheers - Paul.

[sharsp]

Thanks for the replies Mystique and Paul M,
I have had a diesel engineer and a marine surveyor out to look at the boat and am getting closer to handing over the $!
So far so good, it looks like she'll be a goer but will require the best part of the next year sorting her into safe, sea worthy condition.
Paul I'm actually heading off to the northern provinces of Tassy with my wife and my brothers family for a small vacation. We have visited Hobart once before and had a great long weekend watching the boats and dreaming of our own. Hopefully soon it will happen.
Will post more in a couple of weeks, post vacation and hopefully with the good news of a yacht purchase.

[paulmac]

Thanks sharsp. Good news for me today!!! Today... I became the owner of a Holland 25 called 'Impala' here in Hobart. Owning a H25 has been a dream of mine for the past 15 or so years - so I'm pretty happy with life at the moment!! I used to visit Melbourne every few months and wander down to the marinas at Williamstown looking at the Hollands there, dreaming of one day owning one. 'Impala' was built in 1980 by Doug Sharpin and has an Arona 10hp diesel engine, fin keel, a deck-stepped mast (with a masthead rig) and has been very well maintained over the years. In 2002 she had the gel coat replaced by a shipwright here in Hobart. Also, at some point she must have been based in Fremantle - I found that some of the locker covers have 'Impala - Fremantle' written on them. The survey report identified a couple of things that (I think) needed immediate attention by a professional, and so I'm getting a shipwright to fix a couple of things before I take it down to the Huon estuary (south of Hobart) where I live. Hey Sharsp - if you ever get down to southern Tassie I would be happy to meet up with you and show you my boat, - and go for a sail of course! I'm looking forward to sharing information and experiences with you all via this forum. Cheers - Paul.

[Mystique R333]

Welcome to the H25 owners fraternity Paulmac and hope you join too Sharps.

The Hlolland 25 is an attractive yacht and it is strange how people are attracted to them.

[sharsp]

PaulMac,
Congrats on your purchase, well done. My wife and I just got back from Tassy yesterday but as mentioned we were visiting the wild west and North and had no time to get to Hobart. After our visit (2nd) I am super keen to get back to Hobart way cause I love it down there and from what I have seen Hobart and surrounds is my favourite part of the Island so far. I will certainly look you up but will be in another 12months or so as my wife and I are expecting our first child in about 3 months time.

Since I last posted i have had a survey on the ship I'm looking at purchasing and the surveyor has confirmed my original thoughts about her condition. The boat was pulled from the water and water-blasted and only 1 small (5cent piece) blister was found. The rigging is too old for insurance and will need to be replaced (has anyone here replaced their rigging? How did it go?) and the engine is desperate for an overhaul, the heat exchanger is buggered. Overall for the price being asked is fair and looks to be a goer. The major drama i have is finding a birth here in the Adelaide area. The larger marinas are particularly pricey and finding an 8 mt birth is proving v difficult where ever I look. I have on going discussions (pleading and begging) with possible marinas and am waiting to hear back about from them in order to finalize the purchase. I will be on a hard stand for the next 12 months while I repair etc and wait for a water birth to come my way.

Did you go for a sail on yours before purchasing? What did you think? I haven't and won't before I hand my $ over because of her current condition but am happy with the reports from other owners as to how they sail. I hear that the downwind handling is not so flash, have you had any experience with this?

Do you have any photos of 'Impala'? Either for this web site or would be happy to get an e-mail from you.

Thanks Mystique, I hope the stars align and the deal can be done too I am ultra keen to get my first keel yacht... I can't wait.
;D

[paulmac]

Hi Sharsp, Your boat sounds promising. Yes - I had a sea trial built into my agreement offer of purchase. My offer was subject to finance, a sea trial and the surveyor's report. On the day of the survey, the (then) owner, me and the boat broker took the boat out for a sail on the Derwent river for about an hour. It was blowing around 20 knots from the south and we had the full main and a number 2 genoa up. She sailed very well. I was particularly interested in how close she would sail to windward - and I was pretty impressed. Did a little bit of down wind sailing but not much - it was fine. I've tried to attach 2 photos of Impala, but I'm not sure if it will work. Cheers.

Attachments:

[paulmac]

Here is the other photo of Impala:

Attachments:

[Mystique R333]

Paul
Impala looks very neat and in good condition. Congrats on your new yacht. Happy sailing around Hobart.
Colin

[sharsp]

Hi again PaulMac,
Your boat looks great. Well done. Thanks for the info on the sailing qualities, as mentioned I have not and probably will not sail mine for some time as I need to pull out the engine, replace the rigging etc. I have to trust what I have read re: their sailing qualities and as I am not all that interested in racing I am sure that she will be perfect as our families first keel yacht.
My wife and I went and put a deposit down yesterday and are now members the of the sailing club where our boat will be moored. Can't believe it, I have been dreaming of boat ownership for about 5 long years now and it looks to be finally happening. We have leased a 12m wet birth while we wait for an 8m to become available and will hopefully have the boat towed to it and the final $ paid this coming week. Even though she is not sailable at the moment I am looking forward to getting stuck in to bring her up to seaworthy standard for next season.

I have attached a photo and once we take possession I will endeavour to make regular posts with progress of her rehabilitation.

Looking forward to the long distance H25 owners relationships through this site and hope that we can get members together in the flesh one day, preferably with boats present too.
;D

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[paulmac]

Thanks Colin. I'm pretty happy with it!

Hi again Sharsp. Well done! What's the name of your boat? the hull and topsides look pretty good. Once you get the engine and rigging sorted out, you'll be out there cruising St Vincents Gulf! I noticed you have a furling headsail - that's a good thing, I think. I've sailed on boats with and without furlers and I think I prefer the furlers, although I'm told that if you're racing, then its better to have your 'single cut' sails for different conditions. Cheers.

[sharsp]

;D

PaulMac,

Thanks, Our boat's name is Omega. It is clearly marked in 10" high lettering on the stern quarters and as you see in the photo it also has the greek symbol each side of the bow so we are stuck with it until I decide to repaint, but that said I think we can live with Omega. I've always wanted boat named after James Bond's watch!

We were inducted as members of our new yacht club last night and given our wet birth so hopefully by the beginning of next week we will have paid the broker and be looking at our new investment in her pen. We are members of the Port Adelaide Sailing Club which has moved to a brand new marina (Marina Adelaide) in the last couple of years so the facilities are great and we are happy with the locale. Very happy!

Hope you are having fun on yours. I love to see pictures so if you can fire some to my e-mail or even better post to the site so we can motivate others!
I'm waiting until our deal is final before I post anymore of Omega.

I have started a post re: what type and where do H25 owners store their anchors... what is your situation?

[paulmac]

Hi Sharsp, you raise a good question about anchor storage. It would be ideal if H25s had anchor lockers on the fordeck - but they dont. I have a danforth anchor and a plough anchor. At the moment, the danforth is attached to the chain and then rope, and it is stored in a small triangular 'floor' locker, set into the floor immediately below the forward hatch. (This is a 'V' shaped locker on the floor between the 'V' berths._ Because I haven't had the boat long (and she is currently on a mooring) I haven't actually used the anchor yet. But, I must admit, I have been thinking about how the anchoring procedure will/should work on this boat. Obviously the anchor and chain will have to come up out of the floor locker, through the forward hatch and out onto the anchor roller on the bow. I'm worried that the chain could scratch/damage the forward hatch mountings as the achor drops to the bottom when anchoring. I could be worrying unneccessarily, simply because I haven't tried it yet. What's the setup on your boat? Cheers.

[sharsp]

Well Mr Mac, I am in the same predicament, Omega has no allocation for anchor storage. We have purchased small boats so I guess it comes with the (lack of) territory! I need to replace my ground tackle, as the sand anchor included with Omega is fit only for an anorexic tinny! Was looking at a SCARPA brouchure then their web site and they look the goods. Will talk to others at the club to see what works and go from there. Will then look at fashioning some sort of water proof locker like yours I'm thinking. Even if I could fit a roller (which I don't think I could because of the furler position) what to do with 70m of chain and rope is the next prob!
The only other solution I have thought of is mount the anchor on the pushpit with some sort of bracket to hold it firm and use the stern 'cavity' that I think was intended for a life bouy, to hold the rope and chain. Lining the cavity would protect it.
The anchor could be stored there if imenent use is foreseen or kept in the v birth locker otherwise.
At this stage it's all I can come up with.

Can we continue this discussion in my new post so others can follow?