'79 Formosa Ketch: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly?

[Captain Salty]

Originally Posted by Terra Nova

Presumably paid for by the seller? This should be worth less than zero $ to you.

Yes just got it. It was done July 5th, 2017 while she was in the water. It's a survey for insurance purposes so if I want to move forward, I'll pay for a more detailed survey that satisfies my concerns. Things to note that are positive:

1. Wooden masts replaced with aluminum Selden masts.
2. Deck is teak over fiberglass, so someone either replaced the plywood or the boat was custom built with teak over glass.
3. New generator installed six years ago in Sausalito.
4. New fuel tanks installed six years ago in Sausalito.
5. New electronics installed six years ago in Sausalito ("electronics" details TBD).
6. New furling jib recently installed.
7. Standing rigging eight years old.

Plywood under the teak decks and wooden masts are a concern with this model boat but it looks like those are not issues with this particular boat. The survey did say the mizzenmast mast was installed "inverted" and that the teal decking was "original" - so that means that either the decking was removed, the plywood replaced with fiberglass and replaced, or the boat originally came with fiberglass under the teak.

I don't understand how an "inverterd" mast can work but obviously it does. I have to follow up on that.

A lot of the surveyor's ratings were "satisfactory" which is below "good" and "excellent". I don't know if that means this surveyor hardly ever gives great marks or that the boat really is in mediocre shape.

Wiring and plumbing is "satisfactory".

So no clear answers to me yet. What do you all think? Should I move forward with the next step and climb aboard to see if I want to spring for my own more detailed survey?

[Terra Nova]

Originally Posted by Captain Salty

...Should I move forward with the next step...?

Yes...getting your head examined.

[Cheechako]

The Norseman is a lot better sailing boat than the Formose 51. Totally different class. The Formosa 51 is a real tub. To some people performance doesn't matter much so there's that. But of the many Formosa's the 51 may be the "tubbiest".

[Cherod]

i would have thot that had you read the thread then you would never consider buying one , I wouldn't

[Captain Salty]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

The Norseman is a lot better sailing boat than the Formose 51. Totally different class. The Formosa 51 is a real tub. To some people performance doesn't matter much so there's that. But of the many Formosa's the 51 may be the "tubbiest".

I read the whole thread and wasn't even planning on considering a Formosa. I was in San Diego to look at the Norseman and over lunch happened to see an ad for the Formosa so on a whim I contacted the yacht broker on Monday (yesterday) and arranged to the get the survey today. I've had a steep learning curve on the Formosa in the past 24 hours, having only known about it from the Captain Ron movie (always an excellent reason to consider a sailboat ;-)

I liked the Norseman 447 except for a few things:

• I am, 6'2" and my head hit the underside of the cockpit Bimini cover. I would have to redo the tubing to give me more headroom but then I run into clearance issues with the boom. This may be the reason I don't consider the Norseman because I like to stand when I drive.
• The cockpit is small and cramped, and my wife and I like to entertain when we cruise.
• It really can't comfortably accommodate two couples below for an extended cruise.

Otherwise she is a beautiful, well-mannered boat, but I''m not getting the feeling that she is the right boat for me and my wife.

The Amel Super Maramu in San Diego I wanted to look at had an offer on it and the owner wasn't willing to let me traipse aboard since they expected the offer to close imminanetly (understandable). There are a few more geographically close to me (Seattle, Maryland) that I may look at.

Also open to suggestions to similar boats in the class that I am looking at. Price range no more a than around $250K or so.

[Captain Salty]

Originally Posted by Cherod

i would have thot that had you read the thread then you would never consider buying one , I wouldn't

I wanted to see what Terra Nova would say

[Captain Salty]

Originally Posted by Terra Nova

Yes...getting your head examined.

Yeah you're probably right. I also like to take in stray dogs.

[Cherod]

250K would get you v nice catamaran

[Eleuthera 2014]

Of all the options in this thread, an Amel Super Maramu is your best bet.

I am not prejudiced :-)

[Cheechako]

You may find head clearance under a bimini to be an issue on many boats. Not sure if the 447 is any more of an issue than others. I'm 5-9 and barely was able to stand on most my boats. But I only stand when docking or going thru hazards anyway. Actually, that's the only time I steer at all! :>)
I suppose a Passport 47 could be in the running, but not a ton of them around.

[zeehag]

some of us actually LOVE our pos tubs that cannot sail in light air but do excellent work in trade winds.
any poorly maintained boat will die in short time.
formosa 51 is a world CRUISER, not performance cruiser and have crappy light air and windward coastal racing ability. isnt what they were designed to do. they are comfortable sailing heavier weather an d trade winds. funny how those sluggish fat bottomed barge like poor windward sailing tubs are.

[Suijin]

Originally Posted by Captain Salty

Also open to suggestions to similar boats in the class that I am looking at. Price range no more a than around $250K or so.

1988 Alden Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

I've been on this boat, considered buying this boat. Passed on it. Someone else bought it, did the work to it I was going to do, and is selling it for $50k less than it was for sale before. It's a legendary boat in excellent shape at a good price. That said, it's a New England style cruiser. Not voluminous like Formosas but will sail circles around them in pretty decent comfort.

And it's $249. Add $15k for trucking it to SF unfortunately.

[Captain Salty]

Originally Posted by Cherod

250K would get you v nice catamaran

I'm not partial to cats.

[Captain Salty]

Originally Posted by Eleuthera 2014

Of all the options in this thread, an Amel Super Maramu is your best bet.

I am not prejudiced :-)

Not at all ;-) I like the Super Maramu but I am getting lots of grief from on my my sailing buddies that is very experienced \and has done a lot of ocean crossings. He is telling me that I absolutely do not want in-mast furling because bad things will happen with that.

What has your experience been with in-mast furling and non horizontally battened sails?

[Captain Salty]

Originally Posted by Suijin

1988 Alden Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

I've been on this boat, considered buying this boat. Passed on it. Someone else bought it, did the work to it I was going to do, and is selling it for $50k less than it was for sale before. It's a legendary boat in excellent shape at a good price. That said, it's a New England style cruiser. Not voluminous like Formosas but will sail circles around them in pretty decent comfort.

And it's $249. Add $15k for trucking it to SF unfortunately.

Why did you pass and why do you think he took a $50K loss on it?