Sitting in the yard since 2018 Should I worry?

[jlcarreiro]

My first boat. Just looked at a 81 Sabre 28’ MK II with a 2005 Yanmar 2GM Diesel
Is it bad for a boat to sit unused for a year and a half? For a car, I'd be wary but for a boat? What should one be worrying about?

Thanks..

[boatman61]

Nothing out of the ordinary if the engine was winterised.
Benefit is the hull should have dried out a bit.

[OloteleMtn]

Battery(ies) will probably be toast if they have not been kept on a charger; fuel tank and lines might have growth; oil should be changed; packing gland should be checked frequently when put back in water, along with all through hulls....there is more i am sure but that is off t he top of my head.

[barnakiel]

No. It is perfectly fine for a boat to sit in a boatyard any amount of time.


Boats in Nordic locations can spend up to 10 months between use.


As mentioned, e.g. the engine should have been 'winterized'.



b.

[sanibel sailor]

depends upon where.
Here in S Florida, no winterization needed.

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by sanibel sailor

depends upon where.
Here in S Florida, no winterization needed.

Winterisation does not mean it is for the winter. This is a term you use when you lay up an engine for a longer period of no use.


Also in florida, there will be a number of things you do to the engine when you hoist the boat and leave it on dry for half a year or so.



barnakiel

[CaptainGrey]

If it was shrink-wrapped, and had no ventilation, the interior wood is probably junk and would require complete gutting. I looked at a Sabre 28 that had been wrapped tight for 2 years, and had green stuff growing on the bulkheads. I kept looking, and never looked back.

[sail sfbay]

Ditto boatman61 regarding whether engine needed winterization in your location AND hull should have dried out Dotto OloteleMtn on batteries likely have to be replaced unless on a charger and fuel tank could have growth if not full and treated with an enzyme before it was laid up.

My 2004 Hunter 386 was on the hard for 3 years in Napa, California while I moved overseas. After I put the boat in the water with new bottom paint I replaced the batteries, polished the fuel due to marine growth in the tank, changed the fuel filters and engine oil and filters and washed and waxed her. Engine started right up.

[Scorpius]

If she was decently laid up ("winterized"), was well ventilated and is dry inside, it shouldn't be a problem. Scorpius was laid up for ten years at one point. When I asked the local Isuzu dealer what I should do before starting the engine, he said "change the oil, use new fuel, and fire her up". So I did! (I also had the injectors serviced). It's been running beautifully ever since. Also no problems with electrical (I solder EVERYTHING), plumbing, upholstery, etc.

[Exctyengr]

A number of folks have given you sound advice, I would add, HAVE THE FUEL POLISHED BEFORE YOU RUN THE ENGINES. Emphasis intended. I sold my Catalina 36 after it sat in San Diego for a year, I cautioned the buyer to polish the fuel and clean the fuel tank, he did not (cause he knew better), he tried to move the boat up to Dana Point, got into some chop, stirred up the gunk in the tank that grew after a year and ended up with a Sea Tow into Dana Point harbor.
Good luck.

[Don C L]

Somewhere in all these threads there is a video of a little diesel that sat around for some years (unwinterized) and the new owner did all mentioned here along with some gentle nudging and had it running just fine so it seemed. Definitely check that packing gland as mentioned. You might find this entertaining! (Your engine is probably not seized though.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlQd7_waW6c

[OloteleMtn]

Well at least THEY were well lubricated!

[NorthernMac]

I’ve done this question with aircraft.

Depends.

Might be a total POS, might be in awsome shape.

Your question is basically reading tea leaves, only way to really know is to roll your sleeves up and check her out.

[GWilly]

I’d echo all the comments about focusing on the engine. Several years back I bought a 15yo boat which only had 200 hours on the engine. A gem, I thought! It had been taken out of the water each winter and shrink wrapped. The boat looked to be in great shape. Heck, there was still sawdust in the drawers. So hardly used. I had the usual mechanical survey...but not an engine survey. After a year of use, the engine basically fell apart. The hoses, which looked ok, were cracked. Seawater got in the cylinders, toasting the injectors, pistons, rings etc. My choice came down to a rebuild or repower. $$$. In any case, my suggestion is to look VERY closely at the engine. Get a detailed engine survey at the very least. A compression test. And I’ll guarantee you something is weak and will fail in that engine, even if it’s been winterized.

[barnakiel]

The engine is important in a trawler.


In a sailing boat, the engine is just an aux. It may be important though, if your starting point is a densely packed marina with difficult entry.


Still if the engine is kaput and pile of rust, I would rather have the ex owner remove it and sell me the boat engineless. It is simply so much dirty work to get rid of an old smell engine. It is.


b.