Hi all,
Currently looking at a 1980 CHB that was donated to the Center for Wooden Boats here in Seattle. This would be my first boat larger than a little ski boat and I'd be using it as a live aboard.
https://cwb.org/boats-for-sale/1980-34-chb-trawler-little-bear/
I'm in love with the layout and there are several good things about it including completely overhauled electrical and new transmission. The fuel tanks appear rust free, but I'd likely replace them as a precaution anyway.
The big worry is leaking windows and soft spots on the deck. There's a 4-foot section of soft decking on the port side and a basketball sized soft patch on the flybridge. There's obvious interior water damage around a few of the aft windows and looking down below I can see several spots where brown drip stains have come down from cabin walls, I assume indicating more leaks and water damage.
The kicker here is the price: $26,500. From what I've seen, this is extremely low for these boats, especially for one without teak decks and new electrical. I'm happy to do work on it, but have almost no experience. Fearing the worst, that a majority of the cabin and some decking has wood rot, is there any reason to still consider it?
Thanks for any input!
Currently looking at a 1980 CHB that was donated to the Center for Wooden Boats here in Seattle. This would be my first boat larger than a little ski boat and I'd be using it as a live aboard.
https://cwb.org/boats-for-sale/1980-34-chb-trawler-little-bear/
I'm in love with the layout and there are several good things about it including completely overhauled electrical and new transmission. The fuel tanks appear rust free, but I'd likely replace them as a precaution anyway.
The big worry is leaking windows and soft spots on the deck. There's a 4-foot section of soft decking on the port side and a basketball sized soft patch on the flybridge. There's obvious interior water damage around a few of the aft windows and looking down below I can see several spots where brown drip stains have come down from cabin walls, I assume indicating more leaks and water damage.
The kicker here is the price: $26,500. From what I've seen, this is extremely low for these boats, especially for one without teak decks and new electrical. I'm happy to do work on it, but have almost no experience. Fearing the worst, that a majority of the cabin and some decking has wood rot, is there any reason to still consider it?
Thanks for any input!