Boat ID and general advice

lol_leo

Hi All,

I'm thinking to buy a boat currently on sale. https://www.donedeal.ie/boats-for-sale/boat/34257024

Firstly was hoping to identify the boat. I have been told its a Viking but looking through their website I dont see anything in the back catalogue that matches. https://www.vikingyachts.com/main/Heritage.asp

Secondly, the boat needs a bit of work. I am looking for a project boat but dont want to fall into a bottomless money pit. What should I be looking for in terms of major costs. Should I get the boat inspected (seems a bit OTT for the price).

I have no experience with sea boats so any other advice welcome when it comes to buying a project boat.

fergal.b

This looks like a world of trouble, first off the engine is not running, bad compression on one cylinder could be a total rebuild, the engine is really what you are buying boat shells are two a penny so unless you are a good at fixing engines walk away. Putting timber decking down is not a good fix it shows the floor may have rotted out and was cheeply replaced probably not even looking at the stringers, the metal plate on the transom is a sure sign that the transom is rotten it's not a fix its a cover up so be prepared for a lot of fiberglass work "Not cheep" even if you are doing it yourself. If you are looking for a boat remember you are mainly buying the engine so buy a good runner with good compression on all cylinders. I would walk away from this one.

lol_leo

Hi Fergal,

Thanks for your reply and good points made. I looked at a couple of YT videos of transom repairs and would be happy to take that on. The stringers look a lot more awkward. I was hoping the engine was more an electrical problem like a bad sparkplug lead. The trailer looks in good knick. Anyhow I'll keep looking.

PS. I tried to look at your rebuild thread but the photos are not showing (only links). Is that something to do with my browser like adblock?

fergal.b

I think its something to do with Photobucket that a lot of my photos have gone, a compression test will give you a good idea if the engine is good or not, even if it is electrical it can still be expensive, if it was just a plug lead it would probably have been fixed. Here is a video of the boat I restored.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1F44NoeYdLc

lol_leo

Wow that's a nice rebuild. Was there any timber left to save. Goes to show looks can be deceiving when you see the picture before its stripped you would not imagine that amount of work ahead. Hopefully she is good for another 20 - 30 years. That Merc moves it along nicely.

lol_leo

PS: In my first post I linked to the wrong manufacturers website. Think it came from the UK https://www.vikingcruisers.com/narrow-beam

Tabnabs

That's a Norman Cruiser (https://normanboats.net/). If you google the Norman 18.5 it looks like a match.

This boat would be a much better choice (no connection)

https://www.donedeal.ie/boats-for-sale/norman-conquest-20-ft-cruise-boat-for-sale/34322215

lol_leo

@Tabnabs Good spot, I think you are right about the manufacturer. The other boat you linked is described as a cruiser. I was looking for something to do a bit of sea fishing and maybe sleep over the odd time but mostly drag and drop.

lol_leo

Any thoughts on this one. It might not fit down the side of the house.

https://www.donedeal.ie/boats-for-sale/boat/35172408

nokiatom

Only one photo, I would regard that as suspicious

lol_leo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121410169#Comment_121410169

Its gone now, looked like a project. The stringers might have been good.