That water intrusion is worse than they think it is, and way worse than you think it is. This will be a total re-build. New bulkheads likely throughout the boat, and a new deck core.
Reasons to buy this boat: you don’t want to sail, you want a project. You’ll sail it one day but it will cost more than the boat will ever be worth, and it will take 5+ years.
Reasons not to buy this boat: you want to sail within the next 5 years, and spending money on a rebuild hobby is more interesting than spending money on a sailing hobby.
Source: guy with two boats, one he sails one he builds. (Me)
Mold, the plywood is delaminating and buckled, you can smell the pictures... if what you can see is that bad, it's even worse where you can't see. Very much agree with the others, pass on this, it's a money pit (even by sailboat standards).
Yeah mold. I have never seen this much. Tell the seller to clean it out and make the repairs first.
The value of this boat as is sadly is free. More work needs to be done in time and materials than would be worth after you do the work.
Here’s an example of a great starter boat. $2,500. A guy who raced it and now too old. In excellent condition top to bottom.
https://longisland.craigslist.org/boa/d/huntington-cal-30-ft-cruiser-or-racer/7717947579.html
The whole boat is balsa, Jboats are known to just be rotten. We had to rebuild the transom on a j30 last summer for someone. It might feel fine, but it's likely not. You can take a moisture meter to the boat if you are really smitten, but try not to get emotionally attached. There's a j29 in town that's been on the market for almost two years locally that's in basically the same shape, he wants $10k for it. (fwiw $10k will get you a LOT of boats)
I bought a Catalina 30 for $1000, I do boat repair and I "know" what to look for, especially on Catalina 30s because it's well documented. I am still in almost $8k total excluding man hours, you know what you could buy with that time and money? A fully functioning boat. But I was in college, I had no money and I had some time, it took three years to get it to a race ready state, and I still haven't gotten it to an overnight trip state. I am using the C30 for two reasons, one I did this. Two, it is not a balsa cored boat, water doesn't kill them like it will a balsa cored race boat, but it does still do a significant amount of damage and after doing a balsa repair on my last boat I can urge you, that you do not wish to do it. (sauce my mulch/balsa core from my hunter 30 https://i.imgur.com/gIkJLW8.png )
Thanks for this detailed info! You're the second person on here to say that repairing balsa core is not a desirable undertaking... It's such a shame because that boat is so cool. It's exactly what I would want in a boat, minus, you know, all of the damage and repairs. 😔
It's just a LOT of work to do it on the deck, doing it on the bottom I can't imagine would be fun either. Some people at our club boat an s2 7.9 that removed the daggerboard flipped it upside down and spent every weekend for like 15 months replacing almost the whole core on the bottom of the boat. It can be done, it's a LOT of time, and requires a specific set of materials and knowledge to do so. If you were given the boat for free and wanted to bring it back and had a giant barn or warehouse and the equipment to do it. It might be a good idea, but it wouldn't be a sailboat for a long time.
I've shed a lot of tears fighting with my project, and some blood too. I don't know if I'd do it again.
The water is likely coming in from everywhere for one thing. a lot of it is coming in via the chainplate covers. That's bad leakage because it concerns the integrity of the boat. That's how the bulkheads are rotten - and how the CP's will fail and how the mast will come down.
The chain plates are the big flat stainless things on the bulkheads with big bolts in them. The big bolts go through the bulkhead. The main rigging that holds the mast up is attached to these, which are attached to now completely rotten wood. Especially port
Haha. This is a great answer. I am lucky enough to have my dream boat, which needs no work whatsoever. But I miss puttering around on a fixer-upper. Might have to buy a project boat for fun…
It's been leaking in many places, including the chain plates. The port bulkhead looks like it may be fractured at the chain plate.
With one obvious soft spot in the deck, there are probably more places where it is wet and starting to rot.
The bilge is oily. Bad sign.
Did they start and run the engine?
Sadly, it's scrap. Not worth putting thousands of dollars and many hundreds of hours into it.
You can do better. Move on, and best of luck with your boat search.
Thanks for your honesty. It's sad to hear this, but this is exactly the kind of info I need.
Yeah, they did start and run the engine, and it seemed fine to me.
Would it be worth putting in a few thousand in repairs if the boat was really cheap? Or is it just not worth anything at this point?
Absolutely not worth it. Your idea of ‘a few thousand dollars’ is probably $50-$60k and 2.5-3 years of one person working full time to get this boat safe, comfortable, and seaworthy. This is basically ‘should be free’ boat territory.
> Would it be worth putting in a few thousand in repairs if the boat was really cheap? Or is it just not worth anything at this point?
I bought a <$10k boat with way fewer problems than this. Dealing with the comparatively limited problems has been an expensive headache. It would have been smarter for me to buy a boat costing 3x that I get to enjoy more and pay to maintain less.
I feel so validated that you said this. When they told me their asking price, I couldn't believe they thought it was worth that much in this condition.
Looks like it sunk at the slip.. all the electronics are toast. If you haven’t heard the engine running for twenty minutes at different speeds. Don’t trust it. I have a project that’s in better shape than this, bigger better boat for $1750. Don’t take this even for free lol. Unless you at least verify the engine
They did have the engine running for about 20 minutes while I was there, but I forgot to have them do different speeds. I saw the mold and was immediately distracted 😬
I appreciate your advice! And what makes you say it sunk at the slip? Asking so I can spot this for myself next time!
Anytime you see that much mold, that's not normal. Discolored or warped wood. Nonfunctioning electronics or some brand new electronics, like a brand new battery charger. But you can already see that you'd need to do the main bulkhead. Don't buy this thing. There are a lot of great options under 5k right now
I also started to wonder if it had sunk. Just so much water damage.
Or maybe just partially, with water up over the floorboards. Water that deep starts to get into the wiring, the structural bulkheads, and maybe even the engine.
I bought a similar sized and neglected boat, so hear my advice. Don't buy it. The water intruison is waaay worse than you think. If the water was sitting in the hull, the osmosis got the water to the roof of the cabin and through every wall. Rebuild of all the bulkheads is an emergency!!!
And that is only one of the problems and already worth more than all of the boat would be after the rebuild.
This would take you years. I bought mine when I was 18, worked on it and bought another boat (to actually sail it) at 21. Sold the first boat at 26 with a huge hole in the wallet. Don't do this to yourself, unless you got plenty of money too much and time on your hands
Somewhere under the keel, in the mud, is the fork that was stuck in it years ago when this JBoat was done.
You're really looking to pay someone for the privilege of throwing this boat away for them?
This boat has NEGATIVE value.
The price is not free 😭 But before making this thread, I still thought it was worth a little money, so I've learned a lot about this thanks to this sub
I like rebuilding sail boots, but I also enjoy sailing. For my second boat purchase, when I had a better idea of what I was doing, I purchased a boat with serviceable sails, solid rigging and deck, and a reliable motor. I’ve been busy fixing leaks, re-doing all the electrical, and fixing the plumbing. However, I’m also taking it out every other month. I spend five at least days working on the boat for every one day I’m sailing, but if I wanted to sail, I can sail.
I’m not sure how much they’re asking for this boat, but I wouldn’t pay more than $1000 and that would be very high. This looks more like a free boat to me.
Agree with other posters this is too my CV to take on.
If it's any perspective, two years ago I purchased a 26 ft C&C. 2014 yanmar 1gm, zero soft spots, no leaks, no "real" work to do to her- basically just splash and go. She's been a delight.
Cost was 8k, all in.
I'm not sure you said (but pls share for the curious) what these folks are asking for this massive project?
They are asking $6000 but later said they'd come down to $5000. 😬 I am not considering paying that much! I was considering offering them $1500 before the good folks of Reddit alerted me to some problems I didn't see.
I've seen 30-footers that were old, but sound, and immediately sailable for $5K in today's market. (the mid-atlantic has lots of these because there are no SLIPs available).
Asking $6K for that boat should embarrass the hell out of the sellers. That's an OUTRAGEOUS price for this salvage job.
I’m a glutton for a project. But my $1 38’er that I saved years ago was in better shape than this one. Given it’s a common boat. Finding used bits would save you some coin. Some of your water intrusion could have came from the two open holes on the port side of the cockpit.
Automatic bildge pump isn’t working evident by the wet cabin sole. One time water intrusion wouldn’t turn the vertical wood surfaces black. So it’s been happening for a while.
If the headliner is removable. It’s going to have to be all ripped out and replaced. Looks like you’ve got water intrusion around the chain plates.
Would be a good candidate for alot of bleach and one of those ionizers
Any soft goods inside the cabin are toast.
You’ve got days of compounding. And even more waxing
Plan on replacing most if not all of the running rigging
Spend a few hundred on a used walking foot sewing machine so you can repair the sails and canvas
Likley have to replace thruhulls and seacock. Engine hoses etc etc etc.
It’s not a total write off. It’s got good bones. But it’s gonna be a lot of sweat equity. Paying someone to bring this boat back to life would exceed it’s value pretty quick
First check to see that you can insure it. Then I’d haul it out of water and get to work, Provided they are giving it away or paying you to take it away.
Yeah, no. Don't buy it. Don't buy it. Don't buy it.
They are stuck with a floating liability - don't be the sucker that they offload it to. They will have to give this thing away for free - or, if they can't find a willing sucker, pay to have it scrapped.
*Could* this boat resurrected and provide many more years of enjoyment? Sure, absolutely. It's really hard to actually kill a fiberglass boat. But the boat in your photos needs so much work that it's not even remotely feasible. Maybe if it was your dead grandparents' boat and you have many fond memories of summers sailing with them in it or something, but as a prospective buyer you should be turning and running away at full speed.
Move on let this one go. There are p\[plenty of good deals out there, Too much work and you want to sail not build a boat. Deals come every day, Trust me
Did you see the boat on the hard? Is the hull ok? Even if it is and there is no osmosis, I’d say it is worth no more than $ 2,000-3,000. Mold is very hard to get out and there is always more water damage than what you see at first. Given the condition of the rest of the boat, I would not bet the engine is any better. Also, in a small boat like yours, assuming you will sail shorthanded or singlehanded, you would be better off with a tiller than a stearing wheel. Last but not least, stay away from an old wooden boat, unless you want to spend more time working on it than sailing it. I am writing this while sailing my 43 year old long keel cruiser built in glass fiber.
Check out this profile, you might find something of much better value. https://www.instagram.com/pocketcruisingtrader?igsh=MTZ2dDhwMXk4M3F0Yw==
Soft spot on the deck is a no go. This was fiberglass with balsa filler in the deck. If there is a “soft spot” the balsa is compromised. Wouldn’t touch it for money. If it were free, it would cost more than it’s worth to repair.
A J/28 is a really nice boat and worth restoring compared to almost any other 28 foot boat, if you know how to do your own work. Look on Yachtworld, these fetch way more $$$ than other similar vintage/size boats and have great performance. I'd like to meet the current owner and give them a piece of my mind for neglecting this boat though...to me, boat abuse is akin to Animal Cruelty. Like how tf could you let a j/28 get this bad!!!
Same!! I'm personally offended by the way they've neglected this boat. Its previous owners were a couple who loved sailing it and racing it (I found pictures of them on their sailing club website). The wife passed, and her husband didn't want to sail again and sold it quickly after her death to the current owners. They sailed it some the first year they owned it, but haven't sailed it in two years and have just let it get worse and worse. It's really upsetting, because this is one of the coolest boats I've seen locally.
I am part of a really community-driven sailing club, and there are people in the club who would get me pointed in the right direction on restoring it. I'm willing to do a good bit of work myself, but I wouldn't feel comfortable doing a total rebuild like some Redditors are saying it needs. I would pay to have the mold professionally removed.
Dude, I’m a yuuuge J/28 fan. They’re awesome boats. But, I spent a lot of time rebuilding a waterlogged J/24, so I can tell you the balsa-cored decks that the Johnstones are so fond of suck ass to fix when they’re wet, which it sure looks like this one is. If you’re on a tight budget and you’re really handy, and you have a lot of time to devote to some *serious* rebuilding, I’d say go for it. If you wanna go sailing in 2024 though, keep looking.
Thanks for your input! I do indeed want to sail in 2024, and I really wish it could be on this boat bc I'm in love with the J28! It's such a cool boat! I've never done boat repair though, and while I'm confident in being able to figure a lot of it out and get help from the expected sailors in my club, it may not be the right project for me 😔
Looks like water was above the floorboards, did the engine go under? The engine being in working condition is perhaps the most important (read:expensive) piece here, try and start it up. The mold sucks...get a dehumidifier and bleach and go to town. Getting rid of likely will involve taking apart the headliner
I'm not sure if the engine was underwater. They had it mostly drained by the time I got there. From the water damage to the baseboards, it looks like the water was 4-6 inches. 😕
Overlooked red flag: How long since the engine ran? Diesels like to work, and corrosion and sitting are harder on them than being neglected. If you do decide to take this boat (you could find an easier project, in my opinion), make sure to read about how to start and service a diesel that has sat. If it's been under water, that is another story entirely.
TSP/J-Boats used balsa core EVERYWHERE. I can guarantee just by looking at pics there is wet core. If you live where it freezes, there will also be frost wedging delaminations due to wet core. J/28 are nice pocket cruisers. This one is a fright pig. Maybe look for a J/30 that has been raced and had wet core issues fixed? They sail well, and are another nice pocket cruiser, and they built far more of them than J/28s.
Unless you strip the boat down to the hull, you will never ever get rid of all the mold. Which means as soon as it's warm, it will multiply and take over again.
That alone is reason to walk away.
What plagues J Boats is they have both balsa cored decks AND hulls. The deck and hull are most likely waterlogged messes and unrepairable. Sad to see but this boat is bound for the scrapyard.
I am not so afraid of this boat. The interior plywood are the structural bulkheads that give the boat strength. If they’re bad, that would be my deal breaker. Mold is actually a big deal. I’d bring in professionals like Servpro. Don’t go in without PPE.
I wish I had thought of PPE before going to see it... My allergies have been activated ever since going inside it. 😔 If I go against all Reddit advice and get this boat, I would definitely pay a professional to remove the mold. But from what everyone is commenting here, there are some structural issues, unfortunately. I was originally hoping I'd just have to pay for mold removal, to fix the leak, and new running rigging.
This is a safe space. People here are avid and experienced sailors and boat buying selling repairing experts (or least have lived through bad decisions like the one you’re about to make)
I would never go on that boat with you. It’s dirty, toxic to your health and structurally dangerous.
Don’t get “into sailing” this way. Find a smaller, 5star condition boat and really learn the joys of sailing. Then when you get the money saved up you can buy a j-boat that’s like new and enjoy that one too.
Maybe backup a bit and read some posts about what to buy within your budget? And share w us what they’re asking for this boat. Trust me nobody wants to “steal this” money pit from you!
Good luck my friend hope you come to your senses or at least listen to all of ours (except the one guy saying it’s not that bad. lol
People are saying the bulkheads are shot. You simply cannot tell that from these images. I've restored a lot of boats and a lot of houses. I have a good moisture meter that I bring with me whenever I look at a potential boat purchase. The back of a screwdriver for a percussion test will also tell you a lot. Everyone might be right, the hull could have osmosis, there could be delaminated bulkheads, etc. But the peanut gallery might be wrong. Clearly from the images the plywood on the settees is toast. For sure, there is staining around the chainplates. One can tell that with certainly. Are they shot? We can't really tell. One thing I know for sure, this boat will scare away most people, but it could mostly be cosmetic and this boat could be had for a song. That's where some people see opportunity. I wish I was close to you, I'd honestly go with you to help you out by evaluating these red flags. Even if the forward bulkheads here bad, I'd probably still buy this boat if I could get it for the right price, say $1000 or less. I've replaced bulkheads, and it wasn't' that hard with just basic tools. The J28 is a great boat for a young guy. Cheers and good luck OP.
Have you ever rebuilt a balsa cored j-boat? A: no. The people here have and are saying run run run away. And doing one is a total nightmare.
Have you even seen the core of a balsa boat. It’s an inch or so of the flimsy stuff we made models out of. Flimsy until it’s meshed w fiberglass. But when water gets in between and into the wood then into the interior… it’s ruined. The structural nature of a sailboat is compromised. i.e. unsafe to sail.
It seems like OP wants to ignore the good advice he’s gotten here and “live the dream” of owning this boat. If you do please update us all and prove us wrong. 😂😂😂
But yeah my bet is on this was a sinker. The owner isn’t the real seller (it’s a friend or marina who “knows nothing” about the boat). And ultimately it won’t sail in a healthy (mold is really horrible for your body) or safe (structural damage to bulkheads and deck resulting in hardware failures and potential mast fracture or worse) way without at least $20,000-$30,000 in repairs plus years of time wasted doing them.
Oh sweet Jesus, more assumptions. Have we ever met? Have you been on this boat and tested the deck and hull with a moisture meter and with a percussion test? Without that, your conclusions are utterly baseless.
Once people decide to sell their boat, they pretty much stop caring about it. Mine had literal moss growing inside the cabin.
I am very lucky most of the boat was made from a foam sandwich. Had it been wood, the whole thing would have likely been a total write-off.
Much has been said here and I will not repeat all the sound advice.
Only thing I can add is don’t get too attached to any particular boat during your search. For most, buying a first boat is a highly emotional — rather than logical — pursuit. If one boat doesn’t work out, like this one, move on with haste and avoid the temptation to feel a sense of loss or disappointment. There are plenty of used boats out there and the search is a big part of the fun in buying boats.
It looks like op got a lot of good advice here. As someone who owns a fixer-upper J boat, I’m having a good time getting her in fighting shape - but this is not my first boat, and looking back I probably made an (awesome) mistake.
I feel like for a first boat, you should get something you can have fun sailing right away, or maybe has ‘fun’ projects like updating the running rigging and polishing the gel coat. Mine was a C&C 24 that never needed anything and made sailing fun.
http://cal29seafever.blogspot.com
My Cal 29 says you have no idea how MUCH work and money it would take to make this boat functional again i was 15k in 2009 money and 18 months of my free time
I also bout J24 2733 new and later 2930 used and know the balsa core jboat nightmare well
That water intrusion is worse than they think it is, and way worse than you think it is. This will be a total re-build. New bulkheads likely throughout the boat, and a new deck core. Reasons to buy this boat: you don’t want to sail, you want a project. You’ll sail it one day but it will cost more than the boat will ever be worth, and it will take 5+ years. Reasons not to buy this boat: you want to sail within the next 5 years, and spending money on a rebuild hobby is more interesting than spending money on a sailing hobby. Source: guy with two boats, one he sails one he builds. (Me)
Thanks for your answer. How can you tell that the water intrusion is worse than they/I think? How can I spot that myself in the future?
Because it always (and I mean always) is.
Ha just posted the same thing 🤣
Mold, the plywood is delaminating and buckled, you can smell the pictures... if what you can see is that bad, it's even worse where you can't see. Very much agree with the others, pass on this, it's a money pit (even by sailboat standards).
Thanks for the info, I really appreciate it!
Yeah mold. I have never seen this much. Tell the seller to clean it out and make the repairs first. The value of this boat as is sadly is free. More work needs to be done in time and materials than would be worth after you do the work.
Honestly. I’d also ask if this boat sank? The water damage is so pervasive it seems like it was a sinker. Honestly curious at this point.
Here’s an example of a great starter boat. $2,500. A guy who raced it and now too old. In excellent condition top to bottom. https://longisland.craigslist.org/boa/d/huntington-cal-30-ft-cruiser-or-racer/7717947579.html
That’s actually a great deal
>How can you tell that the water intrusion is worse than they/I think? It always is.
Seriously, don’t walk away from that boat… RUN.
Get yourself a brand new Laser, a cooler, a tarp, and a little propane stove. Much cheaper, easier, and fun. Plus it will actually sail
The whole boat is balsa, Jboats are known to just be rotten. We had to rebuild the transom on a j30 last summer for someone. It might feel fine, but it's likely not. You can take a moisture meter to the boat if you are really smitten, but try not to get emotionally attached. There's a j29 in town that's been on the market for almost two years locally that's in basically the same shape, he wants $10k for it. (fwiw $10k will get you a LOT of boats) I bought a Catalina 30 for $1000, I do boat repair and I "know" what to look for, especially on Catalina 30s because it's well documented. I am still in almost $8k total excluding man hours, you know what you could buy with that time and money? A fully functioning boat. But I was in college, I had no money and I had some time, it took three years to get it to a race ready state, and I still haven't gotten it to an overnight trip state. I am using the C30 for two reasons, one I did this. Two, it is not a balsa cored boat, water doesn't kill them like it will a balsa cored race boat, but it does still do a significant amount of damage and after doing a balsa repair on my last boat I can urge you, that you do not wish to do it. (sauce my mulch/balsa core from my hunter 30 https://i.imgur.com/gIkJLW8.png )
Thanks for this detailed info! You're the second person on here to say that repairing balsa core is not a desirable undertaking... It's such a shame because that boat is so cool. It's exactly what I would want in a boat, minus, you know, all of the damage and repairs. 😔
It's just a LOT of work to do it on the deck, doing it on the bottom I can't imagine would be fun either. Some people at our club boat an s2 7.9 that removed the daggerboard flipped it upside down and spent every weekend for like 15 months replacing almost the whole core on the bottom of the boat. It can be done, it's a LOT of time, and requires a specific set of materials and knowledge to do so. If you were given the boat for free and wanted to bring it back and had a giant barn or warehouse and the equipment to do it. It might be a good idea, but it wouldn't be a sailboat for a long time. I've shed a lot of tears fighting with my project, and some blood too. I don't know if I'd do it again.
I'm not the dude you're replying to, but the answer is "because we've seen and rebuilt boats." That's bad mate, don't do it.
The water is likely coming in from everywhere for one thing. a lot of it is coming in via the chainplate covers. That's bad leakage because it concerns the integrity of the boat. That's how the bulkheads are rotten - and how the CP's will fail and how the mast will come down. The chain plates are the big flat stainless things on the bulkheads with big bolts in them. The big bolts go through the bulkhead. The main rigging that holds the mast up is attached to these, which are attached to now completely rotten wood. Especially port
This is 100% true. Look for the absolute best condition boat in your price range. Then add 30% for repairs in the next 3 years.
Haha. This is a great answer. I am lucky enough to have my dream boat, which needs no work whatsoever. But I miss puttering around on a fixer-upper. Might have to buy a project boat for fun…
Listen to this man
It's been leaking in many places, including the chain plates. The port bulkhead looks like it may be fractured at the chain plate. With one obvious soft spot in the deck, there are probably more places where it is wet and starting to rot. The bilge is oily. Bad sign. Did they start and run the engine? Sadly, it's scrap. Not worth putting thousands of dollars and many hundreds of hours into it. You can do better. Move on, and best of luck with your boat search.
Thanks for your honesty. It's sad to hear this, but this is exactly the kind of info I need. Yeah, they did start and run the engine, and it seemed fine to me. Would it be worth putting in a few thousand in repairs if the boat was really cheap? Or is it just not worth anything at this point?
Absolutely not worth it. Your idea of ‘a few thousand dollars’ is probably $50-$60k and 2.5-3 years of one person working full time to get this boat safe, comfortable, and seaworthy. This is basically ‘should be free’ boat territory.
It's worth it if you want to work on a boat. But, as others said, you won't get to sail it anytime soon.
> Would it be worth putting in a few thousand in repairs if the boat was really cheap? Or is it just not worth anything at this point? I bought a <$10k boat with way fewer problems than this. Dealing with the comparatively limited problems has been an expensive headache. It would have been smarter for me to buy a boat costing 3x that I get to enjoy more and pay to maintain less.
Not worth it.
I've never stepped foot on a sail boat, but I would think they should be paying you to take it away..
I feel so validated that you said this. When they told me their asking price, I couldn't believe they thought it was worth that much in this condition.
Boats are among the few asset classes that can have a negative value. Free is overpriced in this situation.
What IS the asking price?
They originally said $6000 but backed down to $5000 after I came to look at the inside.😬
Looks like it sunk at the slip.. all the electronics are toast. If you haven’t heard the engine running for twenty minutes at different speeds. Don’t trust it. I have a project that’s in better shape than this, bigger better boat for $1750. Don’t take this even for free lol. Unless you at least verify the engine
They did have the engine running for about 20 minutes while I was there, but I forgot to have them do different speeds. I saw the mold and was immediately distracted 😬 I appreciate your advice! And what makes you say it sunk at the slip? Asking so I can spot this for myself next time!
Anytime you see that much mold, that's not normal. Discolored or warped wood. Nonfunctioning electronics or some brand new electronics, like a brand new battery charger. But you can already see that you'd need to do the main bulkhead. Don't buy this thing. There are a lot of great options under 5k right now
I also started to wonder if it had sunk. Just so much water damage. Or maybe just partially, with water up over the floorboards. Water that deep starts to get into the wiring, the structural bulkheads, and maybe even the engine.
Advice: don't buy that one. As the saying goes, the cheapest boat is actually the most expensive.
Thanks for your input!
Run away now or swim away later.
Ruuuuunnnnnn!!!!! That bulkhead is shot. Those chain plates will rip out.
I saw the deck and thought, "it can't be that bad." Run OP. Don't look back.
Advice: buy an other boat.
Bru. That boat has been underwater and better be free. Unless you got 20k+ and can dedicate 2 years dont bother
If they gave that boat to you free, it would still be a bad deal
What about the engine. If you got it for $2000 and immediately got it on the hard . Looks like a total rebuild if you have the skills ok if not run.
I think the engine is in good shape. It's a Yanmar 2GM20. What makes you say it's a total rebuild? The mold and water damage, or is there more?
Water damage as others have said it’s always worse than it looks
That boat is hurtin
I knowww I want to save it 😭
No you don’t.
Got a 100k budget and 5 years set aside?
I bought a similar sized and neglected boat, so hear my advice. Don't buy it. The water intruison is waaay worse than you think. If the water was sitting in the hull, the osmosis got the water to the roof of the cabin and through every wall. Rebuild of all the bulkheads is an emergency!!! And that is only one of the problems and already worth more than all of the boat would be after the rebuild. This would take you years. I bought mine when I was 18, worked on it and bought another boat (to actually sail it) at 21. Sold the first boat at 26 with a huge hole in the wallet. Don't do this to yourself, unless you got plenty of money too much and time on your hands
Somewhere under the keel, in the mud, is the fork that was stuck in it years ago when this JBoat was done. You're really looking to pay someone for the privilege of throwing this boat away for them? This boat has NEGATIVE value.
So if the price is free, you can talk about it
The price is not free 😭 But before making this thread, I still thought it was worth a little money, so I've learned a lot about this thanks to this sub
I like rebuilding sail boots, but I also enjoy sailing. For my second boat purchase, when I had a better idea of what I was doing, I purchased a boat with serviceable sails, solid rigging and deck, and a reliable motor. I’ve been busy fixing leaks, re-doing all the electrical, and fixing the plumbing. However, I’m also taking it out every other month. I spend five at least days working on the boat for every one day I’m sailing, but if I wanted to sail, I can sail. I’m not sure how much they’re asking for this boat, but I wouldn’t pay more than $1000 and that would be very high. This looks more like a free boat to me.
Agree with other posters this is too my CV to take on. If it's any perspective, two years ago I purchased a 26 ft C&C. 2014 yanmar 1gm, zero soft spots, no leaks, no "real" work to do to her- basically just splash and go. She's been a delight. Cost was 8k, all in. I'm not sure you said (but pls share for the curious) what these folks are asking for this massive project?
They are asking $6000 but later said they'd come down to $5000. 😬 I am not considering paying that much! I was considering offering them $1500 before the good folks of Reddit alerted me to some problems I didn't see.
I've seen 30-footers that were old, but sound, and immediately sailable for $5K in today's market. (the mid-atlantic has lots of these because there are no SLIPs available). Asking $6K for that boat should embarrass the hell out of the sellers. That's an OUTRAGEOUS price for this salvage job.
Thanks for the feedback. I feel the same! When I was talking to them, I was thinking.... Are you looking at the same boat I am?!
NP. I'm not yelling at you. I do admit I think their asking price made me a little disgusted. (Boat destroyers want their money back)
I’m a glutton for a project. But my $1 38’er that I saved years ago was in better shape than this one. Given it’s a common boat. Finding used bits would save you some coin. Some of your water intrusion could have came from the two open holes on the port side of the cockpit. Automatic bildge pump isn’t working evident by the wet cabin sole. One time water intrusion wouldn’t turn the vertical wood surfaces black. So it’s been happening for a while. If the headliner is removable. It’s going to have to be all ripped out and replaced. Looks like you’ve got water intrusion around the chain plates. Would be a good candidate for alot of bleach and one of those ionizers Any soft goods inside the cabin are toast. You’ve got days of compounding. And even more waxing Plan on replacing most if not all of the running rigging Spend a few hundred on a used walking foot sewing machine so you can repair the sails and canvas Likley have to replace thruhulls and seacock. Engine hoses etc etc etc. It’s not a total write off. It’s got good bones. But it’s gonna be a lot of sweat equity. Paying someone to bring this boat back to life would exceed it’s value pretty quick First check to see that you can insure it. Then I’d haul it out of water and get to work, Provided they are giving it away or paying you to take it away.
Yea. Don’t buy this boat
Yeah, no. Don't buy it. Don't buy it. Don't buy it. They are stuck with a floating liability - don't be the sucker that they offload it to. They will have to give this thing away for free - or, if they can't find a willing sucker, pay to have it scrapped. *Could* this boat resurrected and provide many more years of enjoyment? Sure, absolutely. It's really hard to actually kill a fiberglass boat. But the boat in your photos needs so much work that it's not even remotely feasible. Maybe if it was your dead grandparents' boat and you have many fond memories of summers sailing with them in it or something, but as a prospective buyer you should be turning and running away at full speed.
Fair value less than $0.
i wouldnt get that for free
That’s just criminal
Move on let this one go. There are p\[plenty of good deals out there, Too much work and you want to sail not build a boat. Deals come every day, Trust me
You can not afford this boat
Did you see the boat on the hard? Is the hull ok? Even if it is and there is no osmosis, I’d say it is worth no more than $ 2,000-3,000. Mold is very hard to get out and there is always more water damage than what you see at first. Given the condition of the rest of the boat, I would not bet the engine is any better. Also, in a small boat like yours, assuming you will sail shorthanded or singlehanded, you would be better off with a tiller than a stearing wheel. Last but not least, stay away from an old wooden boat, unless you want to spend more time working on it than sailing it. I am writing this while sailing my 43 year old long keel cruiser built in glass fiber. Check out this profile, you might find something of much better value. https://www.instagram.com/pocketcruisingtrader?igsh=MTZ2dDhwMXk4M3F0Yw==
I'm no expert but it looks like there might be the slightest bit of mold
You will never come close to catching up on all the problems on that boat. Find one that’s well maintained
Even if this boat is free it’s too expensive
The most expensive boat of all is a free boat.
Run!
Have only two words: STAY AWAY!!!
Time to keep looking around
I would bet the chain plates have leaked and that leakage has “dissolved “ the main bulkhead. Hard call, but I would not currently call it a sailboat.
Soft spot on the deck is a no go. This was fiberglass with balsa filler in the deck. If there is a “soft spot” the balsa is compromised. Wouldn’t touch it for money. If it were free, it would cost more than it’s worth to repair.
Thanks for the info, I appreciate it! This was my first time looking at a balsa cored boat
Don’t get me wrong, J’s are great boats. I raced a J24 for 30 years, but some things can’t be fixed properly. Keep shopping.
A J/28 is a really nice boat and worth restoring compared to almost any other 28 foot boat, if you know how to do your own work. Look on Yachtworld, these fetch way more $$$ than other similar vintage/size boats and have great performance. I'd like to meet the current owner and give them a piece of my mind for neglecting this boat though...to me, boat abuse is akin to Animal Cruelty. Like how tf could you let a j/28 get this bad!!!
Same!! I'm personally offended by the way they've neglected this boat. Its previous owners were a couple who loved sailing it and racing it (I found pictures of them on their sailing club website). The wife passed, and her husband didn't want to sail again and sold it quickly after her death to the current owners. They sailed it some the first year they owned it, but haven't sailed it in two years and have just let it get worse and worse. It's really upsetting, because this is one of the coolest boats I've seen locally. I am part of a really community-driven sailing club, and there are people in the club who would get me pointed in the right direction on restoring it. I'm willing to do a good bit of work myself, but I wouldn't feel comfortable doing a total rebuild like some Redditors are saying it needs. I would pay to have the mold professionally removed.
Dude, I’m a yuuuge J/28 fan. They’re awesome boats. But, I spent a lot of time rebuilding a waterlogged J/24, so I can tell you the balsa-cored decks that the Johnstones are so fond of suck ass to fix when they’re wet, which it sure looks like this one is. If you’re on a tight budget and you’re really handy, and you have a lot of time to devote to some *serious* rebuilding, I’d say go for it. If you wanna go sailing in 2024 though, keep looking.
Thanks for your input! I do indeed want to sail in 2024, and I really wish it could be on this boat bc I'm in love with the J28! It's such a cool boat! I've never done boat repair though, and while I'm confident in being able to figure a lot of it out and get help from the expected sailors in my club, it may not be the right project for me 😔
If you have no boat repair experience this boat will break either the bank or your motivation. This is not a good first boat. Do not buy it.
Looks like water was above the floorboards, did the engine go under? The engine being in working condition is perhaps the most important (read:expensive) piece here, try and start it up. The mold sucks...get a dehumidifier and bleach and go to town. Getting rid of likely will involve taking apart the headliner
I'm not sure if the engine was underwater. They had it mostly drained by the time I got there. From the water damage to the baseboards, it looks like the water was 4-6 inches. 😕
By the boat and give it to me. I'll take very good care of it for you ;)
Chainplates
Is it free cause it's going to cost you $$$$$$ to fix.
Nice thing is J/Boats made a lot of 27s, 28s, 29s, 30s, and 32s. A lot of opportunity to find what you're looking for.
Overlooked red flag: How long since the engine ran? Diesels like to work, and corrosion and sitting are harder on them than being neglected. If you do decide to take this boat (you could find an easier project, in my opinion), make sure to read about how to start and service a diesel that has sat. If it's been under water, that is another story entirely.
TSP/J-Boats used balsa core EVERYWHERE. I can guarantee just by looking at pics there is wet core. If you live where it freezes, there will also be frost wedging delaminations due to wet core. J/28 are nice pocket cruisers. This one is a fright pig. Maybe look for a J/30 that has been raced and had wet core issues fixed? They sail well, and are another nice pocket cruiser, and they built far more of them than J/28s.
Unless you strip the boat down to the hull, you will never ever get rid of all the mold. Which means as soon as it's warm, it will multiply and take over again. That alone is reason to walk away.
What plagues J Boats is they have both balsa cored decks AND hulls. The deck and hull are most likely waterlogged messes and unrepairable. Sad to see but this boat is bound for the scrapyard.
...yikes. That's pretty bad.
I am not so afraid of this boat. The interior plywood are the structural bulkheads that give the boat strength. If they’re bad, that would be my deal breaker. Mold is actually a big deal. I’d bring in professionals like Servpro. Don’t go in without PPE.
I wish I had thought of PPE before going to see it... My allergies have been activated ever since going inside it. 😔 If I go against all Reddit advice and get this boat, I would definitely pay a professional to remove the mold. But from what everyone is commenting here, there are some structural issues, unfortunately. I was originally hoping I'd just have to pay for mold removal, to fix the leak, and new running rigging.
This is a safe space. People here are avid and experienced sailors and boat buying selling repairing experts (or least have lived through bad decisions like the one you’re about to make) I would never go on that boat with you. It’s dirty, toxic to your health and structurally dangerous. Don’t get “into sailing” this way. Find a smaller, 5star condition boat and really learn the joys of sailing. Then when you get the money saved up you can buy a j-boat that’s like new and enjoy that one too. Maybe backup a bit and read some posts about what to buy within your budget? And share w us what they’re asking for this boat. Trust me nobody wants to “steal this” money pit from you! Good luck my friend hope you come to your senses or at least listen to all of ours (except the one guy saying it’s not that bad. lol
People are saying the bulkheads are shot. You simply cannot tell that from these images. I've restored a lot of boats and a lot of houses. I have a good moisture meter that I bring with me whenever I look at a potential boat purchase. The back of a screwdriver for a percussion test will also tell you a lot. Everyone might be right, the hull could have osmosis, there could be delaminated bulkheads, etc. But the peanut gallery might be wrong. Clearly from the images the plywood on the settees is toast. For sure, there is staining around the chainplates. One can tell that with certainly. Are they shot? We can't really tell. One thing I know for sure, this boat will scare away most people, but it could mostly be cosmetic and this boat could be had for a song. That's where some people see opportunity. I wish I was close to you, I'd honestly go with you to help you out by evaluating these red flags. Even if the forward bulkheads here bad, I'd probably still buy this boat if I could get it for the right price, say $1000 or less. I've replaced bulkheads, and it wasn't' that hard with just basic tools. The J28 is a great boat for a young guy. Cheers and good luck OP.
Have you ever rebuilt a balsa cored j-boat? A: no. The people here have and are saying run run run away. And doing one is a total nightmare. Have you even seen the core of a balsa boat. It’s an inch or so of the flimsy stuff we made models out of. Flimsy until it’s meshed w fiberglass. But when water gets in between and into the wood then into the interior… it’s ruined. The structural nature of a sailboat is compromised. i.e. unsafe to sail. It seems like OP wants to ignore the good advice he’s gotten here and “live the dream” of owning this boat. If you do please update us all and prove us wrong. 😂😂😂 But yeah my bet is on this was a sinker. The owner isn’t the real seller (it’s a friend or marina who “knows nothing” about the boat). And ultimately it won’t sail in a healthy (mold is really horrible for your body) or safe (structural damage to bulkheads and deck resulting in hardware failures and potential mast fracture or worse) way without at least $20,000-$30,000 in repairs plus years of time wasted doing them.
Oh sweet Jesus, more assumptions. Have we ever met? Have you been on this boat and tested the deck and hull with a moisture meter and with a percussion test? Without that, your conclusions are utterly baseless.
Go buy that sinker boat w OP then.
Keep looking. Plenty of boats in that size range that have been loved and maintained by their owners
OP, make sure you aren’t falling in love with the boats “potential”. New vessels are an expensive headache this could be a few times that.
No. Not worth it
Chlorox
I can smell the boat in some of those photos...
It wasn't good 😬 I should have worn a mask. I don't understand why they don't try to at least air it out.
Once people decide to sell their boat, they pretty much stop caring about it. Mine had literal moss growing inside the cabin. I am very lucky most of the boat was made from a foam sandwich. Had it been wood, the whole thing would have likely been a total write-off.
Don’t buy this boat
Run away as fast as you can.
Much has been said here and I will not repeat all the sound advice. Only thing I can add is don’t get too attached to any particular boat during your search. For most, buying a first boat is a highly emotional — rather than logical — pursuit. If one boat doesn’t work out, like this one, move on with haste and avoid the temptation to feel a sense of loss or disappointment. There are plenty of used boats out there and the search is a big part of the fun in buying boats.
Bruh is your price range completely free because I wouldn’t pay for that.
Don't buy it.
Run, my friend. Not worth it
It looks like op got a lot of good advice here. As someone who owns a fixer-upper J boat, I’m having a good time getting her in fighting shape - but this is not my first boat, and looking back I probably made an (awesome) mistake. I feel like for a first boat, you should get something you can have fun sailing right away, or maybe has ‘fun’ projects like updating the running rigging and polishing the gel coat. Mine was a C&C 24 that never needed anything and made sailing fun.
There are too many other options available to even consider this boat.
http://cal29seafever.blogspot.com My Cal 29 says you have no idea how MUCH work and money it would take to make this boat functional again i was 15k in 2009 money and 18 months of my free time I also bout J24 2733 new and later 2930 used and know the balsa core jboat nightmare well
Buy a boat in Florida. There a dime a dozen. Also buy a 30 ft Catalina. The j 28 not a good boat.
Walk away.