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Hinckley Picnic Boats- deferred maintenance expectations for Buyer

Discussion in 'General Downeast Dayboat Discussion' started by usual suspect, Aug 2, 2020.

  1. usual suspect

    usual suspect New Member

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    As a racing sailor, we pour enough diesel in our boats to get us to the start and that's about it, so-- not much experience with maintenance expectations for a boat like this.

    This week, I bought a 1998 picnic boat which I have not seen (relied on a knowledgable friend who did tho). She is below-average cosmetically; usually an indicator of maintenance undertaken over the years. 600 hours on her from her original owner. Yanmar 350.

    I anticipate - and have scheduled - a full run-through for my local Yanmar service yard and a change-out of all pertinent fluids, belts, hoses, impellers. I"m told that a "full jet service" should probably be performed, and that when this happens (off season, after we get to play for a couple months) that the motor has to come out ? And if so, that we should use the opportunity to paint the engine compartment, paint the motor, and pressure-test the fuel tanks. We'll likely upgrade the jetstick control system as I think it's original "old computer" upgrade time. I'm told the full jet service is $3k and the controller is more like $9k

    What else to I need to know ?

    Plan to have the wood fully stripped / re-done, pain the topsides, new upholstery etc.

    Anything else I should know before entering this process ?

    No, the boat was not surveyed but was fully tested via moisture meter and found to be dry- including the usually suspect bulkheads and stringers

    Sure appreciate any input from the deep knowledge base here on yacht forums.
  2. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    I've run several Hinckleys for Hinckley.

    What size? I'm guessing around a 34'? If so, there is a modification where Hinckley owners have added 2 running strakes on the hull that stick down around 1" or so in the stern area. This helps them track a lot better in a following or beam sea. Talk to the Hinckley yard in Stuart, FL.

    As for the joystick control system, try it first without it, if it handles well dockside with the origional system why upgrade.

    I'd also go through the vaccuflush head system and change the bellows, bowl seal, and duct bills and the overpressure valves on the top of the holding tank.

    While the motor is out, change any of the might as wells in there that are hard to get to. Hoses, clamps, etc...... I'd do all the hoses I could get to if they're origional or older than 7 years.
  3. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    No experience with Picnic boats except that I drool like a senile old fool everytime i see one. Or any Hinckley for that matter :). Congrats

    Sight unseen without survey? You’re a brave man....
  4. usual suspect

    usual suspect New Member

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    [QUOTE="Pascal, post: 297411, member: 13724"

    Sight unseen without survey? You’re a brave man....[/QUOTE]

    yes i’m a gambler on this for sure. bought it assuming “needs everything” and- for what i paid which is well under half of norm - i’m sure it needs plenty

    but ALL of em need something. picking one that needs it all gives me a blank slate and will land me at still waaay less than market, set up how i want it. what could possibly go wrong.
  5. usual suspect

    usual suspect New Member

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    great i input , head sounds like a good idea — all new hoses = not smelling up the boat and I like that
  6. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Famous last words. hehehehehee. Right up there with "hold my beer, and watch this!!!!" hehehee. Provided the motor is good, should work out well. Especially if it's a freshwater boat.
  7. MBevins

    MBevins Senior Member

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    I'm suspecting it's one of the Grosse Point boats. Owner used it , threw money when needed and is either bored or his neighbor got a new one :)
  8. usual suspect

    usual suspect New Member

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    story sounds about right, but Mystic CT was home- she’s salty and faded. your storyline is good tho; typical rich guy toy shiny object no longer shiny, discard it...,
  9. MBevins

    MBevins Senior Member

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    We'll be expecting pictures of this .
  10. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Of all places, she could have been so well treated there. Shame. There's lessons to be learned here, not the least of which is that these dark colored hulls look so pretty at the boat shows but they're work to keep up after. Unless you have money to burn or you really love caring for a boat stay away from dark colored hulls. They show everything and fade fast. Red, blue and green are the most prone to fading from what I've seen (gray, tan, yellow not so much but not as fashionable). What I find most amusing is that people turned away from wood due to the amount of work involved, and then moved to these colored hull that require special (expensive) "paints" that require special (expensive) applications and then special (expensive) cleaners. Then of course there's the scratches that happen to every boat; not a big deal when it's white on white but under that color is white and any scratch shows like a sore thumb.
  11. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    It depends. I've managed a 2007 62' Predator since 2011. It has a dark navy blue hull, with the origional gelcoat it had to be waxed every 3-4 months. By 2014 the gelcoat on the hull was shot. We had it painted with Awlcraft 2000 in Midnight Blue (very dark navy blue) in March 2014. All I've done is washed the hull with the Awlwash soap and once a year had awlcare wiped on and wiped off of it, it still looks perfect 6 years later and near maintenance free.
  12. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    And the cost of having the boat painted with Awlcraft 2000, and what happens if regular boat wash soap is used or the Awlcare not applied? Back in the wood days people found it too much work to sand and slap on a coat of house paint every couple of years. Like I said, if you have money to burn or a love for working on your boat those dark colors are wonderful. Otherwise....
  13. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    $24k to have the hull painted. We've saved that already in not paying for it to be compounded and waxed 3x a year. You're not supposed to was Awlgrip or Awlcraft. Hulls are pretty reasonable to paint as there's not a lot to remove compared to the topsides. I think regular boat soap shortens it's life 20%
  14. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    And southern climates the AC will struggle to keep the boat cool...

    Paint is way to go but more expensive for the builders which is why most use gelcoat. I ve seen original Hatteras paint still having a nice shine after 20/25 years. You ll never get that from gelcoat

    will get my 53 painted in a year or so when I m done with everything else. Seriously considering fighting lady yellow...
  15. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Might make it look like a big Sea Tow boat, but at least yellow fights fading better than the dark colors. For that boat I'd probably stick with white or go with tan or gray.
  16. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Maybe you ve been off the water too long but fighting lady yellow is nowhere close to sea tow...
  17. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    My wife has a million colors. For me colors there's just the primary colors. Everything else is just shades of those. She picks the colors in our house.:D To me it's just yellow. Not what I picture on an 53 Hat. But that's why Sherwin Williams has a million shades. Different tastes. No trouble finding it in a big marina.
  18. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    I like fighting lady yellow (but it has to be the right shade of it, on the lighter side) and teal or medium green boot stripe and bottom paint. Some paint labelled fighting lady yellow is darker and closer to the Sea Tow color, not the origional fighting lady yellow

    Here is a boat with the green bottom paint I'm talking about:
    https://www.bing.com/images/search?...F9D14&selectedIndex=30&FORM=IRPRST&ajaxhist=0

    Here's a Motoryacht like yours in the color, not sure if I like the look:
    https://www.bing.com/images/search?...4FA4&selectedIndex=166&FORM=IRPRST&ajaxhist=0
  19. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    ROFLMAO !!!:D Life was so easy when Henry Ford said you can have your car in black or black. Before I moved to So. Fl. my cars were black, brown and red. When I came back my first two were purple and I currently drive an orange one. Florida has an effect on people. lol.
  20. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    No, second one is not FLY. Has to be very light.