1982 Egg Harbor 42’ Flybridge Motor yacht

All of you are really awesome! I’ve got my eye on an 1982 Egg Harbor 42’ Flybridge Motor yacht. Her 454 crusader 454 have only 1742 hours.

I have no clue about anything unless I make the trip to go see her. We are considering it very strongly and making her our new home on the water. Oh I’m very well aware of both surveyors needed. I would make sure to get two accredited surveyors NOT familiar with the particular yard or boat.

She’s on the hill currently in a heated barn soon to be launched. Her hailing port is in FL but she will be staying up north until she is sold.

I’ve seen the ad for the past six months to a year now. Her price has dropped a little in that time period. So I’m not really sure what to do. This yard refit the boat to look like she just rolled out of the Egg Harbor City Plant in New Jersey. She looks in photos that pristine. Is anyone able to give me a ballpark estimate of what surveyors these days charge?

Thanks for your assistance!

We are thinking about it. We asked the yard for an up to date survey since all of this work has been done. We were told that is our responsibility.

I think that is bringing up red flag number one. If the owner is not willing to at least get a survey and say here everyone I got all of this done and now surveyed… That would be in good faith on his behalf. I would also want all of the records and information on those who did the actual work.

Red flag number two is I don’t believe the boat has been rewired. A boat of her age should be rewired and all new LED lights installed.

Red Flag number three I didn’t see anything about the windows. The original windows I know leaked overtime. Over a very short period of time. New better sealed windows should have been installed. Nothing mentions it.

We would be willing to do this work under two conditions
1. Price drop by $10k
2. No delamination going on anywhere
3. No rotten wood anywhere.

under those conditions we would consider the vessel. We priced out the engine and generator rebuild. We priced out the rewiring work. We priced out having a plumber come in and do the system all brand new up to code.
Thank God we have a friend that can rebuild all the engines for a family discount. Our son is a licensed electrician contractor. My son’s father in law will do all the a/c to remove and replace all the units. We have to pay full price for the plumber, bummer…

We’re waiting on a response from the owner. Hopefully we will hear something over the weekend!

I would do so if I knew how to do that…. New guy on the block! 454 block that is

I agree… but I only know the 454 block not any other block, string or thread…

We want to see her this provided we can reach the yard. We also want to reach the surveyor's association and see if we can get a boat survey done at the same time.
As far as the engines go we have 2 options;
1. Launch the boat and get these engines tested and go on from there or,
2. While she on the get the engines and replace the generator. Bring everything to zero hours at one time. Then take a serious look at the a/c units. If they need changing get them done. Also while engines are being done I want transmissions, fuel tanks, and plumbing replaced. We want her to like new for us then have a survey done for the insurance company.
So we will go by the yard’s availability…

Sorry TimBB no can do on the diesels. Cost, maintenance, weight, and knowledge in the event either myself or a friend have to do work on them. Easier for us all the way around. We’re not looking for speed. If her cruising speed is 10 to 15 knots we are plenty happy. It’s the slow boat to China… well in this boat’s case the slow boat on the loop! We’re all retired just looking to have fun. Change oil, filters, impellers, zincs, minor things as us old farts just chug along and enjoying ourselves. Diesel this diesel that… I’m more in tune with combustion engines. I grew up with the 454 and the Pacemaker and Egg Harbor Yachts boats. Our home was literally .25 of mile from the old Pacemaker plant in Lower Bank. We were very close friends with the Leek family. We knew Jack when he started Ocean Yachts only up the river from Pacemaker.
Section 41 will be a fine vessel. She will do the loop. Hope port we will decide anywhere between NC and FL. We know we will always be searching for our Kokomo…
Tim time and money thrown into Section 41 is not the worry… it’s the comfort and enjoyment we are seeking. Tim we want Section 41 to be ALL us. We want to change the kitchen counters over to expo y resin cork filled. The dinner table a chart of the Great Loop! Personalized about us and just for our children when we pass. Before we go she will be ready for her next voyage with the family. Not everything is about money, returns, and what others will think… We think about us, how comfortable are we, are we having fun, are our children in agreement and what should we do for her next voyage?
My parents had a Pacemaker and had the opportunity to do exactly what my wife and I want to do but instead my father was all greed. I’m not about greed I want my children to have Section 41 in a slip pre-paid for in an area that ALL agree upon. I want Section 41 to have the best of the best for OUR FAMILY not for resale. If the kids decide to sell her you’re right they will never get more than $25k for her. That’s their problem and greed speaking. My wife and I are thinking generations and so far the children are on the same page. These aren’t kids these are adults in their early 40’s. Our children have even offered to help us update Section 41’s electronics and set aside an account to upgrade these items every few years.
Our children helped us pick her out. What was once a mom and dad dream has become a 100%family affair for family ventures. BB I hope this answers some of your future questions…

Well a friend and I just got back after a week of looking over every smallest space we could find with a flashlight and inspection mirror. I mean every space from top to bottom and from bow to stern. It took us a full week/ 8 hours a day!

We saw the minor water leaks expected from the salon starboard and port windows. Nothing major. The windows have ALL been replaced and are sealed just like today’s vessels. They look awesome!

All of the interior wood work was impressive. Whoever redid all of it… did a great job. There was no signs of aging or signs of anyone ever being on this vessel before.

The lower helm spoke a different tune but I liked seeing the truth. The sun showed it presence over time. The control knobs were original and slightly faded. The old Hobbs meters were slightly yellowed but still easily visible. It was nice to see some use age.

The mini blinds all need to be changed out. Personal stuff. LED lights need to added behind all the valances. Great way to save energy. Most of the old Egg Harbor lights are still there and operational.

She has exactly what I wanted 3 bilge pumps. Forward, mid, and aft very well placed. Brand new and new float switches. The bilge was impressively clean.

The carpeting and linoleum were replaced 2025. Neutral colors. Shower tubs replaced at the same time. Toilets were rebuilt. Not good enough for me. I have special seats to go on so I need special Raritan toilets with special stuff. Also need a fresh water hook up and GFI outlet added in both restrooms. One can never be to safe.

The galley is super clean. New fridge 2025. We will need to add a GFI outlet in the kitchen as well. Never to careful around water! Counter is granite and looks great. All the hardware, woodwork, and care that went into this vessel just blows my mind.

We ran water over each hatch and used an industrial water vacuum to test for leaks… none found. We did the same on each porthole. No visible leaks there.

The rub rail we did ask had been replaced and resealed in 2024. We made note of that.

We did our own hammer tap test to see if there was any separation on the topside. She was as solid as if she just rolled out of the factory doors. It was unbelievable.

Mind you these were only our tests. On our way home I did speak with the Leek family about the vessel. Of course Don Leek their uncle built her and he has passed. But I was told by the older Don who worked at the factory that a R&R of the rub rail was a great idea. He asked if there were any photos of before, during, and reinstalling the new rail available. I told him that I would have to ask. He wants to see how the old fiberglass looks. That’s important he said!

He told me rebuilding the engines for what I’m looking at using the vessel for is a great idea as well as the generator. Mr Leek the size generator onboard is very adequate especially if I go all LED lighting. Mr Leek also suggested that I may want to get all the ac units replaced just to be safe. Mr Leek said as much new as you can afford will save us money down the road. Mr Leek stated that he could get everything we need at wholesale prices since he and I grew up together right up the river from one another. Our dads were avid fishermen in the Cape Hatteras and OCM&TC Overnight Fishing Tournaments.

So the next step is to find a body surveyor before she gets splashed to check over everything. Mr Leek is actually going to talk to a few friends and see who he can find and trust! Mr Leek stated if he has time he will come with us to the survey just to see how things go along. If anyone would know the boat he would. She was number 5 according to the data plate.