Boat needs work, what to prioritize

Posted by ClaimIcy@reddit | sailing | View on Reddit | 31 comments

Just got a free J-22 for some work I did for a sailing school. Boat needs plenty of work but will apparently float, would love any recommendations on what to prioritize/how much I’d be looking at to restore. Has mast, sails and boom but not pictured

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YeahhBrahhh@reddit

Believe these boats are cored with balsa hull and deck so my first step would be to drill some tests holes from the interior and check for moisture in the hull and deck if the core is shot then just haul it straight to the scrap yard and move on will never be worth fixing it. And there's no point to doing anything else until you know

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YeahhBrahhh@reddit

Or if it is rotten just power wash it and get the mast up and go sail until it falls apart just don't go far from shore.

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Far_District9145@reddit

And don’t stand on the deck while sailing, or place any pressure on the mast or any of the winches…..

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Far_District9145@reddit

This is, unfortunately, the correct answer. Sell the trailer to make up for the hassle. Sorry.

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WasterDave@reddit

Go around with a knife stabbing bits of wood. Remove the bits t that are rotten. Like, all of it. See what you’ve got left.

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Sinn_Sage@reddit

Well, where to begin? First.......

check the chain plates. are they good? If not, how much effort to fix?
check the keel. keel to hull good? check keel bolts
move boat out from under the trees. why allow boat to get crapped on for no reason?
remove all gear. check mast, boom, rudder. inventory extras. Good? keep, bad? trash.
wash boat outside and inside thoroughly.
inspect hull for damage.
if possible, put boat on hard stands. go through trailer with a keen eye. repair or replace items as needed.
check sails. replace? lines need replacement?
ask bank to increase your credit limit
?????????
enjoy your new boat.

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YeahhBrahhh@reddit

First check the balsa cored hull and deck if the core is shot which looking at the pictures wouldn't be surprising there's no point to doing anything else.

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slosh_baffle@reddit

Check the sails 🤣

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petron5000@reddit

I own a J22. Throw that one in the trash and sell the trailer.

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That-Makes-Sense@reddit

As someone who just spent years trying to find a cheap boat to own, there is practically zero chance that that deck is anything but rotten balsa. I had a boat surveyed, that looked way better than your boat, and the surveyor said $20k to $25k for a new deck. I would love to be wrong, for your sake. But buy a moisture meter, and listen to it beep along the entire deck. I'm not sure on the j-22's construction, but if there's wood in the hull, you may have rot there too.

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Valdemar_Sling@reddit

Or don't buy a moisture meter, take her out for a spin and enjoy your life.

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That-Makes-Sense@reddit

Yeah, what's the worst that can happen? Sinking, demasting, a winch launching across the deck like a cannonball. Fun stuff!

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Valdemar_Sling@reddit

Half an hour with a pressure washer will give you a good idea of its condition. The wooden parts look pretty good in my opinion. Maybe let her stay attached to the crane for a while when you put her in the water. If there are leaks you can just abort the mission. With a keel like that, I bet she can handle a bit rougher seas and point well.

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LameBMX@reddit

check the bearing grease. lube up the tongue workings. pull the tarp. inspect standing rigging and spars. go to a club and hoist it into the water. drag it out of the way. tie it off. inspect the chain plates. clean the interior some. secure any lockers open before getting into the and cleaning/inspecting them. install rudder. sit in the cockpit and waggle the rudder. inspect running rigging. pull boat. go home. clean topsides and hull. while I doubt it has much to leak.. some time in the water will confirm. and once home and the surface water has dried, keep an eye for any water escaping or spots that just look damp and take a while to go away. should have a good idea of what it needs by then.

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krostybat@reddit

Glad I found the comment that says : put it in the water

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krostybat@reddit

I'd say : 1 - check for hull damage, the anchor and chain and the rudder (you'll see why later). 2- if no hull damage, put it into water and see if it really floats. 3- if it floats, tow it to someplace safe close it and let it on the anchor for two weeks and if still floating after that (especially if it rained) you can start working on all the rest.

If not, well, you minize your losses.

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Grottods@reddit

What was the value of the work you did. Multiply by 10 that is what this will cost you.

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HotMountain9383@reddit

I would prioritize getting rid of it. Get that boat out of your life.

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slosh_baffle@reddit

^truth spoken

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slosh_baffle@reddit

That is not an asset.

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Particular-Grab-2495@reddit

Safety is the first priority: structural integrity, keel attachment, thru-hull fittings and valves, rigging, safety equipment. Working engine is also a must.

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mikemerriman@reddit

Pic 10 is scary. Odds are that rot is in many other places

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BaggyLarjjj@reddit

This should be higher.

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nullbyte420@reddit

Dear lord I would charge a lot of money to take ownership of that boat.

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Brilliant_Help2186@reddit

One of the most fantastic boats to sail!

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jonnohb@reddit

Just start cleaning. As you get things looking better it will become more obvious what needs the most attention first. It may not be as bad as it looks or it could be completely rotted out. Good luck, hopefully she cleans up nice and can get sailing again soon.

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