An observation about all of the parties involved in any sale, if I may...
Both the seller and broker are probably honest enough folks, but both have a vested financial interest in the sale. The buyer is often a little too overwhelmed with the enormity of the purchase and the desirability of ownership to see all of the details, both good and bad.
Trust me, in the first couple of years of ownership of any vessel, new or used, additional things will show up both desirable and undesirable.
(I know of several instances where the list of problems with a brand new sailboat took well over a year for a persistent -- and honorable... and frustrated -- broker to iron out with a reluctant boat builder. So buying new guarantees no happiness either.)
The only "party to the sale" without a direct voice is the boat itself. That's where the surveyor comes in.
As a surveyor I know puts it: "the surveyor is the Only one who speaks for the boat!"
So look and take notes and compare the written survey to what you see.
We will contribute what we are able to, but as much as we would all like to convene at the scene, we are a long distance away.
Regards,
Loren
Loren,
I think there is certainly wisdom in what you are saying. I agree about the need for a good surveyor, *provided that* it is a surveyor that the *buyer* finds and not one supplied by the broker. There are unethical surveyors as well as unethical brokers out there, and a surveyor who gets work passed to him/her from the seller's broker *does* have a vested interest in the sale.
My comment in the previous post about the broker "pumping sunshine" is perhaps unfair, since I don't know this broker and he *might* be a really honest guy, *might* truly believe that this damage is "not a big deal," and *might* think that the misalignment is "nothing to worry about." But if he sincerely believes this then he doesn't know what he is talking about. The misalignment will most definitely affect the way the boat sails. And that ugly looking crack might "not be a big deal" to *him*, but it sure would be to me as a buyer. If the keel damage is "not a big deal" then maybe the seller should fix both of these issues (keel crack and likely a bent rudder post) on his dime first.
Frankly, the fact that you have both keel damage AND an out of alignment rudder suggests to me that the boat was grounded at one point. I don't trust the broker's opinion on this at all, whether or not he sincerely believes what he is saying.
As a general principle, I think it is always better to spend more on the purchase in order to get a well cared for boat than one with issues like this. The "bargain" boats will always cost you more in time, lost sailing, and even money in the long run vs. ponying up the money up front for a boat that was obviously well loved.