What to look for when searching for a top Hat

Re: What to look for when searching for a top Hat

Postby Brainless » Wed Feb 20, 2013 5:37 am

Things I was looking for when I was shopping around was

Softness in the decks, this can be very time consuming and/or costly to repair
Sail Set, unless you plan on chugging around on the motor all the time they are quite important :)
Electrics, are they all working? what electrics does it have?, more nice to haves but my preference was for it to have Sounder, VHF and/or 27meg Radios, Stereo and Nav lights
Winches, ensure they rotate freely
Water, run the bilge pump and see if there is water in the bilges and how much, look for signs of leaks and odd wetspots around the boat, not a massive thing but you will inherit these leaks
RiggingCan be hard to tell for sure at the condition but if there are overly obvious signs of trouble then its another thing to think about

Most things shouldn't turn you off purchasing or owning, but learn how much they will cost for you to replace and/or repair and use that to your advantage when buying
Regards

Ryan
Oberon II
Frying Pan Bay, Lake Macquarie NSW
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Re: What to look for when searching for a top Hat

Postby Oberon11 » Wed Feb 20, 2013 10:18 am

Find one that has been loved, check rigging that can be expensive, and a fairly new diesal or outboard, big cost to repair, also water ingress, leaks ! most tophats are fairly dry, and reasonable sails, they set you back a bit also, and a furler is a plus. Good luck in your search, but definatly a mark three, as the mark ones are getting very long in the tooth. Cheers jl (brintoms Hutton 28) :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Re: What to look for when searching for a top Hat

Postby Gramps » Wed Feb 20, 2013 1:54 pm

Oberon11 wrote: the mark ones are getting very long in the tooth.


Hi John,
You forgot to mention that the Mark 1 boats are long in the tooth because they are going to outlast all the others :D :D :D

Sean
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Re: What to look for when searching for a top Hat

Postby bearmcnally » Wed Feb 20, 2013 2:55 pm

The great thing about the Top Hat ? is that they will be around a lot longer than some other production yachts .

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Re: What to look for when searching for a top Hat

Postby Phillip » Wed Feb 20, 2013 9:20 pm

Well Bear, my Seaka is nearly 41years old and I reckon she's going to be around a lot longer than I will be!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:
Phillip.
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A 1969 Mark 1



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Re: What to look for when searching for a top Hat

Postby Jeremy » Thu Feb 21, 2013 9:33 pm

bearmcnally wrote:All work no play upsets the first love of your life too ?


I agree....

My boat was bitterly dissapointed when I went on holidays with my girlfiend :cry:
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Re: What to look for when searching for a top Hat

Postby bearmcnally » Fri Feb 22, 2013 8:42 pm

Some people should remember ? boats built in 1982 are now 31 years old ? At least Top Hat are well built !

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