Fellow Michiganders

First off, I hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday in December. I've been a long time lurker in this forum, and have been keeping an eye out for a bargain on a 34' in the Michigan area for a while. Over the past couple of years I've come across numerous boats of interest and I have to say I always find it interesting when I ask what condition the Ibeam under the bulkhead is in, 99% of the people have no clue what I'm referring to (or know it's rust and don't want to say). Anyone have any thoughts on this? The main reason I posted today is to ask if there are any 34 owners in Michigan that wouldn't mind taking on a hand this spring/summer. Before I actually find the boat, I'd really like to make sure she's the model I'd be happy with.

Hi, if you're checking out 34's, (or 29's), be sure to check those with showers, or those with the icebox next to the bulkhead by the mast step. It seems to be that the regular steel they built the beams out of rusted when the water kept running over them from the icebox hose planted on the beam, or the little holes in the floor pan in the heads drained over it. There wasn't a good straight shot for the water to miss it and go under it, nor was there much room for it to get by without touching the bottom of the beam. To check it out, get one of those lights that have a little scope and a gooseneck that can bend around. It can be used for all kinds of inspections. just open the panel on the floor and put the scope or your flashlight and your head below floor level and you can see rust, so you would want to look closer. On the other hand, I wonder how many beams that were deck-stepped actually ever caved in? Helen From: mm_kortjester <bo… [at] gmail.com> To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, January 4, 2012 1:24 PM Subject: [Cal_Boats] Fellow Michiganders First off, I hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday in December. I've been a long time lurker in this forum, and have been keeping an eye out for a bargain on a 34' in the Michigan area for a while. Over the past couple of years I've come across numerous boats of interest and I have to say I always find it interesting when I ask what condition the Ibeam under the bulkhead is in, 99% of the people have no clue what I'm referring to (or know it's rust and don't want to say). Anyone have any thoughts on this? The main reason I posted today is to ask if there are any 34 owners in Michigan that wouldn't mind taking on a hand this spring/summer. Before I actually find the boat, I'd really like to make sure she's the model I'd be happy with.

On 1/4/2012 4:24 PM, mm_kortjester wrote: > > First off, I hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday in December. > I've been a long time lurker in this forum, and have been keeping an > eye out for a bargain on a 34' in the Michigan area for a while. Over > the past couple of years I've come across numerous boats of interest > and I have to say I always find it interesting when I ask what > condition the Ibeam under the bulkhead is in, 99% of the people have > no clue what I'm referring to (or know it's rust and don't want to > say). Anyone have any thoughts on this? > The main reason I posted today is to ask if there are any 34 owners in > Michigan that wouldn't mind taking on a hand this spring/summer. > Before I actually find the boat, I'd really like to make sure she's > the model I'd be happy with. > Check in with Matt Kelly at Kelly Marine Sales, Bay Harbor Marina, Bay City, MI. (Note: this is "Bay Harbor Marina," NOT the big "Bay Harbor resort" near Petoskey). Matt has been selling boats for a long time and may have leads. > http://www.kellymarinesales.com/ We fresh water sailors are probably less afflicted by rust than salt water folks, and our boats are out of the water half of each year, more or less. So we trade sailing time for reduced maintenance. Chris Campbell > > > >