Trojan Boat Forum

Hi All,

I'm considering buying this boat:

http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/ ... =1457&url=

I'd like to hear any and all opinions about condition, valuations, price to offer, etc. The engines have 1800 hours and appear to be well kept.

Thanks,

Chris

Chris,
I bought the exact same boat about two years ago. Mine is also a 1989 10.8. If it helps I paid 49,000 for mine when I bought it. The boat I bought spent the majority of it's life in NY. I purchased the boat and moved it to Pittsburgh. My boat has 350 original hours on it and I have never had a single problem with either of the crusader engines. It is my first boat and I have also been doing all of the winterizing each year. WIth the closed water cooling system it is a snap. The only things I have replaced are the couple of water pumps which was nothing. I'm not sure if this is your first boat or not but I am so glad I started with this boat. My family and I stay most weekends on it at our marina. The boat has plenty of room for the four of us and my kids love the bunks. I've noticed that most of the 10.8 have the dinette but I would never trade the bunks. I get more compliments on the boat than I could ever of imagined. It is truly a beautiful boat with classic lines. Not sure about the hours on the gas engines but I am not a mechanic. I think you will love the boat..... I know we do!!!! Good luck if you choose to purchase. Also, my marine survey had nothing but positive things to say about this boat....

Also, I think the marine survey showed an estimated value of 72,000 when I purchase... And mine was also above average condition. Hope this helps.

Thanks, not my first boat, but moving up from single screw 28' boat so this is a pretty big step up for us. Also, would love to hear from anyone that knows this particular boat, it's in Seattle (everett, WA to be exact).

The 10.8 is an outstanding design.

Versatile for doing anything, fishing, cruising, on the hook, family fun, great layout.

Barring a world catostrophe, this boat will never depreciate beyond where it is today.

If you are willing to handle the maintenane of a 20 year old boat, this one represents an outstanding value.

Replacement new would be in the 400,000 range for this kind of quality and engineering as in a Tiara or Formula.

The price you will pay will be determined by the motovation of the seller.

Whatever you offer make it contingent on the survey. Any issues that come up from the survey can then be deducted from the agreed to price.

Here's a website with info on the International series.

http://sites.google.com/site/trojaninternational/Home

Best of luck !

RWS

christur, This looks like a nice boat. The only issue IMHO would be the engine hours. Are they original of have they been rebuilt at some point. 1800 hours is a lot for gas engines. I think we will all agree that a huge part of an older boats value is the drive systems. A pe-power could cost as much as the purchase price of the boat. This is the main reason why older boats are hard to sell. Jimbo36

The engines are original, and have had recent work and signs of good maintenance. There are re-manufactured rocherster quadrajet carbs (2008), all new hoses (2009), re-manufactured raw water pumps (2008).

I am expecting them to function well for a couple years, but mentally budgeting a rebuild or repower over the next 3-5 years.

I'll have a mechanical inspection of course, the only real questions outside of anything the survey raises is that the risers look to be original. I'm guessing I'll be faced with replacing those very soon, and whether to sink the $$$ into that vs. just go for a re-build or re-power instead.

Any estimates for new risers?

Thanks!

I'd rather have an 1800 hour 454 Crusader that was well cared for than a 150 hour one that was overheated last season..

In addition to manifolds, risers and elbows ir would be worth your while to have the engines surveyed as part of the survey.

I did an engine survey on mine which included a compression test.

My 454's had over 2600 hour s on them and I managed to get four additional seasons out of them before doing the repower.

Goo d compression and good oil pressure will tell the story far better than the "clock"

RWS

The boat was a trade in and surveyed by the current seller (the person who took it in trade) very recently. I got access to the survey and the only issue of any significance was that the starboard prop shaft seemed to vibrate between 2100 and 2800 RPM. I talked to the surveyor and he said it was definitely noticeable and something to be addressed but not a ‘money pit’ issue. Any opinions on that? I don’t understand why a bent shaft would stop vibrating above a higher RPM. Seems like the vibration would only get worse – what else could it be? Anyway, assuming that it’s ‘just’ a bent prop shaft, any guesses as to what that might cost to fix? BTW, I’m getting a paid opinion on this too, but also looking to the experience of this forum…

Thanks!

Great boats. The 10.8 are much better than the 10. Flybridge. The helm area is better designed. Who knew that 2 feet coudl make such a difference.

Good luck.

That vibration could be a dinged prop, a bent shaft or a worn out cutless bearing.

The prop and or the cutless bearing being the most common cause for this problem.

The cause will be apparent upon haulout.

During the sea trial ee if both engines will reach specified WOT RPM, which I believe (but am not sure) to be 4400.

This should be done with a phototach as you cannot rely on the accuracy of the factory tachs.

A word to th wise - get your own survey done. The surveyor will be working for you. The more he finds, the more leverage you have to negotiate the price in your favor rather than to find these things out AFTER the closing.

Looks like a GREAT boat, but given the current market, I'd offer a low numbercontingent on a survey.

RWS

RWS wrote: I'd offer a low numbercontingent on a survey.

RWS

Thanks for the info.

What would make the starting offer at?

I saw this boat on craigslist a couple weeks ago and was thinking about driving up to look at it in person but haven't had time. What a pretty boat. Hope it works out for you.

It maybe sold "Sale Pending" Nice looking boat

The only thing I didn't like about that boat was no lower helm. I boat all winter and don't use the upper helm much until summer. However, if you get that boat for $40,000 I will be jealous. Good luck.