Beneteau Oceanis Clipper 523 for Marine Survey 2008 model

Latest assignment was a Pre-purchase Survey on this Beneteau. All of the recent Groupe Finot boats designed for Beneteau have been big-even the small ones-and this lady, the Beneteau 523, is enormous. 

When it comes to putting a cruising boat together, Beneteau favors solid laminates for the hull. A fiberglass grid bonded to the inside of the hull provides structural stiffness and also serves as a key for installing internal components. This grid is laid up in a mold and presents a gelcoated surface to the interiors of storage bins behind the saloon settees and in other places.

Under the sole, the compartments not occupied by fuel or water tanks are connected to each other by limber holes and to the bilge pump by a network of pipes. It’s an arrangement necessitated by the hull’s shape-it has no salient sump. 

A balsa core stiffens the deck structure. The depth of the deck-hatch recesses in the overhead hints at the three transverse beams that support the saloon coachroof.

This one had been worked hard but structurally and mechanically still in good shape. 

We are now located in Preveza in the Ionian Islands so if you have your eye on a Yacht in Preveza, Lefkada or Nidri drop me a message. steventruss1@aol.com

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 439 performance Boat for Survey

Todays Pre-Purchase Marine Survey Assignment was in Cleopatra Marina in Preveza. This lightly used and professionally maintained yacht was a testament to its owners,

The Sun Odyssey 439’s hull is solid, hand-laid fiberglass, while the deck incorporates a balsa core and is fabricated using Jeanneau’s proprietary Prisma injection-molding process. This technique allows Jeanneau to closely monitor the amount of resin going into the fabrication, which results in an excellent strength-to-weight ratio.

A fiberglass grid set into the lower part of the hull helps accommodate rig and keel loads under sail, and supports cabinetry, the cabin sole and other belowdecks structures. The single rudder is fabricated with a composite stock, and 1x19 stainless steel shrouds and a manually adjustable split backstay support the double-spreader deck-stepped mast. Chainplates are inboard, alongside the low cabintrunk.