2001 Grand Alaskan sea trial vibration issue..thoughts?

Funny you should mention Vicem, they are beautiful boats, especially the joiner work. Most seem to be a gorgeous mahogany or some variant. We have a house that is made of all exotic woods, an Alfred Browning Parker masterwork built for a textile magnate in 1964, so you know it has all the real mahogany you can no longer get, or is hard to get. So these boats remind me of that. I think many of their larger boats are cold molded, but they are also building in fiberglass now. We looked at a 67 motor yacht in 2020 during the beginning of the CV at the Palm Beach show, and we almost purchased that new boat, but held back, like we have on a number of boats. I just could not imagine things continuing to go the way they have. It feels now to me like we are sitting on the top of a bubble, but who knows.

We have a condo in Downton St Pete over looking the marina and airport, and I saw this Vicem listed with the picture taken by the fuel dock, and we called about it. What was interesting about this boat is it is almost new, was built around a king size bed, is easy to handle for two, and is beautiful. We saw it two days ago and the owner said Vicem was great to work with, so much so he is selling this one and building another. In the end it is too small, and I don't really want to deal with that much varnish work, although it is gorgeous. But for a short range cruising boat going from marina to marina, and an occasional nigh on the hook, it was gorgeous. Different boat all together.

https://www.**************/yacht/2020-vicem-50-classic-7940704/

Regarding the vibration, I spoke to a broker yesterday who recommended this service. He said he has used them with good results, and for around $1,800 or so they can find the issue. It was explained to me that they will put sensors throughout the boat and on all of the equipment that could be the course to locate the exact frequency and location of the vibration. In other words they can pinpoint the cause rather than just replacing things and guessing.

https://www.datumrms.com

Today is decision day, and although I like this boat's appearance, the hull, stainless, outside, interior, I am passing on it. I just like this style boat. I think it has a lower center of gravity and should cruise better, but with that you give way to a small cramped to me engine room. If the engine room was as good as the appearance and there was no vibration it would be a purchase. And it's not just the money it would take to bring it up to what I would like, it is the time and aggravation. It has two things that are more difficult to find and that is the Great Lakes fresh water history of being shed kept for much of its life. I have located an OA in Ft Myers that has had a similar life, and even more interesting is that it has been shed kept during the summer in Fl while the owner goes back to Michigan. It just doesn't have that old man in the sea look to it. I'm just not really a fan of the raked back pilot houses. And the new boats have lots of room but look like they came out of the back of the Starship Enterprise and landed on the water. Some are kind of cool, and guess I would get use to them. I ramble on....

I like this boat, but I think it will not fit in our Harbour Town slip and I don't want a boat with over 3000 hours.

chttps://www.**************/yacht/2005-grand-banks-72-aleutian-rp-8201924/

Here's that OA-but for some reason is not showing up on YW today. It was there yesterday when it was listed. It may be under contract already. Original owner, Great Lakes then here and shed kept in summers. I guess the market is still stupid strong for boats in this size and condition. Broker said there just is not a lot available in the 60 to 70 range owner operator.

https://www.galatiyachts.com/yachts/details/8200710/2008/ocean-alexander/64-pilothouse/

Thank you Scott, everyone on here has been very helpful. I really appreciate the advice and wisdom folks on here offer. I think I will take a breath and try to stop feeling like I am running out of life/time.

What I learned is this:

1-Do a sea Trail first, then the survey. See if the owners and broker will allow you to do this prior to the major survey. That of course might mean two sea trials as the surveyor needs to run the boat as well. I know this is an inconvenience for the owner/broker but it will be on my list. If we had done this we would have stopped at the vibration.

2-Don't compromise on the things you really want unless you are willing to add them.

3-I will say being patient has not worked for me on prices or boats we should have made offers on.

In any event, as far as cost is concerned I know the purchase is just the first step. So our journey continues. Thanks guys.