Martin 242 Fleet One

joe

hi I am wanting to buy a used martin 242 and I have found one, now I am wondering what problem areas I should be looking at and what retro fit go fast stuff or features I should be looking for when I buy, thanks jb

Spindly
Forum Admin

In addition to all the usual "look out for" when purchasing a boat, such as blistering, a few of the M242 specific issues are:

- Roller Furling attached with D-ring instead of tang (see www.spindlykillerfish.com/furl.html )
- cockpit drains leaking (you'll have to crawl under the cockpit to check these out)
- while you're under the cockpit check the condition of the tiller "housing" for cracks
- check mast at the base and where it goes thru deck for cracks
- check condition of spreaders and how they are attached
- check for bowing or cracks in the gunwales where the shrouds are attached
- the windows no doubt leak. They all do...

I'm hoping others on this forum can provide a few things to watch out for that they have come across on their own boats.
good luck!
Dan

MarkS

If looking for a new boat and planning on actively racing be sure it conforms to M242 class rules. Keel position and weight are of particular concern. Sounding of the topside with a hammer is another thing that should be checked. Most boats have a bit of rot on the foredeck and down the gunnels in the balsa core. It will sound hollow. Tap tap tap.

The Pride of the Fleet

How do I check if the boat is minimum weight, will the Seller have a measurement certificate?

How do I check if the keel is in the optimal position, will it be on the measurement certificate?

What are the usual upgrades to make a $10-12k boat competetive?

Thanks.

I think it depends on your priorities, what you want to use the boat for, and your willingness to work on the boat (or pay someone to work on it for you). Many issues are easy to put right and should not be a deterrent in selecting a boat. However, some things are not easy to put right without a lot of time/money - those were the things we were most careful to inspect. When selecting Westhawk, we looked closely for:

1) cracking around the keel "sump" - pretty good indication of if the boat has been run aground hard in its life,
2) De-lamination/cracking anywhere in and on the boat/hull - any bad demamination will be easy to detect, however, if you are unsure of a spot, you can tap it with a quarter - a dull sound = de-lamination (unless you're at a bulkhead etc.),
3) Warping/cracking around gunwhales (where shrouds join) - already mentioned, but most boats will have some sort of re-enforcement, such as fiberglass or metal rod, to prevent a worst-case scenario of gunwhales fatiguing and rig coming down.
4) Blisters on the hull should be watched for,
5) Weight is critical, if you're going to race, don't want to start off with a heavy boat.

My 2 cents anyway, good luck!