To the List, I wrote: >We are buying a trawler for part-time-live-aboard. I'm asking for any thoughts/experience on the >following specifics of this. Thank you all for your thoughts and comments. I have consolidated them into a check list and have used it all through the '4-5 rounds' of negotiations/counter offers. This has been going on for 9 days now and the admiral and I are worn out and were planning to move on to St Petersburg tomorrow if this did not finish today. About the drawn-out negotiations, my brother - a wunderkind salesman - said "it sounds like two people trying to kill a deal". By the way, my wrong on the engine. It is a PERKINS 200. We had looked at 9 boats from Corpus Christi to Mobile on our boat quest thus far. I was getting them confused. We left home just after Thanksgiving - with everything packed on top and Dutch the dog in back, determined to find the right boat if we had to do the loop by car to do it. This 1983 36' Lien Hwa (Sea Star model) is being refitted from the hull up by the seller, who owns boat yard. Seller states, in writing, that the only hurricane damage to this boat was that it floated off the blocks and settled, with minor dings and scrapes from debris. It has been completely refinished outside. I checked around some and the yard seems to have a good name, even back home. I checked on certified surveyors, found a couple who have done a lot of survey work with trawlers pre and post hurricanes in this area. Both warned about meter checking for water damage, oil contamination, etc. (as discussed by List members). Previous engine had 1800 hrs and we are told that it sucked up a bag while the charter group ignored alarms - engine damaged ergo replaced. I dug through some rust on an engine mount, found metal underneath. I can see about 40% of the fuel tank tops and they appear dusty, dry and rust free. Seller (with his boatyard) will warrant the engine for parts and labor for one year (we will be in this part of the ICW for near that). The 8kw Onan has 1300 hrs. He agreed to refurbish and warrant all boat systems for one year (all parts included and labor at his cost with priority scheduling for any work) and polish the current fuel and fill tanks (I listen to the List). Seller is the original owner and ordered it new for charter work. It never did have teak in the saloon or down galley (marine wallpaper). These spaces are now cleaned down to the plywood interior bulkheads. They look solid with no darkened or weak areas. Teak decking has been removed and the entire exterior refinished, including bottom job. Today, we reached a final agreement and signed off with a deposit on It (She-in-waiting?). I will engage - what I think/hope is - a good surveyor for survey and sea trials. If anyone can recommend a good surveyor in the Mobile-Pensacola area, please do so. We are going to remain here through the refit process and I will stay involved daily. I should learn a lot about the boat during that period. After 2+ years out of service, re-commission is scheduled for 31 January 2007. We will run shake-downs for the boat (and us) over the following few months. Further thoughts and comments are greatly appreciated Wow, it feels great to be this scared! I think I hear boater's best day #1 coming. On the Hard in Mobile stephen_offutt@sbcglobal.net