Light through the hull

I'm new to this forum and am looking at a Clipper 30, 1974. There are small specks where light shines through the hull on the inside and larger areas where the fiber glass is translucent on the inside. I have not found any actual holes on the out side and in fact no blistering. It defiantly needs paint though. How bad is this?
Also, any comments about the engine well? It has a 15 hp now.

Welcome RK



The light filtering through the hull is normal. You see this on many sailboats built to be trailerable. There is no wood core, on the hull, only fiberglass built up on fiberglass. The top of the boat, has a sandwich of fiberglass, wood and fiberglass again, so no light should be going through that.

It may need painting, but often times, a good cleaning, removing the oxidation, and then sealing it with wax is a better solution. Once you paint, paint follows more paint. Better to not paint, if you can do so.



The engine well, by the rudder, or by the entrance to the cabin?

I think the engine well, is one fantastic aspect of the 30's, and a few rare 32's.



15hp is plenty good sized for an engine, a 9.9 is all that is required.

If it is patchy and comes through in random spots, it likely is due to thin gelcoat. Not uncommon with older boats.

The engine well is by the cabin door. The engine has a lifting bracket (I think) but I wonder if I would need an over-head to actually get it out? Does the well cause much turbulence inside it? I very much like the shape of the boat. The interior needs a lot of work but I'm thinking I would redo it as very basic. It would be for lake sailing and maybe the coast someday. It definitely needs paint, inside and out.

The model with bow end engine well, is the first model, the later ones came with engine next to the stern. Reason being the sailboat handles under power better when the prop wash goes over the rudder. Also the room below is more open and accessible when the engine is aft.



I have a sweet spot for 30's, let us see pics sometime.