Everything you need to negotiate with total confidence, close the best deal before anyone else — and step aboard the boat of your dreams knowing exactly what you own.
S/V YellowRock is a 30-year-old Privilege 37 Owner Version catamaran currently on a mooring in Grenada. The listing documents a genuine run of recent consumable maintenance — new LiFePO4 batteries (May 2025), new anchor chain (May 2025), fresh antifouling (April 2025), a serviced Westerbeke generator (May 2024) — and the boat carries a credible bluewater equipment list. Against that, the drivetrain picture is unresolved: engine hours are not only undisclosed but internally contradicted (the listing itself flags a discrepancy spanning 1,066 to 4,077 hours across the two Volvo 30hp units), and the saildrive bellows service history is silent. On a 30-year-old hull with twin saildrives, those two unknowns together represent the single largest financial and safety exposure in the purchase. Standing rigging age is undocumented. The Bombard liferaft is seller-disclosed as needing service or replacement. Photo and video evidence shows extensive acrylic crazing on salon windows, loose and unsecured wiring runs in multiple locations, cosmetic varnish failure throughout the interior, and a cracked head basin. The hull-to-bridgedeck junction, bilge, chainplates, and engine spaces were not shown in the seller's own footage — each is a survey priority on a hull of this age.
This listing has been on the market for a documented minimum of 816 days at $148,500 — a long exposure at this price with this level of documentation. Informed buyers have had ample time to ask about the drivetrain and rigging history; the answers are still not in the ad. That is the buyer's primary leverage: the engine-hours discrepancy and the absence of saildrive and rigging service records are closeable questions — if the seller can produce the paperwork, the risk profile changes materially; if he cannot, the remediation budget for worst-case scenarios is substantial and must be reflected in any offer. The liferaft, window glazing, and A/C service are secondary but real Year-One items. The price position relative to condition is the buyer's call once the drivetrain and rigging questions are answered.
| Current asking price | $148,500 |
| Price reduction | None disclosed |
| Days on market | 816+ (for sale since at least May 2024 — buyer-evidenced) |
| Location | Hog Island, Grenada |
| Listed by | Not disclosed |
| Broker phone | Not disclosed |
| Listing ID | — |
| Listing | — |
| Photos supplied | 39 |
| Videos supplied | 2 |
"Introducing "YellowRock," a remarkable Alliaura Privilege 37 catamaran built in 1996. Privilege catamarans are designed and constructed in France for performance, safety, and comfort. The Privilege 37 is well recognized among bluewater cruising enthusiasts, offering a robust structure, high-quality materials, and excellent seakeeping. YellowRock is the coveted owner's version: spacious three-cabin layout with a large salon, galley-down in the port hull open to the bridge deck. Owner's suite in the port hull (queen bed in central nacelle), en-suite electric head, walk-in shower, separate basin. Aft guest cabins in each hull with queen berths, basins, storage, overhead hatch + porthole. Starboard forward: shower with tub, Jabsco hand-pump head, basin. Panoramic salon with French doors to cockpit, three opening hatches, nav station to starboard, dining for eight. Light cherry woodwork. Expansive aft cockpit, Sunbrella cushions, teak table for six. FEATURES: Spacious cockpit/living area; good bridge deck clearance; 150nm+ day runs; sails upwind well; watermaker 20 gal/hr; Westerbeke diesel generator (serviced May 2024); new antifouling Apr 2025; new LiFePO4 batteries May 2025 (495AH); new anchor chain May 2025. Hull is glass RP with PVC foam core (coach roof and bulkheads too). Engines: Two Volvo 30hp with Volvo SD20 saildrives. Air conditioning 4 units."
What the spec sheet can't tell you: how this design actually behaves — under way, at anchor, and over the years. Read this before you compare her to any other boat.
The Privilege 37 Owner Version is Marc Lombard's interpretation of a performance-oriented bluewater cruising catamaran for a couple or small family — drawn for passage-making rather than charter. The GRP/PVC foam sandwich construction keeps displacement low, and the hull form prioritises upwind ability and seakeeping over the beamy, volume-maximised profile of contemporary charter cats. The owner's version layout — nacelle queen berth in the port hull, galley-down open to the bridgedeck, panoramic salon — is a deliberate choice for liveaboard comfort over cabin count. The wide beam (21.5 ft) gives excellent stability and cockpit volume. At 36.6 ft LOA with 30hp per hull, the boat is adequately powered for harbour manoeuvring but relies on sail for passage efficiency. The sloop rig with inner forestay gives flexibility for heavy-weather sail reduction. This is a boat for experienced sailors who want a French-pedigree offshore platform, not a first-time cat buyer or a charter operator.
Things about this exact model that most buyers — and plenty of owners — never knew.
The Privilege 37 was one of the first production cruising catamarans to use PVC foam sandwich construction throughout — not just in the hull topsides, but in the coach roof and bulkheads too. At a time when most production cats were still building with solid GRP or balsa core, Jeantot Marine's choice of closed-cell PVC foam gave the 37 a structural advantage in moisture resistance that balsa-cored contemporaries simply could not match. The tradeoff — and the question every surveyor asks — is whether the bond-line between the foam and the GRP skins has remained intact at high-stress zones over 30 years.
Marc Lombard went on to design some of the most successful offshore racing multihulls in the world, including multiple ORMA 60 trimarans and the Outremer 45. The Privilege 37 was an early commission in his career, and the hull lines show it — the entry is finer and the rocker more pronounced than most cruising cats of the era. Owners who have sailed both the 37 and later Privilege models consistently report that the 37 points higher and is more comfortable in a chop, at the cost of slightly less interior volume per foot of LOA.
The 'Owner Version' designation is not cosmetic — it represents a fundamentally different structural layout from the standard Privilege 37. The nacelle queen berth sits in a central pod between the two hulls, accessed from the port hull, which required Jeantot Marine to engineer a structural bridge between the hulls at that point. This makes the owner's version heavier and slightly stiffer in torsion than the standard layout, but it also means the nacelle area is a structural junction that survives on the integrity of its bonding — a survey focus that the standard version simply does not share.
Privilege catamarans of the Jeantot Marine era (pre-2000) were built in relatively small numbers and have a strong owner-retention record among bluewater cruisers. The fleet that completed the ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers) in the 1990s and early 2000s included a disproportionate number of Privilege 37s relative to their production volume — a pattern that reflects both the design's offshore capability and the loyalty of owners who bought them. The consequence for the used market is that when a Privilege 37 does appear, it has often been sailed hard and far, and the service history of the drivetrain tells the whole story of what that passage-making life cost the boat.
The Privilege 37's saildrive configuration — twin legs, each driving a three-blade prop — was considered advanced for a production cruising cat in 1996, but it introduced a maintenance obligation that the charter industry later learned to price carefully. Saildrive diaphragm failure on a moored or anchored boat is a well-documented sinking scenario: the aperture is below the waterline, and a failed bellows floods the hull faster than most bilge pump systems can respond. The question that separates a well-maintained Privilege 37 from a liability is not whether the engines run — it is whether anyone can produce the bellows service record.
No live comparable listings were available for this report. Price position is assessed against the condition findings in §13 Key Price Factors.
Every listing photo read against our visual defect signature library — the way a surveyor reads them. Photos suggest; the survey confirms.
Every analysed photo, numbered — so every "seen in" reference below is easy to find.
Two kinds of card below: Confirmed aboard — equipment the camera verifies — and condition observations. The coloured chip is the attention each needs before purchase — Low note it · Medium plan for it · High resolve before any offer.
Sellers photograph their strengths. Every missing photo is a question the seller has to answer — that's leverage, not fear.
The seller's own footage, catalogued: where the camera went, in his order, and where it never pointed.
Video 1 · 1:57 — in the camera's own words:
Video 2 · 5:02 — in the camera's own words:
Declared unsure by the video pass — flagged to the surveyor rather than claimed: Starboard Swim Steps / Transom Ladder Mounts (0:01) · Unsure whether the loose grey component lying on the port aft deck is a broken/damaged housing from the adjacent line clutch or an unmounted spare part (0:03) · Forestay furling drum (0:36) · Stern Davit Framework (1:52) · 00:31 (Cockpit Table) (0:22) · 01:08 (Salon wood paneling around windows) (0:55) · 01:14 (Salon Windows) (1:06) · 01:49 (Refrigerator interior shelves) (1:47).
Of the 11 areas a walkthrough can cover with the boat afloat, the camera visited 3. The 8 it did not visit, and what lives in each:
Spaces the analysis was not confident about — declared rather than guessed, in either direction:
Hull below the waterline (antifouling, saildrive legs, rudder blades, keel joints) cannot be filmed with the boat afloat and is never counted here — it belongs to the survey, and the survey briefing carries it.
Every expected system on an offshore cruising yacht is audited below — items the listing does not mention are flagged for owner confirmation. A name in red: critical stakes if the unknown goes the wrong way — resolved by the paperwork in §11.
| Item | Age / Status | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Engines — Volvo 30hp × 2 (SD20 saildrive designation; see nomenclature note) | Hours contradicted: stbd 1,066 or 3,672; port 4,062 or 4,077 — unresolved | Unconfirmed |
Budget / NotesHours discrepancy is seller-disclosed and unresolved. True service life unknown. Consensus service life for this engine class is 3,000–5,000 hours. At the higher stated figures, one or both engines may be at or beyond threshold. Demand engine logbooks and hour-meter photos. Budget $3,000–$10,000 parts per engine for major service if mid-life; $10,000–$24,000 parts per engine for rebuild if high-hours. | ||
Transmission / drivetrain — Volvo SD20 saildrive × 2 (designation disputed; confirm data plate) | Bellows and seal service history not disclosed | Unconfirmed |
Budget / NotesVolvo Penta does not manufacture an SD20 unit — confirm actual make/model by reading the data plate on each leg. Bellows service history absent despite detailed disclosure of other recent work. Sinking risk if bellows fail. Budget $3,000–$8,000 parts for bellows and seals on both legs; $14,000–$26,000 parts for full unit replacement on both legs. | ||
Shaft seal / stern gland | Not listed — saildrive configuration; no conventional stern gland | Unconfirmed |
Budget / NotesSaildrive configuration replaces the conventional stern gland. The saildrive diaphragm/bellows is the functional equivalent — see drivetrain row above. Confirm at haulout inspection. | ||
Propellers — 3-blade × 2 | Listed; age and condition not disclosed | Unconfirmed |
Budget / NotesThree-blade props listed. Condition, pitch, and any damage not disclosed. Inspect for cavitation damage, nicks, and electrolytic corrosion at haulout. No budget required unless damage found. | ||
Bow thruster | Not listed; not seen in photos or video | Absent |
Budget / NotesWide-beam cat manoeuvres on twin engines; a bow thruster is not standard on this model. Confirm with owner whether one is fitted. If absent and desired, budget $3,000–$7,000 parts for a tunnel thruster installation — confirm with owner. | ||
Generator — Westerbeke 5.0BDC 110V diesel | Serviced May 2024, new heat exchanger | Good |
Budget / NotesServiced May 2024 with a new heat exchanger — a documented recent service. Age of the unit itself not disclosed. No photos of the generator in this set; request a photo and the service record. Budget $400–$1,200 parts for routine annual service. | ||
Watermaker — Cruise RO SeaMaker 20 gph | Listed; service history not disclosed | Unconfirmed |
Budget / NotesCruiseRO watermaker panel visible in seller's footage (Photo 36) with flow meter and pressure gauges intact. Membrane service date and last run not disclosed. Budget $300–$1,200 parts for routine service; $600–$1,500 parts for membrane replacement if history unknown. Confirm with owner. | ||
House battery bank — LiFePO4 495 Ah (3 × 165 Ah) | New May 2025 | Excellent |
Budget / NotesNew LiFePO4 batteries installed May 2025 — a significant and recent upgrade. MPPT controller visible in photos consistent with lithium chemistry. BMS wiring and battery compartment not shown in photos; request photos and verify installation at survey. No near-term spend expected. | ||
Starter batteries — per engine × 2 | Listed; age not disclosed | Unconfirmed |
Budget / NotesPer-engine starter batteries listed. Age and condition not disclosed. Budget $600–$1,800 parts for replacement of both start batteries if needed. | ||
Charging — alternators, ProMariner ProSport 20+ charger | Spare Volvo 70A alternator listed; charger listed | Unconfirmed |
Budget / NotesA spare Volvo 70A alternator is listed — a useful spare. Alternator condition on the engines not disclosed. With a new LiFePO4 bank, confirm that alternator regulation is compatible with lithium chemistry (external regulator or lithium-compatible internal regulator required). Budget $1,200–$3,000 parts for standard alternator replacement on both engines if needed. | ||
Solar — 2 × 300W Q-cell mono + 2 × 350W REC poly (1,300W total) with 2 × EPEVER MPPT controllers | Listed; installation age not disclosed | Good |
Budget / Notes1,300W solar array with MPPT controllers listed and visible in photos/video. Wiring from solar frame to deck lacks visible conduit at the transition point (visible in Photo 39 and seller's footage at 1:00–1:01) — verify at survey that wiring is protected and deck penetrations sealed. No near-term panel spend expected. | ||
Inverter — Xantrex Freedom Marine 30 3,000W | Listed; age not disclosed | Unconfirmed |
Budget / NotesXantrex Freedom Marine 30 listed. Age not disclosed. Xantrex is a mid-tier brand; confirm unit is functional and compatible with the new LiFePO4 bank. Budget $2,000–$5,000 parts for replacement if needed. | ||
Shore power — 30A + 40 ft cable | Listed | Unconfirmed |
Budget / Notes30A shore power inlet listed. Galvanic isolation status not disclosed. Confirm isolator or isolation transformer is fitted — important for a boat on a marina berth. Budget $600–$1,800 parts for inlet and galvanic isolator if absent. | ||
Bilge pumps — 2 × auto 3,000 gph + 2 manual (main); 2 × auto 1,250 gph + 2 manual (engine rooms) | Listed | Unconfirmed |
Budget / NotesComprehensive bilge pump fit listed across main and engine-room compartments. Age and service history not disclosed. Test all pumps and float switches at survey. Budget $300–$900 parts for pump and float switch replacement if needed. | ||
Fuel tanks — 180 L total | Listed; material and condition not disclosed | Unconfirmed |
Budget / Notes180 L total fuel capacity listed. Tank material, age, and condition not disclosed. Inspect for corrosion, sediment, and hose condition at survey. Budget $400–$1,200 parts for a tank clean and fuel polish. | ||
Fresh water tanks — 301 L total | Listed; material and condition not disclosed | Unconfirmed |
Budget / Notes301 L total water capacity listed. Tank material and condition not disclosed. Confirm at survey. No budget required unless damage found. | ||
Through-hulls and seacocks | Not listed; 30-year-old hull | Unconfirmed |
Budget / NotesMinor staining visible around waterline fittings in Photo 3 (recorded on earlier pass — confirm at viewing). On a 30-year-old hull, original bronze seacocks may be approaching dezincification. Exercise all seacocks at haulout. Budget $150–$400 parts per seacock; $2,000–$5,000 parts for a full set of 8–12 fittings. | ||
Steering system | Not detailed; emergency tiller listed | Unconfirmed |
Budget / NotesSteering system type not described. Open pedestal storage bay visible in Photo 16 with loose hardware — verify steering cable runs and connections are secured and free of corrosion at survey. Emergency tiller confirmed present. Budget $1,000–$3,000 parts for steering cables and sheaves on both rudders if needed. | ||
| Item | Age / Status | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Mast and boom — sloop rig | Age not disclosed; no service record | Unconfirmed |
Budget / NotesMast and boom present and in use. Age and service history not disclosed. Inspect mast step, compression post, and all deck penetrations at survey. Budget $1,200–$3,000 parts for unstep, inspect and re-step if required. | ||
Standing rigging | Age and service history not disclosed; 30-year-old hull | Unconfirmed |
Budget / NotesNo rigging invoice or inspection record disclosed despite detailed documentation of other recent work. On a 30-year-old hull this is a critical unknown. Budget $8,000–$18,000 parts for a full re-rig; mast unstep/crane/re-step priced separately. | ||
Running rigging — halyards, sheets, control lines | Age not disclosed; large quantity visible at mast base in Photo 38 | Unconfirmed |
Budget / NotesRunning rigging present and in use. Significant quantity piled at mast base in Photo 38 — verify all lines are properly led and in serviceable condition at survey. Budget $1,500–$3,500 parts for a full set replacement if needed. | ||
Furling system — Profurl genoa furler | New bearings 2021 | Good |
Budget / NotesProfurl furler with new bearings in 2021 — documented recent service. Green surface buildup visible on furler drum in seller's footage at 0:36; confirm this is cosmetic and that the drum rotates freely. No near-term spend expected. | ||
Winches — Lewmar 44 × 3 (cockpit) + Lewmar 44/40 at mast | Listed; service history not disclosed | Unconfirmed |
Budget / NotesLewmar 44 winches are a mid-tier, serviceable unit. Service history not disclosed. Strip, degrease and re-grease at survey. Budget $100–$200 parts per winch for annual service. | ||
Windlass — Lofrans vertical electric | New 2019 | Good |
Budget / NotesLofrans windlass replaced in 2019 — 7 years old, within useful service life. No near-term spend expected. Confirm motor brush condition at survey. | ||
Primary anchor — Mantus 50 lb + SS chain hook | Listed; new chain May 2025 | Good |
Budget / NotesMantus is a new-generation concave anchor — correct type for offshore use. New 175 ft / 10mm chain installed May 2025. Chain hook listed. Adequacy: Mantus 50 lb is appropriate for a 14,300 lb displacement cat. No near-term spend expected. | ||
Secondary anchor — 45 lb CQR | Listed | Adequate |
Budget / NotesCQR is a legacy plough-type anchor — adequate as a secondary but inferior to new-generation designs for primary holding. Suitable for kedging and as a backup. No replacement required unless buyer wants a second new-generation anchor. | ||
Chain and rode — 175 ft 10mm G4 galvanised | New May 2025 | Excellent |
Budget / NotesNew chain installed May 2025. No near-term spend expected. | ||
Lifelines and stanchions | Not detailed; age not disclosed | Unconfirmed |
Budget / NotesLifelines and stanchions present and visible in photos. Age and condition not disclosed. Inspect wire condition, swage terminals, and stanchion base bedding at survey. Budget $800–$2,500 parts for full lifeline replacement if needed. | ||
Dodger / bimini / canvas — hardtop bimini, stainless frame | Listed; age not disclosed | Unconfirmed |
Budget / NotesHardtop bimini with stainless frame listed. Bimini frame shows discolouration and surface corrosion at joints (Photo 16, seller's footage at 1:46). Canvas sail cover UV-faded (Photos 1–4, seller's footage at 1:04). Budget $1,500–$4,000 parts for bimini replacement; $6,000–$14,000 parts for a complete canvas refresh if needed. | ||
Davits — stainless with solar mount | Listed; stainless discolouration visible | Unconfirmed |
Budget / NotesStainless davits with solar panel mount listed. Brownish-orange staining visible at joint welds and mounting clamps in seller's footage at 1:46. Inspect structural integrity at survey. Budget $2,500–$6,000 parts for replacement if structurally compromised. | ||
Deck hardware — Lewmar tracks, cars, mainsheet traveller | Listed; detached clutch covers visible in video | Needs Service |
Budget / NotesDetached rope clutch body/cover visible on deck in seller's footage at 0:03 (both port and starboard aft deck). Deck track shows surface weathering at 0:07. Confirm all clutches are functional and properly mounted at survey. No major budget required for clutch hardware; inspect tracks for corrosion. | ||
Tender / dinghy — Whaly 270 rigid GRP | Listed; visible in Photo 37 | Unconfirmed |
Budget / NotesWhaly 270 hard dinghy visible in Photo 37. Condition not assessable from photos. Confirm tender conveys with the sale and inspect condition at viewing. | ||
Outboard — Suzuki 5hp 4-stroke + Tohatsu 5hp 2-stroke | Listed; two outboards | Unconfirmed |
Budget / NotesTwo outboards listed (Suzuki 5hp 4-stroke and Tohatsu 5hp 2-stroke). Age and service history not disclosed. Confirm both convey with the sale and test at viewing. | ||
Every nav-electronics system audited for what it is, how old it is, and what a refresh costs. Age is taken from stated install dates where available; otherwise it is estimated from the equipment's era and model.
Marine electronics run on a fast clock — most chart software and hardware is superseded within 5–10 years, long before the hull or engine. So a high-end integrated helm rarely returns its cost: an educated buyer prices in the eventual rip-and-replace, not the original spend. The durable value here isn't the screens — it's a clean, documented NMEA 2000 backbone, tidy wiring, a working VHF, and readable core instruments you can update cheaply. A locked-in, proprietary helm is more a cost you'll eventually rip out than an asset you'd pay extra for. Upgrades only strengthen a boat's position when the current gear is dead, missing AIS collision-avoidance, or can't drive a modern radar. We assess this section as capability to confirm — not a premium to pay for.
| System | Model / Detail | Age | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
Chartplotter / MFD — Raymarine eS78 | 7-inch MFD, Raymarine eS-series | eS-series was discontinued by Raymarine; officially end-of-life | Obsolete — Replace |
Notes & est. replacementThe Raymarine eS78 is an end-of-life unit — Raymarine has discontinued the eS-series and chart updates are no longer supported through the standard subscription path. No factory repair path once EOL. Replace with a current-generation MFD. Replacement cost: $1,500–$2,500 parts for a 9-inch current-generation MFD installed. Additional Garmin and Furuno units visible at nav station in Photos 19, 33 — confirm models and inclusion in sale; if current-generation, they may serve as the primary display. | |||
Radar — dome type | Dome-type radar visible on pole mount above coach roof (Photos 3, 4, 39); make/model not listed | Unknown | Unconfirmed |
Notes & est. replacementRadar dome visible in listing photos — confirm inclusion in the sale, make/model, and whether the display unit is operational. If the associated display is the obsolete eS78, the radar feed may be lost when the MFD is replaced. Confirm compatibility with any replacement MFD. Replacement cost if needed: $1,500–$2,500 parts for a 9-inch MFD with integrated radar. | |||
Autopilot — Raymarine Evolution ACU-200 | Below-deck pilot with ACU-200 drive unit | Not disclosed | Unconfirmed |
Notes & est. replacementRaymarine Evolution ACU-200 listed. Age and service history not disclosed. Calibrate and test on sea trial. Confirm drive unit and pump condition. Budget $200–$600 parts for calibration and service; $5,000–$12,000 parts for replacement below-deck pilot if needed. | |||
Wind / speed / depth — Raymarine ST60 TriData + ST60 Wind | Two ST60 displays (depth/speed/log and wind) | ST60 is a legacy generation; age not disclosed | Adequate |
Notes & est. replacementST60 instruments are a legacy Raymarine generation but are simple standalone displays with no chart/software dependency — they do not auto-obsolete. Caveat: sensor accuracy (log fouling, masthead vane condition) should be confirmed on sea trial. Replacement cost if needed: $400–$1,200 parts per display; $800–$1,800 parts for masthead wind unit replacement. | |||
VHF radio — Standard Horizon GX2200W Matrix AIS (fixed, DSC + AIS) | Fixed VHF with integrated Class B AIS receive and DSC | Not disclosed | Unconfirmed |
Notes & est. replacementStandard Horizon GX2200W listed — a mid-tier fixed VHF with integrated AIS receive and DSC. Age not disclosed. A spare GX2200 handheld is also listed. Confirm the fixed unit is functional and DSC is registered with MMSI. Budget $500–$1,500 parts for replacement if needed. | |||
AIS — integrated in Standard Horizon GX2200W | AIS receive integrated in VHF; Class B transponder status unconfirmed | Not disclosed | Unconfirmed |
Notes & est. replacementThe GX2200W includes AIS receive. Confirm whether a Class B AIS transponder (transmit capability) is also fitted — receive-only AIS does not make the vessel visible to other ships. If transmit-only receive, budget $1,200–$2,500 parts for a Class B transponder installed. | |||
Compass | Not listed | — | Unconfirmed |
Notes & est. replacementConfirm with owner. A steering compass is standard equipment on any offshore vessel. Confirm presence and deviation card at viewing. | |||
Satellite communications | Garmin GPSMAP 66i listed (satellite communicator / PLB hybrid) | Not disclosed | Unconfirmed |
Notes & est. replacementGarmin GPSMAP 66i is a handheld GPS with inReach satellite messaging — a useful offshore communication tool but not a full satellite phone or SSB. Confirm subscription is active. No dedicated sat-phone or Iridium system listed. | |||
SSB radio | Not listed; not seen in photos or video | — | Absent |
Notes & est. replacementFor bluewater offshore passages, SSB or a satellite communication system is the standard for weather routing and emergency communication beyond VHF range. Confirm with owner whether an SSB is fitted. If absent and required, budget $1,500–$4,000 parts for an SSB installation. | |||
Radar reflector | Not listed | — | Unconfirmed |
Notes & est. replacementConfirm with owner. A passive or active radar reflector is standard offshore safety equipment. Confirm presence at viewing. | |||
Navigation lights | Not listed; mostly LED lighting noted in equipment list | — | Unconfirmed |
Notes & est. replacementNavigation lights not specifically listed. Confirm all nav lights (bow, stern, masthead, steaming) are functional and COLREGS-compliant at survey. | |||
Comfort items assessed for liveability. Items marked 'Not listed' are not confirmed absent — they are simply not stated in the listing.
| Item | Detail | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Cabins / berths — 3-cabin owner's version | Owner's suite port hull (queen nacelle berth, en-suite); 2 aft guest cabins (queen berths each hull) | Good |
Owner's berth access | Nacelle queen berth in central pod of port hull; listing states queen bed in central nacelle. Photo 6 shows berth with access visible on one side — walk-around clearance on both sides not confirmed from photos alone. | Unconfirmed |
Salon | Panoramic salon with French doors to cockpit, three opening hatches, dining for eight, nav station to starboard, light cherry woodwork | Good |
Galley stove / oven | 2-burner LPG hob visible in Photos 22–24; no oven visible | Unconfirmed |
Refrigerator | Chest-style refrigeration unit visible in Photos 18–19 and seller's footage; type (12V/AC/compressor) not confirmed | Unconfirmed |
Freezer | Not listed separately — confirm with owner whether the visible unit is fridge or freezer or combined | Unconfirmed |
Microwave | Not listed — confirm with owner | Unconfirmed |
Washing machine | Not listed — confirm with owner | Unconfirmed |
Heads — 2 heads (electric port / hand-pump starboard) | Electric fresh-water head (port/owner's suite); Jabsco hand-pump head (starboard forward). Head basin cracked — confirmed in seller's footage at 2:54–2:56. | Needs Service |
Holding tank — 48 L macerator | 48 L macerator holding tank listed | Unconfirmed |
Showers — 3 total | Walk-in shower with tub (starboard forward); en-suite shower (owner's suite); cold FW shower at starboard sugar scoop. Electric sumps on 2 enclosed showers. | Unconfirmed |
Hot water system — Bosch Tronic 3000T instant water heater | Instant electric water heater listed | Unconfirmed |
Air conditioning — 4 units (Mermaid 18,000 BTU salon + 3 × 6,000 BTU cabin) | 4 A/C units listed; seller flags they may need service | Needs Service |
Heating | Not listed — not relevant for tropical cruising ground; confirm with owner if cold-climate use is planned | Unconfirmed |
Cockpit comfort — Sunbrella cushions, teak table, hardtop bimini | Sunbrella cockpit cushions (soiling visible in Photo 15 and seller's footage), teak table for six, hardtop bimini | Needs Service |
Entertainment — Skyworth 16" HDTV/DVD, Boytone radio | TV and radio listed | Unconfirmed |
Sloop rig; sail area not disclosed in the listing. The Privilege 37 carries a full-battened Dacron main with three reefs, a genoa on a Profurl furler, a storm jib on an inner forestay, and an asymmetric spinnaker. The full offshore sail wardrobe is assessed below — sails not listed are priced so their absence becomes part of the negotiation.
| Sail | Detail | Age | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
Mainsail — full-battened Dacron, 3 reefs | New sail bag and lazy jacks April 2025. Sail age not disclosed. Green sail cover UV-faded (Photos 1–4, seller's footage at 1:04); sail condition not assessable with cover on. | Not disclosed | Unconfirmed |
Replacement cost$4,000–$8,000 parts for a cruising Dacron replacement on a cat of this size | |||
Genoa — on Profurl furler | Furler received new bearings 2021. Genoa age not disclosed. UV strip condition not assessable from photos. | Not disclosed | Unconfirmed |
Replacement cost$2,500–$5,000 parts for a cruising Dacron replacement | |||
Staysail / storm jib — on inner forestay | Storm jib on inner forestay listed. Age and condition not disclosed. | Not disclosed | Unconfirmed |
Replacement costNo verified figure — confirm with owner and inspect at survey | |||
Code zero / gennaker | Not listed | — | Absent |
Replacement cost$5,000–$12,000 parts for a code zero on a furler if desired | |||
Asymmetric spinnaker | Listed. Age and condition not disclosed. No snuffer or sock mentioned. | Not disclosed | Unconfirmed |
Replacement cost$3,000–$8,000 parts for an asymmetric with snuffer if replacement needed | |||
Storm jib | Listed as storm jib on inner forestay — confirmed present. | Not disclosed | Unconfirmed |
Replacement costNo verified figure — inspect condition at survey | |||
Storm trysail | Not listed | — | Absent |
Replacement costNo verified figure — confirm with owner; a storm trysail is the offshore standard for heavy-weather main replacement | |||
'Not disclosed' means treat as absent — sellers with offshore safety gear consistently list it.
| Safety Item | Offshore Standard | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Life raft — Bombard (needs servicing/replacing, seller-disclosed) | Offshore: ISO 9650 or SOLAS-equivalent, capacity ≥ persons aboard | Needs Service |
| Action / BudgetSeller-disclosed as needing service or replacement. Inspect canister for last service date. If out of certification or leisure-grade only, replace with an offshore/ISO-rated unit. Budget $400–$1,200 parts for recertification; $2,500–$5,000 parts for a replacement offshore 4–6 person raft. | ||
| EPIRB — ACR GlobalFix Pro 406 MHz GPS | 406 MHz GPS-enabled, registered with NOAA/COSPAS-SARSAT | Unconfirmed |
| Action / BudgetACR GlobalFix Pro is a quality offshore EPIRB. Battery and hydrostatic release service dates not disclosed — verify both at survey. Budget $200–$700 parts for battery/hydrostatic service; $400–$900 parts for replacement unit if expired. | ||
| Personal PLBs | One per crew member for offshore | Absent |
| Action / BudgetNot listed. The Garmin GPSMAP 66i has inReach messaging but is not a PLB. Confirm with owner whether PLBs are fitted. Budget $500–$800 parts for a pair of PLBs if absent. | ||
| PFDs / life jackets — 3 adult offshore + 7 adult type-II + 3 child type-II | Offshore: ISO 150N or equivalent per crew member | Adequate |
| Action / Budget13 PFDs listed across types. Caveat: type-II PFDs are not offshore-rated. Confirm that the 3 adult offshore PFDs are ISO 150N or equivalent and that service dates are current. Budget $150–$450 parts per offshore PFD if replacements needed. | ||
| Tethers and jacklines — 9 harnesses + jacklines | One tether per crew member; jacklines full length both sides | Unconfirmed |
| Action / Budget9 harnesses and jacklines listed. Age and condition not disclosed. Inspect webbing and hardware at survey. Budget included in safety kit refresh if needed. | ||
| MOB equipment — 2 lifebuoys | Danbuoy, horseshoe, drogue, light, and MOB sling for offshore | Adequate |
| Action / Budget2 lifebuoys listed. Danbuoy, drogue, and MOB sling not listed — confirm with owner. Caveat: a full offshore MOB outfit requires more than lifebuoys alone. Budget for a complete MOB outfit if items are absent. | ||
| Flares — 2 flare pistols + Weems & Plath electric flare | Offshore: SOLAS-approved pyrotechnics with current expiry dates | Unconfirmed |
| Action / Budget2 flare pistols and an electric flare listed. Pyrotechnic expiry dates not disclosed. Inspect all flares for current dates at survey. Budget $200–$700 parts for flare renewal if expired. | ||
| Fire extinguishers — 5 units | One per compartment; serviced annually | Unconfirmed |
| Action / Budget5 fire extinguishers listed; Kidde units visible in Photos 27, 28, 35. Service dates not disclosed. Inspect inspection tags at survey. Budget $200–$700 parts for service/replacement if overdue. | ||
| Smoke / fire alarm — 2 × Kidde smoke/CO alarms | One per accommodation space | Good |
| Action / Budget2 Kidde combination smoke/CO alarms listed and visible in Photos 5–6. Confirm battery dates and test at survey. | ||
| Emergency tiller | Required for offshore; must be accessible and fit the rudder stock | Good |
| Action / BudgetEmergency tiller listed — confirmed present. Verify fit and accessibility at survey. | ||
| Bilge pumps (safety context) — 4 auto + 4 manual across main and engine rooms | Minimum 2 bilge pumps per hull; auto float switches | Unconfirmed |
| Action / BudgetComprehensive bilge pump fit listed. Age and service history not disclosed. Test all pumps and float switches at survey. | ||
| First aid kit | Offshore: comprehensive kit per crew size | Unconfirmed |
| Action / BudgetNot listed — confirm with owner. A comprehensive offshore first aid kit is standard bluewater equipment. | ||
| Grab bag | Offshore: pre-packed with EPIRB, water, rations, flares, documents | Unconfirmed |
| Action / BudgetNot listed — confirm with owner. A grab bag is standard offshore practice. | ||
A 30-year-old GRP/PVC foam sandwich catamaran presents a specific structural survey agenda. The foam core resists moisture spread better than balsa but the bond-line between the GRP skins and the foam at high-stress zones — hull-to-bridgedeck junction, mast compression area, chainplate zones, and the nacelle pod unique to the owner's version — is the primary structural variable. The listing discloses no osmosis treatment or structural repair history. Photo and video evidence shows water streaking from deck fittings, crazed salon windows, and a pale bleached patch on the salon hull-side panel consistent with moisture-related finish lifting. The bilge, engine spaces, chainplates, and hull-to-bridgedeck junction were not shown in the seller's own footage — each is a survey priority.
| Area | Risk Level | Surveyor Inspection Focus |
|---|---|---|
Hull-to-bridgedeck junction and nacelle bond-line | High | Tap-test and moisture-meter the full perimeter of the hull-to-bridgedeck junction and the nacelle pod bond-line. Look for cracking, movement, or water ingress at the bond. Budget $2,000–$5,000 parts for cosmetic cracking repair; $5,000–$15,000 parts for localised structural repair; $15,000–$50,000 parts for significant delamination or movement. |
Deck core — coach roof and bridgedeck | Medium | Moisture-meter the coach roof and bridgedeck, particularly below deck fittings and port surrounds where water streaking is visible (Photos 3, 4; recorded on earlier pass — confirm at viewing). Tap-test for delamination. Budget $500–$3,000 parts for localised zone repair; $3,000–$10,000 parts for several zones; $10,000–$35,000 parts for widespread re-core. |
Chainplates | High | Chainplates were not shown in the seller's footage. On a 30-year-old hull, inspect for crevice corrosion, cracking at the deck penetration, and moisture ingress into the deck core at the chainplate base. Budget $1,500–$6,000 parts for a full set replacement in 316L stainless if needed. |
Osmosis / hull-skin moisture | Medium | Moisture-meter both hull bottoms at haulout. GRP hulls of this era are susceptible to osmotic blistering; PVC foam core resists spread but the outer skin is still vulnerable. Budget $3,000–$8,000 parts for epoxy barrier coat if osmosis is found; more if blistering is extensive. |
Salon hull-side panel — pale bleached patch | Medium | A pale, bleached patch approximately 30–40 cm across is visible on the hull-side salon panel in Photos 20 and 21 (recorded on earlier pass — confirm at viewing). Consistent with moisture-related veneer or finish lifting. Verify at survey whether the substrate beneath is sound and whether any deck fitting above this zone has been a leak source. |
Mast step and compression post | Medium | Mast step and compression post were not shown in the seller's footage. Inspect for cracking, delamination, or movement at the mast base on a 30-year-old hull. No budget required unless damage found. |
Through-hulls and seacocks | High | Exercise all seacocks at haulout. On a 30-year-old hull, original bronze fittings may show dezincification (pink colouration). Minor staining visible around waterline fittings in Photo 3. Budget $150–$400 parts per seacock; $2,000–$5,000 parts for a full set of 8–12 fittings. |
Full surveyor briefing with model-specific inspection sequence is in §14 of the full report.
Year-One costs on a 30-year-old bluewater catamaran with undocumented drivetrain and rigging history span a wide range depending on what the survey and sea trial reveal. The figures below represent the confirmed and probable spend; the drivetrain scenario (engine service vs rebuild vs repower) is the dominant variable and is presented as named scenarios rather than a single band.
Cost basis: Parts only, at professional supply prices. Excludes labour, haul-out, crane, freight and local tax. Costed as a like-for-like replacement of what is fitted, not an upgrade. Where a component is available across a price range, we show the value end and the premium end for the same job.
| Item | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Acquisition — the asking price | $148,500 | The published price. We make no claim about what she is worth |
| Pre-purchase survey + haulout (catamaran 35–45 ft) + engine survey + rig inspection | $3,300–$6,500 | Survey + short haul $2,500–$4,500; engine/mechanical survey $500–$1,200; rig inspection $300–$800. Non-negotiable before exchange. |
| Saildrive bellows and seals — both legs (if no service record produced) | $3,000–$8,000 | Parts for bellows and seals on both legs together. If either leg requires full unit replacement, budget $14,000–$26,000 parts for both legs. |
| Engine service — both engines (scenario: mid-life, hours reconciled at lower figure) | $3,000–$10,000 | Major service (injectors/valves) parts per engine × 2. If hours reconcile at the higher figures and a rebuild is indicated, budget $10,000–$24,000 parts for both engines. Repower scenario: $24,000–$50,000 parts for both legs. |
| Standing rigging — full re-rig (if no invoice produced) | $8,000–$18,000 | Parts for full re-rig on a 35–45 ft vessel. Mast unstep, crane and re-step priced separately below. |
| Mast unstep, crane and re-step (if re-rig required) | $1,400–$3,000 | Priced once — referenced by any other work requiring the rig down. |
| Liferaft — recertification or replacement (Bombard, seller-disclosed) | $400–$5,000 | Recertification $400–$1,200 parts; offshore replacement raft $2,500–$5,000 parts. |
| Salon window glazing replacement | $800–$6,000 | Panel replacement $800–$2,500 parts; full saloon window replacement if frames compromised $6,000–$18,000 parts. Lower end assumes panels only. |
| Head basin replacement (cracked — confirmed in seller's footage) | $600–$1,500 | Replacement marine head basin, installed. |
| Air conditioning service — 4 units (seller-flagged) | $1,200–$3,600 | Service per unit $300–$900 parts × 4 units. If any unit requires replacement, budget $2,500–$5,000 parts per unit. |
| Chartplotter / MFD — Raymarine eS78 replacement (EOL) | $1,500–$2,500 | 9-inch current-generation MFD installed. Confirm whether additional Garmin/Furuno units at nav station are current-generation before purchasing. |
| Safety kit refresh — PLBs, flares, EPIRB service, extinguisher service | $1,500–$7,900 | PLBs $500–$800; flare renewal $200–$700; EPIRB battery/hydrostatic $200–$700; extinguisher service $200–$700. Upper end assumes multiple items need replacement. |
| Antifouling — next cycle (new April 2025, next due ~2026/27) | $2,500–$6,000 | Catamaran bottom job (2 hulls). New antifouling April 2025 — likely not due in Year One but budget for the cycle. |
| Cosmetic interior — varnish, upholstery, galley counter (optional) | $2,000–$8,000 | Varnish refinish $500–$2,000; salon cushion reupholstery $2,500–$7,000; galley counter laminate $500–$1,500. Buyer's choice — not remediation. |
| ESTIMATED YEAR ONE WORK TOTAL | $29,200–$86,000 | Excludes the boat. Survey tightens range. |
| TOTAL YEAR ONE (vessel + work) | $177,700–$234,500 | All items; survey-conditional items will reduce |
These are the boat's material shortfalls and what each costs to put right. Every figure here already sits inside your Year-One budget (Section 9) — nothing is counted twice. This section's job is the negotiation: which of those costs the paperwork can take off the price. Section 11, next, names the document that settles each one.
Cost basis: Parts only, at professional supply prices. Excludes labour, haul-out, crane, freight and local tax. Costed as a like-for-like replacement of what is fitted, not an upgrade. Where a component is available across a price range, we show the value end and the premium end for the same job.
| Item | Est. Cost (range) | Basis & leverage |
|---|---|---|
| Engine hours discrepancy — unresolved | $3,000 – $50,000 | The listing itself flags contradicted hours on both engines. At the lower stated figures, a major service is the conversation ($3,000–$10,000 parts per engine). At the higher figures, a rebuild or repower is the conversation ($10,000–$24,000 parts per engine for rebuild; $24,000–$50,000 parts for repower of both legs). The spread is the leverage. |
| Saildrive bellows and seals — no service record | $3,000 – $26,000 | No bellows service record disclosed on a 30-year-old hull. Lower end: bellows and seals on both legs ($3,000–$8,000 parts). Upper end: full saildrive unit replacement on both legs ($14,000–$26,000 parts). |
| Standing rigging — no invoice | $8,000 – $18,000 | No rigging invoice disclosed on a 30-year-old hull. Full re-rig parts $8,000–$18,000; mast unstep/crane/re-step additional. |
| Liferaft — needs service or replacement (seller-disclosed) | $400 – $5,000 | Seller-disclosed defect. Recertification $400–$1,200 parts; offshore replacement raft $2,500–$5,000 parts. |
| Salon window glazing — crazed (confirmed in photos and video) | $800 – $6,000 | Confirmed in Photos 23, 24 and seller's footage at 1:16–1:18. Panel replacement $800–$2,500 parts; full replacement if frames compromised $6,000–$18,000 parts. |
| Head basin — cracked (confirmed in seller's footage) | $600 – $1,500 | Confirmed in seller's footage at 2:54–2:56. Replacement basin installed. |
| Air conditioning — 4 units flagged for service (seller-disclosed) | $1,200 – $3,600 | Seller-disclosed. Service per unit $300–$900 parts × 4 units. |
| Raymarine eS78 MFD — end-of-life | $1,500 – $2,500 | EOL unit confirmed. Replacement 9-inch current-generation MFD installed. |
| TOTAL REMEDIATION COST | $18,500 – $112,600 | Low ends and high ends summed separately — never averaged. Costed in your §9 Year-One budget; here it is negotiating leverage, not a discount off the ask |
Each item below is work this report has budgeted for because nobody has shown it was done. None of it is an accusation, and none of it is a discount. Every line names one piece of paper that would settle it — and if the seller produces that paper, the item comes off your budget entirely.
| Item | Budgeted | What would settle it |
|---|---|---|
| Engine hours discrepancy — unresolved | $3,000 – $50,000 | Original engine logbooks and dated hour-meter photographs for both engines, reconciling the discrepancy |
| Saildrive bellows and seals — no service record | $3,000 – $26,000 | Bellows and seal service record for both legs, with date, yard, and parts used |
| Standing rigging — no invoice | $8,000 – $18,000 | Rigging invoice dated within the last 10 years |
| Liferaft — needs service or replacement (seller-disclosed) | $400 – $5,000 | Current liferaft service certificate from an approved service station |
| Air conditioning — 4 units flagged for service (seller-disclosed) | $1,200 – $3,600 | A/C service records or a current service quote from a marine A/C technician |
| Which saildrives is fitted — the listing writes “Volvo SD20” | — | A photograph of the data plate on the unit |
Anyone can ask an AI for a polite email. This one is loaded: every question below comes from what this listing failed to prove, names the piece of paper that settles it, and is phrased so a date alone can't answer it. Copy it, sign it, send it from your own address — we draft, we never send, and every reply goes to you, not us.
Subject: Questions on Privilege 37 Owner Version before I proceed
Hello,
I'm seriously interested in Privilege 37 Owner Version and would like to move forward. Before I book flights and a surveyor, could you help me with a few things the listing leaves open? For each of these, a date is helpful — but it's the paperwork my surveyor and insurer will ask me for, so that's what I'm really after.
The video tour was genuinely helpful — is there any footage of the engine bay / machinery space and the bilge, under the sole? Happy with a quick phone clip.
None of this is meant as haggling — it simply lets me proceed quickly and with confidence. Anything you can share, I'll treat as a point in the boat's favour.
Many thanks,
[Your name]
9 documented factors likely to affect the negotiated price. Transparent to all parties.
Assumes purchase completes and critical items addressed in Year 1. Ongoing costs to keep a 1996 Privilege 37 Owner Version in offshore-ready condition.
| Year | Work / Items | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1* | Survey + haulout + engine survey + rig inspection; saildrive bellows (both legs); engine service or rebuild (both engines); standing rigging re-rig; mast unstep/crane/re-step; liferaft replacement; salon window glazing; head basin; A/C service; MFD replacement; safety kit refresh; antifouling cycle (ref: *Perspective note below) | $29,200–$86,000 |
| Year 2 | Running rigging inspection and partial replacement; winch service (4 units); watermaker membrane service; bilge pump service; varnish and upholstery refresh (optional) | $3,000–$12,000 |
| Year 3 | Antifouling bottom job; generator service; saildrive zincs and annual inspection; EPIRB battery/hydrostatic service; flare renewal | $4,000–$10,000 |
| Year 4 | Sail inspection and potential replacement (main or genoa depending on condition found at survey); through-hull and seacock service; standing rigging inspection | $3,000–$15,000 |
| Year 5 | Antifouling bottom job; engine service; liferaft recertification; electronics refresh (instruments, autopilot calibration); general cosmetic refresh | $5,000–$15,000 |
| 5-YEAR TOTAL — maintenance and scheduled work only. The purchase price is not in this table. | $44,200–$138,000 | |
| Annual average from Year 2 onward — Year 1 is catch-up work, not what she costs to keep | $3,750–$13,000/year | |
This table counts the work the boat herself will need — not the cost of keeping her somewhere. Berthing, insurance, tax and registration depend on where you base her and under which flag.
Recommended sequence for a buyer who wants to proceed on this vessel. Complete the pre-offer steps before committing to a survey deposit.
A buyer who has run the Audit shows up briefed, realistic, and ready to move — the enquiry that actually closes.