Bob: Other than obvious appearance items, the main thing I look for when evaluating an Express 27 is the soundness of the deck, especially around the chainplates and other fittings bolted through the deck. Deck rot on a poorly cared for boat can be extensive and expensive to repair. You can evaluate the deck by looking for signs of leaks and discoloration in the cabin on the underside of the deck, by walking and jumping up and down on the deck, by tapping the deck with the handle end of a big screw driver, or, best of all, with a moisture meter. Some water in the balsa core is normal, especially around the chain plates. But extensive water is a bad sign. It leads to rot in the balsa core and ultimately to delamination of the skins from the core.

I have also seen saltwater boats with extensive corrosion in just about everything from the standing rigging, to the running lights to all the deck fittings. (This need not be a major problem if the boat has been religiously washed with fresh water after use.)