Am I completely mad?

[miket]

I currently own an extremely comfortable, very able, GRP motor boat with which I am entirely happy.

I have seen a 40 year old Dutch steel hulled (C van Lent & Zonen), solid teak superstructured, almost certainly totally underpowered, motor boat that looks rather down at heel but by no means a wreck. Any thoughts on value - 40 feet?
It will be dark and very old fashioned inside and I am quite sure will require a complete refit both inside and out to bring it somewhere near current levels of civilisation. I am not remotely interested in retaining it's "old world charm". It either matches current boat levels of comfort or it is a non starter.

This all sounds horrifically expensive quite apart from having to deal with boatyards who are clearly not on the same planet when it comes to getting work done "on time, on budget and to a high standard". Might consider taking it to a Dutch yard?

Why am I even contemplating it.

If Byron reads this, for God's sake don't say anything to Sally !!

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[LiamS]

If Id known their were people like you about I would have attempted to swap boats.

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[Mirelle]

Several thoughts

1. Choose your boatyard very carefully.

There are boatyards in this country who will quote, item by item, and complete work in accordance with their quotations. Robertsons at Woodbridge is one yard that I have used three times for substantial work and they have been pretty good in this respect - I also have no doubts about the quality of their work.

There are certainly other yards like this.

There are other yards whose workmanship may be as good but whose estimating is rather more casual.

2. Van Lent is and was certainly a good builder, but have you looked at a Silver, for instance? Or a Dagless? Of course, I don't know how fast you want to go. Forty year old steel is not necessarily bad, but it ain't usually very simple and cheap to bring up to the as new standard that you wish for. The teak bits are unlikely to be a problem, but what is under the teak, espescially in way of the decks, may be a huge problem.

3. Yes, horrifically expensive.

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[SimonMorris]

I did the same thing with a Dutch Barge (Steel 1923) and had great fun and a lot of job satisfaction refitting her over 3 1/2 years.
Get a fixed price fixed price for each cabin/job. I was glad that I did and when I sold her, I made double what I had spent on the work.
Enjoy it.

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[Sybarite]

Would you like the short answer or the polite one?

John

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[Castletine]

Madness is subjective

For many years friends have always stated that I am less mentally intact than others. I always thought that this was just a ribbing, but, to my horror I have recently found it to be a true fact and I have a certificate to prove it.

Two things lead from this point: I operate in society without any pyschotic intent and hold down a job that encourages my mental state. The second is I own with relish a superb wooden boat of 1931 vintage and aim to continue for many years.

So in answer to your question by buying the boat could reinforce the fact that you are certifiable, but you wont know it until you get a certificate to prove it. Good luck

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