Atlanta 25 info

[Chaplin]

Hi

I have just acquired an Atlanta 25 which needs restoring. The idea is to do this as a winter project with my daughter as we both want to learn to sail. We will learn while we are restoring it.

I would be grateful for any info anyone has on these as I am struggling to find much. The engine especially will need rebuilding. I have been told it is a Petter and these don't seem very popular so I may look at changing it to something else.

Regards

 

[Tranona]

Hi

I have just acquired an Atlanta 25 which needs restoring. The idea is to do this as a winter project with my daughter as we both want to learn to sail. We will learn while we are restoring it.

I would be grateful for any info anyone has on these as I am struggling to find much. The engine especially will need rebuilding. I have been told it is a Petter and these don't seem very popular so I may look at changing it to something else.

Regards

Welcome to the forum

Think very carefully before you start this. The boat is essentially worthless and even in pristine condition is likely to be worth less than £5k. The Petter is junk assume it is a Mini 6 which was not good even when new and you are right they have almost all disappeared. A replacement engine is not economically viable as new you would be spending approx £3500 on a Yanmar 1GM. You might be lucky and find a used one which will probably cost £1500 plus all the bits needed to fit it - and a lot of wok. An outboard, even though not as good is a practical alternative.

If you and your daughter want to learn to sail, join a club or take a beginner's course. You will find out the basics and discover whether you like it. Then search for a boat. There are many boats of that type that are for sale in usable condition for not a lot of money and the knowledge gained from a course will help you choose a suitable boat. Remember though that the purchase cost of the boat is just the entry fee. costs of owning a boat - mooring, storage, maintenance, replacements etc will quickly dwarf the initial cost.

Sorry to sound negative, but unless you enjoy fiddling with boats rather than sailing, restoring an old boat is not the best approach. As you go round yards and clubs you will find many small old boats, effectively abandoned because the owners can't justify the work and cost of getting them to a usable state. In amongst those will be some that are just about to start the slippery slope and can provide a first step for beginners for little money.

Good luck.

 

[Chaplin]

I hear what your saying. I am going into this with my eyes open.

The restoration is something we are looking forward to as much as the sailing, good father daughter time, We have the boat so there is no going back now and we're looking forward to getting cracking.

I have done various non boat related projects before so well aware of how they can mount up and are usually anything but cost effective. The sense of achievement went you eventually get them driving/flying/floating though is the thing I enjoy.

I am interested in the outboard conversion option and would like to hear from anyone that has done similar on one of these or a Hurley 24/70. I take it the transom needs beefing up a fair bit.

 

[Caer Urfa]

From what you say and as Tranona has said she will be a big money pit with little if any return on any investment

Most were built like a tank as was many Colvic build boats in the 70's,

Designed by Ian Anderson for Colvic Craft they were built by Colvic/Atlanta Marine UK 7.9 m o/l and 2.45 m beam x 4.5 tons some professionally finished some home build completions
and were built on the lines of the Hurley 24/70 and Sailor 26

 

[DownWest]

What worries me.. If you have to ask on here, you don't know the problems you have picked up.
A few people keep trying with Petters, good luck to them, they can do the job, but only if well looked after in a previous life.
So, you can find another engine. Just depends how cheap and how it screws the budget.

 

[neil_s]

Go for it! I realise that 'Yachting' today seems to require ownership of a 40 something foot new boat of the latest design with all mod cons that is kept in a very expensive marina. There has always been that element. In the past, though, there were other people who bought a cheap old boat 'did it up' themselves and sallied forth in sheltered waters, slowly acquiring the skills to be more adventurous. It is still perfectly possible and, indeed, very enjoyable! The difference between then and now, as Tranona says, is that your craft will never be worth very much, so don't spend too much on it. Fix all the broken parts - don't just go to the chandler's shop. Use household paint and other items. Have a good go at getting your engine serviceable. Second hand sails will get you moving. Find a little boat yard at the top of a creek. I've been doing it for over 40 years!

 

[doug748]

Hi

I have just acquired an Atlanta 25 which needs restoring. The idea is to do this as a winter project with my daughter as we both want to learn to sail. We will learn while we are restoring it.

I would be grateful for any info anyone has on these as I am struggling to find much. The engine especially will need rebuilding. I have been told it is a Petter and these don't seem very popular so I may look at changing it to something else.

Regards

Problem with the Petter is getting hold of spare parts, all of which are now getting thin on the ground. Cylinder heads were prone to problems and new ones were very expensive even if you could get hold of one. Worth trying these people for bits:
http://www.sleeman-hawken.co.uk/suppliers/lister-petter.html

You do have to be careful with old boats but it is quite possible to get one sailing for very little money - but be careful about getting carried away. Unless you are exceptionally gifted and practical it is best to aim for good enough, rather than good as new.

The miserable souls who tell you will be a lot of money and you won't get it back......are generally well heeled.......and always neglect to say that this cheery statement applies to all boats.

As above, look for stuff on the Hurley 24, it's a roomy small boat with some nice features. Welcome and good luck with it.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Go for it!

Absolutely. Ignore the wet blankets who can't believe that anyone who have different interests or priorities from those they have themselves. Doing up an old boat is a great way to learn about it, and once it's done jumping in having a go is a great way to learn sailing. Read up a bit first, though, and take an RYA shorebased theory course.

Have fun. Good luck.

 

[Spuddy]

There's loads of old boats lurking around...semi abandoned and going cheap. Some are a good buy but others are to walk away from.
Why not dump the Petter and fit an outboard on a bracket?

 

[LadyInBed]

Lots of talk about the engine, what condition is the rest of the boat in, such as rigging and sails?
If they need replacing as well, then I would look around for a boat that you can afford that you can put in the water and get a couple of years sailing out of rather than spending a couple of years restoring.

 

[wombat88]

Getting the engine onto the kitchen table will definitely help. They did actually work but were not favourites. Older Petters are a different matter.

No matter, when someone describes something as 'needing rebuilding' it can often mean that they just don't know but it wouldn't start last time it was tried.

It sounds like you have already got the boat, would be good to hear more. I like to hear of people going sailing on a budget.

 

[Chaplin]

Just to confirm, we already have the boat. We aren't doing it to make money or win any races. It's mainly about getting some good father daughter time, getting her into something away from games consoles and Youtube and hopefully ending up with a nice family boat at the end.

I have messgaed a Petter specialist to see about spares. I've rebuilt a few engines before so it might be an interesting project to try get it running and keep it going. I'm a tinkerer by nature so see all this as fun rather than a chore. The boat yard have also given me another engine but it is in storage so i have yet to see it. I am interested in the outboard possibility though.

I'm going to start a website to record progress but i'm thinking this perhaps isn't the type of forum for cheap boats and restorations so if there are other forums more suited to this I will update it on there.

Regards

 

[DownWest]

There are quite a few on here with cheapish boats. 'Here' as this specific section of the forum. I was a bit negative about the engine, but if you have two and experience in rebuilds, then a good chance of a functioning inboard without the hassle of modding the boat for another engine or an outboard.
I used to deal with a lot of generators and the little Petter based ones were best avoided. But that was with them in daily use with frequently little regular care. By the time I got to see them, they were well past their best.
Any chance of putting some photos up?
DW

 

[doug748]

.....
I'm going to start a website to record progress but i'm thinking this perhaps isn't the type of forum for cheap boats and restorations so if there are other forums more suited to this I will update it on there.

Regards

Sounds great, most folk would like to see it very much.

It's just the way forums are, whatever you buy someone will say it is no good and you should spend more money, or get something cheaper, or stop wasting your time.
Keep at it.

 

[Pasarell]

As I think you know the Atlanta 25 was based on the Hurley 24/70. They are great little boats and built like tanks so unlikely to have any fundamental problems with hull. Decks were prone to compression around the mast area so worth checking and fixing. I used to have a Hurley 24/70 and loved it. Mine had an old agricultural diesel of unknown provenance but it was always reliable with a lot of preheating. I always thought about replacing with an outboard if it failed but don't think this would be a great option with weight so far aft. Steering astern would be a pig as it would be difficult to reach the engine over the aft deck.

The Hurley Owners Association used to be quite active a few years ago but I think may have some problems now. If still alive I suggest you join as there were plenty of DIY owners around. There is also a yahoo owners group which you could search for. Nick Vass is the Hurley guru and his last boat was a 24/70. It's a while since he sold it but he still has lots of good advice and willing assistance. He is a yacht surveyor and can be contacted on Nick@omega-yachtservices.co.uk
As others have said you will not get your money back but as long as you go into it with that knowledge and are careful what you spend on then you will have some cheap and very good sailing. Good luck!

 

[Chaplin]

Thanks guys,

It has been strengthened below the mast with 4 uprights and beams so is ok regarding the compression.

One thing I am going to look into is converting to inboard electric motor. That could be an interesting project.

 

[LadyInBed]

I'm going to start a website to record progress but i'm thinking this perhaps isn't the type of forum for cheap boats and restorations so if there are other forums more suited to this I will update it on there.

Negative feedback is there to test your willpower
See theNever splashed Colvic Countess 33 thread!

 

[JumbleDuck]

I'm going to start a website to record progress but i'm thinking this perhaps isn't the type of forum for cheap boats and restorations ...

Lots of us do things on the cheap and love hearing about things done on the cheap. The "everybody I know can easily find £100,000" (yes, really) brigade are a very small minority. And I think he has left the thread anyway.

 

[pvb]

I'm going to start a website to record progress but i'm thinking this perhaps isn't the type of forum for cheap boats and restorations so if there are other forums more suited to this I will update it on there.

It's the Practical Boat Owner forum, so it's appropriate for you to post links to your intended website. Many of us have been keen DIY boaters for many years, preferring to tackle jobs ourselves rather than pay inflated prices for so-called professionals. And doing the work yourself can be very satisfying, not to mention the learning of new skills and techniques. It's probably never going to return your investment of time and money, but it sounds like you know that and are approaching it in the spirit of team-building with your daughter, which is to be applauded.

Incidentally, the "Never Splashed Colvic Countess 33" thread is a salutory lesson!

 

[Tim O]

I had an Atlanta 24 with a Petter Mini 6 in...solid little boat and reliable though noisy engine!....I used to have loads of spares as I bought a complete dead engine for £50...but i sold the boat and the box of spare parts a couple of years back. The only thing I still have in my "bits box" is a brass oil filler cap which you are welcome to if required!!!