Boat Hunt goes on.

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oldgit

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Have been to look a few "unloved" boats over the years but a Princess 35 viewed yesterday must have been just about the most neglected thing ever.
Doubt a single aspect of the boat could be described as ready to go.
The condition could best be described as a major project regards hull,interior and engines.
The asking price was optimistic,an offer around half would be generous and doing the seller a major favour.
It is advertised on the web,but no mention of its awful condition anywhere .
A perfect example of the further you drive the worse it will be rule.
The fore hatch was obviously leaking and the sheer amount of silicone sealer shovelled around the edges in several thick layers had to be seen to be believed.
This was not a little fixer upper for a grand or two but a boat at around market price of 50K.
 
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Sometimes these craft are on the market either because they have been left to someone in a Will or not had a visit from the owner in years. In the 70s I recall a beautiful Grand Banks 42 being delivered to the Hamble, it had one visit from the owner then left to rot for the next 4 years. It was tragic. Who remembers that Birchwood 33 above Teddington. The owner died and the sons literally forgot about it. When it dawns on these people to sell they look on Boats & Outboards and Apollo Duck and expect the prices they see there. I know of a Broom Continental I wouldn't give tuppence for, the owner believes it to be worth around £55k.
 
The old converted MFV (or maybe it was built as a yacht?) at the boatyard above Bell Weir is a classic example of how time takes its toll.

OK so its wood so not quite the same as a splitter in terms of maintenance.
Beautiful boat I remember when it was absolutely stunning and looked almost "as new" but that's probably about 15 years ago so I guess its surprising its still floating being wood!

Some boats go downhill very rapidly its true. Of course if it was inherited by someone who is not as knowledgeable about these things then they may simply have an inflated idea about the value and if they also inherited a million pound house or whatever then they may not be in a hurry to sell anyway.
Another one from years ago was a nice Powles broads cruiser at Kingston bridge asking £30k one year and a couple of years later it went for £500.
 
This is said with a smile Fred, but I think you may be too fussy. I reckon you must have been looking now for nearly 4 years. In that time there have been quite a few nice princess 35, turbo 36 and sedan 36 come on the market and sell! As an example, there's a couple of sedan 36 on the market at the moment, one reengined with perkins sabres, the other one has new navigation kit, replaced fuel tanks. Both would be had for 50k. Nice boats. What's stopping you. :) (please take this post as tongue in cheek. Quite rightly it's non of my business, but to say there are no nice boats out there at a good prices isn't my opinion :encouragement: )
 
Outinthedinghy said:
The old converted MFV (or maybe it was built as a yacht?) at the boatyard above Bell Weir is a classic example of how time takes its toll.

OK so its wood so not quite the same as a splitter in terms of maintenance.
Beautiful boat I remember when it was absolutely stunning and looked almost "as new" but that's probably about 15 years ago so I guess its surprising its still floating being wood!

Some boats go downhill very rapidly its true. Of course if it was inherited by someone who is not as knowledgeable about these things then they may simply have an inflated idea about the value and if they also inherited a million pound house or whatever then they may not be in a hurry to sell anyway.
Another one from years ago was a nice Powles broads cruiser at Kingston bridge asking £30k one year and a couple of years later it went for £500.
Click to expand...

Sorry for the drift but I have watched the MFV you mention rot away over the years.Such a shame.Bit of info if you're interested.
The converted MFV at Egham is Rosehearty.She was converted and restored to a very high standard in the late 80's/early 90's by a chap called Ian Macdougal.He was a involved with the ADLS,helped restore the steam tug Challenge.Helped get the little ships over to Dunkirk in 1995 during a rough crossing,Rosehearty being a support vessel.
I believe it's for sale.....25k I think:).....lovely Gardner in her apparently ...hull is firewood or you'll need very very deep pockets and I should think she's sat on the mud,probably why she hasn't sunk!
 
Flynnbarr said:
The converted MFV at Egham is Rosehearty.She was converted and restored to a very high standard in the late 80's/early 90's by a chap called Ian Macdougal.!
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Ian is an old mate of mine and a very accomplished sailor indeed. He is (or was) for many years the Skipper of the Grand Turk.
 
sharpness said:
This is said with a smile Fred, but I think you may be too fussy.
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All comments welcome. :)
Trust me, the Princess 35 really was awful.Flybridge had been exposed to the elements for quite some time.Wooden backs and bases to the seats had rotted and fallen off the stainless tubing securing it to boat. Instruments were full of water and throttle controls impossible to move.
All the deck surfaces had been covered at some point in teak decking, it would have been beyond repair and have to have been taken up and replaced entirely .
Water had penetrated the cabin in several places, damaging interior woodwork and upholstery. Carpet was filthy.The work surfaces around the cooker was burnt.
The fore cabin had suffered worse from water getting in from the escape hatch, most of it directly onto the bed.
Nav gear was from the Ark.
Lifting the engine covers exposed the real story , engines were coated in layer of greasy muck. Filters and other servicing stuff had obviously not been changed for years and years.
A delightful ooze of thick dirty oil and water lurked in the bilges.
This by the way was the stuff you could actually see.
Ps .Usually most hull gelcoat repairs are carried out using a colour similar to the hull,not with this boat.:)
 
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So what you trying to say?
roger-lloyd-pack-dies-aged-69-here-seen-as-trigger-in-only-fools-and-horses.jpg
 
Best bargain I've seen in the last year or two was 'Cassie'. Sure it's equipment was dated but it had been maintained regardless of cost and owned from new and had never been even as far as St Kats. She was a 1977 Princess 45 (I think).
I can't remember what she went for but it was a pittance.
 
Unlucky, Fred. I remember you saying that the further you travel, the higher the chances of the boat being a wreck. At least you're enjoying the hunting, anyway :)
 
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