Bought a Never splashed Colvic Countess 33 on eBay, Looking for infos

[GregOddity]

Loved the first video, great sense of humour guys. If you never get the boat finished you'll have a career as youtubers. When you say won the auction were there actually other people bidding?

Speechless.. My wife made me do the videos as revenge for telling her I bought a sailboat and she goes out and buys a new bikini..then I tell her there may be some repairs needed. There were 9 people bidding and I thought I would buy it for a £10 ended up shelling 1k. Now what I did not think is that my videos were anything interesting since my idea of a vid is pointing the cam at something.

 

[RichardS]

I watched the video but must admit to not paying 100% attention so perhaps I missed the explanation ..... but once you had sucked a load of filthy water out of the bilge with the wet vac thing, why did you appear to tip in back into the bilge rather than over the side?

Richard

 

[GregOddity]

I watched the video but must admit to not paying 100% attention so perhaps I missed the explanation ..... but once you had sucked a load of filthy water out of the bilge with the wet vac thing, why did you appear to tip in back into the bilge rather than over the side?

Richard

Someone drilled a hole in the hull to allow water to escape. As I understand at some stage the boat filled with water on the hard. I used said hole to get rid of the water

 

[solent clown]

We came close to buying that a while back. Looks like a great project to get on with. In the dark days just remember your initial enthusiasm, and power through. If you have not already burned all the rotten wood you pulled out, it may be worth making some patterns from them (taped together lining paper - or any other wallpaper works) for the shaped around the hull bits etc. Get a burning bin, get beer, sit round it and rejoice as you bask in the ritual torching of the rotten, and plan for the new.
Never listen to the sensible or the nay sayers, even though they are almost always right. for you are of course the exception to the rule of unfinished projects, you are the guys that finally get it done.
Great potential, deep pockets could have it done in weeks. Getting your hands dirty will have it done when it is done, and when it is complete, it will be yours, and you will know every inch of it.
Play up, play up, and play the game.

 

[Max Campbell]

We came close to buying that a while back. Looks like a great project to get on with. In the dark days just remember your initial enthusiasm, and power through. If you have not already burned all the rotten wood you pulled out, it may be worth making some patterns from them (taped together lining paper - or any other wallpaper works) for the shaped around the hull bits etc. Get a burning bin, get beer, sit round it and rejoice as you bask in the ritual torching of the rotten, and plan for the new.
Never listen to the sensible or the nay sayers, even though they are almost always right. for you are of course the exception to the rule of unfinished projects, you are the guys that finally get it done.
Great potential, deep pockets could have it done in weeks. Getting your hands dirty will have it done when it is done, and when it is complete, it will be yours, and you will know every inch of it.
Play up, play up, and play the game.

+1

it took me 3 years to build a boat, and we're now into our third year building a house (that the builder would have finished a year ago if he hadn't walked away incommunicado). Don't aim at a finish date, it just introduces stress, just put one foot in front of the other, and enjoy doing a good job.

 

[GregOddity]

We came close to buying that a while back. Looks like a great project to get on with. In the dark days just remember your initial enthusiasm, and power through. If you have not already burned all the rotten wood you pulled out, it may be worth making some patterns from them (taped together lining paper - or any other wallpaper works) for the shaped around the hull bits etc. Get a burning bin, get beer, sit round it and rejoice as you bask in the ritual torching of the rotten, and plan for the new.
Never listen to the sensible or the nay sayers, even though they are almost always right. for you are of course the exception to the rule of unfinished projects, you are the guys that finally get it done.
Great potential, deep pockets could have it done in weeks. Getting your hands dirty will have it done when it is done, and when it is complete, it will be yours, and you will know every inch of it.
Play up, play up, and play the game.

+1

it took me 3 years to build a boat, and we're now into our third year building a house (that the builder would have finished a year ago if he hadn't walked away incommunicado). Don't aim at a finish date, it just introduces stress, just put one foot in front of the other, and enjoy doing a good job.

Thank you for your kind words of encouragement, they are well received. We don’t have a set date to finish but we both have taken time and we are going to try and do the impossible to finish the end of the season. WE may fail… then we sail after the end of the season. We just seem unable to find a spare million somewhere to have it finished in a week, so were going to have to do it ourselves and she’s going to look pretty. I do have a bit of experience in the Marine field. We will soon see if it is enough. For now were happy to concentrate on finishing what we think the interior is going to look like and finding as much info about the countess as we can.

 

[Tranona]

As one of the sensible? guys you have been warned against just remember that even in a reasonably well ordered factory man hours for fitting out a boat like that would have been around 2000 even for repeat builds. You are likely to take at least twice that as you not only have to do the craft bits, but source materials much of which will give you headaches as the industry that supported boat building in this country has mostly gone. A hull is about 25% of a complete boat and the retail cost of the components for a 33' simple production boat are in the region of £80k - and yours is not a simple boat so likely to be nearer £100k. So you are looking at material cost of around £75k which you might get down to around £50-60k with discounts and secondhand bits.

Don't wish to sound too negative, but I have built boats in the past but would not dream of doing it now, particularly as you could get a good version of the same boat for about a third of what you will end up spending, never mind the years it will take you to finish it!

 

[GregOddity]

As one of the sensible? guys you have been warned against just remember that even in a reasonably well ordered factory man hours for fitting out a boat like that would have been around 2000 even for repeat builds. You are likely to take at least twice that as you not only have to do the craft bits, but source materials much of which will give you headaches as the industry that supported boat building in this country has mostly gone. A hull is about 25% of a complete boat and the retail cost of the components for a 33' simple production boat are in the region of £80k - and yours is not a simple boat so likely to be nearer £100k. So you are looking at material cost of around £75k which you might get down to around £50-60k with discounts and secondhand bits.

Don't wish to sound too negative, but I have built boats in the past but would not dream of doing it now, particularly as you could get a good version of the same boat for about a third of what you will end up spending, never mind the years it will take you to finish it!

It’s a very good and valid point and that is exactly the advice I would give someone trying out a refit for the first time. Sourcing is a nightmare and if it has the word Marine stamped then the price is off the scale. But having said that, there’s also the fact that I'm an Engineer and hold a bus load of paperwork on a few other things like a German TUV coding for TIG welding HL45 and I have done parts from most simple to exotic names in the marine industry for prototypes for the likes of Hunton Power Boats, Princess, British Antarctic Survey, National Geographic Deep Sea and even Prototype parts for the R.A.F.
The Man hours are a very interesting question. Yes, a new build will require quite a few man hours, but there is a commercial side to that statement that is not properly explained to the public at large due to pricing strategies and commercial interests.
On the other hand, there’s the fact that when you leave a task, i.e. working weekends or for short periods, that same task will take on average around 63% more in added man hours as you need not only to re-situate yourself but reposition materials and machinery and also prepare the actual work to be where you left off, Ex: wood surface to varnish will need a second fine sanding and clean to achieve smoothness to a high degree. Baring the case of something touching it and leaving a mark and having to redo it again or cut a new part. And don't even get me started on complex cabling systems that will require at least a good hour just to pick up where you left of.
For the total of the refit, I think if I had to spend anywhere over 20k, it would render this exercise completely pointless, for I could buy a sail away boat anywhere for that price. But ultimately comes down to machinery which I have, and skills, which I have. I’m just missing the 50k so ill have to put in 200 H a month to get it where I want. But at that pace 2000 Man H/200 MH month=10 months as we are 2 and have the help of HIGHLY skilled friends and colleagues ..with luck ? 4 to 6 months I could deem realistic. Unlucky? Your guess is as good as mine hehe
I’m hoping for the “luck” and settling for the best we can do. My downfall will be manufacturing parts that you normally see only in luxury sailboats, not because of the price but the time involved. A proper simple grab handle has taken me 2 days to manufacture weld and polish, and that was only for the tender of a biggish yacht that I would not be able to afford even the fenders. While I was doing all of that for the super wealthy I did think a lot of times that for me I would do rather do it this way or that. So now all that I can do and fit on my boat… will be done and that is the only fear I have for the time it involves. The rest? It’s just wood and fiberglass.

 

[Norman_E]

Some photos on the Yachtsnet site show a beautifully finished interior which show that it is possible to make a really nice boat. I wish you good luck in the hard work ahead, and many years of pleasure out of the finished yacht. Whilst no racer, the design promises to be safe and comfortable cruiser.

 

[Hydrozoan]

I seem to recall a long review in one of the magazines (Sailing Today?) very roughly 10 years ago of a Countess 33 which had been very nicely fitted out by the owner himself - a lawyer I think - over a period of many years. Although there are many other sources of information, it might be worth doing a search for it. Good luck anyway!

 

[prv]

you not only have to do the craft bits, but source materials much of which will give you headaches as the industry that supported boat building in this country has mostly gone.

What sort of materials do you think would be difficult to source? I’d stay away from the sort of complete rebuild these guys have taken on, but in refitting Ariam I used at least a little of every type of material and parts I can see them needing, and had no difficulty obtaining it.

Sheet material, solid timber, varnish, fastenings, fabric, stainless bar and angle and strip and plate, electrical fittings, plumbing fittings, polyester resin, epoxy, glass, rigging fittings, cable, cordage, foam, hatches, filter housings, fire extinguishers, and a million other things, all available to peruse and order on Monday or Tuesday after work, and have delivered in time to fit at the weekend. Really it’s far easier to source this stuff now than it ever was in the heyday of home fitouts, when people had to drive around buying stuff in person from whatever limited range their local supplier had in stock.

Pete

 

[pvb]

For the total of the refit, I think if I had to spend anywhere over 20k, it would render this exercise completely pointless, for I could buy a sail away boat anywhere for that price.

I wished you luck earlier, but your statement clearly shows that you don't have even a glimpse of a clue as to what's involved. You couldn't even buy the engine, sterngear, mast, rigging and sails for £20K. The project simply isn't worth doing, unless you've got nothing else in your lives.

 

[[70521]]

My deepest condolences.

 

[Tranona]

What sort of materials do you think would be difficult to source? I’d stay away from the sort of complete rebuild these guys have taken on, but in refitting Ariam I used at least a little of every type of material and parts I can see them needing, and had no difficulty obtaining it.

Sheet material, solid timber, varnish, fastenings, fabric, stainless bar and angle and strip and plate, electrical fittings, plumbing fittings, polyester resin, epoxy, glass, rigging fittings, cable, cordage, foam, hatches, filter housings, fire extinguishers, and a million other things, all available to peruse and order on Monday or Tuesday after work, and have delivered in time to fit at the weekend. Really it’s far easier to source this stuff now than it ever was in the heyday of home fitouts, when people had to drive around buying stuff in person from whatever limited range their local supplier had in stock.

Pete

Guess what I really meant was that in the days when Colvics were popular for home completion there was a whole industry geared up to supply components either individually or in packages at very competitive prices because they were the same things that were being supplied to commercial builders. As pvb says they won't be able to buy an engine and stern gear, rig and sails for £20k, never mind electrics, hatches, water systems, tanks etc. Of course we don't know what came with the boat, but the videos show essentially a bare hull and deck with pulpit and pushpit.

They might be skilled engineers and prepared to put in the graft, but you can't create the materials out of nothing. As I am sure you know the cost of the most basic essential materials such as you list are not cheap, even if easily available and it will be a major task defining what they want and sourcing it in the absence of drawing, material schedules and experience.

 

[Houleaux]

Don't be put off by the naysayers!

You've clearly taken on a hell of a project, but it sounds like you have the skills to pull it off.

Sure, £20k is an ambitious budget. But you didn't say everything had to be bought brand new - and why should it?

I wish you the very best of luck and will follow your progress with interest.

Long live the Great British Eccentric!

 

[zoidberg]

It sounds like you're going into this with your eyes open. I think it's great!

A lot of the expensive gear can be bought in several places like here, or at the Beaulieu Boat Jumble, for well under half what is asked at chandleries. F'r example, an anchor doesn't need to be brand spanking new to be entirely effective. Radios, rope, safety gear, sails.... I have a large polytunnel bulked-out with 'boaty bargains', all of which I'll use One Day Soon.

Yes, you can.

And when you've finished your Colvic Countess ( September, did you say? ) and are wondering what to do with all that free time, I've got a little project that's right up your street!

:eagerness:

 

[Graham_Wright]

I have a set of plans still. What hull is she?

 

[Graham_Wright]

http://www.ybw.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-423881.html

 

[solent clown]

As a fellow engineer, i think you can get this done for under the 20k if you are willing to make up parts etc. If we had gone ahead with the purchase of that hull, then I would have put a300tdi land rover engine in it, sans turbo, cheap, easy to find parts for anywhere in the world. I would run freshwater, have hot running water and run an extra alternator, and maybe a generator on a dog clutch. You would also have basic hydraulics is you wanted it with the power steering motor, or upgrade to a bigger hydraulic motor. Mate engine to a marine gearbox and stern gear is easy. You will find a mast cheap or free somewhere if you trawl boatyards, along with lots of other bits.
Use the boat as a research and development opportunity, and have fun going against some of the perceived wisdom of the yacht world.
Engineers forever.

 

[doug748]

I wished you luck earlier, but your statement clearly shows that you don't have even a glimpse of a clue as to what's involved. You couldn't even buy the engine, sterngear, mast, rigging and sails for £20K. The project simply isn't worth doing, unless you've got nothing else in your lives.

This is very poor.