Buying an Invicta 26

[jackwarburton]

Hello,

I have been given the opportunity to buy an invicta 26. This will be my first boat and I'm really honoured to take this as a project as I cannot see this boat go to scrap as that was what's planned for it due to it being arrested by the harbour it's situated in.

I wanted to take the chance to ask if I could pay to borrow a suitable trailer to have it moved. Like I said, I'm not expecting any freebies and happy to pay for the use of the trailer as we really need one but don't necessarily want to buy one as I'm keeping it on cradles for the next 6-8 months whilst I renovate it.

Kind Regards

 

[fredrussell]

Standard forum advice is to be VERY wary of project boats unless you can accept that a) it’ll almost always cost more than buying a going concern, and, b) it’ll take far longer than you think to complete it, especially if you’re new to boats. There are thousands of old boats out there that will never see use again - your romantic notion of saving a boat, whilst commendable, is not the most sensible way into boating. Follow your head, not your heart!

 

[jackwarburton]

Standard forum advice is to be VERY wary of project boats unless you can accept that a) it’ll almost always cost more than buying a going concern, and, b) it’ll take far longer than you think to complete it, especially if you’re new to boats. There are thousands of old boats out there that will never see use again - your romantic notion of saving a boat, whilst commendable, is not the most sensible way into boating. Follow your head, not your heart!

Hi Fred, thank you for the reply. I absolutely agree with everything you've said and we have thought everything through and we are fully in the know about it not being a way of making money. I should've mentioned that it's 4 of us (all friends) going in on the boat. We have acquired the boat for £400 as they need it gone, but it's in 2 grands worth of condition in all honesty. It's had a survey and we're sure we've got a bit of a steal. We're happy to put in (and essentially lose) £1000 each for the whole project. I should also mention that 2 of the 4 have good sailing experience, so it doesn't make us completely blind!

 

[KevinV]

Eyes wide open

You're going to have to tell folks where you're moving the boat from and to - this is the internet, you could be on the Falklands! And how are you getting it off the trailer at the destination?

 

[andsarkit]

You don't say how far you want to move it. That will be quite a load even for a large 4x4. If you already have a decent cradle there are companies with a flatbed truck with a Hiab that could move it for you. They would probably cover the insurance which you would other wise have to arrange for yourself.
Obviously make sure the engine and sails are in usable condition as these will cost a lot to replace.

 

[jackwarburton]

Eyes wide open

You're going to have to tell folks where you're moving the boat from and to - this is the internet, you could be on the Falklands! And how are you getting it off the trailer at the destination?

Sorry, my bad! We're moving it from Torquay to Sevenoaks. We have a JCB 3CX at the destination with a fork lift attachment that can have straps attached to lift the boat. They have a lifting capacity of nearly 7 tonnes so should be good

 

[KevinV]

Sorry, my bad! We're moving it from Torquay to Sevenoaks. We have a JCB 3CX at the destination with a fork lift attachment that can have straps attached to lift the boat. They have a lifting capacity of nearly 7 tonnes so should be good

Bloomin Nora, that's over 200 miles?! As above, if you have a suitable cradle, put it on a low loader

 

[jackwarburton]

Bloomin Nora, that's over 200 miles?! As above, if you have a suitable cradle, put it on a low loader

Indeed! Bit of a journey I know. If we were to put it on a low loader, it would have to have stands either side to keep it in place no? How would this usually be done

 

[Pete J]

I know this boat . Yes it is worth restoring . there has been confusion over ownership so make sure that it is Torquay Harbour ( Torbay Council ) that you are dealing with .

 

[fredrussell]

Sorry, my bad! We're moving it from Torquay to Sevenoaks.

Me again being negative, sorry! To transport it that distance is going to cost thousands. Isn’t there a fixer-upper in your neck of the woods?

 

[jackwarburton]

Me again being negative, sorry! To transport it that distance is going to cost thousands. Isn’t there a fixer-upper in your neck of the woods?

We've had a quote at £950 so not as much as you think! We're also happy to rent a trailer and rig it ourselves if anyone has any advice

 

[Biggles Wader]

We've had a quote at £950 so not as much as you think! We're also happy to rent a trailer and rig it ourselves if anyone has any advice

That's cheap. I doubt you could acquire a trailer and pay for the round trip fuel for much less.

 

[jackwarburton]

That's cheap. I doubt you could acquire a trailer and pay for the round trip fuel for much less.

Not too bad is it. £600 for a cradle or maybe we could just go about building our own

 

[[194497]]

You'll want a cradle anyway so worth getting a decent one now, which will hugely facilitate the transport.

 

[Daydream believer]

I towed my Stella (26ft & very similar to an invicta for shape) behind my Disco from Cheshire to Grays in Essex on a very old SBS 5 ton 4 wheeled trailer. I had bought this to bring my first Stella from Burnham to home 30 years earlier. There are loads of these around marinas & all have 5 adjustable legs. I took loads of extra gear incase of trouble but the tow was easy in the end. One of our delivery drivers lifted it off with his hiab & put it on to a cradle which came with the boat. We rolled it in to the factory on rollers. When rebuilt we reversed the operation & delivered it to Burnham
It towed easy on the trailer. Just keep the speed to 30MPH & it will be fine.

 

[billyfish]

Try the folk boat crowd. My Dad had a invicta his mate had a folky, very similar. We survived leaving Lulworth in a rising gale round St Aldhelms to Poole at 4 in the morning. As a youngster all I can remember is sticking head up and a wave went over half way up the mast. Good old school safe boat. Well done.

 

[jackwarburton]

I towed my Stella (26ft & very similar to an invicta for shape) behind my Disco from Cheshire to Grays in Essex on a very old SBS 5 ton 4 wheeled trailer. I had bought this to bring my first Stella from Burnham to home 30 years earlier. There are loads of these around marinas & all have 5 adjustable legs. I took loads of extra gear incase of trouble but the tow was easy in the end. One of our delivery drivers lifted it off with his hiab & put it on to a cradle which came with the boat. We rolled it in to the factory on rollers. When rebuilt we reversed the operation & delivered it to Burnham
It towed easy on the trailer. Just keep the speed to 30MPH & it will be fine.

Did you borrow the trailer from the marina? Cheers

 

[Pete J]

You could just scrub it off on the slip ( £ 20 ) and sail it back ? Engine works

 

[Wansworth]

Sounds a great project and between four everybody can have time off and not get the blues

 

[jackwarburton]

Sounds a great project and between four everybody can have time off and not get the blues

Thank you, we believe so too! £400 for the boat too so more than happy to split that + maintenance cost.

I see you're in Galicia too! We plan to take the boat to O Vicedo where we have a home in the coming year (or two)!