Buying + refurbishing a run down boat

:)

If you want to be really adventurous then you could try Papua New Guinea.

Lots of wrecks off her coast, most of which are abandoned just waiting for someone to come along and fix them up. In fact they organise diving tours just to look at them.

Fly to Australia, do a bit of busking, ferry across and walk around the coast looking for a suitable hulk ( would have to be a wooden hull) and then fix her up.

The local timber is practically free ( think axe ) and with a few wood working tools you could live the desert island paradise fantasy whilst working on your new boat.

You dog would love it, could train him to fetch animals you've blow-piped (coconuts might get a bit dull after a while).
 
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BlueTwo said:
3 month is OK if you do your homework. If not a short buss trip to Mexico and back gets you a new visa. Actually it used to be 6 month, is it now only 3 month?
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The difficulty is likely to be at US Immigration. When asked 'Three months? What is the purpose of your visit?'

The reply 'To buy a boat' is going to look a bit odd from a young guy in flip flops, with a guitar and a Jack Russell in a backpack.

When I last went - to go skiing for three weeks, I was staying with friends in Utah. The nice 25 stone African American in Immigration asked for their address and I didn't know it. Why should I? They were meeting me at the airport and taking me home with them. Took a few hours to talk my way out of that problem.
 
There is a new bike out that has two wheels and you pedle dirctly the back wheels,still not avisable as some funny people in them thar mountains that took a didlike to some canoeists,well in the film they did.
 
Tranona said:
Boats are cheap in the US because there is no market for old run down boats. Few Americans are interested in doing up old things when there is plenty of choice of good functioning boats.

However, this does not represent bargains for European buyers. Most of the boats, even if you did manage to repair them could not be used in the EU as they do not meet the RCD. Moreover if you did try to import you have the cost of shipping (or getting the boat to a condition fit to sail across the Atlantic) and then pay duty and VAT - plus the cost of modifying to get it approved.
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Doesn't the RCD only stop you from selling it on in under 5 years?

It's only expected to come into force in 2016 anyway

Sailing across the atlantic ....... why not do it yourself?

http://www.britishmarine.co.uk/what...ts__updates/recreational_craft_directive.aspx
 
obmij that boat is a beaut. the america route is tempting and is definatly the more adventurous option.

though one aspect is bugging me.

as i grew up i did a lot of sailing in dinghies. today, from that i have gained a lot of knowledge of the principles of sailing.
but to this day i have only had one (2 week long) experience on a 'yacht'.

I learnt a lot about life aboard (living in close quarters with others) and a bit about knots, rigging and movement characteristics of bigger boats.

but i know very little on the rest (marine fittings, using VHF, sea regulations etc)

buying in the states seems more appealing, but part of me thinks i might be in over my head due to lack of above mentioned knowledge.
prehaps buying a boat in europe would offer a more relaxed environment in which to learn, as opposed to a time constraint of an expiring visa and having to cross an ocean with a lack of experience.

taking into account I consider myself a quick learner, how long do you estimate it would take me to get 'up to speed' on my knowledge of bigger boats?
 
pond weed said:
taking into account I consider myself a quick learner, how long do you estimate it would take me to get 'up to speed' on my knowledge of bigger boats?
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Taking into account you consider yourself a quick learner - may be a looooooong process... :D
Start thinking you're dumb, will take a month to make you a skipper. Take a knowing friend for a cruise.

Don't worry with Vat and such - non eu registation means you have to sail the boat out of EU after a period (was year, but some changes going all the time) - but working on boat is cheaper in Africa anyway. Or Turkey. + no vat ;)

As for topic: anyone mentioned Sea Rover? 28, but roomy enough for serious use, whole length usefull (looking like tube, but classy). Strongly made, simple construction, no serious construction flaws to go wrong when old, like keel mounts etc, just none are in there :) As sailing - needs wind, until fitted with bowsprit and extra sail it's slow in light winds. But then goes well. Most were built by Colvic, well made.
Long keel, bilge keel to it, 3' draft, stands anywhere, goes anywhere. Fits on thee road for trailing, but bit to heavy - none the less lower cost. Was interested myself, but the offered were with interior to mend ;). Nothing other much to do on such boat. Were below 5k.
The only really good one I was offered from RPA, where she was left in middle of second circumnavigation. Good recomendation ... I would look for such. Will be possible to save on berthing costs with little draft and mast in tabernackle, any pond inland will do, all european river open for it.

P.S. Don't buy yourself into steel! Are you a welder with equipment?
Hard to do rebuilt on such boat, as everything must be stripped before using flame - so you are building her anew. Maintenance costly, dirty and problematic on old one. They go by scrap metal price if you want, but closer here - Holland, Germany. Plenty of them.

Fiberglass only, preferably with integral keel in that fiberglass to.
 
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To be honest my friend - I would forget about buying a boat until you have both the knowledge and means to keep her.

This is what I would do if I were starting from scratch. Apologies if you already are at a higher level and I am teaching you to suck eggs.

1. Read books, preferably those which assume a total lack of knowledge and will go through a boat piece by piece, naming each individual item on it. You want to know what everything is called and it's purpose before you get anywhere near a boat.

2. Knots. Practice the essentials until you can literally do them blindfolded. You should be able to tie a bowline in your sleep. Likewise round turn and hitches.

3. Take a sailing course and put into practice what you've been reading about. Competent crew or zero to day skipper. February / March isn't a bad time to do it as you should be able to get a decent deal. This will cost but if you can't afford it you shouldn't even be thinking about buying a boat.

4. Start crewing and get into the yachting world. You can do this in the UK via a sailing club but I suspect you would enjoy the international side more. Crewseekers is a decent place to start off with as are the delivery companies. More opportunities present themselves when you are out there.

Once you've done a couple of thousand miles and are a properly competent crew you face a choice. Continue with the ocean hitchhiker lifestyle, picking up work on sailing charters and in yards but essentially just earning your keep (lots of fun though) - or smarten up and get a job on a superyacht. Not as much fun but lots more money.

Either way - a couple of years doing this and you'll have half an idea as to what you are getting into when you buy a boat, and what to do with it if you do. Go in cold and you're almost certain to enter a world of pain..

Best of luck and feel free to drop me a line.
 
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