Can you identify this boat? Needs some TLC.

+1 for Invicta. (Definitely not a Cutlass, but similar sort of long-keeled "Folkboat-inspired" design). Very good, seaworthy boats. Cramped down below, and difficult to handle astern under power, like most of their genre. Depending on what sort of sailing the OP wants to do and where, they're obviously not good at taking the ground and the North West coast has huge tides.

If, like me, he's a handy sort of chap and a significant proportion of the pleasure of owning a boat comes from fettling it, why not?! Best assume it is scrap though. More of it than you think is likely to be so! Depending on how "boat proud" the OP is, it's certainly possible to do the important bits and then go sailing, leaving it looking rough, but functionally sound. Like the Cutlass, it'll be just a bit too big and heavy to tow behind even a 4x4, so don't overlook the costs of simply getting out of there and moved to a place where it can be worked on. Even daft things like making a cradle will be a significant challenge.

Stroll down there a bit more and start chatting to any nearby boaters to see if they know anything about its history. Others have spoken about the expensive bits. If you're serious, you'll really need it out of the water to make a decision. They cna be real money pits, but if you LIKE doing the work, you'll end up knowing every inch of your boat. That's no bad thing!
 
Tammany said:
Are they made by the same company that made the contessa?? Looks very similar, curved companionway & round hatches.
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No. As said it is a Van De Stadt design, and other than also having a nodding acquaintance with the Folkboat has nothing to do with the Contessa or Jeremy Rogers.
 
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This is interesting, as I looked at a boat (Kelt 6.20) today in a similar state. Except the guy had bought it... He had tried to jetwash the crud off the deck and had managed to lift a few bits of U-V degraded gelcoat. These, natch, are on textured surfaces, so going to be difficult to fix. He paid €2K for it. So far, it has a seized centre plate (steel in a shallow cast fin) OK mast and rigging. The whole hull needs cleaning sanding and painting, as does the deck. The interior also could do with a bit of refreshing, but is fairly simple, a one cabin layout. I have yet to see the sails.....
I told him about the frequent threads on this site about walking away, but I think we can sort out the obvious probs for not too much (he is a friend).
The price he paid is right at the bottom of the range for similar boats here..

Incidently, that style of hatch is classic VDS design on his small boats, saves a sliding unit.

Personally, if it had the boom and half decent sails, I would go for it. Looking at the web, many had Dolfin 2T engines. Again, I could live with that, if working with a bit of DIY.
 
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In addition to all the good advice above may I raise the question of the state of the hull below the waterline. GRP hulls will over time absorb water, some more rapidly that others.
Before making any commitment you need to see the boat out of the water with the hull cleaned off. Look for blisters in the gel coat, commonly called 'osmosis'. There are two ocean going boats ashore here in Terceira with big areas of gel coat ground away and being repaired.
If the hull is reasonably OK and the price low enough she could make a nice project and a nice sailing boat.
 
DownWest said:
This is interesting, as I look at a boat (Kelt 6.20) today in a similar state. Except the guy had bought it... He had tried to jetwash the crud off the deck and had managed to lift a few bits of U-V degraded gelcoat. These, natch, are on textured surfaces, so going to be difficult to fix. He paid €2K for it. So far, it has a seized centre plate (steel in a shallow cast fin) OK mast and rigging. The whole hull needs cleaning sanding and painting, as does the deck. The interior also could do with a bit of refreshing, but is fairly simple, a one cabin layout. I have yet to see the sails.....
I told him about the frequent threads on this site about walking away, but I think we can sort out the obvious probs for not too much (he is a friend).
The price he paid is right at the bottom of the range for similar boats here..

Incidently, that style of hatch is classic VDS design on his small boats, saves a sliding unit.

Personally, if it had the boom and half decent sails, I would go for it. Looking at the web, many had Dolfin 2T engines. Again, I could live with that, if working with a bit of DIY.
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The 36 ft Excalibur was the same
 
Thanks again, folks, both for the advice and encouragement (both to walk, and to go for it).

Made enquires a couple of days ago with the Harbour Master but haven't heard back on whether the owner wants to talk. Haven't heard back from the Harbour Master at all, in fact. I wonder if he knows - the berths are rented from the Borough Council. The Harbour Master only provides services.

On a second look at the images, I'm worried that the interior is open to the elements through the instrument port on the port side of the cockpit. It's hard to see, but there doesn't seem to be anything in there. That'll be the galley area soaked, and a nice fetid puddle on the sole that's rotting everything else. I still wouldn't be too bothered if the furniture were knackered and had to go. What would worry me is cleaning up a few years of dirty ditch water and mould, and getting rid of the smell.
 
15 years ago this very boat nearly sank on its moorings about 100 yards further up the canal bank its tied up to. The then harbour master pumped it out and left it there (from memory closed a hatch). In short the engine was dunked and left to rust for another 15 years. Probably a bit more than a new set of filters.

A lot of years have passed and it's still there - I vaguely remember a yard loiterer telling me the owner paid and wouldn't sell. All the gear had been taken off (again could be wrong).

Even though the hull is GRP there's probably still wood under internal mouldings/bulkheads, if that's rotted there's a job.

A lad I knew bought an old fibreglass boat (importantly fibreglass inside as well). Jet wash. Pump. Repeat.
 
The photos on Yachtsnet are of my Invicta which I sold a few years back. Had her for 18 years, superb seaboat and quick. Dolphin engine reliable and only weighed 90 lbs.
 
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