Doing old boats up.j

[Wansworth]

Back in the late 1960/70 impecunious yachtsmen saw flying by what are now boats to many only fit for the chainsaw,Westerly 26,type family cruisers were unaffordable .Wehadold wooden yachts that needed work to saftlytaketo sea. Ow apparently harbours are full of rotting GRP yachts .I think is a question not so much are they worth doing up but more a quesito in all that you can afford.A small family yacht at a bargain price may give a foot in the door if expectations are not high .As a family project it can be a good bonding time sharping the struggle and delight.But obviously if your after a “return” in a monetary sense it may not “pay” but entered in the right spirit an old tore out on a mud berth might be just the thing.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

It’s a bit like the family of 6 being driven around on a BSA with side car, because it was post war progress. No one wants to do that any more. I think the foot in the door, is going on a holiday. Young families are also becoming a thing of the past apparently as older mothers and fathers is normal now, compared to up the duff at 22.

No doubt for some it would be, and is a thing, but for the majority it’s not, probably the same back in the day. What needs to be in place is a cost effective recycling, or disposal service for old boats, in my view.

I agree it’s good value, but a recent in commission Rival 34, is being sold for £5.5k, exceptional value considering upgrades already done. The seller needed to sell on as the circumstances had changed and marina berth renewal was due at around £6k. That’s the reality, expense versus value, in an already expensive society, where income to expense ratios are getting smaller. Sad, really!

 

[Wansworth]

It’s a bit like the family of 6 being driven around on a BSA with side car, because it was post war progress. No one wants to do that any more. I think the foot in the door, is going on a holiday. Young families are also becoming a thing of the past apparently as older mothers and fathers is normal now, compared to up the duff at 22.

No doubt for some it would be, and is a thing, but for the majority it’s not, probably the same back in the day. What needs to be in place is a cost effective recycling, or disposal service for old boats, in my view.

I agree it’s good value, but a recent in commission Rival 34, is being sold for £5.5k, exceptional value considering upgrades already done. The seller needed to sell on as the circumstances had changed and marina berth renewal was due at around £6k. That’s the reality, expense versus value, in an already expensive society, where income to expense ratios are getting smaller. Sad, really!

I am obviously out of date

 

[RunAgroundHard]

I am obviously out of date

You still own a BSA and sidecar?

I don’t think your out of date, reuse, recycle, repurpose is a mantra that is very current, but market forces and society’s expectations are stacked against this. Current financial tensions may actually drive people down low cost roads and alternatives. Then again, it may not.

 

[johnalison]

I think that basically the goalposts have moved. When I started cruising in the ‘70s there were some older wooden boats around and some real oddballs, but the majority were GRP in the 20-30’ range, and even the larger of those were looked on with envy. If you go down to the sea you may well see many in this size but most will be shiny-ish boats of around 35’ or more. A rough old tub is just going to feel that much more out of place.

 

[Wansworth]

I think that basically the goalposts have moved. When I started cruising in the ‘70s there were some older wooden boats around and some real oddballs, but the majority were GRP in the 20-30’ range, and even the larger of those were looked on with envy. If you go down to the sea you may well see many in this size but most will be shiny-ish boats of around 35’ or more. A rough old tub is just going to feel that much more out of place.

In 1976 I was earning 75 quid a week my old wooden Mashford four tonner cost me 1,500 quid,it needed work but was sailable ,I don’t know off hand how the numbers relate to today’s prices and running costs,boats like cars see to offer much more than you really need and you pay for it …….and we get accustomed to electronic gismos when in reality wind down windows and hand hand brakes are just trinkets to bedazzle us like those natives of Thahiti

 

[Neeves]

boats like cars see to offer much more than you really need and you pay for it …….and we get accustomed to electronic gismos when in reality wind down windows and hand hand brakes are just trinkets to bedazzle us like those natives of Thahiti

Our new cart, we have had it for about a year now has a heated steering wheel and heated front seats - in Australia. The drivers seat has a massage function. Many new cars have the same, ours is nothing exotic nor special - so being commonplace now I suspect they don't cost so much.

I think it would cost more to remove many of the, unnecessary, gizmos than they are worth

Jonathan

 

[oldharry]

You still own a BSA and sidecar?

I don’t think your out of date, reuse, recycle, repurpose is a mantra that is very current, but market forces and society’s expectations are stacked against this. Current financial tensions may actually drive people down low cost roads and alternatives. Then again, it may not.

If you still own an original BSA and Chair, its worth quite a lot of money, and is an appreciating asset. If only I had kept my old A10 and Watsonian outfit. Unlike an older boat.

The major problem with the dispaosla or restoration of old boats is that it costs a lot of money. It is well documented that restoration of an early GRP yacht of the kind built in their hundeds in the 60's and 70's - Corribees, Hurleys, Leisures, small Westerlies, Tridents and such like - will cost a good deal more than buying one that has been looked after and can be taken to sea more or less straight away.

Restoring a neglected hull is no longer a cheap way of getting afloat. Apart from the cost of replacement materials, fittings, rigging, and sail, the cost of storage and moorings has rocketed compared to the 1970's.

 

[jamie N]

With what I believe to be the reality of the 'used boat market', it's either an 'old' boat from the last millenium that's in sail away condition, and one can negotiate a price, otherwise it's got to be free, and then one can take it on to do it up. I've just looked at Apollo Duck and there are loads of boats available in (seemingly) good nick, for quite little money.
I paid £3K for my (essentially) sail away GK24 a couple of years ago, and it was a fair price both ways, but today I'd have offered 1/2 of that.

 

[DownWest]

Priorities have definately moved on, as have the costs of keeping a boat. We used to keep our 27ft in a mooring up the Crouch from Burnham. No Marinas back then (Early 60s). We laid the mooring and maintained it. The fee for having it was peanuts.

Lots of people built boats from plans, kits or GRP hulls. The GRP ones are still about and the market is saturated. As often said, Getting a cheap boat is the first step on an expensive ladder.

I quite enjoy building, but have no illusions about selling my boats for anything like the real cost of building.
Just about to splash a little cruiser, likely my last effort. It will live on a trailer outside and get used for local sailing from the assorted (free) slips about here. Maybe a couple of trips to Brittany. If I don't use it, no cost..

 

[Rappey]

Some "do up" cheap or free boats because they enjoy it and learn a lot of valuable skills .
Others can only afford the cheapest boats and can buy what is needed when they have the money.
Friend bought a snapdragon 26, yanmar inboard and everything works. Ready to go £600. Its a nice tidy boat.
Another guy i know has just got a free telstar 26. It was for sale but ended up free ? It looks really nice with new sails and new rigging. Comes with tohatsu outboard
And new upholstery. Im a little envious there.
You can get a mooring for £500 a year for up to 28ft in portsmouth harbour. Add a free or £600 boat and its still not a huge amount.

 

[Wansworth]

What if you bring “Tally Ho” I tothe equation……thousands spent on building a replica from the ribs of the original,we all think it’s a great work so why cannot the humble owner of a Macwester 26 bring back from the grave his boat equally of value to him and at least getting him afloat ?

 

[The Q]

Grp hulls / decks for the most part last forever, it really depends on the fit out internally and it's maintenance..
If you are DIY minded you can get good bargains.

Sadly my old motor boat was very poorly fitted out, it was however built for the broads hire business where every few years they'd do an internal rebuild in the latest style.
About half of the internal wood work was mahogany faced chipboard or painted with that white background with multicoloured splats of colour sprayed on.
Later models of my boat had much more internal fibreglass mouldings.

I'm slowly replacing the chipboard, while up grading to our needs.. currently doing the forward cabin, after resealing the windows, and replacing the bunk tops.

 

[The Q]

Oh part 2 of this,
Very few wooden boats lasted 50 or 60 years..
Fibreglass lasts forever, my old motorboat glass fibre hull and deck is almost 60 years old.
Looking at the average age of people on this forum, when we started cheap boats we got to begin with were wooden and and needed maintenance to keep running.
But we did woodwork, metal work, and technical drawing at schools. ( Unless you were at grammar school)

Today, there's very little practical work taught in any school, the kids are interested in computers, few have any idea where to start in boat maintenance, DIY for them is a tin of paint, and a paint brush.
Even at the sailing club between races they are glued to their mobile phones..
Which reminds me, time to head for the SC, 3 races today.

 

[Stemar]

What if you bring “Tally Ho” I tothe equation……thousands spent on building a replica from the ribs of the original,we all think it’s a great work so why cannot the humble owner of a Macwester 26 bring back from the grave his boat equally of value to him and at least getting him afloat ?

I always thought Leo was mad, but Tally Ho l has historic value or, at least, interest, so I'm glad there are people mad enough to save such boats. He also has the gift of making a good video, which made it all possible.

I'm struggling to imagine any scenario in which a Macwester 26 would have historic value, other than "She was my father's boat, and my grandfather's before him", which would make her special for me, but still only a lump of superannuated fibreglass for anyone else.

 

[Wansworth]

I always thought Leo was mad, but Tally Ho l has historic value or, at least, interest, so I'm glad there are people mad enough to save such boats. He also has the gift of making a good video, which made it all possible.

I'm struggling to imagine any scenario in which a Macwester 26 would have historic value, other than "She was my father's boat, and my grandfather's before him", which would make her special for me, but still only a lump of superannuated fibreglass for anyone else.

How very dare you.Amacester 26 is part of britains naval heritage !

 

[Fr J Hackett]

I always thought Leo was mad, but Tally Ho l has historic value or, at least, interest, so I'm glad there are people mad enough to save such boats. He also has the gift of making a good video, which made it all possible.

I'm struggling to imagine any scenario in which a Macwester 26 would have historic value, other than "She was my father's boat, and my grandfather's before him", which would make her special for me, but still only a lump of superannuated fibreglass for anyone else.

There isn't much of the original Tally Ho in the current one let alone anything structural, it's essentially a new boat build with bits scavenged from an old heap of scrap wood all done and paid for by anyone other than the owner builder unless you count his original $1 purchase. It's a replica and as such has no historic value.

 

[Wansworth]

There isn't much of the original Tally Ho in the current one let alone anything structural, it's essentially a new boat build with bits scavenged from an old heap of scrap wood all done and paid for by anyone other than the owner builder unless you count his original $1 purchase. It's a replica and as such has no historic value.

That’s one of the problems of doing something up,start off thinking you can use some old wood but in the end it’s too much bother……..butprobably on a Macwester 26 mostofthewood canbereplaced from second hand wood supplies

 

[justanothersailboat]

There isn't much of the original Tally Ho in the current one let alone anything structural, it's essentially a new boat build with bits scavenged from an old heap of scrap wood all done and paid for by anyone other than the owner builder unless you count his original $1 purchase. It's a replica and as such has no historic value.

I dispute the "no historic value". HMS Victory probably doesn't have all that many visible timbers present at Trafalgar, she has plenty of historic value. The Tally Ho rebuild is a genuinely impressive project, so what if he had help from donations?

 

[Stemar]

There isn't much of the original Tally Ho in the current one let alone anything structural, it's essentially a new boat build with bits scavenged from an old heap of scrap wood all done and paid for by anyone other than the owner builder unless you count his original $1 purchase. It's a replica and as such has no historic value.

How much original timber is there going to be in any wooden boat over 100 years old? Yes, Tally Ho is a bit of a Tigger's broom, but I reckon she's still the same boat.

As for being paid for by everyone else, when he started, he'd do a couple of months on Tally Ho, then go back to the UK to work in a boatyard to earn money for the next bit. YouTube earnings allowed him to continue rebuilding, and to a much higher standard than would have been possible otherwise, but that's because he got very good at his new career as a cameraman, presenter and editor, which isn't easy. If it looks effortless, it's because of the considerable effort that's been put into it. I know I couldn't do it.