free Boat
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NotBirdseye
Well-Known Member
By the time you've brought it back up to scratch you might as well have built it yourself... from the drawing board. Could be done but unlikely enough there to be worth the initial expense. There's a youtube channel of someone building up a boat (much larger) in slightly worse condition, aside from a few fittings the boat is entirely new wood.
Stemar
Well-Known Member
I can't help thinking that even leaving aside the fact that boat and financial sense don't belong in the same sentence, no one takes on the major restoration of a wooden boat because it makes financial sense. Someone would take that on because they want a project or they fell in love with it. If they're lucky and skilful, they may even get to sail her.
fisherman
Well-Known Member
I'm afraid if I had a shed I might be tempted, and it would sit for another ten years. Don't really want this sort of boat anyhow, myself.
jamie N
Well-Known Member
So much depends on the abilities of a new owner. As Stemar says, there's no sense, or investment potential in a boat, let alone a wooden one.
If one had time, a bit of space to put the boat and normal ability, I'd say a minimum of 2 years, assuming that the hull was basically sound.
To put an engine in is the cost of the engine, say a reasonable <10hp is £1K, plus a week to fit it. Once you've done it, the 2nd's less scary.
To make a mast that's about 10m isn't as scary as you'd think I believe. I had a quote for a 'wooden shaped length'; a bare pole in it's most literal sense for a little below £1K. To complete the mast I'd have had to put all the fittings on, the wiring, the varnish and everything.
However, if I'd really wanted to do a mast, I could've bought a section of wood and shaped it myself. There're loads of video about this, and it's a job of perseverance as well as care. I didn't go down either of those routes, instead I repaired my own.
Sails; not much you can do here, but a set of used Folkboat sails might suffice, and they cost what they cost.
Of course there are costs on top of these, with fuel fittings, engine mounts and cables, battery's and prop's and so on through the never ending list that all yotiies must endure, however it can become hugely less expensive with care and trying to never, ever buy anything ever from a yachting outlet, ever.
Here in the Highlands we've got an Industrial supplies outlet, every area has a similar one too, which cost a fraction and are decent quality. Online also of course, even though here in the Highlands we still experience the clown supplier who won't supply, because of post code and that we're not on the mainland (we are), so don't want our money.
I've found the ongoing 'project' of my boat to be as absorbing as the sailing, in the same way that people look after old Morgan cars.
You've got to buy into the idea of THE BOAT, otherwise get an AWB and fret about osmosis!
If one had time, a bit of space to put the boat and normal ability, I'd say a minimum of 2 years, assuming that the hull was basically sound.
To put an engine in is the cost of the engine, say a reasonable <10hp is £1K, plus a week to fit it. Once you've done it, the 2nd's less scary.
To make a mast that's about 10m isn't as scary as you'd think I believe. I had a quote for a 'wooden shaped length'; a bare pole in it's most literal sense for a little below £1K. To complete the mast I'd have had to put all the fittings on, the wiring, the varnish and everything.
However, if I'd really wanted to do a mast, I could've bought a section of wood and shaped it myself. There're loads of video about this, and it's a job of perseverance as well as care. I didn't go down either of those routes, instead I repaired my own.
Sails; not much you can do here, but a set of used Folkboat sails might suffice, and they cost what they cost.
Of course there are costs on top of these, with fuel fittings, engine mounts and cables, battery's and prop's and so on through the never ending list that all yotiies must endure, however it can become hugely less expensive with care and trying to never, ever buy anything ever from a yachting outlet, ever.
Here in the Highlands we've got an Industrial supplies outlet, every area has a similar one too, which cost a fraction and are decent quality. Online also of course, even though here in the Highlands we still experience the clown supplier who won't supply, because of post code and that we're not on the mainland (we are), so don't want our money.
I've found the ongoing 'project' of my boat to be as absorbing as the sailing, in the same way that people look after old Morgan cars.
You've got to buy into the idea of THE BOAT, otherwise get an AWB and fret about osmosis!
fisherman
Well-Known Member
I watched a chap make a mast at Gweek. Get a tree, square it using strings, take corners off, hexagonal now, then back to round.
All true, you can probably buy a second hand boat ready to go, for less than the cost/value of the components.
All true, you can probably buy a second hand boat ready to go, for less than the cost/value of the components.
TernVI
Well-Known Member
If you spent what it took to get it up together, would it actually be a boat you'd choose?
Would it be nice to cruise in?
Would it deliver good racing?
Is it historically significant?
Once it's up together, are there people who will take on the maintenance in future?
Would it be nice to cruise in?
Would it deliver good racing?
Is it historically significant?
Once it's up together, are there people who will take on the maintenance in future?
Lucy52
Well-Known Member
There is another RN one at Iron Wharf, sitting in a corner and rotting away. Plenty of buyers but the owner won't sell.
NPMR
Well-Known Member
Looks identical to my first 'yacht' and I never did know what type it was.
Paid several £fousand to get it restored from a wreck looking a LOT like the picture. Then, uninsured, it blew over in a gale and stoved the side in. All the lovely new timber, splining, redecking etc. "Gorn!" just like that.
Ever since I've had nicer and nicer plastic boats and do a LOT more actual sailing.
Paid several £fousand to get it restored from a wreck looking a LOT like the picture. Then, uninsured, it blew over in a gale and stoved the side in. All the lovely new timber, splining, redecking etc. "Gorn!" just like that.
Ever since I've had nicer and nicer plastic boats and do a LOT more actual sailing.
jamie N
Well-Known Member
You were doing pretty well until the last sentence, which borders on heresy!
JumbleDuck
Well-Known Member
Hey, free firewood.
bitbaltic
Well-Known Member
9 years ago I bought my (relatively modern, excellent condition, plastic) boat and the spend on her since so dwarfs the purchase price as to make her free as much as makes no difference. And that’s just to keep a modern boat in tip top condition fir the better part of a decade.
buying a boat is madness. It only makes sense once you have bought the damned thing and then ploughing on regardless is as near to sane as you will ever get.
buying a boat is madness. It only makes sense once you have bought the damned thing and then ploughing on regardless is as near to sane as you will ever get.
NPMR
Well-Known Member
You were doing pretty well until the last sentence, which borders on heresy!
As a keen sailor, I like to put in the miles and after the disappointment of the wreck, I prefer to be at sea rather than the yard. The distances we have regularly covered, would not have been done in the old wooden vessel, that I am sure of. Sad but realistic.
William_H
Well-Known Member
You would be mad to take on this project. That is if you primarily wanted a boat to sail in. If however you want the pleasure of restoring the boat and perhaps the pleasure of showing off your restored vintage boat then perhaps it could work for you.
A friend has just bought a boat for $1. It is a 22ft (Spacesailer) a local design with many sold and still sailing. Fin cast iron keel GRP mast head rig outboard engine. Actually a really nice stable boat and he had owned one before going to his present 30 fter. Now it was a fantastic deal very dirty but with a lot of good gear including a new jib and furling gear. Even an autohelm. But I am not envious. He has to find a mooring for it, clean it up and get it up to scratch then sell his old boat. Not an easy thing to do. And this is for someone who has a huge boating experience and has decided that the 22ft Space sailer would suit his sailing best.
So as always it is firstly a problem to find the kind of boat you really want. More related to how you use it than condition or cost. Perhaps even recognise you don't need top own a boat. Fortunately there will laways be those of us mad enough to be a boat owner. ol'will
A friend has just bought a boat for $1. It is a 22ft (Spacesailer) a local design with many sold and still sailing. Fin cast iron keel GRP mast head rig outboard engine. Actually a really nice stable boat and he had owned one before going to his present 30 fter. Now it was a fantastic deal very dirty but with a lot of good gear including a new jib and furling gear. Even an autohelm. But I am not envious. He has to find a mooring for it, clean it up and get it up to scratch then sell his old boat. Not an easy thing to do. And this is for someone who has a huge boating experience and has decided that the 22ft Space sailer would suit his sailing best.
So as always it is firstly a problem to find the kind of boat you really want. More related to how you use it than condition or cost. Perhaps even recognise you don't need top own a boat. Fortunately there will laways be those of us mad enough to be a boat owner. ol'will
fisherman
Well-Known Member
I wrestle with this, but not much. I sometimes think a 25-30ft would be nice, BUT,
I haven't spent a lifetime driving a desk and wishing I was at sea
I spent enough time at sea waiting for something to happen or stop happening
There are no cheap mooring options like there were 50 years ago
'Er indoors doesn't do the sea.
I haven't spent a lifetime driving a desk and wishing I was at sea
I spent enough time at sea waiting for something to happen or stop happening
There are no cheap mooring options like there were 50 years ago
'Er indoors doesn't do the sea.
