I've found my boat! What now?

[Guest]

I\'ve found my boat! What now?

Hello, all advice in response to this post would be very much appreciated.

By something that seems like a chance in a million I have found my ideal boat for sale. She's ex hire fleet, has been professionally maintained for at least the last 25 years and has been completely overhauled by the yard which owns her. They say they know of no significant work which needs doing, and are positively encouraging me to have a survey done.

This would be my first boat purchase - can you suggest what questions I should be asking? Obviously I'm on cloud nine, and so need a dose of cold, hard practicality.

Also, can anyone with knowledge of this kind of boat (ie old and wooden) suggest roughly how much I should budget for the survey?

Thanks for your help

 

[Will]

Re: I\'ve found my boat! What now?

A few more details of the boat would be useful - class, size, type of construction if she's wooden, ie what wood, decks etc. Old wooden boat ex hire does initially ring alarm bells but it's very hard to hide any major faults that will escape the attention of a decent surveyor. As a benchmark, I had a 40' gaffer surveyed recently for about £500, but this can vary quite a bit.

 

[boatone]

Re: I\'ve found my boat! What now?

You sound delighted but this is where hard headedness needs to prevail.........!
What is it? where is it? how big is it? any other info that would help us to be more helpful to you?


TonyR
boatone@boatsontheweb.com

 

[VMALLOWS]

Re: I\'ve found my boat! What now?

Old and wooden: at least 25 years: ex-hire: first boat.

You don't give us much more detail.

Are you sure you want to get into that?

 

[Lynette]

Quick! Ask Santa for this late delivery ...

"Buying a second-hand yacht - the legal aspects" Royal Yachting Association pamphlet G21/00, price about £5.00. Can be ordered from www.rya.org.uk

And keep a cool head. The world is stuffed full of good old boats. If for any reason you have doubts, don't take risks, there are plenty more.

 

[Guest]

Re: I\'ve found my boat! What now?

Thanks very much to everyone who has posted so far. Here are some more details (apologies for length - never get someone started on their pet subject).

The boat is a 24ft traditional Broads yacht (except for the Bermuda rig) based in Norfolk . She dates from the 1950s, when she was built at Herbert Woods, one of the best yards operating in that area at the time. She was renovated and put into service as a hire craft sometime in the 70s and she is about to be taken out of service because the yard that owns her has an elegant sufficiency of boats of her size. I have to say that I can't immediately recall what kind of wood she is made of - thanks for reminding me, I must find out.

I am confident that, despite her age, she is in good condition. There are a few reasons for this (although I'll be consulting a surveyor, naturally):

Firstly it has been in the yard's interest to keep her in good condition, since she is an investment for them. As part of the hire fleet, she should have been checked out thoroughly at the beginning of each season and any defects put to rights (if the yard is reputable, which I know it to be). It just does not make commercial sense for them to have let her deteriorate.

Secondly, like an awful lot of Norfolk boatyards, it is owned and staffed by enthusiasts who certainly appear to love the craft they work on. I have had dealings with the yard over a period of years, and have even taken out the boat in question on a hire basis, so this is not my first contact with them.

Thirdly, the Broads are not known as the 'nursery of sailors' for nothing - even when they let morons like me (and some of our experiences, though very funny now, were horrendous at the time) sail her, there is not all that much you can actually do, short of snapping the mast or stoving in the bows. And most of the banks are made of mud, so you'd be challenged to do that. Having cruisers run into you now, that is a different matter...

For all these reasons, I actually think the ex-hire status is an advantage rather than a disadvantage as it gives her a 25-year record of top-class maintenance from a specialist boatbuilder. And, like a car with a service history, most of the things that have happened to her for the last 40 years or so are on the record.

Of course, I could be completely wrong here, but I don't think I am...?

This kind of classic Broads yacht is the only kind of boat I have been considering buying, and the only one which really suits my sailing abilities and inclinations, so old and wooden are part of the job description, I'm afraid! I've already got a half-share in a classic car, so I have an inkling of what I'm getting into )

I know her already, I've sailed her, she's beautiful and I can get a professional to tell me if she's sound - as I said, the yard themselves suggested we should have her surveyed.

But any advice on the things that I should be asking about will be invaluable - and that's where you folks come in! Believe me, I would be spending nearly every penny I can lay my hands on, so I shall be doing everything I can to act sensibly.

Posting on this board is just one part of the process... Do let me know what you think.

 

[jollyjacktar]

Just Do It

Good on you, you have taken the biggest step. The rest comes from experience. Now just get on out there and do it. Read up on things, do courses, talk to people, but most of all just go on and enjoy the experience. The rest will follow.

 

[Guest]

Re: how much

You have not said what they are asking
Get rid of the romance ,there will be problems and even miner faults can get expensive ,especially if you pay to have it done .
I would have thought the main places would be where the stress loadings are taken up by the hull mast rudder and so on
So long as you take into account work is always needed on a wooden boat ,that way you should be prepared for spending more money
Good luck
Mick

 

[Guest]

Re: I\'ve found my boat! What now?

If you are convinced she sails well ,please try a HUSTLER from Hunters yard at Womack Water . I am convinced you may still be looking for your ideal boat on the Broads. Is there an iron spinnaker to worry about on your intended?
Rayfair

 

[Modulation]

Re: I\'ve found my boat! What now?

I agree with the comment about the engine. A long life as a hire boat isn't the best history for the mechanical side of things - especially on the Broads with all those winding rivers.
If she gets a cleanish bill of health from your surveyor, get a marine engineer to look at the engine separately. Anything to do with major works seems to cost the earth so avoid it.
I'd also watch for rainwater penetration through the deck.

 

[Guest]

Re: I\'ve found my boat! What now?

Good advice, thanks. I do agree that life on a hire fleet may not be absolutely conducive to tip-top engine condition, and it is not one that I had thought of for myself.

The engine is a 10hp inboard diesel, Yanmar, I think, which I reckoned was about the best combination for this kind of boat. Certainly I don't fancy an outboard, they ruin the lines, IMHO

 

[billmacfarlane]

Re: I\'ve found my boat! What now?

You sound beautifuly starstruck with the proposed boat , which is the way it should be , but all the more reason to get other people to supply the hard headed realism. Firstly get a surveyor who specialises in wooden boats. Secondly get an engine and stern gear survey. The engine will have been used more than a privaye boat , likewise the sails and rigging will need checked. Also bear in mind that the electric wiring will probably be as old as the boat and might need attention.

 

[Guest]

Re: I\'ve found my boat! What now?

To find out more about a hire boat's life on the Broads read "The Art of Coarse Sailing." Probably out of print now but the library may have a copy.

 

[wrr]

Ahoy Lynette and What now?

Sorry to ambush the thread but does Lynette refer to the class of your boat? If so, an email would be appreciated from a fellow Lynette owner.

Now back to the thread:
1. Get a mooring quotation, it is galling to pay more than the purchase price of the boat per annum.
2. Assess realistically, i.e. multiply by 0.3, your budget, your practical skills and available time.
3. Get someone who knows and loves wooden boats to look her over if you can before risking survey fee. Generally, we jump at the opportunity to look over another non-Tupperware craft.
4. Make sure that your surveyor will discuss matters and not just supply standard format report.
5. Expect to spend 50% of her purchase price on her refit during your first two years
6. Enjoy owning a thing of beauty, grace and pleasure.

 

[Guest]

Thanks to everyone...

... who has posted so far in this thread. There's been some really useful advice, just what I was hoping for when I posted (somewhat nervously) on the forum. At least no-one has yet said "You're a bloody fool" in so many words.

We're going up ASAP in the new year to have a chat with the owner and a good look at her. We're hoping to get a feel for whether she's really and truly the boat for us before we start out down the survey road.

My long list of questions will include several important ones gleaned from the above thread, so thanks again, you've all been very helpful and it is appreciated.

Of course, if anyone else still has a ha'porth or two to add (in terms of their opinions, I should stress, I'm not holding an online whip-round...) I'll be very glad to hear it. Or should that be read it? Anyway...