New skipper required, suggestions please

[MagicalArmchair]

My father (Colin Ryan, late of Rowan Yacht Services) has become too ill to sail his 1930s 35ft Harley Mead Gaff Cutter Wanda and so is looking to downsize and sell her and get something easier to handle (or borrow my 1970s Albin Ballad with three corners on the sail, not four!).

Details about her (and some videos of a few of our adventures we enjoyed in her) can be found here: http://wanda1930.info.

Does anyone have any suggestions where I would begin to look to find another custodian of her that will look after her as well as she deserves (and indeed, as well as my Pa has looked after her)?

 

[Eyore]

Lovely looking boat. How about one of the specialist brokers like Wooden Ships http://www.woodenships.co.uk/ or Classic Yacht Brokerage http://www.classicyachtbrokerage.co.uk/ .

 

[PhillM]

Such a lovely boat. How much is she worth?

Might also be worth taking her to the classics events in Cowes and letting it be known she is up for sale.

http://www.cowesclassicsweek.org/

http://www.britishclassicyachtclub.org/regatta/index.html

 

[MagicalArmchair]

She is worth about £75k, however my father would be open to offers for the right owner - he is more worried about her going to someone who would look after her and use her in the same way he has. We have had her with a specialist broker, and he has been great, however has not had much success - I couldn't help but feel the best people to pass her on to a new owner would be us rather than a broker as we could talk all day about the adventures we've had on her and how to care for her. I would love to take her around to the South Coast, and its a cracking idea, unfortunately time constraints disallow.

 

[Uricanejack]

She is worth about £75k, however my father would be open to offers for the right owner - he is more worried about her going to someone who would look after her and use her in the same way he has. We have had her with a specialist broker, and he has been great, however has not had much success - I couldn't help but feel the best people to pass her on to a new owner would be us rather than a broker as we could talk all day about the adventures we've had on her and how to care for her. I would love to take her around to the South Coast, and its a cracking idea, unfortunately time constraints disallow.

My Uncle owned a wooden classic for 30 years and doted on her it was his pride and joy. I spent a great deal of very enjoyable time helping to restore and maintain her. It was very sad when he was no longer able to sail her himself. I was offered the boat but in reality could not afford the upkeep so we had to let her go. The difference between our perceived value, insured value and market value was staggering. in the end he practically gave her away.
My sister and her husband also have an old familly boat. Owned for over 30 years by her father in law. Same issue, tried to sell her for 3 years. no offeres other than practical give away. The boat was given to my sister and her husband. It is still loved, sailed and maintained.

 

[PhillM]

The value issue is a problem.

I paid £2750 for Paean.

Spent about £20k + over three years.

Survey and insurance value £30k to replace.

Sale price £7k - £10k if I'm lucky.

And I couldn't buy a boat as well restored because any owner with one knows how much it takes to replace.

So wouldn't sell such a boat for what could be seen as the market value.

 

[diapason]

What an absolutely stunning boat - O that I had the money - and the ability to sail her as she deserves.

 

[Tranona]

She is worth about £75k,

To be blunt, the fact that she has not sold suggests that she is not worth that amount of money. There are many boats on the market at over inflated prices that have been on the market for some time. The potential market for such a boat is tiny, irrespective of relative price. Whilst it would be nice to think about finding a clone of your father who will value the boat in the same way, that is probably unrealistic. Buyers in general are not buying your history, but buying their future benefit and stepping back and allowing a professional to sell it for you at a realistic price is probably the best way of doing it. The danger is hanging on to get a higher price may well mean the boat starts to go downhill and becomes even less attractive to buyers.

 

[PhillM]

The danger is hanging on to get a higher price may well mean the boat starts to go downhill and becomes even less attractive to buyers.

Tranona has a point about condition. As I m sure your Farther knows, it doesnt take much for a small problem to become a large problem. Problem is, one large problem can undermine the value of the boat to the point where it becomes almost valueless.

On a positive note, its nice to hear that your Farther is trying to find an owner, rather than a buyer. Craft like his deserve to be preserved and sailed. I'd like to think that the next owner will take as much care of her as he has. She deserves that. Well done to him for his preservation and his desire to only pass on to someone who will look after her in the same way.

 

[MagicalArmchair]

Indeed, as with anything, she will be only worth what someone is willing to pay for her. She is such a unique thing of beauty who has been so meticulously maintained (my father is a shipwright, so that always helps), I do believe she will sell to the right buyer. To cheer up the grim conversation and remind you mad fools with wooden boats that they do occasionally sell, my father used to own the 1932 Perula, (check out Winifred Browns books (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Duffers-Deep-Winifred-Brown/dp/0957554931)), the new owner saw her at anchor through some trees when they were cruising the Cornish coast and made my father an offer based on that. I, frankly, was horrified, I was about 12 at the time and had great fun up and down the ratlines. With regards to holding out for a higher price, note on the website there is no buy price, my Pa is open to offers to get her to a new owner. Thank you for all the advice, if you know anyone who would be interested, please point them to the website http://wanda1930.info or pop down for a coffee and we'll show you around.

 

[alant]

The value issue is a problem.

I paid £2750 for Paean.

Spent about £20k + over three years.

Survey and insurance value £30k to replace.

Sale price £7k - £10k if I'm lucky.

And I couldn't buy a boat as well restored because any owner with one knows how much it takes to replace.

So wouldn't sell such a boat for what could be seen as the market value.

Obvious solution, if you want to get rid!

 

[PhillM]

Indeed, as with anything, she will be only worth what someone is willing to pay for her. She is such a unique thing of beauty who has been so meticulously maintained (my father is a shipwright, so that always helps), I do believe she will sell to the right buyer. To cheer up the grim conversation and remind you mad fools with wooden boats that they do occasionally sell, my father used to own the 1932 Perula, (check out Winifred Browns books (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Duffers-Deep-Winifred-Brown/dp/0957554931)), the new owner saw her at anchor through some trees when they were cruising the Cornish coast and made my father an offer based on that. I, frankly, was horrified, I was about 12 at the time and had great fun up and down the ratlines. With regards to holding out for a higher price, note on the website there is no buy price, my Pa is open to offers to get her to a new owner. Thank you for all the advice, if you know anyone who would be interested, please point them to the website http://wanda1930.info or pop down for a coffee and we'll show you around.

I have to say, if I had enough spare money, I'd offer you a part ex for a fantastic little 24 footer

After the last three years refit, I now know a reasonable amount about wooden boat care and maintenance, however, I suspect with a business to run and a largish family, a 35 footer is more than I could take on properly.

I am sure that there are many good people with a love of wooden boats out there. I am sure you will find one with the money, time and energy to take her on.

 

[Bru]

Lovely boat to look at but might I suggest that the average potentially interested fool.. sorry I mean buyer... will be rather more impressed by some decent interior photos than by several seasons cruising logs!

Sadly my wallet isn't ever going to run to owning such a lovely classic though

 

[Paddingtonbear]

Are there that many folks who are up to using it properly? I would dearly love this boat but am currently up to my eyes (3 years and counting) in the restoration of a wooden boat

 

[MagicalArmchair]

PhillM, I had a look at your website and she is a pretty 24 footer indeed! I just re'varnished' Wanda (we used 5 coats of Epifanes Woodfinish, which is excellent stuff), and I have a two year old son, so yes, there is lots of hard work which is tricky to fit in with family, however there is little work that is more rewarding (as I am sure you have found with yours). Erbas, its a fair point, in amongst the cruising shots there are some that feature the interior, we shall put some shots up of her and take a bit of video so you can see her interior.

Paddingtonbear, good luck with your project, do you have a blog or any photos? I own a 30 foot Albin Ballad with roller furling etc, and from my experience at sailing both, Wanda is harder to sail in some ways and easier in others. She has hanked on headsails, so no chance of roller furling gear failing and flogging your headsails (and crew) to death. That also means she has a 'proper' suit of sails which set perfectly for all conditions (from those great men at Jeckells). She has running backstays, which make gybing an interesting experience in a blow (pull mainsail in, put on second runner, take off first runner, gybe, let mainsail out again), and she takes some getting used to manoeuvring in a marina. My fathers response to anyone who said this was all a bit of a faff was that we were all so keen to make our lives easy sailing, when half the fun was attaining of the skills and the process and the reward of getting it right.

My father, before (and indeed whilst) he had cancer would single hand her, and the boat is set up for that with powerful self tailing winches, two means of self steering and plenty of kit, so she is not beyond anyone.

 

[sideshowbob]

I saw her on your brokers site and there are some good photos there. However I would have to agree with Tranona that your asking price will not be encouraging anyone to buy. I dont know how you have come to that value but I know plenty of good boats of that type and era and they have sold for a lot lot less than what you are asking. She will only sell for what someone is prepared to pay for her and you are not going to even draw people in when your expectations are so high. Drop the price considerably and you may get a taker. Talk to and advertise with more than one broker.

 

[KINGFISHER 8]

Lovely looking boat. How about one of the specialist brokers like Wooden Ships http://www.woodenships.co.uk/ or Classic Yacht Brokerage http://www.classicyachtbrokerage.co.uk/ .

OK if you don't mind giving away 8% + vat .... try advertising her yourself first maybe.

 

[sideshowbob]

If you are asking 78 K then you probably wont mind giving away the 8%+Vat!

 

[MagicalArmchair]

I agree entirely, as I said earlier in this post, my father is open to all offers as its as much about getting her to the right buyer as the money, hence on wanda1930.info there is no price. The valuation of £78k was done by Sandemans (who is a true expert in his field and has been very helpful), and we have had some interest at that 'ticket' price, mostly from the continent with people travelling over to look at her.

To be honest, putting together the site, reliving all the adventures we have had and gathering all the information together has made my father more reluctant to sell her with a hope of returning to health, so we are in no desperate rush.

 

[JumbleDuck]

To be honest, putting together the site, reliving all the adventures we have had and gathering all the information together has made my father more reluctant to sell her with a hope of returning to health, so we are in no desperate rush.

I've had a browse of the site, including looking at several of the albums, and I don't have a clue yet what the boat looks like. While a picture of two happy people with a dog on a beach is nice, how about a few pictures of the whole boat from various directions rather than a bow here, a doghouse there and a bit of coachroof somewhere else.

Perhaps you have discovered that you can't bear to sell her, because the memories are too strong ... in which case congratulations, and good luck!