New to boat restoration, advise required

[Graham2442]

Hello there all, I have been advised to post a message on this board to get further information on boat restoration.

I have not purchased the boat just yet but wanting an idea of the costs involved with refurbing before I agree to the sale.

The project is a 22ft, 2 berth sail boat in desperate need of nurture! I intend to spend a good 5 years on her before she is ready for use/sale.

As I am brand new to this industry and have no previous experience in this field I would like to research typical costs I may not have thought about, etc.

Obviously, the costs that stand out are maintenance/repair, docking/storage, insurance once in the water and...any more?!

As far as I am aware there are no major issues of concern, but how can I confirm this with a third party?

What cost would an experienced person in this field expect to pay for an old wooden sail boat in need of attention?

It looks to me like a lick of paint and a few tins of brasso (Told you I was uneducated!)

Your help would be much appreciated.

Kind Regards
Graham

 

[ValleyForge]

It depends on your level of perfection. You could spend a few hundred quid & be as happy as larry, there again you could lterally spend 10's of thousands and still be miffed. Nothing like tearing up fivers under a shower, thats boating. But it can be dirt cheap too, depends where you will be and what you want, pottering or posing I guess. Heres an example - Paint - the perfectionist will insist on lots of rubbing down, International primers, enamels etc. Cost a bomb but might last a few years. Or you could go to Woolies but do it every year. Deep sea sailor - better be good stuff. Mud plugging - just buy a really good pair of wellies and some nice biccies.
Lots of good books on this subject - read one by Bob Orrell about a folkboat. Quite amusing and shows what can be done for nowt.

 

[Mirelle]

Yes. By the way, its a very good idea to appoint a surveyor to look at the boat and give you a report - make your offer to buy "subject to survey". You will probably be able to find a good wooden boat specialist by asking around but if not post a message here, saying roughly where the boat is.

 

[Graham2442]

Thank you for the help. I am perfectionist all over, if this takes five years before I even let her touch water, then so be it. She has the potential to be a real beauty and I'm going to make sure she accomplishes the image of perfection and a very proud owner.

What should I look out for on the day of collection? Before I part with the cash, I obviously need to know if she's a no hoper!

Kind Regards
Graham

 

[Graham2442]

Thank you, I will do that just now.

Kind Regards
Graham

 

[Porthandbuoy]

I agree with Mirelle, a survey is a must as it will give you ammunition when agreeing a purchase price. I've just spent the better part of two years 'restoring' my Hillyard 2 1/2 tonner. I confess to being the type who spent <- a few hundred quid & be as happy as larry ->. Were I a perfectionist I'd never get sailing!

Be aware that if you're doing the restoration out in the elements she'll be deteriorating as fast as you're restoring her. Even wrecks need maintenance to maintain the status quo!
Finally, whatever you estimate the cost to be; double it, and hide the invoices from swmbo.

 

[ValleyForge]

Like you I have a tendancy to perfection, however experience has tempered this a bit over the years ! Having spent minor (major !)fortunes having wooden boats (Dragon etc.) re-ribbed, re-decked, re-rigged & re-sailed the costs of employing a shipwright can be staggering. Nowadays I'm a bit less, so if its basically sound (ie give it a bit of a dig with knife type job & itrs cheap then fine) - Otherwise, stump up the few hundred quid for a surveyor - If nothing else it will give peace of mind which can be priceless.

Oh yes, last thought, if you can't do this work indoors then make sure you get a really really good frame & cover. It can be very depressing to see the effect of damp & frost on stripped down topsides.

Good luck, sounds a great enterprise !

 

[Lakesailor]

Rule 1

However bad you think the project boat is.

It's worse than you think.

Rule 2

However much you think it will cost.

Treble it.

Rule 3

However much profit you think you could make on a sale

Treble it and make it a minus figure.


But if you enjoy the process, do it.

 

[Peterduck]

And however long you think it will take, multiply it by five!
Peter.