newby

[Toe]

Hi all .
Ive seen a GRP fin keeled caprice 21 on a trailer on boatsandoutboards its a semi finished project .
Has anyone got any info on this model or indeed on the actual boat? and what are the pros and cons of taking on this type of project baring in mind i know nothing about sailing but have had romantic notions for a few years now.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[FullCircle]

Toe,
welcome to the forum. There are lots of us who have small old(ish) boats. I have restored 3 now. Enjoy it for what you are doing: Messing about in a boat. The fun is in finding lots of secondhand stuff in boot sales and on the forums such as this, and mates down the Club who have a garage full. It will take 3 times as long as you think, and dont take a bill for any parts you buy, because it also costs:
a) 3 times as much as you estimate in the first place
b) 3 times as much as the revised estimate if you added it up on a calculator.
There are loads of boats around 19-22 ft all to be had for between 500 quid and 5000. Seek out the one that has had a fair amount of attention to it, list the faults and haggle hard. The boating world is used to ridiculous offers of 50% of the asking price - you can go up, but you cant go down.
Caprice is a nice little cruiser, there are lots like it around. Sure you want fin keel? Creek crawling and upriver work is best done with a lifting keel or bilge (twin) keels as you can dry out.
Now, if you want to join, go and put your wallet in that bucket of water in the corner......


Jim

<hr width=100% size=1>Second Chance - First Love. Look for the Yellow Dinghy in Burnham.

 

[capt_courageous]

Toe
Jim is 100% right. Seems like the voice of experience and pain. 'Fools build boats for wise men to buy' is as true as ever. If you want to sail - buy as Jim says. There is no shortage of unfinished boats for the reasons he gave.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[snowleopard]

on the other hand...

3500 hours spent building. 15000 hours spent aboard to date.

if i'd waited to be able to afford to buy i'd still be behind a desk.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[AndrewB]

You are in the minority!

I did up one project boat (16') which took a year, didn't learn the lesson and started on another (20'), it lay rotting faster than I could fix it for a couple of years while I got no sailing, very lucky to sell it for roughly what I paid. Then I did the same sums as you, no way could I get sailing quicker by doing the work myself than by sitting behind the desk and earning the extra cash, even though it might be more interesting. The lesson is: there are those that enjoy doing up boats and those that enjoy sailing them: both are worthwhile hobbies, but for most of us they don't mix.

I thought the Caprice was a 19 footer, haven't seen a 21' version.


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

Re: You are in the minority!

The trick is to do it on the water. Building the boat on the drive / garden / yard just makes most loose heart. If you see my website you will see when I took my boat over I got her seaworthy and launched ASAP.

We are only just getting around to carpeting and lining the aft cabins, but we have sailed the boat all over. Luckily I have a good gurlyfriend as I know others would not have put up with the building yard we first sailed in.

One day for sailing one day for work (unless fantastic weather). So to the guy looking to buy the project, do it, but don't start building special shelters in the garden, get her on the water!

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk>

</A>

 

[BrendanS]

Have a look on the MoboChat forum for piccies posted tonight by Boatone. Forbsie took on a reconstruction project of a Motor boat on the Thames. Huge amounts of work, little or no experience, but he persevered, and had help from other forumites. Now has a nice looking river cruiser, and a lot of experience. I admire him greatly for taking on what he did.

Some people do cope with these projects, and come out of the other side. Others fail for a variety of reasons. It really depends on your expectations.

<hr width=100% size=1>Me transmitte sursum, caledoni