Old Squadrons and the like

[Vagabond]

Ok ... following on from the Turbo 36 post what do you think will happen to the old Squadrons and the like when the engines start to get old and need major attention or the ones that get left to decay as their owners can no longer afford to take them out for a good blast.

These are big boats and cost a lot to maintain/berth.

If there was a Squadron going for 50K with engine problems would anyone here want to buy it?

 

[capsco]

That would depend on which model and what age Squadron, also the extent of the engine problems, Everything has a value.

 

[Bandit]

The last boat i refitted a Fairline Sedan 36 was about 15 years old and in its time one of the larger production line cruisers, now 8 years on a 15 year old boat is a 50 footer.

I think the credit crunch will make people look at life differently.

My current 48 footer at 7 years old was about half the price of a new boat, yes you need some patience and to put 5 to 10% aside to get it right and sort out some gremlins but half the price is half a lot of dosh. To be fair you probably need patience with a lot of new boats although warranty should cover the cost.

A larger boat is a lot more complex than a smaaler boat and you will probably need more professional help in getting it right and keeping it in condition.

Depreciation should be a lot less with a 5 to 10 year old boat than a new one.

If like me you dont want the shiniest and newest boat in the marina, i think it works .

PS anyone that wants a fully refitted Sedan 36 give me a pm( you dont get PX with brokerage).

 

[longjohnsilver]

Hey Bandit, your sedan was on our shortlist a year or so back, didn't know you were on this forum. Sent you a message via the Fairline owners club but got no response so took it no further;-(

Looked like a lot of boat for the money, surprised you haven't sold her yet. Saw her in StPP just after we bought Eos on our first x channel trip Jan last year.

 

[Bandit]

Sorry if i did not get back to you ?

I cant seem to get back into my old messages to check?

The Fairline forum can be a bit like watching paint dry.

Yep she is still on the market but serviced and ready to go.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Not sure why you're focussing on old Squadrons but the same will happen to them as any old boat. They'll change hands on a regular basis until one unlucky owner gets stuck with it at the time that the engines need a major rebuild or replacement. He then has to make the choice whether to spend the money or sell the boat on as your £50k project. Since grp has (until someone proves otherwise) an unlimited life, it will be worthwile to replace the engines to give the boat another 25yrs of life
Yes I would buy a £50k Squadron and replace the engines if the cost made sense. There are many peeps who are happy to get stuck into a project like that

 

[Vagabond]

what I am getting at is at what point do you buy more trouble than it's worth... yes very subjective I know

so ...

15 yr old Squadron 50, you open the engine hatch and there are a couple of rusty looking green things in there. She smokes like hell and won't pull full revs and gets hot.

not a lot works, batteries have been boiling for a while, windows have been leaking for ages, hull and deck are good but the Teak has had it.

I am sure a lot of people out there have looked at samller boats in this sort of condition and if you are handy it can all be fixed up if you have the time ... but for a bigger boat in this sort of condition the list just goes on and on and it becomes ... well too much for a handy boaty to sort.

would you buy it and also buy the porblems...?

 

[Vagabond]

sorry not meaning to single out any one make. Squadrons are popular and for a good reason...

It would be even worse if it was a boat made in Asia as the stringers are probably rotten by now so you would have major hull problems too. Speaking from first hand experience here...

At least with a Fairline you could be pretty certain of a quality build and a good starting point for a refit.

 

[andy59]

I would jump at something like that /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
BUT . . . ONLY if i could pop it on trailer and work on it at home /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif .Its all the storage and traveling costs that must hurt those kind of projects . I have often walked around marina yards looking at old fixer uppers and thought how much is it costing just to leave it there /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[petem]

[ QUOTE ]
The Fairline forum can be a bit like watching paint dry.

[/ QUOTE ]
/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif I'm assuming that you mean that I don't get a lot of traffic! Not all of us have a national magazine to promote our Web Sites!

Pete

 

[Frontier]

I often wonder about these big boats as well. I have an older boat, but its size is smaller and similar to popular newer ones. Berthing fees are no higher and maintenance is almost manageble. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

If I bought a bigger old boat could I afford 65ft of pontoon, let alone servicing costs?

I suppose many could end up as liveaboard homes once the engines are shot.

 

[hlb]

M Farter is 21 years old now and no sign of your percieved problems, yep I know she's not 50ft, but not much different in equipment. Anyway, over the years it's all been replaced, think theres only the basic engines that have not been replaced and they go like clockwork. I dont see much difference in maintaining a twenty year old boat than a five year old. they all need bits and bobs now and then.

 

[MapisM]

[ QUOTE ]
what do you think will happen to the old Squadrons and the like when the engines start to get old and need major attention...

[/ QUOTE ]Ahem. There are surely other more pointless questions I've seen in these forums in the last years, but I can't remember many at the moment.
You could as well rephrase that as "what do you think will happen to any object when it starts to get old and need major attention...." ?!? /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Vagabond]

Ah but you have been keeping on top of the maintance.

I am talking about a big boat with a questionable service history ... ie none to speak off. If you are handy a samller boat can be put right over time and without too much outside help.

 

[Nautorius]

Old boats like that become Liveaboards. They become no longer seaworthy, just a floating home. Bit by bit marine spec is replaced with home spec such as electrics, heating, water etc. They rip out the furniture and put in proper sofas and beds. Even the galley becomes a B&Q kitchen.

I have seen lots like this over the years..

Paul /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[mm1]

Hi, so i guess we won't be hearing from you anymore on any subject you feel irrelevant. Obviously lots of people do find this interesting but thank you for your past contributions!regards mm1.

 

[mm1]

Hi, yes i saw a 55 the other day for less than £300,000 very tempting but as you say the upkeep is a little prohibitive,however if it's your main residence & you can go anywhere what a life eh.
probably hold it's value better than a house at the moment!.mm1

 

[andy59]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
what do you think will happen to the old Squadrons and the like when the engines start to get old and need major attention...

[/ QUOTE ]Ahem. There are surely other more pointless questions I've seen in these forums in the last years, but I can't remember many at the moment.
You could as well rephrase that as "what do you think will happen to any object when it starts to get old and need major attention...." ?!? /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[/ QUOTE ] So what will happen to the big old boats then ? I dont see many new places to put them being built . I mean in 30 - 40 years time where will they go ?

 

[longjohnsilver]

Yes and Eos is over 20 years old but has been so well maintained by previous owners that she's in better condition than many boats just a few years old. It's all down to how fastidious the owner(s) are/have been.

 

[Vagabond]

My humble apologies MapisM for upsetting you so and having the audacity to post such question.

Free speech was never a big thing in Italy eh? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Now where was I ...