jskfmcjames
New Member
Can anyone suggest some reading material for studying on type of classic boat to choose for future purchase. I know its not true about classics but ideally the least maintenance if poosible.
Pros & cons for Classic boat
- Thread starter jskfmcjames
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doug748
Well-Known Member
Get yourself a nice plastic one, say a Nicholson 32 a Twister or a Cutlass.
You will get grudging respect from the wooden boat boys and will still have enough maintenance on your plate to keep you honest.
Looking in those collections of old books at boat jumbles might uncover "What boat" type publications - PBO used to do one, it might be worth asking them.
PS: For a flavour of what your money buys check out:
http://www.yachtsnet.co.uk/index.htm
Be sure to look at "archive" at the bottom for a listing of sold boats.
You will get grudging respect from the wooden boat boys and will still have enough maintenance on your plate to keep you honest.
Looking in those collections of old books at boat jumbles might uncover "What boat" type publications - PBO used to do one, it might be worth asking them.
PS: For a flavour of what your money buys check out:
http://www.yachtsnet.co.uk/index.htm
Be sure to look at "archive" at the bottom for a listing of sold boats.
westernman
Well-Known Member
Classic and least maintenance is an oxymoron.
Closest you can get is a modern build in wood/epoxy along classic lines.
E.g. my boat.
Still enough varnish to do, and Stockholm tar for the rigging etc.
Closest you can get is a modern build in wood/epoxy along classic lines.
E.g. my boat.
Still enough varnish to do, and Stockholm tar for the rigging etc.
FWB
N/A
Or my boat
By Martin Heard. GRP hull, the rest teak. The only maintenance is the spars which are varnished.
I leave the teak bare...
By Martin Heard. GRP hull, the rest teak. The only maintenance is the spars which are varnished.
I leave the teak bare...
Rum_Pirate
Well-Known Member
Wow, that does look good.
Kilter
Well-Known Member
Very nice!
stav
Well-Known Member
How about some of the books on amateur yacht surveying in the 70's and 80's. I seem to recall reading one by Nicholson and another by someone else (not helpful I know). Other questions would be size and how authentic and structurally sound you want it to be.
Good Luck with it. Have had GRP (25' little scampi), wood (9T hillyard) and now composite (Nic 36) and have done work to all of them.
Good Luck with it. Have had GRP (25' little scampi), wood (9T hillyard) and now composite (Nic 36) and have done work to all of them.
Peterduck
Well-Known Member
Re: Pros & cons for Classic boat
I get pretty steamed up about this issue of wooden boat maintenance being excessive. Many folk don't bother to differentiate between maintenance and restoration. Add to that the fun of modifications, which are easier on a wooden boat than a plastic one. Most maintenance is looking after the brightwork and spars, and this is the same no matter what the hull is made of. Same with the mechanicals, plumbing, electrics and antifouling. The plastic boat owner doesn't have to paint his hull topsides, which used to take me one day per year for a 36 footer. If you really want a 'classic' wooden boat, then nothing else will do.
Peter.
I get pretty steamed up about this issue of wooden boat maintenance being excessive. Many folk don't bother to differentiate between maintenance and restoration. Add to that the fun of modifications, which are easier on a wooden boat than a plastic one. Most maintenance is looking after the brightwork and spars, and this is the same no matter what the hull is made of. Same with the mechanicals, plumbing, electrics and antifouling. The plastic boat owner doesn't have to paint his hull topsides, which used to take me one day per year for a 36 footer. If you really want a 'classic' wooden boat, then nothing else will do.
Peter.
dur
Well-Known Member
Re: Pros & cons for Classic boat
Well it does depend quite a lot on the boat. If you take a very plasticy AWB probably the only wood is the rubbing strake and tiller. If she comes out in November you can service the engine and seacocks, and then clear off until a week before lift-in when you come back to anti-foul and do some odd jobs.
You might want to do some extras but you wouldn't have to. Whereas I managed to spend, I guess, well over 150 hours this winter maintaining WS and you can't tell the difference (unless you happen to speak to swmbo on the subject).
If you already have nice you need to spend time keeping it nice. If its not nice yet it will take you even more time. I am sure that even the Heard takes a fair while keeping it looking as good as that.
Well it does depend quite a lot on the boat. If you take a very plasticy AWB probably the only wood is the rubbing strake and tiller. If she comes out in November you can service the engine and seacocks, and then clear off until a week before lift-in when you come back to anti-foul and do some odd jobs.
You might want to do some extras but you wouldn't have to. Whereas I managed to spend, I guess, well over 150 hours this winter maintaining WS and you can't tell the difference (unless you happen to speak to swmbo on the subject).
If you already have nice you need to spend time keeping it nice. If its not nice yet it will take you even more time. I am sure that even the Heard takes a fair while keeping it looking as good as that.
Kukri
Well-Known Member
Re: Pros & cons for Classic boat
Right.
I've laid up next to a GRP boat, same size as mine, for ten years now. Her owner does almost exactly the same maintenance that I do.
Right.
I've laid up next to a GRP boat, same size as mine, for ten years now. Her owner does almost exactly the same maintenance that I do.
FinesseChris
Well-Known Member
Re: Pros & cons for Classic boat
Ditto
My 'plastic' neighnours spend hours and hours, and pounds and pounds, on polishing amd expensive polishy stuff in little tins. It's noisy, too.
Thyen they get all sorrowful and sympathetic when they see me with a saw and a chisel, usually adding or adapting, not maintaining (though I confess the restoration side comes in too: avoid plywood decks if possible....)
C
24ft clinker, iroko on oak
Ditto
My 'plastic' neighnours spend hours and hours, and pounds and pounds, on polishing amd expensive polishy stuff in little tins. It's noisy, too.
Thyen they get all sorrowful and sympathetic when they see me with a saw and a chisel, usually adding or adapting, not maintaining (though I confess the restoration side comes in too: avoid plywood decks if possible....)
C
24ft clinker, iroko on oak
FWB
N/A
Re: Pros & cons for Classic boat
I love wooden boats but I have neither the skills nor the money to maintain them.
My Heard has the most problematic and expensive part of a boat, ie the hull, made of GRP. The rest of the boat is wooden. Below she doesn't smell like a wooden boat (there's the rub! I hear you say) but all you can see and feel is wood. On deck there is the warmth of teak all around.
I have got a classic looking boat - the lines were taken from an actual Falmouth Working Boat - but made in a way that is very easy to maintain. I give the teak a light scrub a couple of times a year, the hull has been Awlgripped and only needs a wash from time to time - no polishing - the only real work is the Spars which I have had revarnished once since new 7 years ago.
The OP asked about the least maintenance possible, I think that I may have achieved what he is seeking.
I love wooden boats but I have neither the skills nor the money to maintain them.
My Heard has the most problematic and expensive part of a boat, ie the hull, made of GRP. The rest of the boat is wooden. Below she doesn't smell like a wooden boat (there's the rub! I hear you say) but all you can see and feel is wood. On deck there is the warmth of teak all around.
I have got a classic looking boat - the lines were taken from an actual Falmouth Working Boat - but made in a way that is very easy to maintain. I give the teak a light scrub a couple of times a year, the hull has been Awlgripped and only needs a wash from time to time - no polishing - the only real work is the Spars which I have had revarnished once since new 7 years ago.
The OP asked about the least maintenance possible, I think that I may have achieved what he is seeking.
Seanick
Well-Known Member
Re: Pros & cons for Classic boat
Mate, I need to give you some professional tips! 150 hrs on maintenance! You should be able to at least halve that.
Mate, I need to give you some professional tips! 150 hrs on maintenance! You should be able to at least halve that.
Sequoiah1
Well-Known Member
That doesnt look like the usual heard gaff cutter, all the ones I have seen have long coachroofs and to my eye not as pretty as yours. Is she a particular type?
FWB
N/A
Martin will build them to any style you wish.
The hulls are all the same, as is the position of the mast and bulkhead supporting it. after that you can have anything you wish.
I wanted a pretty boat, I got standing headroom where it was needed. I wanted very low maintenance, hence the Teak. The encapsulated lead ballast makes for a stiff boat and allows a low cabin sole.
He has built 3 further boats for customers who liked mine.
The hulls are all the same, as is the position of the mast and bulkhead supporting it. after that you can have anything you wish.
I wanted a pretty boat, I got standing headroom where it was needed. I wanted very low maintenance, hence the Teak. The encapsulated lead ballast makes for a stiff boat and allows a low cabin sole.
He has built 3 further boats for customers who liked mine.
mollyoxford
Well-Known Member
I also have a Heard. OK, the hull is GRP, and on most the deck is ply/resin (Molly's is teak - but that means sikaflexing...), the rubstrip/handrails/bench seats etc are teak and can be left (or watersealed, as i do). Fine. Not so bad.
I have to stress that *all* else is wood/ply and needs painted/dealt with. So entire cabin inside and out/cockpit etc. will all at some point need painted/varnished. (guess what I am up to...)
If you are really daft you'll someday get the notion to spray the faded hull with 2-pack.... I will let you know how that turns out.
Oh yeah and we have just had to rebuild the top 1/3 of the mast (rot) and had to take all three spars back to bare wood and re-varnish.... (looks lovely though).
I have to stress that *all* else is wood/ply and needs painted/dealt with. So entire cabin inside and out/cockpit etc. will all at some point need painted/varnished. (guess what I am up to...)
If you are really daft you'll someday get the notion to spray the faded hull with 2-pack.... I will let you know how that turns out.
Oh yeah and we have just had to rebuild the top 1/3 of the mast (rot) and had to take all three spars back to bare wood and re-varnish.... (looks lovely though).
mollyoxford
Well-Known Member
Oh, I note that your cabin sides are bare teak. Hmm, ours are iroko and I wouldn't trust them not to crack. Also longer house so more prone to it maybe.
