The 'never launch' brigade

[MountainGoat]

Not a yacht, but a bunch of friends I was at university with, the year we graduated, bought the hull of an historic narrowboat, and were spending every weekend playing with power tools restoring it. A couple of weekends a bunch of us went to help with caulking and suchlike.

As far as I know, they still own it. Not sure how much work has done recently. Not sure if it floats.

I graduated in 1995, by the way.

 

[LittleSister]

It's the way of the world. Sometimes the interest of the original owner and those around him wanes. It then sits around unloved and unvisted for years, then out of the blue someone suddenly takes an interest and puts new life into the project.

So much for forum threads. Boats can be like that, too!

 

[skipmac]

I've been 3 years in my refit.... I manage by having a thoroughly structured approach. I have a complete list of all jobs still to be done (OK, a few get added every now and then), and planning before every visit, what this visit's tasks are.

That, and having a clear idea of why I am doing it.

For me, the end is now in sight... I should, all things being equal, get out on the water in 2015.

Good for you. I just launched after a seven year project and can testify that some projects reach fruition.

In my project: all new rigging, new roller furling, new pumps (three bilge, pressure, fresh and raw water engine, washdown), rebuilt the two manual bilge pumps, new plumbing, new fridge (by far the most time invested), new ports, new overhead, replaced a lot of the interior woodwork, all new engine hoses, alternator, all new electrics and electronics, new sails and a bit more here and there.

Just launched a couple of months ago and got the engine running yesterday.

So, YES, there is a light at the end of the tunnel and some dreamers do realize the dream.

 

[Serin]

Good for you. I just launched after a seven year project and can testify that some projects reach fruition.

+1

Fibreglass shell (hull and deck, nothing else) bought in 1975. Fitted out from scratch to our own designs - not a kit. Still own her. Would never part with her. Lots of fun building and lots of fun sailing her over 41 years. People sometimes ask how long it took. The answer is - she's not finished yet. The boat evolved around us and there are always new ideas, additions, renewals and modifications in the pipeline. She's passed all her surveys with flying colours and done everything we ever asked of her.

I have sailed in many lovely boats, but the relationship you have with a boat built of your own, marine grade, blood, sweat and tears that you have built, cared for and sailed all her life - it's a different world from one from a production line or many times "pre-loved".

 

[Seajet]

I have a chum refitting a slightly interior-damaged Anderson 26; he's not an experienced sailor - has done a bit - but is a great engineer.

He's past retirement age but still plodding with refitting every inch of the boat - keel out, engine out, every bit of engine & interior out, etc - I say to him " you're just making a wonderful boat for the next guy who buys her, FFS get her in the water and have fun " but he keeps going.

I suspect some people are happy with their known skills and - dare I say it - a bit frightened of learning new ones beyond the boatyard.

 

[skipmac]

+1

Fibreglass shell (hull and deck, nothing else) bought in 1975. Fitted out from scratch to our own designs - not a kit. Still own her. Would never part with her. Lots of fun building and lots of fun sailing her over 41 years. People sometimes ask how long it took. The answer is - she's not finished yet. The boat evolved around us and there are always new ideas, additions, renewals and modifications in the pipeline. She's passed all her surveys with flying colours and done everything we ever asked of her.

I have sailed in many lovely boats, but the relationship you have with a boat built of your own, marine grade, blood, sweat and tears that you have built, cared for and sailed all her life - it's a different world from one from a production line or many times "pre-loved".

I see the same for me, a work in progress that will continue to evolve. One other huge benefit to building (or rebuilding) your own boat, you know it inside out. I know every hose, pump, fitting, locker, bilge, tank and system on the boat although there are a few wires that are still a mystery.

Something breaks or leaks I know where it's located and how to get to it.

 

[Serin]

FFS get her in the water and have fun " but he keeps going.

That presupposes that building is not "fun". The secret is to live in the moment and enjoy what you are doing at the time.
The "builder or sailor" distinction is a false one - many of us are both. The satisfactions of seeing the boat take shape, the creativity of working out exactly how you want her to be, the poring over details, designing and re-designing a galley or chart table, the joy of finding exactly what you were looking for at a boat jumble, the camaraderie of the boatyard, helping someone out and being helped out in your turn ........All hugely enjoyable.

I love the boat and still take pleasure in working on her in the spring etc. as well as sailing her. It isn't "working versus playing" - it's all just "life".

 

[Serin]

Something breaks or leaks I know where it's located and how to get to it.

Indeed so. One of the joys of ours is the fact that we deliberately made every system easily accessible.

 

[Seajet]

Serin,

actually I enjoy working on my boat at least as much as sailing her nowadays - I have not sailed her an inch so far this season as I was doing some serious modifications.

However she has many miles under her keel - my father and I built her in 1977/8 from a grp hull & deck kit, she has long since been my boat on paper as well - now I and the boat are now both itching to get going again; also unless one has sailed much - like my chum with the A26 - one won't have the knowledge as to how and where to fit stuff...

Not suggesting a Fastnet or something, but a gentle sail now & again is good for the boat, kit and soul.

 

[Serin]

However she has many miles under her keel and we are now both itching to get going; also unless one has sailed much - like my chum with the A26 - one won't have the knowledge as to how and where to fit stuff...
.

True enough. Happily, bit of us had already had plenty of experience when we started out and had sailed together quite a bit. That helped, as did the fact that we she has evolved with us, so we knew practically, not just theoretically, how she should be.

The boat has received many compliments (and some offers, but she is not for sale) and one of my favourites, from a very experienced sailing friend was "everything is exactly where I expect it to be".

 

[Bru]

Happily, bit of us had already had plenty of experience when we started out

Which bit?

 

[waynes world]

I am saying nothing

I dream of those blue skies and sunny days

 

[JumbleDuck]

That presupposes that building is not "fun". The secret is to live in the moment and enjoy what you are doing at the time.

I have a Triumph Herald which I have been restoring, on and off, for sixteen years now. It's almost ready for MOT now, though the petrol pump failed when I gave it its first drink of modern super unleaded. Damn ethanol.

On the other hand my Citroën DS has been off the road for six years and I have finally snapped ... thanks to a small windfall its going to a professional to have the remaining work done. Only a week's worth, but I just don't enjoy working on it as much as I do the Herald.

Boats? I enjoy fettling as much as I do sailing and the most satisfying boat I have to sail is my Hunter 490 because that's the one I brought back from a bare and effectively abandoned shell.

 

[jonjo]

I don't get annoyed with the never launch brigade and likewise I understand the therapy that a never ending car restoration or garden shed project can provide. What I find irksome is the strong views that such people hold on what represents a proper yacht and the essential must have features on their project todo list. The further a theoretical launch date recedes into the future and more detached from reality their definition of a proper yacht becomes.

 

[Serin]

Which bit?

The SAILING bit!

Honestly! Wherever did that come from? Flippin' spell checking devices, I wouldn't wonder.

Used to do the classical music reviews for the Essex Chronicle, long ago. I boldly ventured to use the word "sonority" and it came out as "sodomy". Served me right for such pretension, I suppose.

 

[Robin]

So yet another resurrected thread, from 2014.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Used to do the classical music reviews for the Essex Chronicle, long ago. I boldly ventured to use the word "sonority" and it came out as "sodomy".

A powerful bass, eh?

 

[LittleSister]

So yet another resurrected thread, from 2014.

It was a vintage year!

Of course, boating has all changed completely since then.