What do i Do?

[Fire99]

Hi All,

I'm in a bit of a big dilemma at the mo. I've a late 60's Freeman 30 motor cruiser which unfortunately i had to strip the entire cabin and replace all topsides.

She has the topsides fitted with rough window holes made and the wheelshetler is over 50% complete.

Anyway, after being let down by a family carpenter i'm somewhat in limbo as dont have enough free time to complete this extensive project.

She has two very low hour (75hours each) diesel engines (lombardini's) and all the original freeman interior units etc are in excellent condition so has had over £15k spent on her over the past 5 years..

I'm now in a position where budget is tight.. Do i sell her as is or are there reliable carpenters around who dont charge big money? and if i sell her what sort of money could i hope for?
She is in the East Essex area.

Difficult question i know but any advice on this project would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks,

Nick

 

[chippysmith]

I am a carpenter by trade, not overly familier with marine carpentry but saying that I tackle all work on my own yacht. I have worked alongside a marine carpenter during the build of his Colvic.

It is a very skilled job, a good carpenter will be expensive, he will also be quick and you will be more than happy with the results. A cheap one will be slow, therfore probably not cheaper, workmanship may also be an issue.

I am employed as a subbie to the MOD and rates are high. I know of carpenters earning 200+ a DAY, some you will employ for half that.

I know it doesn't really answer your question, you have probably been spoiled by the rates of you related chippie. Personally I would get recomendations for local chippies and invite them aboard, talk the work through and get budget costs from them, maybe easier to break the work down into separate jobs and go from there

Best of luck and I hope you don't have to sell her

 

[Fire99]

Thanks for the reply...
I have a feeling a carpenter will be alot more than what i was used to but it is weighing up if the price of having sizeable chunks completed is within my budget.

And finding a local carpenter for smallish jobs is never easy round my way i hear.

 

[miket]

A rotten position to get into, but I am afraid not that unusual. Once you start opening things up it is always worse than it seems.

To sell an unfinished project is rarely anything other than a last resort. You won't get a fraction of your £15k back.

I had the same boat back in the mid 1980's - GRP hull, plywood super' and decks with GRP cabin roof. Mine was aft cockpit but there were others with aft cabin.

Value, completed, is difficult to say. If you can find the one person who really wants it, it might be worth £25k? Otherwise I would suggest £20k. Freeman 26's are around £15k and offer vurtually the same package with the benefit/ detriment of all GRP super' dependent on your view.

Try and stick with it but if you do need to sell I do know a retired chippie who may buy to complete for his own use. It will not be a wonderful price though!

 

[miket]

At the risk of depressing you further http://www.boats-for-sale.com/displayboa...earchtype=boats
It is the www.boats-for-sale.co.uk site.

I knew this boat about 4 years ago and it was not at all bad.

 

[miket]

This one may encourage you more, but it has been for sale for a while.
http://www.tradboatsales.co.uk/boat2040/2040.htm

 

[Fire99]

Hi Mike,

Just drowning in my Coffee at the moment..
The second one you sent doesnt show a boat...

The other one looks nice.. Very much like mine 3 years ago...

Mine does have 2 virtually new engines though...

Still unsure which route to take.. And with limited time too!