What's the story at Burnham

[Plum]

Via the mobo forum

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Houseboat-Project-For-Sale/263372245846?hash=item3d52358b56%3Ag%3AkFsAAOSw%7EvpaKSPJ&clk_rvr_id=1387323335246&afsrc=1&rmvSB=true&ul_ref=http%253A%252F%252Frover.ebay.com%252Frover%252F1%252F710-53481-19255-0%252F1%253Ftype%253D4%2526campid%253D5336451605%2526toolid%253D10001%2526afsrc%253D1%2526customid%253D635X493478X58139ac532ef0f8a116aab1bf2be865a%2526mpre%253Dhttps%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.ebay.co.uk%25252Fitm%25252FHouseboat-Project-For-Sale%25252F263372245846%25253Fhash%25253Ditem3d52358b56%25253Ag%25253AkFsAAOSw%25257EvpaKSPJ%2526srcrot%253D710-53481-19255-0%2526rvr_id%253D1387323335246&ul_noapp=true

I see the listing on eBay has now ended !

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Triassic]

Perhaps MDC bought it, that might have been a cheaper option in the long run than trying to pursue the owner!

 

[DavidofMersea]

Perhaps MDC bought it, that might have been a cheaper option in the long run than trying to pursue the owner!

.... and perhaps put it in Priors yard and get it renovated. What would it be worth in good nick? £100,000 .... £200,000?

 

[pvb]

.... and perhaps put it in Priors yard and get it renovated. What would it be worth in good nick? £100,000 .... £200,000?

But what would it cost to put it into good nick? £300K? £500K?

 

[DavidofMersea]

But what would it cost to put it into good nick? £300K? £500K?

Dunno, that is why I posed the question. I thought someone better informed than me might be able to answer these questions, and if the market value in good nick was greater than the renovation costs, it might be renovated

 

[pvb]

Dunno, that is why I posed the question. I thought someone better informed than me might be able to answer these questions, and if the market value in good nick was greater than the renovation costs, it might be renovated

David, it's a wreck. It's huge, over 150ft long, and in its current state probably weighs close to 200 tons. My guess is that it will eventually be cut up in situ at the taxpayers' expense.

 

[DavidofMersea]

David, it's a wreck. It's huge, over 150ft long, and in its current state probably weighs close to 200 tons. My guess is that it will eventually be cut up in situ at the taxpayers' expense.

As I aid I have no idea how much it would cost to renovate, or the value when it has been renovated. But the hull and superstructure look sound, and if that is the case, all it would need would be a new engine and fitting out. I am waiting for someone with some knowledge of these things to post here

 

[Triassic]

I live in Burnham and walk past her regularly - I always find damaged craft very sad, so would prefer her to be refloated either for repair or, more likely, scrap. The current attempts seem fruitless and poorly organised with little hope of success.

As I understand it, before she fell over, she had a mains powered bilge pump to cope with plating leaks and deck leaks (rather whole deck planks missing) and the overhead crossing of the river wall pathway for the electricity supply fell down in a February gale (the pole supporting it looked very new at the end of Feb, which supports this hypothesis). In consequence she filled up and fell over. Lying on her side, the missing planks in the starboard deck go below the water on every tide allowing the Crouch to fill her up then drain out again, and she's gradually digging herself a deeper hole in the mud. Given the state of her plating and decks, restoring her would probably be more expensive than building a replica so, unless somebody is dedicated to her as original, her future doesn't look at all bright.

I think given that history it rather kills off any idea of sorting her out. If the hull and superstructure were intact it might have been viable to fix her interior up into a B&B or similar but I guess if that was an option the owner would have followed it up. I would have still thought it cheaper to re float her and tow her somewhere proper to be scrapped than trying to do it in situ. How about putting shuttering up all around her and filling it in with concrete? Would make a splendid Quay!

 

[baldyash]

Relisted with bids!

 

[bigwow]

David, it's a wreck. It's huge, over 150ft long, and in its current state probably weighs close to 200 tons. My guess is that it will eventually be cut up in situ at the taxpayers' expense.

Why at the taxpayers expense? scrap dealers have been known to buy steel boats up in my neck of the woods.

 

[pvb]

Why at the taxpayers expense? scrap dealers have been known to buy steel boats up in my neck of the woods.

I imagine that the Crouch Harbour Authority would insist on the work only being done by approved/licensed salvage contractors, in order to minimise possible pollution.

 

[PeterWright]

.... and perhaps put it in Priors yard and get it renovated. What would it be worth in good nick? £100,000 .... £200,000?

Hi David,

Like anything she's worth whatever any one individual is willing to pay and, for a craft like this it will be a niche market. With her narrow beam for her length, she looks quite elegant, but will roll like a pig in a seaway so it's her looks that will sell her, if at all.

The downside is that I reckon, like many aged marine treasures, it would cost more to restore her thoroughly than to take the lines off her and build a replica. If I'm right about that, what price a new one off 150 foot steel motor yacht? I don't suppose much change from £1M!

Peter

 

[DavidofMersea]

Hi David,

Like anything she's worth whatever any one individual is willing to pay and, for a craft like this it will be a niche market. With her narrow beam for her length, she looks quite elegant, but will roll like a pig in a seaway so it's her looks that will sell her, if at all.

The downside is that I reckon, like many aged marine treasures, it would cost more to restore her thoroughly than to take the lines off her and build a replica. If I'm right about that, what price a new one off 150 foot steel motor yacht? I don't suppose much change from £1M!

Peter

As you say, "A narrow beam and would roll like a pig in a seaway", but this could be attractive in somewhere like the Med, or the Dutch/German canals/lakes. I think the cost of restoration would depend on the hull condition. I have not seen any evidence that the hull is damaged, the sinking came about because one day she did not settle in her hole and rolled onto her side in the mud. If there is no hull damage, it seems it is only a matter of a new engine and fitting out, and that surely cannot be more than £1m. Another possibility if the hull is not damaged would be to moor her up somewhere and use her as a houseboat

 

[pvb]

David, you're certainly a "glass half full" person!

 

[DavidofMersea]

David, you're certainly a "glass half full" person!

I like to think that I am realist, some things are possible, others not, and I think that this might be a goer. However, the Priors project does not make much sense to me because I cannot see how the figures can add up, but I wish those involved all the best.

 

[pvb]

I like to think that I am realist, some things are possible, others not, and I think that this might be a goer.

Not sure it's very realistic to expect a 100 year old steel mobo which is full of mud and which hasn't moved for 25 years to be a financially viable project. Even if it can be righted and the mud removed from inside, I'm not sure where it could be towed for a hull survey and repairs.

 

[PeterWright]

Not sure it's very realistic to expect a 100 year old steel mobo which is full of mud and which hasn't moved for 25 years to be a financially viable project. Even if it can be righted and the mud removed from inside, I'm not sure where it could be towed for a hull survey and repairs.

Sadly, not much steel shipbuilding left round these parts. It saddened me that the locally based Sea Change Trust had to go to Polruan in Cornwall for the build of their new 85 ft. sailing barge Blue Mermaid:

http://www.ctomsandson.co.uk/current-projects/blue-mermaid-thames-barge/

All credit to C Toms & Sons, but it would have been nice to see her welded up somewhere in East Anglia.

I'm not sure Llys Helig would survive a tow down channel to Fowey.

Peter.

 

[DavidofMersea]

I imagine that the Crouch Harbour Authority would insist on the work only being done by approved/licensed salvage contractors, in order to minimise possible pollution.

I wonder if they could insist on that. The owners will have a mooring contract, and unless there is something in that contract about salvage, I doubt it could be imposed retrospectively. Obviously there are laws about pollution which must be abided by, but I cannot see how breaking up a steel ship can cause pollution.

I wonder how much a salvage contractor would get for the salvage, and whether the cost of getting the salvage and the purchase price would outway the income from the sale of that salvage. I see the e.bay price has risen to £5,300, and that must be getting near the price a salvage contractor would pay. It would be interesting to hear from someone who knows more about these things than I do

 

[DavidofMersea]

it would have been nice to see her welded up somewhere in East Anglia. .

Rowhedge Ironworks used to do this sort of work when I worked there, but I left and they went bankrupt

 

[pvb]

I wonder if they could insist on that.

Yes, they can and will insist on a Crouch Harbour Authority Works Licence being applied for before any righting or salvage work starts.