Will Someone Please Talk Me Out Of This Expensive Refit Lunacy?

I would love a Rustler 36, I doubt I'll ever afford one but I can afford to keep and upgrade my current boat which I love and couldn't think of anything else I would ever want (bar the Rustler, which one day might be in grasp).

What you have to think, if you got a newer bigger boat will it be easier to sail and handle then old faithful. You know your boat, you're happy with it, just make it exactly how you want it. The Contessa has a following and will always be desirable I bet you'll regret getting rid of it.

And as for the kids, they'll be ok if you've bought them up right and you've brought them up sailing so you have nothing to worry about.

Now, if you'll like to sign here please.....
 
think i lost my last post so posting again.

This is just my opinion and I'm going to be brutally honest so.......

40k refit on Contessa 32 you must be NUTS! Do you like sailing or DIY? The two are not mutually inclusive.

Problem with boats is when you sell them it is like breaking up with a lover! Don't let the romance blind you!

You have to ask yourself what your money can buy you and what are the alternatives, and 40k not including the selling price of the CO32 so more like 60k can get you. There are far superior boats out there which are faster, more comfortable, more seaworthy than a 40 yr old boat that will always have things prone to failure even with extensive refit.

I cannot believe the blue sky thinking going on here.

I do not believe these old contessas will always be desirable, as there are better MAB's out there (Sadlers are much better). Sailing has an issue with an ageing participation and 10 - 20 years from now when the new generation comes along, no one is going to want these old boats, my prediction is the late 90's Bavaria will be the new classic old school boat in 20 years time.

What I'm saying is don't be blinded by love and dont be a fool. Your talking about a sizable house deposit. Its like the 'Emperors New Clothes'.
 
Before spending your £40k, might you consider £500 on a survey? Hopefully it wouldn't show up anything catastrophic, but it would be a shame to discover an unknown problem after significant outlay. The surveyor might also help you to prioritise your expenditure.
 
Aigle d'Or said:
I've owned my Contessa 32 for 16 years and absolutely love her. She's taken us safely on many long cruises and my daughters grew up with her. To me, she is the perfect small yacht - fast, seaworthy, safe and beautiful. She's going to be 40 next year and I have found myself planning a major £40k birthday refit. I'm 54 and plan to keep her for as long as I am able to sail her. Re-wire, new rudder, new cabin sole, water tank, teak cockpit, re-spray decks and coachroof, solar power, shore power, partial new galley etc. Surely it's bonkers to spend this amount on a little yacht that's probably only worth £20k? Isn't it? So why am I even considering it? Help!
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I was in a similar situation a few years ago. Having been left a large legacy with a request by my dying mother to buy another yacht, I could afford to buy a new yacht or a secondhand one. The thought of so much money tied up in a boat seemed irresponsible, especially as my wife suffers badly from motion sickness. Also I dislike the modern hull shape designs and construction methods, so I felt a secondhand boat would suffice despite liking some of the more modern benefits for living on board new designs. Then setting parameters for my search suggested about 32 to 35 feet, as I would be singlehanded. Eventually I settled on a Fulmar as my preferred class. It took me over 5 months to find the right Fulmar that I could improve and stay within my budget.

Well 3½ years later I have not yet finished, but have spent just over the purchase price in materials and extras, excluding any labour as I have done all the work myself. The result is a 37 year old boat that looks more like a 10 year old boat.

Has it a financial success? Yes and no. Yes, it has cost me a third of the cost of a new boat. No, as I would never recoup what I have spent if I sold her now. However I plan to keep her for another 10 years, and the improvements mean I have a boat to my taste and fitted with everything I want. That makes it cost effective as all the work and costs will take place in the start of ownership, resulting in lower maintenance costs later.

Aigle d'Or. I question that you need to spend £40k to do what you want to do, unless you are not intending to do the work yourself. Previous advice of doing it over a number of years is good advice. May I suggest you start down below to improve the living accommodation to keep your family happy. Then proceed to the exterior. I have done it the other way round as my boat looked so tired, but has been transformed. Have a look at my photo file of the changes I have made. You start as I bought her and work through the many projects to see her transformed. http://s1294.photobucket.com/user/ConcertoFulmar32/library/?sort=3&page=8

Final word. Go for it. Sailing a classic yacht in tip top condition brings many favourable comments and offers to purchase. Keep her sailing and into her next half century.
 
steveej said:
This is just my opinion and I'm going to be brutally honest so.......

40k refit on Contessa 32 you must be NUTS! Do you like sailing or DIY? The two are not mutually inclusive.

Problem with boats is when you sell them it is like breaking up with a lover! Don't let the romance blind you!

.
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Concerto said:
I was in a similar situation a few years ago. Having been left a large legacy with a request by my dying mother to buy another yacht, I could afford to buy a new yacht or a secondhand one. The thought of so much money tied up in a boat seemed irresponsible .

The result is a 37 year old boat that looks more like a 10 year old boat.



May I suggest you start down below to improve the living accommodation to keep your family happy. Then proceed to the exterior. I have done it the other way round as my boat looked so tired, but has been transformed.

Final word. Go for it. Sailing a classic yacht in tip top condition brings many favourable comments and offers to purchase. Keep her sailing and into her next half century.
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Please excuse the paraphrasing.

Two excellent posts, and from my own point of view I hope the second one is the more appropriate!
But two excellent posts so opposite in content and advice is making the decision no easier.

"Don't let romance blind you." or "Go for it. Sailing a classic yacht in tip top condition."
Sometimes money isn't everything and a chunk of romance in our lives is surely good for the sole.

Another post that won't help with the OP's decision:confused:
 
Concerto said:
I was in a similar situation a few years ago. Having been left a large legacy with a request by my dying mother to buy another yacht, I could afford to buy a new yacht or a secondhand one. The thought of so much money tied up in a boat seemed irresponsible, especially as my wife suffers badly from motion sickness. Also I dislike the modern hull shape designs and construction methods, so I felt a secondhand boat would suffice despite liking some of the more modern benefits for living on board new designs. Then setting parameters for my search suggested about 32 to 35 feet, as I would be singlehanded. Eventually I settled on a Fulmar as my preferred class. It took me over 5 months to find the right Fulmar that I could improve and stay within my budget.

Well 3½ years later I have not yet finished, but have spent just over the purchase price in materials and extras, excluding any labour as I have done all the work myself. The result is a 37 year old boat that looks more like a 10 year old boat.

Has it a financial success? Yes and no. Yes, it has cost me a third of the cost of a new boat. No, as I would never recoup what I have spent if I sold her now. However I plan to keep her for another 10 years, and the improvements mean I have a boat to my taste and fitted with everything I want. That makes it cost effective as all the work and costs will take place in the start of ownership, resulting in lower maintenance costs later.

Aigle d'Or. I question that you need to spend £40k to do what you want to do, unless you are not intending to do the work yourself. Previous advice of doing it over a number of years is good advice. May I suggest you start down below to improve the living accommodation to keep your family happy. Then proceed to the exterior. I have done it the other way round as my boat looked so tired, but has been transformed. Have a look at my photo file of the changes I have made. You start as I bought her and work through the many projects to see her transformed. http://s1294.photobucket.com/user/ConcertoFulmar32/library/?sort=3&page=8

Final word. Go for it. Sailing a classic yacht in tip top condition brings many favourable comments and offers to purchase. Keep her sailing and into her next half century.
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I would love to see some pics if you have any please. I'm constantly looking at boat interiors online, as I am going to totally gut mine and re-fit...
 
A good Contessa will always command a premium, they already do. In reality they're a 10-15k boat when you look at similar boats, but then you have to add the Lymington tax on top (which isn't a bad thing). Look at the classic car / motorcycle market it's the early iconic ones that have gone crazy, Jeremy Rogers and Contessa owners have done a very good job at building the CO brand/desirability. With the CO32s it'll be the younger (read 40-50 y.o) generation that will want them (we had one of these when I was a kid) and they're going to want the best as they will become investments, early GRP boats with class, style and heritage. I can't see many 80's 90's doing the same the 70's was the yachting heyday.

I can see good Contessas going up in value over the next 10 years or so and 20-30 years changing hands for a lot more then 60k.

Here's a restored one,

http://yachts.apolloduck.co.uk/boat.phtml?id=507311

Capt. Clueless and the OP might find some inspiration from these

https://get.google.com/albumarchive...yGHU-eZqWTvIG1SnjBEp-UejY_Ton6D57v?source=pwa
 
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Per the old saying, literally, “whatever floats your boat”. Each to their own preference and enjoy.

But to avoid regretting part way through, might be worth looking at say 3 alternative boats that the money could buy instead, to confirm before committing the money.
Fine boats though they are, I can see that Bavaria/Beneteau would lack the character and individuality that you prefer. But might be worth a look at a handful of more modern classics - perhaps Maxi 1050, Elan 333/362 or Dehler perhaps - even if only to confirm you want to stay with what you have. (I certainly would go with one of these in preference, but all are different).
Good luck
 
Yellow Ballad said:
.... With the CO32s it'll be the younger (read 40-50 y.o) generation that will want them (we had one of these when I was a kid) and they're going to want the best as they will become investments, early GRP boats with class, style and heritage. I can't see many 80's 90's doing the same the 70's was the yachting heyday. .....
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I would disagree, I think the CO32 will go the way of all older GRP yachts, small market, unsold, unrealistic price. They are just riding the last of the baby boomers (born up to 64 ish) and those who have money. After that market the new kids will looking at value and a CO32 has little value compared to the utility of modern yacts. There will always be a classic market but not like motorbikes which are relatively low cost, mobile and low storage overheads. There is also an opinion that modern yachts are not up to the job of longevity but anecdotally where is the evidence for that: for every soft mast foot, hogged hull or damaged keel, the same can be found in old GRP. It is a fact that worked GRP slowly but surely breaks its matrix bonding, but that does not mean younger yachts are more at risk than older yachts, they are designed better and use better materials. The fact is our world generally operates to a deflationary model, simply put you get more boat, better designed, for less cost than back in the day. I can't see a a CO32 being an investment except for some in a niche market.
 
doug748 said:
I don't want to speak for the OP but he could be taking it back to the original manufacturer for re-build:


Capt,

Here is a vid by an excited owner with his refit:

https://youtu.be/VI5j2iBiVHk
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WOWEEEE !!
What a fabulous refit. That has certainly rekindled my interest.
Just have to find the dosh now :(

Seriously, what a beautiful boat, now as good as new. I wonder if it falls within the OP's £40k ?
 
Robert Wilson said:
WOWEEEE !!
What a fabulous refit. That has certainly rekindled my interest.
Just have to find the dosh now :(

Seriously, what a beautiful boat, now as good as new. I wonder if it falls within the OP's £40k ?
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You would not get anywhere near that for the OP's budget if you were paying the yard to do it.

To put things in perspective (money wise) if you asked him to build you a new boat to a decent spec it would cost more than my new Bavaria, a new Morgan and a new smallish family runabout! Or if you really want that look, but performance and modern design a Mystery 35.

I can understand the attraction of the CO, particularly if you have owned it for so long, but if you took off the rose coloured spectacles and looked at cruising requirements objectively you would discover there are far better boats available. I went through much the same (at a similar age to the OP) when my intention was to move up to a bigger version of my old fashioned boat. Then I discovered modern boats. Still own and like the old boat, but for what it is rather than for what I imagined it was.

It would be really depressing if there had been no improvements in 50 odd years of intense development - indeed the designer of said boat designed an improved successor himself with great success.
 
BlowingOldBoots said:
I would disagree, I think the CO32 will go the way of all older GRP yachts
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Who knows eh?

If I did I would have bought up as many GT750 Kettles, 350LC and Sandcast CB750's as I could. I do agree the motorcycle market helps as they're in the grasps of the common man.

I do think in 20-30 years some rich London folk will splurge a huge amount of money on good "classic" GRP yachts. The tatters will get scrapped, there will be fewer decent ones and rarity will up the price. I wouldn't be surprised to see a Contessa up for sale for £100k in my lifetime (I'm hoping to live a good few more years yet).

The fact they will still make a new one must show there's a market for them still.
 
Yellow Ballad said:
Who knows eh?
I wouldn't be surprised to see a Contessa up for sale for £100k in my lifetime (I'm hoping to live a good few more years yet).

The fact they will still make a new one must show there's a market for them still.
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They already are. Expect the bill for the one in the video exceeded that amount and a new one is more than double that.

However, whether there is a "market" for them is another matter. There does seem at the moment to be a very small number of people who are prepared to spend that sort of money on an anachronism, and more power to JR for taking advantage of them. but these fashions have a habit of disappearing as quickly as they come, often when the tiny number of people interested have been mopped up.

Pleased you are so confident about the buying behaviour of "rich London folk" in 20-30 years time. That sort of skill should enable you to get a fantastically well paying job so that you can buy one of these boats now.
 
Yellow Ballad said:
A good Contessa will always command a premium, they already do. In reality they're a 10-15k boat when you look at similar boats, but then you have to add the Lymington tax on top (which isn't a bad thing). Look at the classic car / motorcycle market it's the early iconic ones that have gone crazy, Jeremy Rogers and Contessa owners have done a very good job at building the CO brand/desirability. With the CO32s it'll be the younger (read 40-50 y.o) generation that will want them (we had one of these when I was a kid) and they're going to want the best as they will become investments, early GRP boats with class, style and heritage. I can't see many 80's 90's doing the same the 70's was the yachting heyday.

I can see good Contessas going up in value over the next 10 years or so and 20-30 years changing hands for a lot more then 60k.

Here's a restored one,

http://yachts.apolloduck.co.uk/boat.phtml?id=507311

Capt. Clueless and the OP might find some inspiration from these

https://get.google.com/albumarchive...yGHU-eZqWTvIG1SnjBEp-UejY_Ton6D57v?source=pwa
Click to expand...

Thanks for that. Yes I am stripping out right to bare hull, and rebuilding in modular marine ply. Keeping some of the nicer hardwood pieces for feature work, but otherwise will be a white interior. I don't like looking at these really modern boats, and then look inside to see the remains of the golden hind in dark timber. I'm going to keep that albumarchive for future reference thanks.
 
The other good reason for me to strip the whole lot out & start from scratch is that once I have an empty hull, I can see exactly where there has been exterior rain water ingress and address all that as well, before a new inner liner. Doing just 1/2 the job and making do and mend with some of it, didn't appeal to me. The interior of that boat is uncannily a replica of mine, but having said that, I suppose most are.
 
Buck Turgidson said:
If the boat plus refit is worth about 60k then here is a CO32 on sale for 60K.
Will your boat be as good after the refit? If not flog your boat and buy this one. Save yourself the refit time :-)
http://www.yachtworld.co.uk/boats/1979/Contessa-32-3105546/Cap-d%27Agde/France#.WeInv0yB2Rt
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£60k !? I hope marine ply isn't that dear. I'm kinda looking on 60 quid.;);););) £60k for that !!!! The wood looks terrible (and thats the 1st thing I look at) I cannot see where there is any value in that at all. It looks totally unloved. Interior looks fine, but that exterior woodwork would have me walking away, even if I had £60k.
 
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