Thread: Like the look of this one HELP

Lapstrake boats are very difficult to 'glass successfully, without back filling and heavily rounding the laps. This also complicates the hell out of repairs and usually just traps moisture against the hull.

Usually in these boats you look for working fasteners at the hood ends of the planks, along the garboard, tension cracks in the frames (ribs) which appear first at the most severe curves in the hull (turn of the bilge aft), oil soaking under engine, lower portion of the transom rot, lower portion of the stem rot and the list goes on.

What's interesting about the photos is what wasn't photographed, likely intentionally. The forward portions of the hull are not visible (clearly) in any of the shots. This is the area that would show the planks landing on the stem (where some discoloration is seen), their gains and any impact damage that may have occurred in it's 60 year life span (you know it's had to bash into something).

Yes, it's insane to buy this boat without inspecting it. If you don't know what to look for then yes, a survey would be very strongly recommended, in spite of the difficulty. I think the current EBay price reflects what people think about all varnished boats, not the condition of her.

An opeing bid of $6,000? He got his mate to put that one up ... which isn't as nasty as it first seems because Ebay.au (unlike the American version) doesn't allow you to put reserve prices on things (except cars) which is a very stupid policy. You can set an minimum opening bid but that isn't the same thing.

Richard

Richard and Par

Thanks for the comments .

Richard.
Your in Sth Aus Where would the nearest surveyor or boat builder be to Tanunda? Any ideas?

Par
The price of varnished boats are higher than painted for purely aesthetic reasons? Are they harder to maintain?

Nick

Originally Posted by Utey

Richard.
Your in Sth Aus Where would the nearest surveyor or boat builder be to Tanunda? Any ideas?

Ring Ted at Duck Flats (Mt Barker). I don't know if he can do the survey or not but he will know who to put you on to. Better still, drop in and have a chat but ring first because he's out and about all the time.

Are you in Tanunda yet? Your profile still shows you in Victoria.

Richard

Thanks again Richard .
I'm in Victoria so I can't get to Tanunda to have a look, not sure what to look for any way.
Will contact Ted on Monday, phoned just now but no reply, open Sat afternoon?? cutting it a bit fine though.
Must not let heart rule the head!

Nick

Originally Posted by Utey

Thanks again Richard .
I'm in Victoria so I can't get to Tanunda to have a look, not sure what to look for any way.
Will contact Ted on Monday, phoned just now but no reply, open Sat afternoon?? cutting it a bit fine though.
Must not let heart rule the head!

Nick

I'm pretty sure they're not there saturday afternoons.

I hadn't twigged that it's the boat that's at Tanunda (duh! Don't let me play with sharp tools today )

Have you looked around in your local area? If a boat isn't going to survive a road trip from Vic to here, it's probably not worth buying anyway.

Richard

Richard.

Just spoke to Ted.

Nick

Folks like looking at wood in natural finishes and value this higher then painted, even if the painted finish is nearly flawless, but the wooden finish has several flaws. Most folks look past the waviness of an unfair varnished surface, but complain when the same surface is painted. I don't, nor do most that have fine wood working experience and know what grains are proper, finish conditions, technique, etc.

For example the fore deck has several repair planks on the port side. I find this objectionable and I don't think the boat came this way, because any builder worth their salt, would have mixed the darker pieces with the lighter and created some contrasting plank features instead. In fact, if it was me, I would have taken those 6 dark planks and placed them at every third plank location, evenly distributing them across the 18 planks on the for deck. Any furniture builder, cabinet maker or boat builder would do this and it's typical of reasonable craftsmanship from a wood worker.

Most folks don't see things like this any more, just the shinny, varnished wood, which they happily pay more for, without really knowing what they're looking at.

All the comments above are very well intended and I think correct.

You have to ask yourself, how much this little boat would cost you to build, power and put on a trailer. ???.

Is this what you want. ???

HOOKEY.

Thanks to all for the advice and comments.
I imagine to build a boat like this would have cost thousands more than it sold for ?
I bid on it but was "pipped at the post"
Will keep looking.
Ideally painted hull, varnished deck 2 stroke, with canopy.

Nick

SORRY you missed out.

How about you think of building your own boat.

It is not hard at all. I built my first boat at 14 years of age.

Don't be put off by the strange language. It all means something and there are heaps of people who will help you.

1 word of warning. There is no such thing as a CHEAP boat. You get or build what you pay for.
The hull is the easy and least expensive bit.

I really wish you all the best.

HOOKEY.