Thread: I found this.........

Hey mate,

Your friends are right, listen to them, it's got a flagploe, you don't want one.

My Opinion

HazzaB

Have the boat surveyed before purchase. This is the only way you can access your investment. Yachts that are 3/4's of a century old should be very carefully inspected, trust me, I do this for a living.

I would make a proper inspection subject to buying it for sure. I just thought if the inside is kept that well it is very likely that the outside has been looked after too. Plus being Huon Pine should help too.

Not for nothing, but your assuming way too much. It's very easy to hide all sorts of ills with good looking cosmetic repairs. This is very common and often a dasterdly way of getting rid of a difficult to sell boat. Unless you have considerable yacht repair and restoration experience (decades), then you can look and inspact all you want and not see the "ills" the boat may have. I'm not trying to offend you. Even the most exsperenced skipper really hasn't much of a clue, when they're crawling around on their soaked belly, in an unfamiliar bilge, looking for "issues". If I preformed the full survay for a yacht of that size, it would likely be a two day job and take several hours each day. One day at it's berth, the next on the hard after the travel lift has hauled her for bottom inspection. Yes, this would cost several hundred (US dollars), but this is typical during the purchase of a substantial yacht. Most marinas will give you a deal if they know it's a survey haul out.

Originally Posted by Reiner

I would make a proper inspection subject to buying it for sure. I just thought if the inside is kept that well it is very likely that the outside has been looked after too. Plus being Huon Pine should help too.

Let's imagine that the previous owner really loved his boat but knew nothing about boats. He spent hours polishing and sanding and varnishing, keeping the inside looking like a million dollars. Sadly, he didn't realise that the hull needed maintenance as well and the keel's about to fall off.

Or an example from real life. A friend of mine is a neat freak. Her car is always clean and neat, inside and out ... but has missed a few services. A week back, she asked me to check the oil ... and there wasn't even sludge on the dip stick.

Get it surveyed, properly and yes, it'll cost.

As for the concept. She's a lovely boat. You'd feel great sitting inside her as well as sitting in the coffee shop watching her at her mooring. You'll need to find out how she sails (can you sail?). Where will you moor her? Can you afford mooring fees? Where will you use her?

Richard

On the other hand you may have found a real gem, but this is a very rare thing to see after 3/4's of a century. Given your level of old wooden boat experience, you will need a professional assessment to determine which case this old lass may be.

I agree with all your coments and if I decide to get more serious I don't mind paying for a good inspection. I do realise it is much cheaper to pay for a good check than finding out later it needs a $50,000 rebuild.
If I do more I will get some photos of the hull on the lift and keep you informed on the findings. Thanks for your thoughts
cheers
Reiner

What a beauty! You may find that a boat this immaculate has already had a recent survey. If not, follow Par's advice and get one. After all, although it's good value for a craftsman built boat, it's still not pocket money.
The survery will either show:
It's got a few minor problems - which gives you some negotiating power
It's got major problems - you've saved $35,000 and been warned off
It's got no problems - you can sail or sleep in her knowing she won't fail you.

The quick and dirty that I see is the boat is being handled by a broker, which means it's really worth 26K, possibly as little as 20K. In excellent condition a well kept, good pedigree yacht of this age will fetch 3 to 5 times the actual sale value of this yacht. Given this, she'll have a considerable list of issues. Assuming that and the novice nature in both owning and using old wooden boats by the prospective buyer, my advise is to run as fast as you can, get good and drunk and blame the whole idea on bad whiskey.

I too am suspicious of the price, and the fact it hasn't already sold.

Boat prices are way down in aus at the moment, so much so even I bought a jarcat last month. Having said that that boat really is a looker, not like 90% of the so called classic beauties that are as ugly and awful as...well you know...

I think the origional advice holds. If it's got a reliable survey look it over. If not inspect the boat yourself and if your keen get someone independant and capable to survey it for your properly.

Huon is very rot resistant but the gum frames seriously aren't. Of course the planks could be rotten but more likely you'll find the frames shot. It's carvel too, and you can't always sheath them. I'm not a trtemendous fan of dynel either, but it comes down to condition.

Let me say it again, as others have above. That boat could be the nicest one you ever own or it could become a phenominal money pit that breaks you. I would never buy something like that without the most comprehensive survey.

I know it's a different thing, but you could pick up a plastic boat that waterline and accomodations for much much less, with much less potential for suicidal miserable restoration work required.

Just take care...

Originally Posted by damian

I know it's a different thing, but you could pick up a plastic boat that waterline and accomodations for much much less, with much less potential for suicidal miserable restoration work required.

Just take care...

Boats are so much like women.

Sure you can marry the safe one, the one you can take home to mother. But the unconventional, individual beauty who has "risk" written all over is the one you dream about at night. So it is with plastic vs wooden boats.

You'd still have her tested before spending a stormy night in her!

Originally Posted by Simon Purser

Boats are so much like women.

Don't be ridiculous, the average man has an outside chance of understanding his boat

Richard

Wooden Boats and Women:

Need constant attention and high maintainence
Problems can only be fixed by spending another thousand on her
Hulls become foul when sitting around too long
Can hit you in the head unexpectedly when taken aback or when pinching
Risky to take eyes off course when two close abreast
Can leave you high and dry overnight
Often mean your best moments are by yourself, single handed
Can tip you out with little warning, then carry on without you once you've got her set up
Nevertheless:
Look good under tight sheets
Full spinnakers on a run are a sight to behold
Very comfortable inside when rocking gently
At their best when blowing hard

Oops, sailing a bit close to the wind with that one, got to go …

I think I have to forget about this one. I send the broker a email asking about any info reg surveys or history and never got a reply. What a shame, I think it would be wunderful to keep such a beautiful boat alive.
Thanks again for all your thoughts and I will keep looking. I'm not buying a plastic boat so much is for sure.
cheers
Reiner