Thread: 50s Hartley

No reply?? Anyone out there...??

Run?

Get a shipwright to survey the boat in order to let you know what you are in for.

I'm not a fan of power boats so I look at the photos and cringe at the amount of return for the work you're going to have to put in.

Resist the urge to take it for a spin before the repairs are done! Dont know were to start but it obviously needs to get out of the water asap

The first thing to do is get it out of the water and properly blocked up on the hard, under cover. The next step is to hire a surveyor to look her over, but frankly, from what I see, the best thing you could do is give it to your redheaded step sister as a birthday present.

The images don't show the "big picture", but I suspect she needs a new deck, new transom, major structural repairs, new sheathing, etc., etc., etc. Expect several thousand dollars in repairs, just in wood work and finishes. Double the figure if the engine, transmission, running gear, etc. also need work.

If this is your first project like this, then I'll double Darce's comment and tell you to run as fast as you can, in the opposite direction. Depending on how bad she really is, often it's easier and cheaper to just build a new hull and swap out the serviceable equipment and hardware.

I know this is a pretty pessimistic view, but I do this sort of thing for a living and I wouldn't touch that boat, unless it had some special historical or personal significance.

Yeah, fair enough. I know she's pretty rough. I thought I could patch up the transom with some fiberglass and get a couple more years out of her. It's only for fishing around the bay. Any quick fix ideas that will see me right for a short while?

Thanks for the replies fellas.

Without a considerable amount of experience at boat repair (wood, metal, 'glass, engine, electrical, plumbing work, etc.) you're just trying to up a rope. You may be able to cobble her together for a few more years, but again this depends on your skill sets.

Hi Dorian.

Listen to the guys here and the comments already posted.
When I opened your post, I cringed.
I have been building boats for over 40 years and your boat would be a major undertaking for me, even if the rest of the vessel was worth the effort and expense.

If you don't have the skills and finance to do the job properly, I suggest you just strip the boat of every usable fitting, then try to give it away.
The fittings you salvage, will help save some money if you get another boat or decide to build a new one yourself.

This one is a looser, in my opinion.

Paul.

Thanks Paul. No doubt you are right but I'll live with the "looser" for a while at least. But thanks for the reply, anyway, mate.

Okay, I take on board everybody's comments but none are real helpful, guys. Yes it's a dog. Yes it should be sunk off the coast of Africa... Yes, I've got a lemon. Hey, I'm poor - hence me asking for tips. Ignoring the transom- hit by a ferry, the rest of the boat is fine. The engine is fine. It floats. It runs. My kids love it. I'm not planning to take it outside, sail it to Cuba, rescue boat people. It was given to me for nothing. I can stand and fish out the back and pretend I own a boat I could never afford.

Not all of us have 10k to buy a pretty sailing boat to restore. I like sailing boats too but don't have one. That's life! I've got this one, some wood, fiberglass and no talent but will try and patch it up.

thanks,
moi

Hi Dorian.

Sounds as if you are prepared to go ahead with repairing your vessel.
I suggest you get someone knowledgeable to go over the boat for you and give you an opinion of the condition of the rest of the boat.
If as you say, the rest of the boat is good, then the easiest and possibly strongest repair would be to cut the transom off and replace it fully.
This would shorten your boat by a few inches and you would need to consider things like rudder position etc, with the shortened hull.
A repair like this would not be expensive, (relatively), but it is a fair bit of fiddly work.
There would be no reason you could not have the boat back on the water for next summer. Of course while you have her up on shore you can give her a complete going over and cleanup.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Paul.

Thanks Paul. Much appreciated mate. Okay, so you think the transom is for the chop, eh? Would that be cheaper than patching up with glass, you think? It sort of worries me giving it the chop.

Thanks for he advice.

'Glass on this boat is just a sheathing, not the structure. Your transom is wooden and the replacement will probably be wooden, which may also be sheathed in 'glass fabric.

Usually if the transom looks like this, the keel, deadwood, lower frame ends, bilge stringers, etc. are in a similar condition. Even though you think the rest of the hull is basically sound, it would be a rare situation if this were true. So, find a boat carpenter or surveyor to look her over (on the hard) and work out a repair strategy if she warrants it.

Ok. will do. There's the odd spot of rot but nothing below the waterline. It's not going to last forever but I was hoping to squeeze a few more years out of the old gal.

Hi Dorian, like you I am a poor boatie, most boaties are. I'm not
a builder and cant offer any advice on repairs, however with 40 yrs
on the water I can advise that when it all turns to #### it does so
very quickly, wether your half way to Africa or 50ft from shore, it takes
exactly the same time to sink. Personally I would not take a child on
that boat without a professional inspection and some serious repairs.

All the best with it

I have limited experience in boat repairs myself, but I have found the WEST system guides useful. They are available on the WEST website.