To build and refit or not ?

[trapoc]

Hi everyone my name is Charley and I am posing this question. Should a person who enjoys working on projects and has the funds and time available attempt to rebuild a low quality 25 ft sailboat for offshore use ? I have put this thread up so anyone that has an opinion on the subject can voice it. Go ahead have your fun.

[Vasco]

No. Find a good quality junker and rebuild that.

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by Vasco

No. Find a good quality junker and rebuild that.

+1

Find a neglected boat with a good hull, good rudder, and (hopefully) good engine. People will pass on boats that have junk cosmetics, beat up interiors, and crappy paint jobs. All those thinks a handy person could fix in a few months. of not unbearable work.

If you're talking about offshore use, see if you can find one that has a decent (used) sail inventory and a windvane. Some big ticket items (like a vane) don't really raise the price much but can save you a lot.

[Irish rambler]

Hi Charley, I'd go with Vasco every time, search around for a quality boat that's been neglected and when you've finished you'll have a great boat that will give years of pleasure.

[rebel heart]

I wouldn't leave the bay in the boat you have pictured there if the wind was going to pick up at all.

[brutb]

Originally Posted by Vasco

No. Find a good quality junker and rebuild that.

Vasco is right, look for a Cape Dory 25-30 with good bones..

[barnakiel]

If the aim is SAILING, then the answer is NO.

Building and refiting is not sailing.

Get a proper offshore design in good condition and go.

b.

[Boracay]

I'll have to agree with the above advice. Any rebuild project needs to start from a good base.

Why not consider building from scratch? There are some excellent small cruising designs available and the time/money/energy difference between a rebuild and a scratch build is not going to be that large.

I've built two boats (6.5m ply and 32' ferro) from scratch and just done a total fit out on Boracay.

25' is a great size for a DIY project. Small enough to be completed in around a year or so and also small enough that encouraging progress can be made in a few hours.

If you do the work yourself you'll get an immediate feel for what can be done with the boat.

But do have a good look round at what designs are available and consider what your needs are. The true beauty of a scratch build is that on can build something that suits ones own circumstances, location, weather etc.

[trapoc]

Has anyone here ever been in a Buccaneer 250 or had one a part ?

[casual]

Have seen a couple of Cape Dory 28's asking under 10 K. True offshore boats.

[Pauls]

I'd suggest you look at Brent Swains designs. He has a range of origami steel cruising sailboats from 26 to 40'. There is a DVD available from Alex Christie which shows Brent putting together, by himself, a 36' hull complete with decks, cabin, wheelhouse, cockpit, etc in 9 DAYS. I've built a couple boats and I can tell you the DVD is a jaw dropper. Yeah, you can build one of these faster than you can do a major rework.

Brent has crossed the Pacific a number of times on the 31' origami he lives on. There are a lot of these in the PNW and their owners seem to like them. They're designed to live on and cruise.

I'm 7 years into a really major rebuild and I can tell you that if I had it to do over again I'd build one of these.

They're metal, you can build in steel or aluminum.

[sww914]

Originally Posted by trapoc

Has anyone here ever been in a Buccaneer 250 or had one a part ?

No but the one that I sailed on once simply wouldn't tack in 15 kts of wind. We had to go all the way around and jibe.

[trapoc]

I suspect you were not in a buc 250 were you sww914 and did it look just like the one I have pictured? I have read nothing but good on this Gary Mull design

[trapoc]

Pauls I took a look and found a 31 brent swains design in cancun. 25000 asking price looked very nice twin keel and all.

[Stumble]

Having built two boats....

If you like building things, build a boat. It's a great hobby, and when you are done you have something worth, oh, about 50% what you have in it.

If you like to sail buy a boat in decent shape and go sailing.

If you just hate yourself buy a derelict and try to get it worth sailing.