Want To Buy: Looking for Abandoned Wooden Hull in Tampa

[smallyachts]

We are looking for a small (18 - 26 ft) wooden hull (not plywood) sailboat in the Tampa Bay area. Preferably one that has a very tired wooden hull, and with a keel configuration that will allow easy trailering.

We are the manufacturers of Fer-A-Lite polyester mortar mix and need a "cadaver" to bring back to life for marketing purposes.

Needless to say we would prefer a donated hull, but would consider a small purchase price for the right candidate.

You may reach me direct at 813-333-6422 or PM me.

[mobetah]

Just start calling the boat yards in the Tampa area. Most of them have a what you are looking for somewhere in their yard (long abandoned by their owners) and would love to see it gone. I'll bet you can get one free and the yard will probably help you load it!
Good Luck, Bill A. ....... S/V Mobetah

www.mobetah.blogspot.com

[smallyachts]

Oh,

boatyards in Tampa....

chuckle

Yes, I have the feelers out at the remaining yards in Tampa, however so far abandoned wooden hulls are going at a real premium, once they realize that someone might actually want one of them

Of course 4 or 5 years ago when there was both a number of yards ( I believe we are in reality down to 3 usable sailboat yards in Tampa Bay, unless you want to unstep the mast before you get to the yard, from the dozen or so that were here before the dockominium craziness started) as well as a number of abandoned hulls.

But we were not in a position to jump on any of them at that time.

But, it is a good thought, and I will ring them up again to see if they have gotten more realistic on the prices.

On a side note, it does cause a great feeling of sadness to see all the empty dockominimum units sitting where there used to be thriving boatyards.

[David M]

Call marinas as well. Frequently owners stop paying their slip fees on old wood boats that have little value. Harbormasters would rather someone take it off their hands than pay to dispose of the boat.

[svHyLyte]

Or...Drive around some of the lower income residential neighborhoods near the water. A drive through the back streets of Palmetto will reveal an abundance of old boats moldering away next to garages and behind old sheds.

[pressuredrop]

i can help but ask, what exactly is it you are going to do the boat to breathe new life into it?

[smallyachts]

Originally Posted by pressuredrop

i can help but ask, what exactly is it you are going to do the boat to breathe new life into it?

Regrettably, I posted a link to a site that I maintain, and that post was removed.

If you want to find out what I plan to do you will need to PM me.

[markpj23]

It's not Tampa but close enough. Try Gator Marine on Alligator Creek in Punta Gorda, just across from the Riviera restaurant. If there's something abandoned / decrepit / in need of repair I'm pretty sure you'll find it there...