I Wish I Never Bought This Boat

[Mark1977]

Where do i start?....Three years agoe I had the bright idea to buy a bigger boat, so when I seen a 37 ferro cement boat that i could afford, i thought heres my chance. I had a nice PY23 that I sailed all the time, and took the kids out for weekends. I was able to sell her for the money to buy the ferro boat project.
I was so excited to get this bigger boat I didn't look at what I was taking on. I have worked on the boat since i have owned her, but i see no end to the bits and peices I need and the money to get them.
I have not been sailing since i sold my other boat and don't know when I will again. I am at my wits end. I have had her up for sale for a month so I can go backwards and buy a small boat that i can use, but no luck.
This is just a warning to people thinking of taking on such a project...........
IT WILL DRIVE YOU NUTS...........




RANT OVER.....FOR NOW....

[jeanathon]

I am a glutton for punishment. How much?

[Target9000]

Whats wrong with it? If the hull and rig are sound, take it sailing and get some joy out of it instead of all work.

[Mark1977]

Originally Posted by jeanathon

I am a glutton for punishment. How much?

Dude, this a WARNING......not a classified......but if your intrested ...

[GaryMayo]

I had a mac 25 that I bumped up to a CM32 ketch that had been on the hart,, years.

All can go well, you need a workable plan.

[Mark1977]

Originally Posted by Target9000

Whats wrong with it? If the hull and rig are sound, take it sailing and get some joy out of it instead of all work.

The volvo penta that i had rebuilt , seized last winter. I am unable to sail her from her mooring and back.

[GaryMayo]

Pics of mac25 and ketch.

You will have a difficult time selling a concrete boat with a frozen engine.

Two jobs for awhile while you save save save.

Wwwsurpluscenter.com has new marine diesel engines for less than a grand. Kabota I think.

[Mark1977]

Originally Posted by GaryMayo

Pics of mac25 and ketch.

You will have a difficult time selling a concrete boat with a frozen engine.

Two jobs for awhile while you save save save.

Wwwsurpluscenter.com has new marine diesel engines for less than a grand. Kabota I think.

I hear ya, my one job lobster fishing takes up the time of two. The kids take up the save save save. I'm screwed....

[rebel heart]

Project boats require money or time (often both). I feel your pain.

[Tony B]

Mark

Been there and done that.
At the prodding of others to get a bigger boat I went looking for a project boat I could afford. Well, I got it. Sold it 3 years later for much less than I had into it. The worse part was that I didn't sail for those 3 years. Glad you finally goT to the same point. Just dump it for whatever you can get.

Whenever someone on these type forums says they want to get a project boat, most are very supportive, I am in the minority. For every 'success' story there are hundreds of failures.

I wont buy a boat unless I can sail and motor it the day I buy it. I'm OK with cosmetic surgery, but not the essentials of what makes her go.

[Mark1977]

Originally Posted by Tony B

Mark

Been there and done that.
At the prodding of others to get a bigger boat I went looking for a project boat I could afford. Well, I got it. Sold it 3 years later for much less than I had into it. The worse part was that I didn't sail for those 3 years. Glad you finally goT to the same point. Just dump it for whatever you can get.

Whenever someone on these type forums says they want to get a project boat, most are very supportive, I am in the minority. For every 'success' story there are hundreds of failures.

I wont buy a boat unless I can sail and motor it the day I buy it. I'm OK with cosmetic surgery, but not the essentials of what makes her go.

I am not alone.....Thanks...

[Stu Jackson]

Even boats that can meet that criteria require a lot of work. I agree. There's a REASON they're call project boats. I've only "met" one skipper online who actually enjoyed doing it, but were smaller boats.

[SunDevil]

Originally Posted by Tony B

Whenever someone on these type forums says they want to get a project boat, most are very supportive, I am in the minority. For every 'success' story there are hundreds of failures.

I wont buy a boat unless I can sail and motor it the day I buy it. I'm OK with cosmetic surgery, but not the essentials of what makes her go.

Yes! There can be a few things wrong that are minor or dirty. The colors might be bad, the sails might need a little repair, batteries might need replaced, and the rigging might need some parts replaced. But other than a bottom paint, the hull had better be in new condition. And, while I would rather use an electric motor, it would have to work too.

If you can't get it fixed in 4 weeks (which might turn into 8 weeks), it isn't right for you. I would rather work at a job for a few months to save up money to buy a better boat to be honest.

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by rebel heart

Project boats require money or time (often both). I feel your pain.

A good reality check ...for those thinking of doing the same thing. If it's old and not been replaced in the last decade, it will need to be. I have told people more than once, "work some overtime or a year longer and buy a newer or less project boat"... Now if I could just take my own advice.
The amazing thing about it is, after boating for 40 years, you would think a person would know everything he needs to... to avoid problems... then something totally new pops up after you buy that boat....
A 30 foot boat is a great cruising boat, it has 2 staterooms, a head, a galley and it limits the size of everything and how much you can complicate it!!

[zUrchin]

I've learned the hard way like you have, when I was very much a sailing newbie. It was a very frustrating to the point I became bitter, losing a whole sailing season, especially when I could see all the other boaters enjoy their boat off their slips. I would never purchase a boat again that cannot be regularly sailed safely for a reasonable distance - almost immediately after a purchase.