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13-02-2011, 09:18
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 3
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32' Welin Davit Converted Steel Lifeboat ?
I'm looking for a solid live-aboard cruiser for my wife and I and our dog Booker. We are young and looking for a fun adventure for a few years... cruising, kiteboarding, surfing, and exploring.
I came across this converted steel lifeboat and can not find any information on it... is it safe? Forgiving? Would it survive a extended cruise? Any info would be super helpful. What do you think about the keel? Would it even track under sail?
1944 Welin Davit Boat Co. Ltd. Converted steel lifeboat Sail Boat For
Other boats I am looking at are Rawson, Westsail, and Hardin Sea Wolf, and Dreadnought.
Thanks,
Michael
in Snowy Silverton, CO
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13-02-2011, 09:36
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#2
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: 29° 49.16’ N 82° 25.82’ W
Boat: Pearson 422
Posts: 16,306
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I would have a few concerns. Off the top of my head and in no particular order.
1. Steel hull of that age I would survey carefully to make sure it has not lost thickness or strength over time. Note that steel boats usually corrode from the inside where water collects and sits over time.
2. If converted from a motor lifeboat, unless keel and ballast were added it might be a bit tender under sail. All would depend on the original design and the method of conversion.
3. Probably not a fast or close winded sailor.
Probably more things to consider but will have to think a bit to see what else might occur to me. Bottom line, unless you are a steel boat expert, no matter what else get a good survey.
Skip
__________________
The water is always bluer on the other side of the ocean.
Sometimes it's necessary to state the obvious for the benefit of the oblivious.
Rust is the poor man's Loctite.
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13-02-2011, 09:42
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#3
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: 29° 49.16’ N 82° 25.82’ W
Boat: Pearson 422
Posts: 16,306
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Oh yes, to answer some of your original questions.
Yes, probably safe. Lifeboats are designed to be safe, self righting ,etc.
Whether or not it would survive and extended cruise would depend in a large part on the current condition of the boat. That would take an inspection and survey to determine.
Hard to tell from the photos I saw but the keel looks like a long steel plate. If that is the case the boat could be tender but it looked long enough that the boat would likely hold a straight line without too much care.
__________________
The water is always bluer on the other side of the ocean.
Sometimes it's necessary to state the obvious for the benefit of the oblivious.
Rust is the poor man's Loctite.
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13-02-2011, 10:07
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Boat: Cape Dory 33, 17' Boston Whaler
Posts: 164
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If that style interests you, be sure to take a look at the Fisher motorsailors.
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13-02-2011, 10:24
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 3
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I love the Fisher 30!... they cost over twice as much
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13-02-2011, 10:53
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 3
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I want something we can take island hopping and feel relatively safe and comfortable to live on. Maybe this isn't the best answer in finding that...
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13-02-2011, 12:44
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: between the devil and the deep blue sea
Boat: a sailing boat
Posts: 20,437
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A 32 footer is not a big boat for two and a dog. How big is your apartment? Mine was 300 sq ft but I have not met anybody else living my way.
A 1944 vintage converted steel boat may be a good liveaboard if you check her out well and stay at the dock, but if you think of extended cruising you would have to be 100% sure, the design, seaworthiness, built and maintenance were all immaculate.
If the boat is what you like and if the survey turns out positive then it is only up to the planned cruising area. Not all designs are meant for offshore work but nearly anything will do gunk-holing (is that the word?). Pottering.
b.
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14-02-2011, 03:15
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 44
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The vessel has been altered to the point of dockside comfort & coastal sailing at best. As a lifeboat it did not have the hugh pilot house and cabin trunk, let alone all the interior add-ons. I seriously doubt that she would be self-righting...just my opinion...
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14-02-2011, 07:56
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#11
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cruiser
Join Date: May 2010
Location: SF Bay Area; Former Annapolis and MA Liveaboard.
Boat: Looking and saving for my next...mid-atlantic coast
Posts: 6,197
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and i seriously think she would be rolly polly all over the place, sail only downwind, and probably only make 1 kt of speed at 40 kts of wind....still...she is pretty in so many ways ways.
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14-02-2011, 08:13
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#12
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: PORTUGAL
Posts: 30,660
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SaltyMonkey
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Especially when there's excellent boats like this available for near the same price... I know its on the opposite coast... but you wanted to 'Live Aboard'...
1976 Tartan 37 sailboat for sale in Maryland
__________________
You can't beat a people up (for 75yrs+) and have them say..
"I Love You.. ". Murray Roman.
Human Rights only matter when it's politically expedient..
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14-02-2011, 08:25
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#13
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cruiser
Join Date: May 2010
Location: SF Bay Area; Former Annapolis and MA Liveaboard.
Boat: Looking and saving for my next...mid-atlantic coast
Posts: 6,197
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Damn boatman, that one was also on my list!
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14-02-2011, 09:40
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: southcoast ontario ca
Boat: Georgian 23 Whiskeyjack
Posts: 296
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Quote:
Originally Posted by boatman61
Fortune's have been known to go UP as fast as they went down.... on occasions...
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"Fortune"? I call mine "the Big Husky".
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