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Boulard83 · 07-09-2014, 13:12

Hi guys, i'll start with a short presentation, I'm Boulard, 31yrs old from Québec and french is my first language and i'm sorry if my english typing is'nt perfect.

I'm sailing small boats for pretty much all my life and i now feel the need of going bigger with something that can be lived on for at least the weekend and maybe a weeks or 2 when on vacation but never that far from land so "refill" of goods and fuel wont be an issue. Also, i live right next to the "Fleuve St-Laurent" ( St-Lawrence river ) and i have a few marina nearby. This river can be sailed from the great lake and all the way to the "Golf du St-Laurent" and evn to the atlantic but it's not my goal.

My main interest is that i really like to work and craft my own stuff so buying an old boat and rebuilding the interior, redoing the pain, repairing the engine/electrical ( i have a 6yrs car mecanic background and an electronics ) and things like that dont afraid me and in fact, i prefer to do it myslef and by this work, also better knowing my boat.

I spotted a "Grampian 31 classic". I like the model and the "old school" design. My girlfriend is not that much interested into fast boat so this also point me to good cruiser instead of fast by less confortable boats.

Is the model solid ? Even after 40yrs, is it worth the time to take it back to the water after 2 or 3 years of slow work ?

onestepcsy37 · 07-09-2014, 14:21

It's a good old boat, and with your skills and time should turn out well.

Boulard83 · 08-09-2014, 15:19

Thanks for the input.

**Ex-Calif** · 08-09-2014, 15:42

It sounds like you are committed to work on a boat and are willing to put 2 years into working on it. Here are some thoughts.

- You need to have very easy access to the boat. Near you in a yard that allows people to work on their own boats.
- If you work full time you will likely have only the weekends to work on the boat. In your region there is a large part of the year that is too cold and miserable to work outside. Factor that in for time.
- You will need lots of tools and a place at home to do fabrication. It generally takes me an hour to get to the boat and get all the tools out to work beside the boat.
- You will need to find and become friends with all kinds of fabricators from welders to woodworkers
- You will need a ton of tools.
- You won't save any money over buying a boat that needs minor repairs. It will likely cost more but you have the satisfaction of getting the boat the way you want.
- You will never recover the investment if/when you sell it.

This is not to discourage you. Just to set the realities. There are lots of folks who are great at fixing boats. however their hobby is fixing boats, not camping and sailing on the weekends.

Boulard83 · 08-09-2014, 16:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ex-Calif

It sounds like you are committed to work on a boat and are willing to put 2 years into working on it. Here are some thoughts.

- You need to have very easy access to the boat. Near you in a yard that allows people to work on their own boats.
- If you work full time you will likely have only the weekends to work on the boat. In your region there is a large part of the year that is too cold and miserable to work outside. Factor that in for time.
- You will need lots of tools and a place at home to do fabrication. It generally takes me an hour to get to the boat and get all the tools out to work beside the boat.
- You will need to find and become friends with all kinds of fabricators from welders to woodworkers
- You will need a ton of tools.
- You won't save any money over buying a boat that needs minor repairs. It will likely cost more but you have the satisfaction of getting the boat the way you want.
- You will never recover the investment if/when you sell it.

This is not to discourage you. Just to set the realities. There are lots of folks who are great at fixing boats. however their hobby is fixing boats, not camping and sailing on the weekends.

Thanks for this great post !

I'll have the boat on my yard for the period of time i'll work on it and i have a tons of tools to work with metal/wood and more.

I'm aware that it wont be a peice of cake and that it will cost alot but as you told, the satisfaction of sailing something i built ( rebuilt ) myself will overtake the expense !

**Ex-Calif** · 08-09-2014, 16:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boulard83

Thanks for this great post !

I'll have the boat on my yard for the period of time i'll work on it and i have a tons of tools to work with metal/wood and more.

I'm aware that it wont be a peice of cake and that it will cost alot but as you told, the satisfaction of sailing something i built ( rebuilt ) myself will overtake the expense !

You sound well prepared to take this on. I look forward to your future postings!

The only other thought is to very carefully consider if you want a wooden boat. They are a labor of love. And you need a lot of love to make it work - LOL...

Boulard83 · 08-09-2014, 16:25

I'll post a build log here as soon as i get it going !

onestepcsy37 · 08-09-2014, 17:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ex-Calif

You sound well prepared to take this on. I look forward to your future postings!

The only other thought is to very carefully consider if you want a wooden boat. They are a labor of love. And you need a lot of love to make it work - LOL...

Not to worry, its a fiberglass boat!