To refurbish or not to refurbish, that is the question

[weavis]

O.K.
If it was mine.
Not knowing what you paid for it, or if you would lose you shirt, but assuming its a good vessel.

Id clean and sterilise. Rip out what is not essential. Make seaworthy. Get it to Spain or the UK and go to work. Either way, its cheaper and easier to work on it at home.

[scuba0_1]

You didn't user it for 4 years you fix it then what let it sit again are you going to use it.

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[Hawkeye]

Sell it. You are retiring. There are too many great boats and things to do out there to allow yourself to become a slave to a bad idea. Wash your hands of it and move on. I would bet you will make many new friends overseas, some with boats you may join them on for brief cruises and adventures. Your taste in what you see as 'the right boat' may shift considerably, and you might not want the old boat at all. Move on and leave this disaster behind.

Said by a man who has just ended 30 years of work on his own boat.

[WindwardPrinces]

Start with a good cleaning. Then make a list.

That boat will look 100% better with some basic cleaning. Where are you keeping it?

This sort of depends on whether you want a project or to go sailing. Since you already own it, the initial work you do will raise the value. Do the cheap stuff first, and then decide.

[rbrentp]

A quick point on mold. Had a similar problem with a Cat. Older style with carpet on the wall instead of smooth finish. Pressure washer "cleaned" but did not kill. The 10% bleach solution has to be very close to right. Too much and the mold closes up for protection, too little and it doesn't die. I switched to boric acid dissolved in water. (heat the water to about 140f and dissolve in as mush as it will take. Will not precipitate out when cool.) This cleaned and killed beautifully. Five years on the Gulf Coast and not a spec anywhere.

[a64pilot]

If the engine is good and runs without oil consumption, I think maybe the boat is salvageable, with a lot of work. If your going to do it yourself, if you plan to pay other to have it done, bail out now before you get in too deep.
If the engines' not excellent, I'm afraid it's throwing good money after bad

[Azul]

Please don't take this advice as being mean spirited, it's just my opinion but I have recently undertaken a similar project, but mine wasn't nearly as bad as yours.

This vessel is a 1979 W35, more commonly listed as a Conway 36. There are a few for sale in the $50K range ranging down to $30K in good condition. They don't appear to be selling.

There aren't any rave reviews on this Westerly design that I can find. The interior fit and finish on nice copies isn't what I would expect on a used $50K boat. It isn't particularly attractive to look at (a Westerly issue) and is also old. Most people prefer pouring money into old boats only when they are both attractive and functional. Not to mention having a traveler run across the middle of the cockpit...

Weavis wonders whether you would lose your shirt by selling. You have already lost your shirt by buying a boat when you were at risk of being transferred out of the country (China for three years) with the eventual plan to live in Scotland. Then you found it would be $8 to $10K to ship the boat to the UK, followed by the decision to leave the boat in FL for four years with no one checking on it or maintaining it with disastrous results.

Now, you plan to refurbish the boat in the Keys while you live in Scotland. Afterward do you plan to take it to Scotland? Even Boatman will require you to make it somewhat blue water ready!

Situational awareness is a good thing for a man to develop. Judging by past performance, IMO you are about to embark on another painful experience. Expensive refit in terms of time/money/both on a questionably worthy vessel in a different country than which you live, hurricane season, endless storage, transportation to UK or Scotland, VAT, RCD certification, modifications, electrical upgrades, paint, headliner, roller furler, new cushions etc etc etc.

Sometimes when you are in a deep hole you need to know when to stop digging. This is one of those times. Sell the boat or better yet donate it to a charity and take the tax write off (use the before not the after pictures for this.) Create a new dream close to home.

Good luck and best wishes for the best possible outcome.

[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by Azul

Please don't take this advice as being mean spirited, it's just my opinion but I have recently undertaken a similar project, but mine wasn't nearly as bad as yours.

This vessel is a 1979 W35, more commonly listed as a Conway 36. There are a few for sale in the $50K range ranging down to $30K in good condition. They don't appear to be selling.

There aren't any rave reviews on this Westerly design that I can find. The interior fit and finish on nice copies isn't what I would expect on a used $50K boat. It isn't particularly attractive to look at (a Westerly issue) and is also old. Most people prefer pouring money into old boats only when they are both attractive and functional. Not to mention having a traveler run across the middle of the cockpit...

Weavis wonders whether you would lose your shirt by selling. You have already lost your shirt by buying a boat when you were at risk of being transferred out of the country (China for three years) with the eveyntual plan to live in Scotland. Then you found it would be $8 to $10K to ship the boat to the UK, followed by the decision to leave the boat in FL for four years with no one checking on it or maintaining it with disastrous results.

Now, you plan to refurbish the boat in the Keys while you live in Scotland. Afterward do you plan to take it to Scotland? Even Boatman will require you to make it somewhat blue water ready!

Situational awareness is a good thing for a man to develop. Judging by past performance, IMO you are about to embark on another painful experience. Expensive refit in terms of time/money/both on a questionably worthy vessel in a different country than which you live, hurricane season, endless storage, transportation to UK or Scotland, VAT, RCD certification, modifications, electrical upgrades, paint, headliner, roller furler, new cushions etc etc etc.

Sometimes when you are in a deep hole you need to know when to stop digging. This is one of those times. Sell the boat or better yet donate it to a charity and take the tax write off (use the before not the after pictures for this.) Create a new dream close to home.

Good luck and best wishes for the best possible outcome.

This is the wisest advice.

Frankly, it irritates me when nice boats turn to ***** because of neglect and you have really neglected this one. Sell it cheap and someone can give it the love it should have. Your likely to pour money In to it only to do the same thing again. Four years? Living abroad is no excuse. So let someone else enjoy her.

[pillum]

Originally Posted by Rustic Charm

This is the wisest advice.

Frankly, it irritates me when nice boats turn to ***** because of neglect and you have really neglected this one. Sell it cheap and someone can give it the love it should have. Your likely to pour money In to it only to do the same thing again. Four years? Living abroad is no excuse. So let someone else enjoy her.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion Rustic Charm, and frankly, it pleases me that you are irritated.

Stripped out half of the main cabin woodwork today, rest tomorrow, then gally and heads at the weekend, followed by forecabin. Specialist cleaner is dealing with the mould in Mey/June, and the engine will be serviced in June/July. I'll be back in July to put the jigsaw back together.

I think the pics painted a worse picture than reality, I'll post pics of the refurb as it progresses.

[Matt Johnson]

Originally Posted by pillum

Everyone is entitled to an opinion Rustic Charm, and frankly, it pleases me that you are irritated.

Stripped out half of the main cabin woodwork today, rest tomorrow, then gally and heads at the weekend, followed by forecabin. Specialist cleaner is dealing with the mould in Mey/June, and the engine will be serviced in June/July. I'll be back in July to put the jigsaw back together.

I think the pics painted a worse picture than reality, I'll post pics of the refurb as it progresses.

Good for you! Please keep the photos coming.

Matt

[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by pillum

Everyone is entitled to an opinion Rustic Charm, and frankly, it pleases me that you are irritated.

Stripped out half of the main cabin woodwork today, rest tomorrow, then gally and heads at the weekend, followed by forecabin. Specialist cleaner is dealing with the mould in Mey/June, and the engine will be serviced in June/July. I'll be back in July to put the jigsaw back together.

I think the pics painted a worse picture than reality, I'll post pics of the refurb as it progresses.

[rhhmadry]

How do you plan to get to the mold in areas that are not visible?

[Cheechako]

I wonder why all the ply rippled up/separated but not the bulkheads? Are you saying they are ok?

[pillum]

Hi Madry- I have totally emptied the main cabin in the past two days to give the clearing specialist access, I should have the rest of the interior out in the next few days. Wood is drying nicely, and I'll have it treated before I re-install it. Facings will be new ones anyway. (I expect it will take much longer to put the puzzle back together)

Hi Cheechako - The ripples is the Saple laminate, the wood behind it is good. I'll take pics tomorrow and show you. (more black mold than I have ever seen before, but it will be gone soon).

[pillum]

Main cabin stripped out ready for the specialist cleaner, also prepared the hanging lockers and the heads.

Quarter berth, galley, nav station and forecabin will be stripped out by mid-week.

Cut the fanbelts today, and the engine turned fairly easily.

Pics: