I Had a Wooden Boat Dream!

[rugbyleague]

As the famous chap said I have a dream. The picture is my grandparents old boat that they owned 40 years ago. After many years of wondering and checking I finally found it moored about 50mins from where I live. It looks like someone has had a go at restoring but I'm told she hasn't moved for 20 years.

I have no experience or knowledge but quite a bit of time. From the pic (and this is it's best side) is it restorable? To the experts how many £s, how long to do it.........

I'll put my tin hat on!

[CubanPete]

Depends how good your skills are and how much work you want to do.

And what state it is in.

Anywhere from quite a lot, to more than you could by a boat in good condition for.

[Simpo Two]

A professional survey might be a good place to start. Then you'll know better what you're in for.

Will you do the work yourself or have to pay somebody?

[Welsh Pirate]

I know nothing about boats, but my estimate is a st-tonne of cash x100. Sadly.

[ChocolateFrog]

Having watched Leo rebuilding Tally Ho for a the last few years I'm going to say 1000's of hours and 100's of thousands of pounds.

[rugbyleague]

Thanks for the responses, I don't own the boat, and I suppose I am asking pre survey questions from a position of not knowing much about boat restoration. I could do some of the easier work and also pay for work to be done.

I get misty eyed when I think about the boat because a lot of my childhood was spent on her, that said though I do think it's perhaps a step too far.

[Simpo Two]

rugbyleague said:

Thanks for the responses, I don't own the boat, and I suppose I am asking pre survey questions from a position of not knowing much about boat restoration. I could do some of the easier work and also pay for work to be done.

I get misty eyed when I think about the boat because a lot of my childhood was spent on her, that said though I do think it's perhaps a step too far.

You don't know that yet. Passion projects transcend practical limits of time and money. I would throw a few hundred pounds at a survey now so you can make a judgement; if not you'll always regret what might have been.

[GnuBee]

ChocolateFrog said:

Having watched Leo rebuilding Tally Ho for a the last few years I'm going to say 1000's of hours and 100's of thousands of pounds.

+ a willing set of volunteers, 2 or more skilled shipwrights.. the list goes on. That project is magnificent and also a great dose of reality.

[OutInTheShed]

rugbyleague said:

....

As the famous chap said I have a dream. The picture is my grandparents old boat that they owned 40 years ago. After many years of wondering and checking I finally found it moored about 50mins from where I live. It looks like someone has had a go at restoring but I'm told she hasn't moved for 20 years.

I have no experience or knowledge but quite a bit of time. From the pic (and this is it's best side) is it restorable? To the experts how many £s, how long to do it.........

I'll put my tin hat on!

Any wooden boat can be rebuilt, even some which would be easier to just build a new one.

The big thing is, what are you going to do with it long term? It's an expensive thing to use or to store. It's expensive to keep in 'restored' condition.
Mostly the fate of old boats is for people to live on them in a style which is a long way towards ' Pi quay'.

It's not like a classic car, it won't be worth a great deal, however much you spend on it.

[rolster]

Hi i would recomend finding a local wooden boat builder or restorer and pay him a few hundred quid to take a deep dive into it and see what he says. Dont just go for any surveyor as wooden boats are not so common nowdays and allot of surveyors will not have any experience of them, their materials, issues and fixs.

[Simpo Two]

OutInTheShed said:

It's not like a classic car, it won't be worth a great deal, however much you spend on it.

It might be if he gives the job to these guys: https://www.dennettboatbuilders.co.uk/portfolio

He may not have much of a wallet left afterwards though!

[OutInTheShed]

Simpo Two said:

OutInTheShed said:

It's not like a classic car, it won't be worth a great deal, however much you spend on it.

It might be if he gives the job to these guys: https://www.dennettboatbuilders.co.uk/portfolio

He may not have much of a wallet left afterwards though!

There are a lot of beautiful boats for sale, and some of them have high asking prices.
A look around a few brokerages will give some idea of the value of a boat of the OP's genre.

There are a very few select types of motorvessel which either appeal to zillionaires, or can be made to earn their keep.
There are a lot of old wooden boats which, at this time of year, are worth very little relative to the bills they will generate over the Winter, just to get them back in the same state they were in back in April.

[classicaholic]

I have a wooden racing yacht from 1936 and it started as a quick restoration, it was floating when I bought it so how bad could it be!!

18 months on and its still not back in the water, It was painted but you can never be sure what's under the paint so it all got stripped off, luckily its quite solid and didn't need many repairs. Just repainting now and ready to fit the new engine, then just re varnish the decks, re wire it, re plumb it get the new pumps fitted because its will leak when it goes back in until it swells, then it just needs new deck fittings, new tiller, new ropes, new mast, new boom, electronics, anchors etc - oh did I forget the sails!

It will be nice when finished but probably not worth anything like what I have spent on it and it will be over 2 years work and thats using some professionals as well!

The most expensive boats are the ones that cost the least to buy!!

[rugbyleague]

Thanks everyone for posting your replies. I like the community on here because it opens your mind!

Some great questions, has sent me doing research.

I can see that boats that have had the work done aren't that expensive compared to what it looks like I need to spend on Maimie.

The what happens once its restored question is a good one.......

thank you

[Simpo Two]

rugbyleague said:

The what happens once its restored question is a good one.......

Then you enjoy it!

If you don't want to, say goodbye and walk away now.

One thought. Do you want a boat, or do you only want THIS boat (for its connections)? Head v heart time! Take time deciding.

[rugbyleague]

Simpo Two said:

Then you enjoy it!

If you don't want to, say goodbye and walk away now.

One thought. Do you want a boat, or do you only want THIS boat (for its connections)? Head v heart time! Take time deciding.

I want this boat (I think) with a spend to make it good of less than 100K..........

Am I miles away??

[Simpo Two]

rugbyleague said:

I want this boat (I think) with a spend to make it good of less than 100K..........

Am I miles away??

Until you've had it properly assessed, nobody knows... so that has to be your first goal. It will come down to how much of the structure is rotten. It might be very good under the surface, or a basket case. The more work you can do yourself, the lower the cost of course.

My personal and unqualified opinion is that £100K should be more than enough, but that is just me guessing

[rugbyleague]

thank you, so if it wasn't too far gone 100k might do it?

[rugbyleague]

[rugbyleague]