I have a theory about the value of a wooden boat.

[Huntsman]

As an item, a wooden boat is worthless, in fact, its a liabilty.

When the time comes for a new owner to be found, the price that should be paid is only equal to the amount of money that has been spent on maintenance in the very recent future and hence expenditure has been deferred for the current 2 or 3 seasons in paint and brightwork, or longer for more substantial undertakings.

This should be calculated based on the current labour rate in a boat yard, using top quality materials, inclusive of VAT and assumes the most thorough job possible, ie paintwork or varnish back to bare wood, full sheet or whole plank replacement, all keelbolts, complete refasten and so on.

A down at heel boat, needing planking, a rig, engines, paint, varnish, fastenings, tanks, rigging, covers, essentially a full rebuild or refit is in fact worthless, in these cases a small contribution to the seller should be made in the way of a polite gesture.

Am I far off?

[anonymous-user]

Like anything else, it's value is decided by what somebody is prepared to pay for it. Buying a wooden boat is rarely a decision made with the head, they are more often than not a money pit, but most people will expect that.

The question really is what value do you put on the enjoyment that you are likely to get out of owning the boat? I own a traditional broads sailing boat, in the 5 or so years I've owned it i've spent far more on maintaining it than I did in buying it, financially it is the worst investment I ever made. However, when I am sailing at full pelt on Barton Broad or sitting on the cabin roof with a glass of wine watching the sun go down and listening to the birds I can't think of many other things that bring me so much joy.

[Riff Raff]

Inkyfingers said:

However, when I am sailing at full pelt on Barton Broad or sitting on the cabin roof with a glass of wine watching the sun go down and listening to the birds I can't think of many other things that bring me so much joy.

I feel the same in a plastic boat. I feel even better when I go below to sleep in the certain knowledge that it isn't going to sink on its mooring..........

Huntsman, I love looking at wooden boats, I feel nothing but admiration for people who want to spend a lot of their leisure time maintaining them, but nothing would persuade me ever to buy one.

[anonymous-user]

Riff Raff said:

Inkyfingers said:

However, when I am sailing at full pelt on Barton Broad or sitting on the cabin roof with a glass of wine watching the sun go down and listening to the birds I can't think of many other things that bring me so much joy.

I feel the same in a plastic boat. I feel even better when I go below to sleep in the certain knowledge that it isn't going to sink on its mooring..........

As I said, buying a wooden boat is not a rational decision, before I bought the boat my father and me had hired similar boats for years so they hold a lot of memories for me. Personally I love the classic lines of a traditional boat, a modern fibreglass boat is easier to live with and faster, but I use it half a dozen times a year for a few days, i'm not travelling round the world on it. It's a bit like arguing that camping is pointless when you can stay in a hotel, one isn't better than the other, they are just different.

I assume that the sinking bit was a joke, a well maintained wooden boat won't just sink overnight.

[Riff Raff]

Inkyfingers said:

I assume that the sinking bit was a joke, a well maintained wooden boat won't just sink overnight.

Not really. A few years ago in the Marina where I kept mine a wooden boat went down overnight. Not common, I admit, but it isn't something I'll ever forget

[Huntsman]

The trick is to keep on top of maintenance rather than let it go...then your in strife!

[bga]

Riff Raff said:

Not really. A few years ago in the Marina where I kept mine a wooden boat went down overnight. Not common, I admit, but it isn't something I'll ever forget

My dad makes a nice bit of income from tarting up small (<30ft) plastic boats that have sunk. There are plants of them around!

[Fishtigua]

Huntsman said:

In these cases a small contribution to the seller should be made in the way of a polite gesture.

Am I far off?

No, he should be paying you 50 quid a week to keep the bleeder very, very far away.

My stepfather has been involved with building, designing, maintaining and sailing wooden yachts for 75 years. There really is nothing like owning one to teach you about how to treat a boat.

It's like trying to explain why you have a classic car to a bloke in a Nissan Stanza (or insert name of dull, plastic car of choice). Yes, his is newer and not as much hard work to maintain but does he actually want to spend his time and what little passion he has on it?

For wooden boats, you just have to be the right sort of idiot to keep one.

Here's one the old man designed and built.

http://www.gimcrackyacht.com/

[Huntsman]

Fishtigua said:

No, he should be paying you 50 quid a week to keep the bleeder very, very far away.

My stepfather has been involved with building, designing, maintaining and sailing wooden yachts for 75 years. There really is nothing like owning one to teach you about how to treat a boat.

It's like trying to explain why you have a classic car to a bloke in a Nissan Stanza (or insert name of dull, plastic car of choice). Yes, his is newer and not as much hard work to maintain but does he actually want to spend his time and what little passion he has on it?

For wooden boats, you just have to be the right sort of idiot to keep one.

Here's one the old man designed and built.

http://www.gimcrackyacht.com/

I thought I could see a bit of Stephens in that sheerline, lovely boat, clearly the right sort of owner for the last 35 years.

[alfaspecial]

Don't they say that the day you buy a wooden boat is the second best day in your life....... and the day you sell it is the best!

Seriously, I think as previous posters have implied either you want a wooden boat or you don't. And just like a classic car you are going to spend a lot of time/money on it. And that is rewarding in it's self - in the same way there is a lot of pleasure to be gained when you stop banging your head against the brick wall!

[dave-the-diver]

Inkyfingers said:

I own a traditional broads sailing boat,

(Hickling, not Barton!)

David

[anonymous-user]

Jasmine... is she yours?

Lovely bit of sail on show there, the only thing I don't like about ours is the obligatory bermudan rig (ex Herbert Woods fleet).

[dave-the-diver]

Inkyfingers said:

Jasmine... is she yours?

Sometimes feels the other way round....

Just occasionally, on congested narrow river in blustery conditions, I do envy the simplicity of a Tupperware (not yours, I know) bermudan, rattling sails up and down in a flash from the cockpit, but then, on a benign day as above, with acres of water to play in, to mis-quote Carroll Shelby, there ain't no substitute for square feet of canvas.

Which is yours?

David

[anonymous-user]

dave-the-diver said:

Sometimes feels the other way round....

Just occasionally, on congested narrow river in blustery conditions, I do envy the simplicity of a Tupperware (not yours, I know) bermudan, rattling sails up and down in a flash from the cockpit, but then, on a benign day as above, with acres of water to play in, to mis-quote Carroll Shelby, there ain't no substitute for square feet of canvas.

Which is yours?

David

I know what you mean, paid some fairly huge bills early in the year (the sort you have to lie to your wife about!), and there is more work to do this winter. Only saving grace is my dad and I own it together so at least the bills are halved.

Ours is Fair Lady 2, kept at Horning. Not the sleekest boat on the river, but good fun and has very docile handling. Just miss that extra bit of sail up top, especially in the more sheltered bits.