Captain Ron Jon

[captain58sailin]

I would have a survey done first, it will take the emotional aspect out of the equation. Not totally, but it will help. A survey shouldn't cost you more than 3 or 4 hundred dollars. I feel for you losing your father. I would agree, if possible position your vessel closer to where you live, it will ease the process for going to the boat and working on it.

[RedHerring]

+1 on a survey by someone who REALLY knows wooden boats (most of them don't). At 15 years without a haulout, chances that she doesn't have dry rot or worms somewhere invisible are slim. The big question is "where, how much and is it possible to replace all the dead wood at a reasonable cost".

Mechanical stuff you can deal with. It's hull integrity issues that kill wooden boats.

[Bonvivant]

Thanks for the sound advice.

I wanted to give you all an update. I just got back from spending the weekend on her. There is dry rot. I poked around with an all on the bulkheads. Everything on the inside feels solid. Outside on the hull, what I could reach below the water line, felt solid. There is about a 3' x 3" area on the forward pulpit that is almost an actual hole. She's pretty bad there, and there is a section starbord aft that actually does have a hole. It's the width of one of the hull boards by a length of 5", and is about 3' above the water line. I took a few pictures, and I'll post them when I get some time this week. It definitely needs to be out hauled in West Port, and I'll be calling them in the next day or two to get a general idea of the cost. I'm guessing 5-10k, but I'm sure some of you know a lot better than me what new paint, and some hull replacement would cost.

She does have a lot going for her though. She's running good, the fuel is good. The salon is in great shape, with the exception of some upholstery. She has a working VHF, GPS, and Radar. The batteries need to be replaced, as well as the rigging. The sails look great, and there are two sets. I'll let you all know more when I can, and have those pictures up soon.

[captain58sailin]

Where the hull and deck come together, where the transom and the hull planks join, and the keelson, where the vertical bulkhead joins the horizontal deck joins on the cabin, are likely places to look for rot, also anywhere fresh water can accumulate.

[atoll]

that hole near the waterline and on deck,as a temporary fix,a bit of 1/4' plywood with sikaflex on the inner side nailed with panel pins over the holes will stop the further ingress of water till you get her hauled.

as for cost,being a wooden boat your biggest problem will be finding someone who has the skills these days to effect a proper repair.

[captain58sailin]

Around Port Townsend there are still some skilled wood boat craftsmen.

[atoll]

Originally Posted by captain58sailin

Around Port Townsend there are still some skilled wood boat craftsmen.

might be an idea to find one of these guys and get them to have a look,quite often shipwrights have acces to their own slips or have deals with yards when subcontracting work.
they will also be able to give you a much better idea as to the costs involved locally than we can at distance!

[Azul]

Having spent a year restoring my mother's 1853 farmhouse I can understand your sentimental attachment to the boat, it would have been much cheaper/easier/cost effective for me to have bulldozed the home and started over fresh.

As someone already mentioned, I would recommend spending your money on having the boat moved to a marina close to your home if this is possible- one that allows you to work on it yourself and bring in outside contractors also, some yards still allow this. Otherwise you are planning to spend over 100 hours this year alone driving back and forth to work on it, selling your other boat and making your family unhappy- a plan doomed to failure just based on the frowny faces you are already making.

I wouldn't bother with a survey if you are going to keep the boat no matter what the expense of repairing it, if you are cash poor temporarily. Find a blog (or several) that describes a total refit of a boat similar to yours, you can learn a lot by doing this. However, from the description you are giving you are probably aware the boat is almost certainly not worth repairing if not for the sentimental value and a minimal survey will likely prove this for $400. It's a wooden boat, you could salvage innumerable artifacts from the boat as mementos for the family- maybe even use the wood to panel your library. Maybe your father wouldn't be happy seeing you following HIS dream.

Finally, consider doing what Atoll said to do, make temporary repairs to keep the thing afloat through the summer and keep your boat for now. Make the Captain Ron (certainly an ironic name) a winter project after you have graduated and have more resources and time to think things over. Find ways to make this a happy project instead of an expensive millstone around your neck. On a positive note, one of my marina neighbors epoxied their 50 foot wooden hulled Pacemaker and the boat is better than new.

[hpeer]

In the meantime,go pickup a copy of Wooden Boat Magazine. There is a article inthe current issue about a Cheasapeak Bay Buy Boat in worse condition. Might give you some ideas.

[Bonvivant]

Originally Posted by captain58sailin

Around Port Townsend there are still some skilled wood boat craftsmen.

I've heard a lot about the guys up there. They have quite the reputation for their trade skills and love for boat building. I believe they also host an annual boat show for woodies. If I could get it there, I know she'd be in good hands. I'm going to try and see if that be an option. Since I found that West Port does not have an out haul, I called the closest place, which is in Aberdeen. They have not gotten back to me yet.

I'm thinking that I might have to get a hold of someone, either from Port Townsend or up there locally to survey her and can say if she'd make it to Aberdeen. If not, a crane may be my only other option. The trip would be about 20 miles through Gray's Harbor Bay. Absolutely better than open ocean, and I may even be able to take my SeaRay Sundeck 220 to escort her.

It was just great being on her, and making her shine again..what little I could get to. It's a special boat for sure, and I shared my Dad's dream of cruising tropical waters...like many of you lucky guys do. Thank you for all the advice, and I'll keep you updated.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by Bonvivant

Hello, my name is Jon, and I'm new to the forum. I burried my Dad last week, and he left me his 44' Ketch. It's an all wood, 1 off design. After many searches, I can't find another one like it.

It's been about 10 years since I helped him rebuild the engine in it, and it's been about 15 years since it's been out-hualed.

I just got finished reading a thread where a guy got really flamed for asking a question, and I hope that's not going to happen here.

A little history about me, I've sailed very little, in a small boat with my Dad. That was when I was younger, but I've never sailed with him on the Ketch. I've worked on it with him, and we had a lot of really great times on it. He was too weak in his older age to take it out. So before anyone tells me to sell it due to my lack of expierence, I'll tell them to think about that one carefully.

Now this isn't a fancy boat, it's my Dad's boat, Captain Ron. The boat needs work...it's work that I want to do myself..as much as I possibly can.

So after laying my story out there, I hope there are a few good fellows out there that can give me some solid advice. I'm considering selling my current boat to afford the repairs. I've also been reading a lot about sailing/cruising the last few years. I'm planning on crewing this summer at my local marina and working on his boat (which is 4.5 hours away), one weekend a month for the next year, just to keep it up until I can out-haul it. I have a good friend that is a master mechanic, and we are headed up there in two weeks to do a modest, superficial survey, clean up, throw out garbage, and organize what's there.

Does it sound like I'm on the right course? Thanks in advance, all possitive advice is greatly appreciated.

Cheers

I ended up with my fathers 48' foot flush deck motor yacht when he got to old to maintain it. Long story short, trucked it from NJ to SC after removing the superstructure. Ended up removing diesels, gen set and whatever and burning the hull. Had a survey, useless old man but confirmed my thoughts. I hope you have a better outcome.

[Bonvivant]

Originally Posted by Cadence

I ended up with my fathers 48' foot flush deck motor yacht when he got to old to maintain it. Long story short, trucked it from NJ to SC after removing the superstructure. Ended up removing diesels, gen set and whatever and burning the hull. Had a survey, useless old man but confirmed my thoughts. I hope you have a better outcome.

I'm sorry to hear that. I had quite a few offers on mine, but if I sold her, it would be like selling a piece of my Dad. Someone had mentioned during the time of my Father's wake, that we put him on it and set it on fire...somewhat Norwegian custom from days past. As much as that option appealed to me, I more hope the boat will bring a lot of people happiness for a very long time to come, even after I'm gone. My Dad would have liked that more.

I hope to have her out with a survey done before winter hits. I'm working two jobs, so it's harder this time of year. I did get the steering working. One of the pulleys had broken free, and needed a new mount before the cable could be refit. Now there is wheel steering again.

Currently, I'm working on two brackets. One for the water pump and another for the alternator. Once that is done, I'll be able to out-haul and replace the through hulls and wood...along with the rubber sleeve covering the drive that has me worried the most out of anything.

I'll keep everyone updated. Again, thank you all for the help.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by Bonvivant

I'm sorry to hear that. I had quite a few offers on mine, but if I sold her, it would be like selling a piece of my Dad. Someone had mentioned during the time of my Father's wake, that we put him on it and set it on fire...somewhat Norwegian custom from days past. As much as that option appealed to me, I more hope the boat will bring a lot of people happiness for a very long time to come, even after I'm gone. My Dad would have liked that more.

I hope to have her out with a survey done before winter hits. I'm working two jobs, so it's harder this time of year. I did get the steering working. One of the pulleys had broken free, and needed a new mount before the cable could be refit. Now there is wheel steering again.

Currently, I'm working on two brackets. One for the water pump and another for the alternator. Once that is done, I'll be able to out-haul and replace the through hulls and wood...along with the rubber sleeve covering the drive that has me worried the most out of anything.

I'll keep everyone updated. Again, thank you all for the help.

I guess you're another squire head. My father would say "Give a squire head apiece of wood and he'll build a boat."

Best wishes with your quest.

[Bonvivant]

Originally Posted by Cadence

I guess you're another squire head. My father would say "Give a squire head apiece of wood and he'll build a boat."

Best wishes with your quest.

Ha, I'll take that as a compliment. We'll see how it goes. All I can do is what I can do.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by Bonvivant

Ha, I'll take that as a compliment. We'll see how it goes. All I can do is what I can do.

Meant square, Norsk if you like. The only think worse than my typing is my spelling. And Norsk isn't a misspell. An I consider it a compliment.