FREE, or close to free!

[hamburking]

Originally Posted by LittleWing77

Contessa 26 is gone.

Although they're very seaworthy boats, their one very great drawback is you can't stand up in them! Gawd, but that feels cramped long-term...

My experience watching "free" boats, is that they often "sell" several times.

Everyone is eager to own the boat, but the moment it comes to moving the boat, or paying for something (like winter haulout or their own slip), suddenly they become less interested in owning the boat. The worst situation is where they take the outboard engine (and anything else of apparent value), and walk away.

And I agree with LittleWing, although its an excellent boat, it is cramped and small for a 26 footer. Many common models in this size (26/27), like the C&C27, Mirage 26/27, or even the Grampian 26, have loads more space below, and modest standing headroom. And the cost of ownership, which generally is "by the foot" is the same. So even though the C26 is a great, seaworth boat, its not a great value when it comes to the cost of ownership in my area.

[john61ct]

oops

more characters

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by hamburking

My experience watching "free" boats, is that they often "sell" several times.

Everyone is eager to own the boat, but the moment it comes to moving the boat, or paying for something (like winter haulout or their own slip), suddenly they become less interested in owning the boat. The worst situation is where they take the outboard engine (and anything else of apparent value), and walk away.
.

I agree that's why I finally hand walked the new owners to the courthouse to transfer ownership .

[hamburking]

As the weather gets colder here on the Great Lakes, FREE boats seem to be everywhere.

This is a good looking Hughes on a double axle trailer...FREE...located in Midland, which is north of Toronto at the southern tip of Georgian Bay.

...and could the pic be any more Canadian? For a toonie you can buy a coffee (double, double), some timbits, and a ready to sail pocket cruiser!

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-sailboat/bar...ationFlag=true

From the ad:

Looking for someone to take our water-ready 21 ft Hughes sailboat off our hands. Hull is in good shape. Trailer, mast, boom, main sail and jib included. 9 HP motor negotiable.

Purchased this beauty with a friend a couple of years ago, but too busy to make use of it. Currently stored in Midland area and needs a new home by Thanksgiving!

[Oldfurr]

This bunch on the Chessie have always had at least 6 free boats as well as multiple cheapos on their website over the past 2 or 3 months that I've been looking at it. Some have not seemed half bad online but I have not been there myself. The free boats are towards the bottom of the page.

https://boatrescuer.com/

[senormechanico]

Oldfurr is right. Most of the free boats have old fur (mold) in them.

[newhaul]

Why are all the free boats on the east coast and not here :-):-):-):-)

[Oldfurr]

Originally Posted by senormechanico

Oldfurr is right. Most of the free boats have old fur (mold) in them.

Eh, I find wearing a SunPac on a string around my neck handles most of those problems.

[thomm225]

Alberg 30 $9999 Gloucester, VA

https://norfolk.craigslist.org/boa/d...994900918.html

[john61ct]

Getting farther from "close to free" there IMO

Market value keeps dropping on these classic plastic, to the point even the famous ones don't hold value, worth more parted out.

Damn shame

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by john61ct

Getting farther from "close to free" there IMO

Market value keeps dropping on these classic plastic, to the point even the famous ones don't hold value, worth more parted out.

Damn shame

Remember that's the asking price.........if you're talking the Alberg.

Gloucester/Deltaville is a bit out in the boonies ........so you never know what they might accept

Btw, I'm at $12,000 or so on my so called close to free boat (over 8 years and it still needs rigging)

[john61ct]

Yes the criterion is published acquisition price, ability to haggle down is largely outside the scope

and fix/upfitting costs definitely, even more so.

The "under 30K" thread exists

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by john61ct

Yes the criterion is published acquisition price, ability to haggle down is largely outside the scope

and fix/upfitting costs definitely, even more so.

The "under 30K" thread exists

It possible you may need to read some of the old posts here about the pitfalls of so called free boats

This Alberg 30 at an asking price of $10k (just below) might end up being much cheaper to own in the long run than a so called free boat

If it isn't, I know where one is that definitely would be better than any free boat listed here. It's a Cape Dory 270. 1985. Westerbeke Diesel. Wheek Steering. Asking Price: $10,000.

I asked about a Cape Dory 270 a few days ago on the Monohulls Forum

I've been on it! The interior is perfect better than the one on the link below. There's no smell of dampness in the cabin even though it hasn't been opened in months. The engine has no rust. It's a Westerbeke diesel. It has a dodger and a bimini. The boat hasn't moved since I've been at this marina so the bottom needs to be cleaned and painted most probably

https://www.sailboatlistings.com/view/73051

The boat is called Wings and can be seen at the 24 second mark in the video below. (and the stern at the start of the video) It's in the slip beside the Nor Sea 27 which hasn't moved since 2011

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DH6YMV8kSaE

[Oldfurr]

Originally Posted by john61ct

Yes the criterion is published acquisition price, ability to haggle down is largely outside the scope

and fix/upfitting costs definitely, even more so.

The "under 30K" thread exists

This above, $10,000 is nowhere near free and not close to cheap to my view of the world. Good value for the $30,000 and below world perhaps IF in good shape but...... not close to free OR cheap for a 48 year old small boat.

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by Oldfurr

This above, $10,000 is nowhere near free and not close to cheap to my view of the world. Good value for the $30,000 and below world perhaps IF in good shape but...... not close to free OR cheap for a 48 year old small boat.

Trust me, $10,000 is cheap if you can find a good boat for that price with working engine, serviceable sails, electronics, anchors, rode, decent rigging, no soft spots, roller furling, running rigging that you can wash and bring back at least to start with, etc, etc

A free boat might need a new engine, sails, rigging, electronics, anchors, autopilot, solar, above water paint, and bottom paint at $170 - $225 per gallon.

Add up a few of these. Btw, how many boats have you owned?

I've owned about 5 practically free boats ($700 and under) and 2 new ones plus a couple more good ones.