Boats Less Than $30K Recent Noteworthy Finds

[SuW]

Originally Posted by newhaul

Well guys this seems like one of those rare times that a free boat is actually a great deal .
https://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/b...734830200.html

Good find. That does look like a nice project!

[Katapult Mike]

Originally Posted by newhaul

Well guys this seems like one of those rare times that a free boat is actually a great deal .
https://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/b...734830200.html

Agreed. Rare chance at a “project” boat where you don’t have spend any time fixing someone else’s screw ups, and you focus on creating your own screw ups! Great deal!

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by SuW

Good find. That does look like a nice project!

Yes but just not for me I have to many projects already

[hpeer]

Stumbled across this boat yesterday.

This is a relatively new steel Ted Brewer 45’ pilothouse which looks to be in very good condition EXCEPTING she has few areas of sever corrosion/rust. We were just looky-lous in the yard so were not inside.

In my experience these spots are likely to be isolated areas that need attention in an otherwise decent hull. One should he able to determine that within a few hours using a good light, hammer and big screwdriver. And of course the rot may be more systemic, but that would be surprising. The boat shows all the signs of having been built by a very competent yard.

Outward signs are the owner was prepping her for launch (new zincs and paint), found the rust, and ran like hell to a broker.

ASKING price is $15,000. Clearly not for everyone, but for that guy who knows what he is doing this boat bears close examination. I have 2 steel sailboats, I don’t need 3.

There is a very detailed listing on line at Curtis and Stokes.

https://www.curtisstokes.net/ketch-f...l-2800337.html

[SuW]

Originally Posted by hpeer

Stumbled across this boat yesterday.
This is a relatively new steel Ted Brewer 45’ pilothouse which looks to be in very good condition EXCEPTING she has few areas of sever corrosion/rust. We were just looky-lous in the yard so were not inside.
In my experience these spots are likely to be isolated areas that need attention in an otherwise decent hull. One should he able to determine that within a few hours using a good light, hammer and big screwdriver. And of course the rot may be more systemic, but that would be surprising. The boat shows all the signs of having been built by a very competent yard.
Outward signs are the owner was prepping her for launch (new zincs and paint), found the rust, and ran like hell to a broker.
ASKING price is $15,000. Clearly not for everyone, but for that guy who knows what he is doing this boat bears close examination. I have 2 steel sailboats, I don’t need 3.
There is a very detailed listing on line at Curtis and Stokes.
https://www.curtisstokes.net/ketch-f...l-2800337.html

Yikes. That looks like there were wet voids in the ballasted area, that have been rusting away for a long time. Perhaps the interior of the bare hull wasn't prepared properly?

[hpeer]

Originally Posted by SuW

Yikes. That looks like there were wet voids in the ballasted area, that have been rusting away for a long time. Perhaps the interior of the bare hull wasn't prepared properly?

I could see inside a bit at this in NOT in a ballasted area. There is some painted steel here. The ballast starts just aft of here.

It does need a hard look to assess the damage, no doubt.

While it may be far worse than what is visible the possibility exists this is not a big deal.

Admittedly it will send the FG boat guys screaming.

$15k asking solves a lot of issues.

Speaking with a fair bit of acknowledged bravado here, if what I saw was the extent of the damage or close you could have a temp patch on and have her in the water in a week. 2 weeks may get you permanent repairs if the yard will work with you.

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by hpeer

Admittedly it will send the FG boat guys screaming.
$15k asking solves a lot of issues.

...and rightly so. I have built from plans, two of my own steel's...a Vandestat 29 and a Roberts 34, from plans. I helped construct a Roberts 434 and a Roberts 43. There is a reason I went to fiberglass. I cruised Mexico for 3 1/2 years on my "inferior" Hasllberg Rassy 35 and in every port and boat yard there were many abandoned and whole families working on the cancer problems with steel. Some as simple as chipping decks and cabin tops (and that was usually yearly), to full on plate replacement which is really fun for those who decided to spray-foam their interior of the hull.
In anchorages I would hear the wows of Colvin Gazelle owners with the so called impervious "Cortin" plating that their hulls were rusting. Most of these vessels, who's owners I talked to, the boats were under 25 years old. It was ruining their cruising experience. I met a family of 5 hold up in Guaymas in a crappy, dusty yard for months, trying to get back in the water.
I have a friend in his 70's now who took off from the San Fran area, in his new Roberts 43 that a bridge Engineer had built, that took over 12 years. It was beautiful and over-built...so much so, she sat 4"s down on her lines that caused all sorts of havoc. This was in 2000 and got as far as Puerto Vallerta. The boat never mover the next 10 years that it was in a hot (electrically) harbor. One day while drinking water out of his integral water tank, it tasted salty. That's right, a pin hole had developed through the 3/16" plate. She is now a boatyard queen in the Sea of Cortez where they use her as a place to visit for a month a year. Now the steel cabin is leaking. It's doubtful she will ever sail again.

Steel boats are not Fiberglass shattering vessels when they are stuck in a boat yard ruining your marriage. Nor are they any different from a fiberglass boat in a marina, year after year. They are both dock-queens. And the fact is, if there are stray currents in a marina, the steel owner usually finds out too late that their boat is being eaten alive. Aluminum is even worst.

That said...for $15K its ok if you are a young person have a good cash flow.

[SuW]

Originally Posted by hpeer

I could see inside a bit at this in NOT in a ballasted area. There is some painted steel here. The ballast starts just aft of here.
It does need a hard look to assess the damage, no doubt.
While it may be far worse than what is visible the possibility exists this is not a big deal.
Admittedly it will send the FG boat guys screaming.
$15k asking solves a lot of issues.
Speaking with a fair bit of acknowledged bravado here, if what I saw was the extent of the damage or close you could have a temp patch on and have her in the water in a week. 2 weeks may get you permanent repairs if the yard will work with you.

Yeah. Years ago we bought a neglected amateur-built steel boat and it had voids in the keel that had been filled with foam (!). They were accessible with a few acrobatics. The foam was saturated with salty water, but we got it out and there had been practically no damage to the steel (coated with coal tar epoxy). A little rust, not much. Nothing like that shown.

So something was going on in the boat you posted. As Celestial says stray current corrosion is the likely candidate. In my basement I still have a silver half cell to test that kind of thing!

We did see an aluminum boat being restored in Annapolis, years ago. it had sunk at a dock within about 3 months of being left there.

[jeanathon]

https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...-a-286147.html

[hpeer]

Originally Posted by SuW

Yeah. Years ago we bought a neglected amateur-built steel boat and it had voids in the keel that had been filled with foam (!). They were accessible with a few acrobatics. The foam was saturated with salty water, but we got it out and there had been practically no damage to the steel (coated with coal tar epoxy). A little rust, not much. Nothing like that shown.

So something was going on in the boat you posted. As Celestial says stray current corrosion is the likely candidate. In my basement I still have a silver half cell to test that kind of thing!

We did see an aluminum boat being restored in Annapolis, years ago. it had sunk at a dock within about 3 months of being left there.

Without further investigation all is just guessing.

I can see and tell from tapping this is NOT a ballasted section. My GUESS is this is a forward bilge just in front of the mast step. The sole does appear to lift in one huge PITA section. It is easy to imagine this bilge laying wet and unattended. There is also a smaller spot near the anchor locker. Another usual suspect for obvious reasons.

Repair assessment is beyond my knowledge. As evidenced here folks fear steel and run away, leaving an opportunity for the knowledgeable buyer.

[SuW]

Originally Posted by hpeer

Without further investigation all is just guessing.
I can see and tell from tapping this is NOT a ballasted section. My GUESS is this is a forward bilge just in front of the mast step. The sole does appear to lift in one huge PITA section. It is easy to imagine this bilge laying wet and unattended. There is also a smaller spot near the anchor locker. Another usual suspect for obvious reasons.
Repair assessment is beyond my knowledge. As evidenced here folks fear steel and run away, leaving an opportunity for the knowledgeable buyer.

Another suspect is perhaps something to do with the electric windlass.

We had friends who had bought an older steel boat, blasted and painted the bottom with many coats, including bottom paint, and within a few months the paint started to blister off in 2 inch patches, all over the hull.
They think the cause was the electric windlass which had no negative wire fitted - the hull was the return path for current! The footswitch was wired directly to the battery or something.

I have no real knowledge, but it was an expensive and time consuming problem for them.

[CaptWho]

1981 Hans Christian Full keel Ketch, $11,500
It would be interesting to hear the story behind this one.

https://moreboats.com/boats-for-sale...ll-keel/462120

[CaptWho]

Originally Posted by hpeer

Stumbled across this boat yesterday.

This is a relatively new steel Ted Brewer 45’ pilothouse...

I've been kind of keeping an eye on this one and really debating going to take a look at it. My problem is that I've spent a ton of money going on expeditions to view boats and I'm leery of going on another one.

[BlueH2Obound]

Originally Posted by CaptWho

I've been kind of keeping an eye on this one and really debating going to take a look at it. My problem is that I've spent a ton of money going on expeditions to view boats and I'm leery of going on another one.

Careful, if you don't look at it, it may end up being the Jewel that got away!
I know, I'm not helping, am I?

[SuW]

Originally Posted by CaptWho

I've been kind of keeping an eye on this one and really debating going to take a look at it. My problem is that I've spent a ton of money going on expeditions to view boats and I'm leery of going on another one.

We did this before buying our "perfect" boat. We visited Lake Ontario, British Columbia, California, Florida, Annapolis MD. The Chesapeake was by far the best place to look at world-cruising-type boats. Something to do with the proximity of money?

We kicked dozens of hulls, took thousands of pictures, bothered quite a few brokers, but I'll say it was worth all the time and money. We learned a lot about boats. And every boat, especially when older, is different.

The perfect boat is long gone, but we value the experience.