Hard Yard Full of Wooden Beauties

[AuxiliaryComms]

What's the market like, generally (I know it varies), for wood boat restorations? I live just down the road from Crowne Point Marina (formerly Cooks) in Hayes, VA and their yard is littered with sound-looking, beatiful old wooden boats from your every-variety Chris Craft to traditional lined sail-boats.

Every time I'm forced to walk past I have to stop and stare, "it's a shame," I think to myself.

I'd love to make a hobby or a living out of grabbing these boats and bringing them back to life. Thing is I don't have any savings, I'm 24 with a family, I'm trying to change careers and if none of the rest mattered I'd still have no clue how to start.

I've read enough to know many of you are in the restoration business and I know with online brokerages there's a large customer base to be had, I just don't know what to do next.

PS. Don't bother, I've already tried several cures, I've got the 'bug', for life.

[Landlubber]

Why not take the bull by the horns and go ask if there is anyone that owns one of these beauties that would let you have it.

It is possible that they cannot sell them, they pay rent to be there and you never know your luck in a big city!

[Butch .H]

Just do it everythig else will fall in place. I procrastinated for years then found my old boat.Happy as a pig in #$%.Looking for the next one. Wooden boats are infectious my wife found on to and now we fight over tools


Regards
Butch

[rwferr]

I live in Midlothian and keep my boat in Deltaville. I have a 1963 38 foot Wallace Craft built by Humes Wallace on Hoopers Island Maryland. I uploaded a picture of her. She is white oak and cedar. I am right down the road from Hayes in fact I drove right by that marina you spoke of last weekend.

Nobody seems to want wooden boats anymore and tons are sitting in yards all over the place around here. Many people have let them go and cannot get rid of them. In many cases they would have to pay to dispose of them and that is getting more and more difficult as well with the additional environmental regulations. As such many people are stuck with them and would probably give one to someone who would take over the yard fees.

In fact boats in general are selling very slowly right now because of gas prices and the economy. If you were into wooden boats you can make your own deal right now. I would say that no offer is too ridiculous to try personally including take over the yard fees and no money given. One thing I would say though if you aren't familiar with wooden boats is do not buy without a survey because one of those boats that looks sound could easily need 50k or more. No kidding. And if you are doing the work yourself the materials and yard fees could still be very expensive. There is no reason to buy a boat that needs tons of work either because people are also unloading boats that need little or no work for cheap too. Thats my 2 cents anyway. If I was interested in any of those boats in the yard I would call the owner and make an extreme lowball offer contingent on a survey.

[DanBerger]

I'm in Va Beach and I'm working on a 50's CC Capri--know of any runabouts in any of those yards??

[rwferr]

I have not seen any Dan. All cruisers.

[MastSplit]

There is a limited market for wooden boats. To educate yourself, buy a copy of Wooden Boat and read ads. Building on the good advice you received above from Butch and Landlubber, I think a good way to start would be to low-ball an offer on a boat that is collectable, fix it up and sell it. If you get a good price, it will give you a good idea what you have to do to turn-around more of the same. It must be like building antique or classic cars: You learn by reading what models/manufacturers are collectable, then find one, fix it up without losing your shirt, and sell it for a profit. Don't forget your family !!! And don't forget you have to pay your bills, mortgage etc....and pay yourself. It might be really exciting or it might be quite revealing. Wives tend to offer good advice on business matters, because they're at the coal-face where they have to put food on the table. Us woodenboaters would starve for the privilege of working on another wooden boat. Listen to her.

MastSplit

[longliner45]

its not always about the money ,or selling it for a profit,,,,,a good wooden boat is a better boat all the way around,,,better than composites and useually better design,,,remember older wooden boats were of time tested ,trial and era,now boats are made to be beer barges and luxury hotels,not too concerned about thier seaworthyness ,for example sailboats ,have bigger motors ,because most people want to own a sailboat ,but not go through the learning experiance of sailing ,,they have high free boards so the wind will blow them around even if your sails are hanked,giant ports or windows reallylike a house... on the inside you can see waves splshing your hull.designers now a days say sailboat are only sailed 10 or 20 % of the time ,,and are built accordingly..

[wannasail53]

rwferr
I agree with all the above advice. I would add that if you have no experience in restoring wooden boats it may be a good idea to get a very small boat to start with, if possible something you can work on at home. get your tools and learn on something that will not cost you a fortune to keep in a yard. The work is slow and there is a lot to learn. This is an excellent site to get advice and you can find a wealth of knowledge online,be careful not to except everything you hear as gospel. Try to find something by a good designer and built right. Right now there is a 38 Alden on ebay i would give my eyeteeth for, but to do the work in Miami wood cost more than I have. Good luck and good hunting.

[Landlubber]

All good advice, remember it costs as much to do a bad design as it does to do a good design, so if you intend to spend a lot of time and money restoring a nice old boat, do not waste time and money on junk, just because it is old and wooden does not make it good....just like antiques, some are simply not worth anything.

And do just do a small boat to start, certainly never over 30 feet or you will go broke.

[Eric Sponberg]

If you join the Antique and Classic Boat Society, you will be connected with a really well run organization that will put you in direct contact with other owners. They publish classified ads of boats for sale (restored and distressed) and carry advertising for support companies. Their web address is www.acbs.org.

Eric

[Landlubber]

Nice on Eric, certainly a good place for advice.

[longliner45]

I am compelled to say this also,I have seen some boats that others here have designed,,and some are very good ,have much old school in them ,,,MrEric sponberg is one. his designs are not only classic ,,but have some modern taste,,,I would buy one ,,but Im still playing the lottery ,,,,,,longliner