Advice on a boat i saw in Alexandria

Vulkyn, You can have a simple and safe 10' by 32' dory hull boat for the spring launching. It can happen if you have a few bucks and the desire to make it happen and you will get good material pricing and lots of help. I do not know shipping prices from here to you so check it out. Stan

 

Just got off the phone with a fellow selling an old 1986 Birchwood boat 32'.
Not heard of the brand before.

Any one came across them before ?

 

Sponsons suggest ponderous.

 

Say what now ?

 

Those sponsons on the back look to be an added on feature and usually the only reason they're added is because the boat is so heavy it needs the extra flotation or it wallows around too much.

I'm assuming the boat is fiberglass...?

 

Do you have a good idea on the costs of owning a boat like that?

Something like that in the US could easily cost a couple hundred dollars a day to run, just for the fuel. If you happen to touch something with your prop, that could be thousands of dollars.

Repairs and maintenance are a large part of a boat like that with it's numerous systems. Even if you don't use it, things go bad. Seals dry, connections or parts corrode, tires go flat, air conditioners lose freon, ropes get crappy. If you have to pay dock fees, they never stop, yard and mechanic fees plus the cost of parts are a big reason why lots of boats just get abandoned at the marina, the repair bills are more than the boat is worth.

 

You see in the picture with the two guys standing by the boat, it's a different trailer than the center picture.

The boat looks too big for either trailer, but that blue painted one would only last a few years if you dip it in salt water.

 

http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/motor-boats-for-sale/1984-birchwood-commodore-31-YMA614
Its the way the boat is designed.

Indeed i am well of aware of the cost for running a boat like that. I kept books for a friend who had a 30 meter (65') wooden boat as a rental in the red sea.

 

I don't know if they are designed that way. Maybe on the first boat on the trailer it's part of a swim platform.

 

By sponsons you mean the metal bars ?
If so yes he modified it for a make shift tent and cups for trolling roads.
http://bristol.boatshed.com/birchwood_commodore_31-boat-116222.html

Some more pics on the birch wood 31

 

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I meant that thing at the neck level of the first guy, the extra flotation piece.

 

I think some of the models have it some don't.

http://www.google.com.eg/imgres?saf...nh=179&tbnw=222&start=15&ndsp=20&tx=111&ty=46

http://www.google.com.eg/imgres?saf...bnh=179&tbnw=225&start=57&ndsp=25&tx=70&ty=89

http://www.nya.co.uk/images/uploads/main_image/thumbs/birchwood-ts37-supersport_1359640238.jpg

 

Yes, I saw that first photo and was going to post it. It sure looks like an add on feature.

I would be real leery of a 27 year old boat without a very thorough marine survey, especially of the mechanical systems.

 

Yah .... seems that those boats are well built though judging from the feedback online from several forums.
Its a hefty boat and at that time they used to over engineer things

And yah but we don't have marine surveyors, why do you think i keep bugging every one here with streams of questions !!

Thanks for all the support though ... and yah i really like that boat so far. The owner knows what he is doing in his boat, at least he has a good clue of the inside and out of the boat.
Well its almost the same price as the wooden boat so at least its worth a detailed look.

 

The 'thing' at neck level is probably an external duct for the exhaust. This can also double as a guard. I have used them on a few boats (aluminum)and they work well.