Quote:
Originally Posted by Barking Sands
Thanks Cape Fear. Looks like an amazing boat with some good work done to it. If you feel so inclined it would be great to see more pictures and info on your boat. Maybe start a new thread with some additional details. I have a 1985 Tung Hwa Senator 31 that is identical. Several others here have the same boats under various names but they generally are quite rare. Glad to see you posting here.
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I think these boats are worth investing in. They are inexpensive to buy, but compared to newer offerings, the hulls are solid and the interiors are actually quite beautiful and easy to restore.
I have been out on the ocean in some major storms with much larger boats. This Taiwanese trawler is only 30' but it is amazing. I heard that the factory(backyard builders in Taiwan mid 80's) shipped twenty of these to Perth Australia to use for commercial sportfishing charters. No flybridge and a shorter cabin. I can understand why! I bought this boat to use as a step gap until I could get a larger yacht. After spending a year on it full time with our son through a full winter, I wouldn't trade it for anything shy of a Nordhavn. But to be honest, I really respect this boat. It is everything I want. The sedan version with one level allows us to entertain a crowd and I'm not stuck alone in a pilothouse. The shower situation was always a low point, but I have solved that problem now. Considering the cost of newer boats, you can have a charming sea boat for a fraction of the investment. I think even if you contracted deck replacement, windows and tanks... you would still be farther ahead. They are not complex and the new polyurethane paints make painting easy.
I would love to help anyone out who has one of these boats. I know them fairly well now and have worked on every aspect to keep Cape Fear alive, seaworthy and reliable. There is no Sea Tow in this part of the world!
I should have pictures of most projects and upgrades, if anyone is interested. Since I am new here, maybe someone else could start an upgrade or maintenance thread; I'll contribute as much as I can.