new here. about me, and a question.

[Pack Mule]

Nice rig .Looks stout.

[Wxx3]

You're pulling our legs, right? Hopefully??

[Blue Heron]

Pack,

My bowman replacement was aluminum. It was solid as hell though!

The elbows built by MESA were Stainless Steel.

I would replace the elbows also.

[Pack Mule]

Originally Posted by Blue Heron

Pack,

My bowman replacement was aluminum. It was solid as hell though!

The elbows built by MESA were Stainless Steel.

I would replace the elbows also.

Thanks ,I'm going to try and patch mine first.It's a really small hole.I sure like these Perkins but dang the parts are high.

[Blue Heron]

JB weld my brother.

[Pack Mule]

That's what I'm thinking if I can get it clean enough.

[bluebyu]

You are improving the old sailboat every day. Way to go!

You may want to consider double hose clamps on your raw water pump hose.

Nice looking yacht.

Good luck and be safe!

[Darylat8750]

My condolences on your loss.

Good Luck on following your dream.

I bought an old trawler several years ago. I've done almost all the work myself. It has cost much more than I anticipated. The only thing I "splurged" on was electronics. Buying marine grade wire by the spool makes BIG sense. I removed three 55 gal garbage bags of rotten wire out of mine. I've spent more than $2500 (most wholesale priced) on wire, switches, circuit breakers and connectors. Don't waste your money on wire that is not marine grade. I would be very aggressive about changing all the hoses below the water line. I cleaned and serviced all my through hull valves and in 6 months couldn't move the valves without extended mechanical advantage. I could not find replacement chrome plated balls so I had to change all the through hull valves. If I remember correctly the valves cost almost .. Well, alot. Also, the prop shaft packing can be changed in the water. However, the HOSE can't be and needs to be the right stuff. These things can sink your boat. Check the stuffing box on your rudder also and the cutlass bearings so when you do have to pull it out of the water you can do everything that needs to be done with one pull.

Right Hose vs. Wrong Hose
Please look for "Compass Marine's How Too Articles." Look for repacking a traditional stuffing box. Your stuffing box isn't exactly like his but it is similar. Actually read everything he has written. (I hope MaineSail doesn't mind this.) Look for MaineSails posts anywhere on the WEB. If you follow his advice you will surely wind up with a boat that will be WAY better, for less investment than figuring it all out by your self.

Have someone who knows rigging take a serious look at all your standing rigging. I thought the rigging on a 32 foot sailboat was fine. A friend who is a life long cruiser, racer and engineer looked at it with a magnifying glass and convinced me to change all the wire. Expensive but a stay failing will not only be more expensive by a large multiple, it can be VERY dangerous as well.

Be careful about tax situations. All government units are desperate for money and have more power to make your life miserable than they should have. Many states and counties see a boat owner as "fair game".

Good luck,
D

[hmason]

Ok guys, here I go. There is not a $20K boat of 40' to 50' that I would sleep on for one night especially with my pregnant wife even if it was on land! Sorry if I offend anyone however safety is primary. A boat of that size for that price has something seriously wrong with it. If you decide to do it anyway, the first investment I would make is in a high water alarm and a life raft. This comes from a licensed Captain and a full time live aboard with 50 years of experience. Take it for what it's worth. I hope you will show this post to your wife before she follows you down this path. Good luck.

[Art]

Originally Posted by scoobert

if anyone cares to see what i bought, its here:
S/V Union Pacific

Ya know scoobert - I just spent some time reading every post here as well as reviewing your "new" boat link. I can say get-it-on... but... be careful, be sane, and have fun. Although in diffrent dimensions than yours... my life has been and still is what many say can't or shouldn't be done. Too bad for them! Go for it man and girl!! You only live once so packing more adventure than most would try is the real thrill! You're smart, in love, and will make it work! I'm on your side!!

Happy Boating Daze! - Art

[Bay Pelican]

One approach to whether you are making a good decision is to estimate the expense of keeping a boat in your location of choice and then compare it to fairly inexpensive housing in the same area.

In any area the number of marinas that permit full time liveaboards is limited. Find one in your location and determine the cost per year. if you plan on cruising your marina expenses as a transient will increase. If you plan on living aboard at anchor then your boat requirements will take a step up in initial cost as your will need to generate electricity somehow. A dinghy and outboard now are called for.

Many marinas will require boat insurance, figure in this cost. Electricity and water costs charged by marinas need to be estimated.

Here in the Midwest inexpensive housing can be rented quite cheaply. Whether you can live aboard with a family for the same amount or slightly more than a rental in your location of choice is a question for you to determine before you buy the boat. Boats require maintenance to operate and keep afloat. Used boat pricing is such that you may not recover your "investment" in a fixer-upper when you resell.

Give this some detailed thought as to what you are planning to do and why. The boating lifestyle is great but it is no bargain.

Marty

[FF]

>A boat of that size for that price has something seriously wrong with it.<

Wrong could be the wrong location , or wrong engines or simply old.

There may be zero structurally wrong with the boat , just a lack of maint or dated parts..

>Used boat pricing is such that you may not recover your "investment" in a fixer-upper when you resell.<

Depends on the upgrades. If most of the work is simply removing 3 or 4 decades of owner done crap wiring , and installing a modern 240V house wiring TIME will be the big investment .

Dream about paying yourself a yard rate of $100 an hour and you will loose,

but plan on recovering the material cost of 1000 ft of good marine wire properly done and you will win.

Most folks today will Only be looking at older GRP boats , so hull safety is less a concern than some old woodie.

EG, Older boats frequently had genuine marine sea cocks that can be rebuilt with $3.00 of valve grinding compound and a wire brush, rather than a thru hull with a ball valve stuck on.Far safer!

Sweat equity is required (and the knowledge of what and how to do it) is the largest investment in an old boat.

There are many books that cover all aspects of marine maint , for the DIY folks.