Fexas MIDNIGHT LACE

[FF]

I have been looking for a Tom Fexas MIDNIGHT LACE 44ft Rum Runner for 2 years or so.

One that was not advertised well (at least I never found it) was in FFL with good replaced engines ,but I was a couple of weeks late.

These were well built , although the first engines were DD that were not up to the job.

PM if you find one , thanks,.

 

[soin2la]

You must have seen these, huh?
https://www.dimillosyachtsales.com/boat/1984/midnight-lace/rumrunner/2359/

https://littleyachtsales.com/boat/1981-midnight-lace-rumrunner-44/

 

[FF]

Yes, saw the first ($99K) boat on the way north, had a bad std engine that had been removed , "repaired" by a truck place and it failed again.

Too much work and cost to R&R the engines.

The second boat has newer Volvos , but I am not a fan of Volvos , and so many folks are not Volvo fans that eventual resale might be difficult..

Haven't checked weather the engines are actually built by Volvo , or just repainted from some other source. Would help a lot if parts came from elsewhere.

The boat is very small for a 44ft vessel , but for just us would work out fine. Would use it to snowbird commute from CT to FL instead of using our motor home .

Mostly protected waters so even the athwart ship lubbers bunk would not be a hassle.

Folks want roomarans , and while C-L builds grand boats , this size/capacity does not appeal to most folks. Commuting a 150 mile days would work for us.

Thanks for looking,

 

[Redhook98]

There is one in Colonial Beach, VA (Potomac River) that the owner was talking about selling. Has DDs installed. Needs a good clean up. PM me is interested.

 

[FF]

If they are the std DD the boat came with I am not interested , but if they have been replaced I am interested.


Thanks for looking,


FF

 

[Redhook98]

They are the standard DD. Low hours. Low price on the boat too. Oh well. Good luck with your search.

 

[Ken E.]

Weren't some of the early Lace boats powered by non-mainstream diesels like BMW or Renault?

 

[FF]

Yes the first was powered by a Renault , but it got Volvos pretty quickly.

The PPP (pre production prototype) was built by Broward in FL but did not have the bow cockpit . The interior was very simple , my guess was the hull was used to create a female mold for production. It was for sale for under $20K a few years ago with running Volvos.

 

[Jaep]

Fexas

Any info on the one with DD’s? Pm please

 

[Ken E.]

FF, The Lace's running attitude is pretty unique at speed, at least to my eyes. I saw a video clip that Fexas had taken when he first introduced the boat. It was fast, but like a rum runner. Not so much up on top and planing, but low in the water and carving, with a big bow curl, and moving along smartly. I haven't seen anything quite like that in other boats when at speed.

 

[Redhook98]

Any info on the one with DD’s? Pm please

I can put you into contact with the owner if you send me a PM.

 

[sean9c]

Some of Bill Garden's boats run the same way. Just gorgeous to see how they run.

FF, The Lace's running attitude is pretty unique at speed, at least to my eyes. I saw a video clip that Fexas had taken when he first introduced the boat. It was fast, but like a rum runner. Not so much up on top and planing, but low in the water and carving, with a big bow curl, and moving along smartly. I haven't seen anything quite like that in other boats when at speed.

 

[FF]

Back in the day when engines were big and heavy most boats carved rather than skimmed on top.

Some early (1920) military boats got to amazing speeds by pushing water aside .

Catamarans that are slender enough get great speeds , although they pay for it at low speed with high wetted surface area

 

[Scratchnsaw]

I was involved with Tom in the original inception. The original engines were junk. Aligning any model and keeping them aligned was also a bear. They were a bit ahead of their time when cruising boats began to increase their speeds and use core materials to reduce weight. The downsides of the older ones was the sorry application of the wood along side of the cabins. Water always got in behind it and turned the varnish wood black. If you get one and it has the clear plexiglass entrance doors, get someone to blast it with a pattern in it, which gives you more privacy. And always block the chines if you take it to a boatyard thats not used to hauling them out.