A nice opportunity for the right person

[Chuggin Along]

​

Years ago, here at the marina where I keep my boat in Green Cove Springs Florida, I noticed a pretty little steel trawler sitting in the storage yard. She was obviously being built by somebody as a long-term project. Other than to admire her lines, I never really gave her much thought. Over the years I noticed that she seemed to be sitting there with no real progress being made toward her completion. About two years ago I was happy to see somebody aboard her one day and stopped to talk to him. He had become the new owner and planned to complete the build.

He went on to tell me that the boat had an engine and generator in her and that he had acquired her from the original builder who had either gotten sick or had had some other unfortunate circumstance befall him that would not allow him to finish. I don’t remember which. At the time I spoke with him I had my doubts as to whether or not he would actually be able to complete the project but wished him luck and left happy that the boat had some new life being breathed into it.

Recently I became aware that that gentleman had signed the boat over to the marina management and she was again sitting there with nobody to take care of her. I got permission to go aboard her and take a look around.

She appears to be pretty well built. A steel hull with aluminum superstructure and a gasket between the steel and aluminum. The workmanship appears to be good. I’m not sure who the designer is although I did see a box with a variety of study plans of different boats (some sailboats) designed by Bruce Roberts and associates.

There is a Cummins 4 BT sitting in there with a HP rating of 150 as stated on the engine tag. There is a Borge Warner Velvet Drive reduction type transmission (not sure of the ratio) and a propeller shaft through a standard stuffing box connected, but I didn’t see a propeller. There is also a 6 KW generator Mounted in the engine room. There is fuel tankage with nice size access hatches already there as well as the start of a Hynautics hydraulic steering system.

I noticed that there were some features such as a nicely made sea chest in the engine room and a flanged rudder that led me to believe that whoever had started to build this boat was trying to build a nice serviceable vessel. There were buckets and boxes of different materials to facilitate her completion.

Unfortunately, the yet to be installed windows have allowed rain water in over the years and she had quite a bit of water in the bilge. To the point where it was up onto the engine block but hadn’t reach the starter. I pulled the dip sticks on both the transmission and the engine to find nice clean never used oil in each. The generator is well above that level and is dry. I’ve pumped the water out down to level that the sump pump I used would take it. I was able to turn the crank shaft on the engine without very much effort using a short lever, so I know that it is not locked up.

If somebody were contemplating building a steel trawler this boat would be a much better place to start from than a pile of plate and flat bar. I believe she is at the point where the rest of the windows and the interior were to be next.

Make no mistake, this is long term commitment that will require a lot of effort to complete but I think she could be bought for the outstanding storage fees which I believe to be in the neighborhood of $4,500 dollars at this point.

However, the yard she is in is a storage yard and not a work yard. It is locked up during nights and weekends. It would appear that the boat is too tall to be trucked and would therefore need to be floated and either towed or maybe moved under her own power. There is a do it yourself boat yard not far from here. The boat would require a little work in order to make moving her under her own power possible.

While pulling a tape measure under her in an effort to get some rough measurements, (LOD 42.5’, Beam 14.5’ LOA 45’ (swim platform) & about 4 to 4 ½’ draft), I noticed that there had been a few barnacles on the hull so I know she had floated at one point. I would venture a guess that that is probably the way that she got here in the first place.

If you are interested in this project PM me. I can supply you with a little more insight and put you in touch with somebody who could show and or sell this boat to you.

 

[Blissboat]

Looks to me a lot like a Chuck Neville design. I see what you mean about the insert between the deck and deckhouse. That would be a place to keep a wary eye on, given the interface of dissimilar metals. Obviously this was conceived as someone's pride and joy. So sad to see what's become of her.

 

[Blissboat]

I took this photo at Green Cove Springs on November 1, 2014 - almost 11 years ago. Even then she looked like she'd been sitting there for quite a while.

 

[SteveK]

Paging @mvweebles we have a new project for you.

If you all remember Peter did a major rebuild in Mexico a few years back and must be getting bored. Now he lives around the corner, so to speak.

 

[mvweebles]

Paging @mvweebles we have a new project for you.

If you all remember Peter did a major rebuild in Mexico a few years back and must be getting bored. Now he lives around the corner, so to speak.

Ha! Weebles was truly a labor of love. A 1970 Willard 36, we bought her in 1998 or so - I've owned her about half her life. Honestly, had it not been for the slip we own in Florida that has an absolute maximum LOA of 36-feet, I think I might have swapped out for a Willard 40. Point being is I had a lot of emotion and some logistics invested in Weebles. I did not plan on flushing as much cash as I did, but I figured it was affordable once in my life. I knew it I would never recover the money but figured it was my last boat so it doesn't really matter as long as I could afford the refit.

As interesting as the OP's listed steel hull form is, its value is in scrap steel. With the cost of yard storage and labor being what it is in the US, there is no way to make this pencil out without the emotional factor I had with Weebles. In good condition, a steel one-off trawler would be lucky to bring $200k on the resale market ($150k is more likely). It's hard to imagine how quickly the costs add-up for cabinet-grade lumber, pumps, hoses, valves, all sorts of fittings that really add-up.

The hard part is finding a yard with adequately skilled labor at a reasonable price. The easy part is finding a boat to start with. Sadly, unless price is literally no object, the US does not fit into this equation.

Peter

 

[SteveK]

Thanks Peter, I expected your input to say not worth it.
Not even for engine and GEN if you need it and scrap the rest?

 

[Blissboat]

With the cost of yard storage and labor being what it is in the US, there is no way to make this pencil out without the emotional factor I had with Weebles.

Peter

Peter may be right about this sled - I'm not about to try and prove otherwise. On the other hand, if there are any boat deals out there that can be made to "pencil out," I have yet to see one.

 

[Comodave]

Peter has owned the same boat for 27 years…. Hard for me to imagine that.

 

[slowgoesit]

Peter has owned the same boat for 27 years…. Hard for me to imagine that.

Dave, if you have a chance to go aboard Weebles, she's a piece of art now! Beautiful, well found boat, and Peter and Cheryl have lavished a lot of love on her . . . . now if they can just get her to Florida!

 

[Comodave]

Oh I don’t doubt that it is wonderful. But we have had 24 boats in 54 years so having one for 27 years just seems abnormal…

 

[mvweebles]

Oh I don’t doubt that it is wonderful. But we have had 24 boats in 54 years so having one for 27 years just seems abnormal…

We do seem to define opposite ends of the boat ownership spectrum. Your approach seems, how shall I put it...... promiscuous?

Peter

 

[Comodave]

Ok, I can live with that. I guess I just like change maybe.

 

[PierreR]

If I were younger, I would tackle the project just to have a boat that unique. I doubt very few of these exist. I would probably find some place local to take it to or truck it to where work could begin. Might even try to buy a spot in the water, not in a marina.
I am cursed by the fact that I am a dreamer, eternal optimist and can do it all. I need to hire nothing done.
I could probably do it for $100k in parts and 3,200 hours in labor. By the time I would be through with other charges my recovery would be $.10 per hour for highly skilled labor.
My stupidity is now tempered by TMB and ARC. Too Many Birthdays and Age Related Complex.

 

[PierreR]

The current project, three years in, is this Hatt 42 LRC. She's now at $50k in parts and 1,700 hours in labor and 7,800 miles later. She needs another $10k and 300 hours to be stunning again.

 

[slowgoesit]

Pierre, I'm never been on a Hatt 42 LRC, but it's been my privilege to have been through two Hatt 48 LRC's, and they are truly awesome boats! Best of luck with the remainder of your refit!

 

[SteveK]

We do seem to define opposite ends of the boat ownership spectrum. Your approach seems, how shall I put it...... promiscuous?

Peter

Then you are more monogamous than abnormal

 

[Harri99]

Well, if you are looking for a boatyard, Yucatan boat works is Progreso. Yucatan just opened. I am sure they offer reasonable rates. They are on FB.

 

[rgano]

If I were a more skilled polytech and about 30 years younger than I am and with loads of time and money for the parts and tools such a person would require, I might take a shot. A long time ago, I chatted my career Navy dad up about finding something just like this vessel that we could finish, but he had always loved aviation and decided to build two planes in his garage over the years. I know we could have done justice to this vessel. What this vessel needs is one or a pair of those young and hardworking YouTube boating stars who can talk the rest of the world into funding the dream.

 

[skyhawk]

However, the yard she is in is a storage yard and not a work yard.

Interesting thread.

I live across the river from Green Cove Springs, and interestingly enough was just at that yard earlier in the week...just taking a joyride drive through on my lunch break. I was actually looking for trawlers, and missed that beauty! I was hoping to spot a few for sale signs, even though I'm not actually ready to buy anything. I'm guessing it's in the central yard that had signs posted on the gate something about check-in required. I respected the signs and didn't drive through that area.

Anyway, isn't there a work yard just adjacent? (if anyone wants to get started in on it)

Anyway, interesting thread for me. I'm getting very close to being ready to call it quits and retire from work. My wife will continue to work a few more years, and so I'm trying to settle on my mission.
My biggest dream is to "sell it all" and buy a boat to cruise for a few years, but she's not onboard with the "sell it all" idea. She wants home base and the bungee cord tie-down that it brings.

Anyway, for these first few years of retirement, I'll be a little busy splitting time between helping her with her business, doing a little more travel, and something else.
Since selling it all isn't in the cards I've thought about getting a project boat..something a little smaller and a little less nicer, and a little less capable than what we could afford if we sold it all and went full time..and putting it in that GreenCove Yard while I re-fit it.
But yeah, this project boat is much more than I'm willing to take on. I'm handy and have a great technical aptitude, but I'm no marine/boat mechanic expert and that would take way more energy that I have to give! You're right though, it does have great lines!

and to @rgano 's post.... my other thought that I have entertained a lot over the years is buying a kit airplane. I'm a PPL holder and a lifeline aviation enthusiast

With either one of these pipedreams, it would give me a job and purpose while my wife is working and while I'm still young enough to do stuff, with an end game goal of having a magic carpet to take us travelling when she decides to retire. Sadly, I think she's more into doing the airline and VRBO thing to travel so that's probably what we'll end up doing...going on little month-long trips to various places. Hey, I enjoy that too and it's probably more financially responsible to boot!

Still fun to dream!