Identify this boat

[johnsonjay17]

Fair question.

1. The overall appearance of the boat suggests years of neglect.
2. Take a look a the waterline. The staining suggests the boat has been partially submerged.
3. The companion way boards. These are obviously in a poor state of repair and open.
4. The interior is likely covered by mold and mildew because of the high moisture content due to the partial sinking.
5. Any and all soft goods, like cushions, vinyl coverings, are ruined due to the moisture and mildew and mold.
6. Bulkheads are likely rotted because of the partial flooding.
7. Any interior trim is likely damaged from mildew and mold.
8. The starboard side hull/deck joint has been damaged, notice the aluminum trim that is bent and missing near the chain plate.
9. On a boat this old and neglected, it almost goes without saying all the running rigging needs to be replaced.
10. Part of the starboard toe rail is missing. The rest looks to be in very rough shape.
11. The standing rigging will probably need replacing.
12. Even on older boats with solid GRP hulls the decks were cored with balsa or plywood because of the large flat expanses. I would be extremely surprised to find these decks to be dry. Thus large areas of the deck will need to be rebuilt.

In the end, after properly repairing a boat like this, some $5K to $10K and untold hours will be spent bringing a boat of unknown provenance back to life.

If this was a classic boat, say a Pearson Ensign, a Cape Dory, an Allied Yachts built boat, then it might well be worth the money, time, and effort. These boats have a timeless beauty and still have followers. This boat is not one of those boats. A few years back, Paul Calder (Nigel's Son) restored a Cape Dory 28 that was in very rough condition. Some of his efforts were documented in Sail Magazine. For a small initial out lay and lots of blood, sweat, and treasure, he ended up with a well built, well designed classic boat. He was young and had access to resources many of us don't have. His efforts served him well.

If the OPs goal is to gain some experience with boat repair and restoration, a neglected day sailor in the 15-20 foot range would be a good start, especially if he can find one that still has an active class association. The O'Day Day Sailor, Flying Scot, and Lightening quickly come to mind as good starting points. There are lots of these boats in backyards and fields looking to avoid the landfill.

I agree 100% about a classic or a boat you want. It is stupid to spend the time and money for something that won't be worth it when done.
BUT I still stand on it is just not that expensive in dollars just time if the boat is all there when you start. I would much rather re-core a deck than replace running rigging. Fiberglass is just really cheap. I have about $3,500 in my Dehler including a new fully battened main sail($2,000). Other than the main most of the dollars are for buying tinned copper wire.(That stuff is expensive). Soft goods are cheap if you sew them yourself (Weirdly I really enjoy sewing). Standing rigging and running rigging are not cheap. That is why I asked about an inspection. Most people look at the cosmetic and not the expensive stuff.

I understand that time is money but fabricating things is my hobby if I wasn't in the shop building something it would be more expensive to pay a therapist. I am recovering from Covid right now and it is driving me crazy. I tried to lay up 2 foam/plywood 2.5" spacers for the lids that close across the stern of the Mega yesterday. Usually a few hours work but I was coughing so bad I finally had to go back inside. I can't stand to watch anymore TV! This is also why I am on the forums when I usually I am not and my wife says I am really grumpy so if I come across as contrary let's blame it on Covid

JJ

 

[johnsonjay17]

Johnsonjay17, thank you for the detailed insight you have provided. More than that thank you for the suggestions you provided for starting points I find that very helpful. I decided to pass on that boat for the reasons presented by the other replys. Seems like a good boat to stay clear of. So I'll start looking for the ones you suggested and proceed forward.

Thank You but the right boat for me will not be the right boat for you so please ignore the models/makes mentioned other than to look at them. For example if my wife wasn't claustrophobic no way would I have bought the Mega. I would have either bought a folding Tri or something like a Hobie 33.

One more thing I have seen people really mess up with a re-fit is storage. It is hard to work on the boat if it is not in your backyard and storage elsewhere can be expensive. One of the reasons I have only done trailer sailors.
Also while I am a big fan of re-fits understand that my hobby is fabricating so if I wasn't re-fitting a boat I would be building a racecar or a off-road rock-crawler (I have built multiples of each) so I do not count the time as somebody who was doing this just to get a cheap boat should.

JJ

 

[dlochner]

Other than the main most of the dollars are for buying tinned copper wire.(That stuff is expensive).

Many of the generic materials are better purchased from industrial suppliers than marine stores. For hardware and raw materials I always check McMaster-Carr and BoltDepot.com before heading to local retail stores.

For large projects I buy my wire and connectors from Waytexwire.com They are an industrial supplier that will sell retail. It is necessary to purchase larger quantities, however, the per unit cost makes it worthwhile. It hurts less when you screw up a fitting or cut a wire too short.

With some research you can find sources for quality name brand marine gear that is less expensive than you'll find at West or even Defender. And be sure to give SBO a shot.

 

[Kings Gambit]

... understand that my hobby is fabricating so if I wasn't re-fitting a boat I would be building a racecar or a off-road rock-crawler (I have built multiples of each) so I do not count the time as somebody who was doing this just to get a cheap boat should.

JJ

Why not build your boat from a kit? That oughta keep you busy, challenge/develop your skills. There are, at least have been, kits/plans available from New England boat builders and others. Check-out Brooklin in ME for some models; but there are many out there. I’ve investigated this myself. Visited the Brooklin Wooden Boat school some years ago. Interesting place.
KG

 

[johnsonjay17]

Many of the generic materials are better purchased from industrial suppliers than marine stores. For hardware and raw materials I always check McMaster-Carr and BoltDepot.com before heading to local retail stores.

For large projects I buy my wire and connectors from Waytexwire.com They are an industrial supplier that will sell retail. It is necessary to purchase larger quantities, however, the per unit cost makes it worthwhile. It hurts less when you screw up a fitting or cut a wire too short.

With some research you can find sources for quality name brand marine gear that is less expensive than you'll find at West or even Defender. And be sure to give SBO a shot.

You are so correct. I will check out Waytexwire.com. In my real world job I buy about $500k worth of electrical stuff a year. We manufacture oil and gas equipment. I tried all my suppliers none of them could beat a local chandlery shop on the tinned wire. I buy very little from marine sources except sailing hardware I don't have a choice on. Probably why I am so particular about hardware cause I have to pay marine prices. Pretty much everything else comes from industrial suppliers. Admittedly I buy about $50M a year with my real job and because of the relationship I have with them they sale to me at some pretty good discounts. Also since I am always doing something I don't buy much at job quantity for example I buy resin in 2 gallon containers because I know I am going to use it. Get away from West systems and use somebody like US Composite and epoxy is half price.
I am still looking for a rope source. I can't believe how expensive rope is.

I will definitely check out SBO.

JJ

 

[MikeHoncho]

Thank you all for your replys and insight. That is what I was really looking for as an end result. To get enough info about the boat and construction to determine if refitting/repairing this boat was "doable" I usually prefer to start with make and model and research it from there. Given the responses and suggestions I've decided to pass on this vessel. I thank you all for your guidance and advice and will move on to something with much more going for it.

That’s not what your second post said...

 

[johnsonjay17]

Why not build your boat from a kit? That outta keep you busy, challenge your skills. There are, at least have been, kits available from New England boat builders. Check-out Brooklin in ME for some models; but there are many out there. I’ve investigated this myself. Visited the Brooklin Wooden Boat school some years ago. Interesting place.
KG

Sailboats - Core Sound 20 Mark 3 - B&B Yacht Designs

bandbyachtdesigns.com

I am going to do that! I have looked at several I really like such as the B&B Core Sounds. I sailed the Texas 200 in my Dehler. One of the boats that sailed with us was a Core Sound 20 I think it was the mk3 attached. I have also thought about designing and building my own Tri. Something along the lines of a Strike 18 but lighter and faster. I had planned on starting this when I finished the Dehler but my wife just couldn't stay overnight on the Dehler so I am doing the Mega first. Right now I am thinking that I will have 2 boats the Mega and a small easily rigged very shallow draft boat to sail the back bays around here. One of those boats that as long as you don't sail where the birds are walking you are good.

I have only been into boats for about 5 years. Before that I designed and built racecars and rock crawlers as a hobby. Most of my experience until 5 years ago was in steel fabrication. I grew up in a machine shop and welding shop. The fiberglass work is still new enough that I really enjoy learning new things and doing new projects. I haven't hardly used my mill or lathe in the last 2 years.

JJ

 

[dlochner]

Why not build your boat from a kit? That outta keep you busy, challenge/develop your skills. There are, at least have been, kits/plans available from New England boat builders and others. Check-out Brooklin in ME for some models; but there are many out there. I’ve investigated this myself. Visited the Brooklin Wooden Boat school some years ago. Interesting place.
KG

Try Chesapeake Light Craft they have a wide variety of boats, sail, power, and paddle.

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www.clcboats.com

 

[Kings Gambit]

I looked into building the 12’ sailing/rowing skiff Heidi. There’s a book, Building Heidi, by Richard Kolin which I have. I decided I did not have enough room at home w/o clearing much space and maybe installing a work shed for tools and parts. Still a possibility, though. I bought some of the needed tools off eBay. Now a retirement project.

 

[capta]

Just a word about boats. Boatbuilding is about as close to carpentry as riveting is to welding. They are a completely different skill set. Knowing electricity on a small boat like that involves possibly 4 or 5 circuits, so that's not a big deal. Tabbing in bulkheads and recoring decks is not easy work.
However, it is almost impossible to bring back a badly neglected boat at a cost that makes it worthwhile, unless that is your only intent. Some people just enjoy working on (or building) boats more than sailing them.
So, without trying to piss you off or even turn you off, to your intended future boat, go into a project boat knowing that if you spent the money on the same boat in better condition, you'd be sailing instead of working for a couple of years, and after all that work, come out with a boat that cost more in the end.
There is no such thing as a free boat. lol

 

[rgranger]

Coronado 25? The cabin is a little different but it could be a year thing...

 

[SailingLoto]

I am never one to talk someone out of doing but they want to do. By all means, if you want to live in a donut, live in a donut... Definently weigh your options and see what other free boats are out there.

When I started looking at boats I fell in love with a lot of dilapidated turds that could be fixed, but not practically. Learn what to look for and what to avoid.

This is my current project. She is a beautiful boat, barely used, and FREE. 20 years newer than your project and still it needs bulkheads and some deck work..... I seriously contemplated passing on it. Not that it's an expensive diy project, but it eats so much time. I like a good project, but I love sailing more! Decide when and where to spend your time and money.

If this is your dream boat, go for it! I personally would wait and see what else turns up. I turned down a Colimbia 24, a Columbia 26, a Hunter 30 Cherubini, a Catalina 25 and a Hunter 25.5 all in the past year. Free boats, good sails, mostly complete, but all neglected and needing lots of work. Be sure your project is what you want in the end. Your investment of time is irreplaceable.

 

[Project_Mayhem]

Fiberglass is just really cheap

What kind of fiberglass are you using? The commonly used West Systems and Totalboat run about $130-150 per gallon

Soft goods are cheap if you sew them yourself

Have you seen the price of sunbrella lately?

 

[johnsonjay17]

What kind of fiberglass are you using? The commonly used West Systems and Totalboat run about $130-150 per gallon

Have you seen the price of sunbrella lately?

I buy 2 gallon containers of US composites epoxy at I think $65/gallon and $35/gallon for poly resin. So a forepeak balsa core replacement uses about $20 worth of resin, $15 worth of glass and $100 worth of balsa core. Of course that is a guess depending on boat size and how much coring is bad.

I don't buy Sunbrella. I buy Phifertex(sp?) or Odyssey about 30% of the cost. Also I use duck cloth in the interior and sometimes I use good ole vinyl. It is cheap tough and easy to clean.

JJ

 

[Benny17441]

You want a serious advice, don't touch it even if they offer it for free. Once you take it the problem is yours and it will cost you a pretty penny to dispose of it. That boat is a sinker.

 

[kekoolo]

ALBIN VEGA 27 ?

 

[Tomusa]

Chrysler?

 

[LakeMurraySailor]

Rainbow?

 

[dontardio]

Could it be a Shark? It's the right size.

Definitely not a Shark 24. I owned two of them.

 

[Viipper98]

Haha! Leave it to me to find a total mystery....