cheoy lee

Joe · Dec 29, 2014

I understand Sumner Patterson will be putting his Endeavor up for sale. I'm sure everyone on this forum would vouch for him as a really good guy you could trust. He's published lots of info on the boat since he acquired it a few years ago.... All the expensive work has been done... i.e. bottom, interior cushions, solar, canvas...etc.

gettinthere · Dec 29, 2014

Electric oven? Ick!

Fine at the dock with shore power, otherwise you are running a big, noisy, hot, smelly, noisy, fuel gobbling generator anytime you want to cook.

Elec stoves are pretty rare on sailboats.

dlochner · Dec 29, 2014

Wooden masts, lots of teak, Florida sun, an electric stove????

Cheoy Lees are attractive boats, but there is a lot of maintenance to keep them looking that way. How do you feel about varnishing? If you plan to spend anytime away from the dock and shore power, that electric stove is worthless.

Don S/V ILLusion · Dec 29, 2014

May be a cart before the horse moment. Before focusing too much on boat details, have you looked into the limited live-aboard possibilities still available here in Florida?

Chris Patterson · Dec 30, 2014

I do. My best mate owns a Cheoy Lee Midshipman, and I have worked on it, and sailed a rut in the water between here and Florida. Yes there IS a lot of teak below, and above as well. These boats we call the leaky teaky's. The teak deck most likely does leak, and the cure was to glass over it all. End of leak. I like the wood, and Jon does big time.
We slid a new Perk in her a couple of years ago, and it has run brilliantly.
It also maybe won't point like you're used to, but it's a small trade off for a very heavy built boat. And keep your eye on the stainless, these Asian companies will sometimes ease in some inferior metals on the boats.

Anything specific I may know. I've been over every square inch of that boat. Being his best mate here, and the chief mechanic I've got a first hand knowledge of the Midshipman. Anything specific I may know..

Anonymous 121765 · Dec 30, 2014

Everyone's idea of the perfect boat for them differs. I like what some said about maintenance issues & varnishing. Don, being a county neighbor brought up a good point on berthing issues in Florida. Many of the better marinas have a waiting list, some are 1 to 2 years so, Pick your spots early to sign up.

I also like what Chris says as he had first hand experience on a Choy. A friend owned a Choy Lee & his deck maintenance never stopped. In Florida, sun, UV , sea moisture & temperature can beat up varnish quickly. My motto is, "Life's too short to always having to varnish your teak." Below deck, varnish will hold up for decades.

I do remember some year Choy Lee's had a problem with their bulkheads warping & separating & deck leak issues. If it were me & I was going to live aboard, personally I would pick a boat with less wood needing little topside maintenance & never pick one that has teak toe rails.

Like I mentioned earlier, everyone has a difference.......

CR

seadaddler · Dec 30, 2014

Living aboards

I think if you look at Burnt Store,burnt store rd. no trouble finding a slip $$$$$
or Ft Myers beach mooring balls.
I think plenty of liveaboards in Fl.
Nick

Anonymous 121765 · Dec 30, 2014

Nick,

I always liked Burnt Store when in your area & I always had a great time. I also liked South Seas Plantation when traveling South for the jump to Key West.

There are great location marinas on the left coast & I wanted to let Train know to first plan ahead. Some of the better marinas in my area have a long waiting list. Train hadn't yet mentioned any areas he was looking at.

I just don't feel it's a smart move for the Choy Lee. Not knowing the year & with the upgrades he spoke about would be the better move. Newer for him & low maintenance would be my first choice.

If never having lived aboard, for some it's quite a cultural shock. Living aboard off a mooring I also feel is like rough camping, always having to dink back-n-forth for supplies & such. Living aboard at a slip with amenities is the best way to go.

I've seen oft times that some live-a-boards have a cluttered boat & do much less sailing ,which tells me they didn't think it all the way out at first. Others that picked the right plan & boat enjoy living on their boat & sail more often.

I hope I don't get beat up from live-a-boards for saying this.

CR

RichH · Dec 30, 2014

If its got teak decks, invariably it was laid over 'plywood' and there will be 6000± screws holding down those teak strakes. The life span of such a deck is only about 15-20 years, less for the 'underlayment' once the 'thiokol' separates from the underside of those strakes.

gettinthere · Dec 30, 2014

To each his own. We prefer a mooring to a marina dock when parked for a period of time. Cheaper, more privacy, less disturbances.
We go to the fuel dock about every 2 weeks for water. Pumpout boat comes to us. Dinghy rides are pleasant. Life is good.
If we were parked full time and working full time we might prefer a dock. We cruise full time so the boat is always ready to go unless working on some project. We seem to park about 3 months every early winter before going to the bahamas.

Benny17441 · Dec 30, 2014

Where are your Company headquarters in Florida? Different areas will have different prospects for finding liveaboard facilities. It is hard enough just finding adequate dockage in some areas.

seadaddler · Dec 30, 2014

Look Good

So when you find your area and narrow down things you can get more
info on where to stay and what is available for you.
I stayed at Burnt Store a few years and is great but pricey and most
liveaboards left to find cheaper and that's why so many slips empty.
What ever boat you decide to live on with your family will be important
with a family with kids and you want it to be good and dry at all times so
from sailor's that I have talked to some times they will say if they could turn
back the clock they would have spent more $$$$$ for better boat because they
found out the one they choose was $$$$$ to repair and was

living on it
with just 2 adults so just think real hard before buying a beautiful looking over
some thing in real good condition.
I have a 1994 RV that I have been repairing for a few years and something better just came along and I will be selling the 94 for low after all the repairs
but some thing better and good price is going to make my life easy for our summer home,the good old stuff just wears out and boats are worse.
Nick

bffatcat · Dec 30, 2014

I never owned one but a good friend I raced with had a cheoy lee lion 35 I remember It as a well built boat. Teak decks, lots of maintainence above and below decks I remember it as a slow heavy boat, with poor sailing performance.

Chris Patterson · Dec 30, 2014

Yeah, I didn't want to put it that way, but yes.....it is a monster. Bear in mind.....with sailing boats, like a lot of other things there is the trade off. There's little the ocean can throw at that boat and hurt it. Tough as a fifty cent steak..

justsomeguy · Jan 7, 2015

Good luck, Jess. Sounds promising!

cheoy lee

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