I am thinking aboutbuying a Romack Ketch for $45K. It needs a little repair but looks good to me...but I am a novice? Does anyone have any feedback on Romack quality. The hull is made of ferrocement. Is this the way to go or is fiberglass better? A link to the actual sailboat is below Thanks for any feedback
Custom 1990 46' Romack Ketch
- Thread starter Tai Chi Sailor
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OK, here's some feedback,,,
But it's not good. On this web site are mostly sailors that drive modern boats. That boat is hard to classify. The hull is a bad choice. Cement hulls are,,,,,I don't know how to not offend anyone,,,Got it!,,, No comment.
Now as far as the rig. Slow,,,No comment. Bet it's a full keel too,,,,No comment. And look at all that stuff on the deck and above,,,,No comment. But it might be tied up in a berth I once rented! That's really cool!!
But it's not good. On this web site are mostly sailors that drive modern boats. That boat is hard to classify. The hull is a bad choice. Cement hulls are,,,,,I don't know how to not offend anyone,,,Got it!,,, No comment.
Now as far as the rig. Slow,,,No comment. Bet it's a full keel too,,,,No comment. And look at all that stuff on the deck and above,,,,No comment. But it might be tied up in a berth I once rented! That's really cool!!Difficullt to assess
Ferrocement boats are difficult to assess and even more difficult to sell. This should tell you something.
Ferrocement boats are difficult to assess and even more difficult to sell. This should tell you something.
A Clue
Check around and look at what other boats, (fiberglass) in this size and age group are bringing. Should give you a clue.
Check around and look at what other boats, (fiberglass) in this size and age group are bringing. Should give you a clue.
The pictures of the woodwork of the interior
are very pretty. A quote from the ad says "Built 1983 through 1991 and launched in February 1991 in Chula Vista, CA. This is an original owner boat on the market for the very first time. A very full description (9 pages) covering all aspects of the boat can be provided to interested parties on request." To me this suggests the boat was owner built and since there are only 100 hrs on the engine in the 14 years it's been afloat it doesn't seem to have gone very far. I'm thinking the original owner is the guy that built it and the reason this is the first time it's on the market is that he just finished. When a salesperson calls a house or boat "Custom" I get real nervous.
are very pretty. A quote from the ad says "Built 1983 through 1991 and launched in February 1991 in Chula Vista, CA. This is an original owner boat on the market for the very first time. A very full description (9 pages) covering all aspects of the boat can be provided to interested parties on request." To me this suggests the boat was owner built and since there are only 100 hrs on the engine in the 14 years it's been afloat it doesn't seem to have gone very far. I'm thinking the original owner is the guy that built it and the reason this is the first time it's on the market is that he just finished. When a salesperson calls a house or boat "Custom" I get real nervous.
Boss's Boat
Have you ever seen the movie "Capt. Ron"? Looks like a fun boat to live on but I don't know that I would want to sail it. I think I will stick with the plastic fantastic boats and live at home during the week. But one man's treasure....
Have you ever seen the movie "Capt. Ron"? Looks like a fun boat to live on but I don't know that I would want to sail it. I think I will stick with the plastic fantastic boats and live at home during the week. But one man's treasure....
Well, it looks
nice! I would good aboard and give it a very good look at, but first read up on Ferro-Cement boats. If you don't see anything wrong get surveyor who has experience with Ferro-Cement boats. Remember you get what you pay for, there is a reason it is selling for only $46,000. Good luck!
nice! I would good aboard and give it a very good look at, but first read up on Ferro-Cement boats. If you don't see anything wrong get surveyor who has experience with Ferro-Cement boats. Remember you get what you pay for, there is a reason it is selling for only $46,000. Good luck!
Before you write the check ....
Try to buy insurance for a home made cement boat and then try to find a slip to keep it in. These things sell very cheap for a reason and many sell for a lot less that this one
Try to buy insurance for a home made cement boat and then try to find a slip to keep it in. These things sell very cheap for a reason and many sell for a lot less that this one
You'd be lucky to sell it for half that price...
if you ever decided to get a different boat. Ferrocement is a material that you might consider if you were building your own boat because it's cheap and fairly easy to use. It's basically cement poured around a rebar frame. Loans, insurance, and slips will be very hard to come by and resale is almost comically poor. Frankly, you don't really want to be the second owner of someone else's homebrew ferro boat especially at that price. I think you'd be much better off buying a fiberglass boat.
if you ever decided to get a different boat. Ferrocement is a material that you might consider if you were building your own boat because it's cheap and fairly easy to use. It's basically cement poured around a rebar frame. Loans, insurance, and slips will be very hard to come by and resale is almost comically poor. Frankly, you don't really want to be the second owner of someone else's homebrew ferro boat especially at that price. I think you'd be much better off buying a fiberglass boat.
good advice
Lots of good advice in these responses. Cement boats are a really BAD idea. They can't really be repaired if they break. Insurance is a real hastle. Most of them don't sail very well. The wire mesh cores disintegrate... don't do it. You would more than likely be sorry. Also, I would suggest that if you are a novice you might think about starting with something smaller than 40 feet and costing less than $50k so it is easier to handle and less expensive so you won't feel so bad if you mess up. I am on my 5th boat. The first one was 30 years ago. While I was learning I did some things that weren't the best. In fact, they were down right stupid. Because of that my first boat (Catalina 22) was worth about 50% less when I sold it about a year later!! Now you are probably smarter and have better judgement than I did when I was 24 years old, but I think that you get the point. I wish you all the best. Liam.
Lots of good advice in these responses. Cement boats are a really BAD idea. They can't really be repaired if they break. Insurance is a real hastle. Most of them don't sail very well. The wire mesh cores disintegrate... don't do it. You would more than likely be sorry. Also, I would suggest that if you are a novice you might think about starting with something smaller than 40 feet and costing less than $50k so it is easier to handle and less expensive so you won't feel so bad if you mess up. I am on my 5th boat. The first one was 30 years ago. While I was learning I did some things that weren't the best. In fact, they were down right stupid. Because of that my first boat (Catalina 22) was worth about 50% less when I sold it about a year later!! Now you are probably smarter and have better judgement than I did when I was 24 years old, but I think that you get the point. I wish you all the best. Liam.
Thanks for the advice
I really appreciate the response and I will skip this one and go for a fiberglass boat. I was considering a boat from 35 to 45 feet long. This happens to be the first boat I have looked at. Going to look at more today~!!! This is a great forum and I have learned alot reading the threads already.
I really appreciate the response and I will skip this one and go for a fiberglass boat. I was considering a boat from 35 to 45 feet long. This happens to be the first boat I have looked at. Going to look at more today~!!! This is a great forum and I have learned alot reading the threads already.
Yes....it is great
but word of advice, ignore all my postings More to ignore...the boat you were looking at was actually a 58' and the water line was 46' with a draft of 9'7". Not a good boat for a novice person and as you may have already heard, a lot of maintanence cost is by the foot so it would cost a lot to maintain it. I would suggest a range of 28-34 if you single handle and maybe up to 42 with a crew. The bigger the boat, the hard it is to get in and out of places like the docks and that's the thing many skippers dread. I used to until I got it down to a science.
but word of advice, ignore all my postings
More to ignore...the boat you were looking at was actually a 58' and the water line was 46' with a draft of 9'7". Not a good boat for a novice person and as you may have already heard, a lot of maintanence cost is by the foot so it would cost a lot to maintain it. I would suggest a range of 28-34 if you single handle and maybe up to 42 with a crew. The bigger the boat, the hard it is to get in and out of places like the docks and that's the thing many skippers dread. I used to until I got it down to a science.
Franklin!!! That solves the mystery!
You know,, why that boat only has 100 hours on the engine. With a draft of 9'7" HE CAN'T GET OUT OF THE MARINA. As I recall, the channel leading out of there is only about 7' deep most of the day. I just checked Maptech. The marina on the east side of the bay has good water. The one right across from it on the west side has 10 feet.
You know,, why that boat only has 100 hours on the engine. With a draft of 9'7" HE CAN'T GET OUT OF THE MARINA. As I recall, the channel leading out of there is only about 7' deep most of the day. I just checked Maptech. The marina on the east side of the bay has good water. The one right across from it on the west side has 10 feet.
Good Advice
There has been some good advice given here. Particularly concerning size and draft. You need to consider the area you are sailing in, and figure out the max draft you can live with. As to size if you are relatively inexperienced, or mostly single hand, then you are going to find a 40'er more than a handful. May be easy to sail when the winds are light, but you can't make a lot of definate plans when you start taking good old mother nature into consideration. I sail a 28, mostly by myself. Have been a few times I have had my hands full. Also have a friend who single hands a Catalina 30, and has told me on more than one occasion he would rather be sailing his old 25 in the same conditions. So I would also recommend a boat in the 28 to 30 range to start. It is always easier to move up in size, than to get a boat moved up off the bottom.
There has been some good advice given here. Particularly concerning size and draft. You need to consider the area you are sailing in, and figure out the max draft you can live with. As to size if you are relatively inexperienced, or mostly single hand, then you are going to find a 40'er more than a handful. May be easy to sail when the winds are light, but you can't make a lot of definate plans when you start taking good old mother nature into consideration. I sail a 28, mostly by myself. Have been a few times I have had my hands full. Also have a friend who single hands a Catalina 30, and has told me on more than one occasion he would rather be sailing his old 25 in the same conditions. So I would also recommend a boat in the 28 to 30 range to start. It is always easier to move up in size, than to get a boat moved up off the bottom.
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