How old boats die

[agallant80]

So there is this guy that lives behind me. He has three 25-29 foot boats that have been sitting on trailers for ever in his yard. I bought my house 5 years ago and they have never moved in that time. they look like they have been sitting twice as long. Recently he listed his house, I noticed someone out there the other day cutting up one of the boats, putting the peaces in a trailer and carting the boat off to the dump one load at a time. I meant to get more photos, it was an interesting sight when he had one of the boats down to the keel. There are two more boats so I am sure I will be able to snap a photo when he starts cutting up the other boats. Im wondering why he was not able to donate them and what will become of the trailers.

 

[superbenk]

Re: How old boats die

Sadness.

 

[gm280]

Re: How old boats die

Maybe you intervene and get one before its’ execution demise... Could be that next boating project you've been thinking about. I know you are thinking about another boating project because most boaters always think about the next project...

 

[superbenk]

Re: How old boats die

Maybe you intervene and get one before its’ execution demise... Could be that next boating project you've been thinking about. I know you are thinking about another boating project because most boaters always think about the next project...

Nothing about those pics looks like something I'd want to take no matter how much I do want a "next boating project"

 

[agallant80]

Re: How old boats die

Maybe you intervene and get one before its’ execution demise... Could be that next boating project you've been thinking about. I know you are thinking about another boating project because most boaters always think about the next project...

Im not thinking of the next boating project as much as the next boat. Got the 5 year plan...
Cutwater 28 | cutwaterboats.com

 

[gm280]

Re: How old boats die

Nothing about those pics looks like something I'd want to take no matter how much I do want a "next boating project"

Oh come on...If you get back a little distance and close one eye, and squint the other eye, and imagine a different color scheme, and a different hull design, and a different engine setup, I think it is all yours... :decision:

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: How old boats die

The trailers are probably salvageable with a little work, the boats were likely trash to begin with. I recently bought a 20' runabout which had been sitting for a number of years, but all I wanted was the lower unit. I managed to pull out a working V8 engine and the upper/lower drive unit, as well as working trim pump/parts. The outside of the hull appeared in decent shape, the inside of the boat was completely trashed, stringers rotted, transom needed rebuilding. When we dumped the 20+ gallons of yellow gasoline out of the fuel tank into the bottom of the hull, we discovered a hairline crack about two foot long in the hull which leaked the fuel out, lol. If I had bought this boat to rebuild, I would have been in a world of hurt. I bought it for $350, and the trailer is worth that much.

My point is, those boats may look big and relatively easy to fix, but there's a good chance that they were rotten to the core inside/structurally, and not worth the time and money investment to correct it.

 

[superbenk]

Re: How old boats die

Im not thinking of the next boating project as much as the next boat. Got the 5 year plan...
Cutwater 28 | cutwaterboats.com

I like your plan & may have to steal it! That's a sweet boat!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: How old boats die

sailboats, too. You wonder how much is there to them to fix up--until you get into one.

they usually carry expensive hardware, though.

I went to a junk estate sale recently where the guy had at least a dozen boat incl a 40' cruiser covered in vines and sheds full of "work in progress." Apparently his eyes were bigger than his abilities.

 

[JimS123]

Re: How old boats die

The trailers are probably salvageable with a little work..... I bought it for $350, and the trailer is worth that much.

.

I only bought a wreck once, with the idea of rebuilding the trailer. Turns out that junk sitting for years means that EVERYTHING is junk. I ended up junking the trailer as well. Rusty metal sitting in the yard is just rusty metal, even if it has new tires, bearings, lights...