God help me, I can't help it... I want one!

Looking · #1 (**permalink**) 03-12-2007

Okay, I know that absolutely everybody is going to try and talk me out of it (except possibly Giu with his new found love of Formosas) however I can't help it. I want an old china clipper. I don't care if it is a Hudson, Hardin, Formosa, Crealock/Farrington or what. I know I'm looking at rot. I know they are slow (so am I!). Since I was a boy sailing with my dad up and down the inside passage I have always loved the look of a ketch, stretched out on the water with that bow sprit seaming to reach out for the next wave. Can't help it... I even want the teak decks!

So, now that I have laid myself bare, and understanding that I 'want' to take on a project boat. That is 12-18 months of full time, boat on the hard, bare hull up, rebuild... is there anything anyone can say that could possibly talk me out of this insanity?

I'm positively hooked. Dream about it... draw pictures... prepare lists...I know I will never see the money again. Couldn't possibly sell it for what I will put into it... wouldn't want to.

I got distracted by school and career. Now I'm back to where I belong. Don't need the fancy car, could care less about a Plasma TV. Even considering giving up the Skiing/Snowboarding to make this happen.

So here's my question... Should I be looking at any other ketches? Is there anything out there that you have seen that strikes your fancy? I'm pretty set on the Formosa 51, Aft Cockpit, Ketch Rig.

There it is... I feel like I have just entered a 12 step program for sailors!

chris_gee · #2 (**permalink**) 03-12-2007

Portugese women might be easier. Practice saying uh huh, yes dear, sorry dear.

sailingdog · #3 (**permalink**) 03-12-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris_gee

Portugese women might be easier. Practice saying uh huh, yes dear, sorry dear.

This doesn't exactly sound like it is specific to Portugese women... it describes most women pretty well...

lannig · #4 (**permalink**) 03-12-2007

Go for it

Don't listen to the naysayers

Buying your dreamboat is fullfilling your dreams (and nightmares !), not somebody else

If you were sane you would not be on this forum or even considering buying a boat

XTR · #5 (**permalink**) 03-12-2007

I think the Hudson looks better than the Formosa. I think I've read soemwhere that the CT54 may sail a touch better than the formosa/Hudson's, and a vagabond 47 is probably worth a look too. .

southerncross31 · #6 (**permalink**) 03-12-2007

I love the Hardin Voyager 45....the interior layout is so unique! It was actually featured in a movie with Adam Sandler and Drew Barymore. He spends a bunch of time working on it and sails away at the end of the movie....how Happy

The only problem with most boats like this is making any headway to windward.......of course my SC is no fin-keeler anyway!

camaraderie · #7 (**permalink**) 03-12-2007

Ditto XTR...the Vagabonds are nice...see if you like them. As long as you have lots of $$'s and time and never hope to get either back....I say go for it.
The best part of a dream is the getting there!

PBzeer · #8 (**permalink**) 03-12-2007

One can have a dream, or one can live a dream. The choice is yours.

Giulietta · #9 (**permalink**) 03-12-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Looking

Okay, I know that absolutely everybody is going to try and talk me out of it (except possibly Giu with his new found love of Formosas) however I can't help it. I want an old china clipper. I don't care if it is a Hudson, Hardin, Formosa, Crealock/Farrington or what. I know I'm looking at rot. I know they are slow (so am I!). Since I was a boy sailing with my dad up and down the inside passage I have always loved the look of a ketch, stretched out on the water with that bow sprit seaming to reach out for the next wave. Can't help it... I even want the teak decks!

So, now that I have laid myself bare, and understanding that I 'want' to take on a project boat. That is 12-18 months of full time, boat on the hard, bare hull up, rebuild... is there anything anyone can say that could possibly talk me out of this insanity?

I'm positively hooked. Dream about it... draw pictures... prepare lists...I know I will never see the money again. Couldn't possibly sell it for what I will put into it... wouldn't want to.

I got distracted by school and career. Now I'm back to where I belong. Don't need the fancy car, could care less about a Plasma TV. Even considering giving up the Skiing/Snowboarding to make this happen.

So here's my question... Should I be looking at any other ketches? Is there anything out there that you have seen that strikes your fancy? I'm pretty set on the Formosa 51, Aft Cockpit, Ketch Rig.

There it is... I feel like I have just entered a 12 step program for sailors!

My good friend Looking....any boat you buy is GOOD!!!!!! It serves its purpose....

Unfortunately...all I know from that type of boats is the Formosa, and the Hardin, and not only from the movie..with the bicycle tyre as wheel..there's one here...we call it the gypsy man....He uses his laundry as sails!!!!

So I would never say yes or no to them...but for now YES!!!!

If you buy one of those boats...first you need to know how to sail them...they're not as easy to sail as they seem...the Formosa I sailed, you actually had to turn the wheel 3 times before the bow crossed!!!!...the sailing is smooth and confortable, but sea snails and dogs go faster....the trim was relaitively useless and limited...but man are they fun...and they for sure have that "adventurous pirate caribbean calm tequilla sunrise feelin" I understand you perfectly well and support you in your quest....

Get ready for some major spending and spending the rest of your life fixing things...the Formosa had almost 20 winches!!!!!!

My wife loved the woodwork inside with engraved wood panels!!!! AMAZING!!!!

GO AND GET HER....DON't THINK TWICE

You could then sail to Portugal and we could do some "boat swaping"...we would go out in yours, listen to PB's sound selection, cruise like Cam, and be happy as Sailortjk1 or T34, and the next day, go out on my boat, and come back home with mosquitoes in our teeth.....

This post does not mean I want one....I like them because they are sailboat...this only to discourage "dark side" jokes and other...

GO MAN...you still there???? Go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My son Fred posted a few photos yesterday...go check them...

Here a few I posted before to get you wound up!!!

Jeff_H · #10 (**permalink**) 03-12-2007

Once most of us get beyond the swashbuckling looks of boats like these, we conclude that these are boats that will only appeal to a narrow slice of the sailing public. Once you get past the long term extremely high cost of upgrading and maintaining one of these 35 year plus poorly built boats, you still need to consider how they they sail, and while tastes are very subjective I suspect that will kill any desire for one.

I love traditional boats, and have owned and restored quite a few very traditional designs, but I hate the way these Asian ersat China Clippers sail. Its not about speed. They just do not sail well as compared to genuine traditional working watercraft and they lack the virtues in terms of ease of handling through a wide range of conditions and motion comfort, that make traditional working watercraft so much fun to sail. They also lack the performance, ease of handling through a wide range of conditions and motion comfort that is found in the best of more modern designs.

Which is all to say, I am not here to talk you out of buying one of these boats, as much as I am suggesting that you actually get out and spend some time sailing on these boats in a range of conditions, which like most people who actually enjoy sailing more than simply being out on the water, will probably change your mind about lusting after one.

Respectfully,
Jeff