Yet another "rate this boat" post

Polypterus · #1 (**permalink**) 02-24-2010

So far I've still failed to find a boat I like enough to bid on however this next boat I still like even after actually looking at her

which is progress for me. The only thing is ..... She's wood. Here's the link:

1971 Custom S & S 'Pathfinder' Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

From the outside she looks like a fiberglass boat but you can see she's wooden once you go below. She looks pretty solid to my untrained eye. I pulled up the floor boards and the keel area reinforcement looks nothing short of massive compared to other boats I've seen. She isn't perfect. I made a list of things she needs but it's not really any repair stuff, mostly upgrades and changes. What I'm really wondering now is how good is the hull construction method is and how long will she last if I have her on a good maintenance schedule? She's sort of cold molded but not with epoxy. She's glued with resorcinol glue although they said he now has epoxy on the outside. I guess she's lasted this long which should be worth something.

The other thing I'm wondering about is the rig. She appears the have a large headsail and a rather smallish mainsail. What does all that mean in terms of sailing her. I would assume the crew gets a workout in heavy air.

PS: Yes I know .... get a survey before buying

sailingdog · #2 (**permalink**) 02-24-2010

wooden boats are a labor of love.... and require a commitment of time and labor that is well above that of grp boats.

Polypterus · #3 (**permalink**) 02-24-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailingdog

wooden boats are a labor of love.... and require a commitment of time and labor that is well above that of grp boats.

Given your sig, that mean I should buy her

But really, wouldn't this boat be at least somewhat less work than a normal wooden boat? Or is this type of construction still a huge amount of upkeep?

sailingdog · #4 (**permalink**) 02-24-2010

She's a beautiful boat, but doesn't appear to be cold-molded. Cold-molded boats, where the wood is encapsulated in epoxy resin, are often as low maintenance as GRP boats. I don't believe that is the case here.

The deck is marine plywood with teak decks screwed into it. If the teak deck have leaked the marine plywood could be in pretty rotten shape, similar to what would happen on a teak-decked cored-laminate deck boat.

tager · #5 (**permalink**) 02-24-2010

Make a low low offer. It is a wood boat, after all.

imagine2frolic · #6 (**permalink**) 02-24-2010

I know the labor of love with wood. It can be worth it, and she's a beauty!........i2f

imagine2frolic · #7 (**permalink**) 02-24-2010

tager sometimes you are just lacking any couth. Many people look upon items with affection. A 55 T-Bird handles rough, and rides rough not to mention it's pretty gutless for a V-8. That doesn't stop people from keeping them alive, and pristine. Sure a new 350Z is a lot better car, but anybody with minimum credit can go down, and buy one. After all it's just a car!..........i2f

Polypterus · #8 (**permalink**) 02-24-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailingdog

She's a beautiful boat, but doesn't appear to be cold-molded. Cold-molded boats, where the wood is encapsulated in epoxy resin, are often as low maintenance as GRP boats. I don't believe that is the case here.

The deck is marine plywood with teak decks screwed into it. If the teak deck have leaked the marine plywood could be in pretty rotten shape, similar to what would happen on a teak-decked cored-laminate deck boat.

Yeah I know she's not really cold molded but she does have 3 cris-crossing layers of wood and now she has epoxy on the outside so I would imagine she might be a bit lower maintenance at least. As for the decks I don't know how good they are. I jumped up and down on them around the boat and they seemed fine but I guess I'll have to let the surveyor look at them if I buy her.

blackjenner · #9 (**permalink**) 02-24-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by tager

Make a low low offer. It is a wood boat, after all.

Yeah, and so is this:

52' Franck / Seaborn Raised Salon Photo 1 photo

I've never seen a cleaner bilge or drier wood inside a boat.

It's been owned by one family since it was built.

If the accommodations were a little better, we'd be seriously looking at it.

sailingdog · #10 (**permalink**) 02-24-2010

Just curious, but where did you get the information that she has been epoxy coated??? It doesn't say that anywhere in the ad.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polypterus

Yeah I know she's not really cold molded but she does have 3 cris-crossing layers of wood and now she has epoxy on the outside so I would imagine she might be a bit lower maintenance at least. As for the decks I don't know how good they are. I jumped up and down on them around the boat and they seemed fine but I guess I'll have to let the surveyor look at them if I buy her.