10.5 metre Cat Rescue

[Dee4]

Greetings to the assembled sages

I’m thinking of buying a semi-completed 10.5m plywood and epoxy catamaran that is presently standing and rotting on blocks not too far from where I live. She has a covering of paint and the hulls , interior and 95% of the decking seems in reasonable shape.

The only thing that makes me more anxious than starting a project of this magnitude is the thought of buying someone else’s botchups. That said, to my untrained eye the work done so far looks solid and the hulls and cabin are just about complete.

By my estimation the asking price is about a quarter to a third of the cost that has gone into her already. That’s on the upside.

On the downside there is significant damage from standing around uncared for in all weathers with parts of the decking and the cabin roof bulging and splitting slightly from water penetration. ( A terminally bad sign in an item that should be 100% waterproof??) Even worse, the rear 1.5 metre of one hull is so water damaged that its virtually fallen off.

So the questions in order of priority are

1. Can water damaged plywood boats be safely repaired?
2. Can one tell whether the designer’s and other boatbuilding good practice has been followed by examining the work after the fact?
3. Are these questions symptoms of an already untreatable dementia on the part of the supplicant?

In fewer words "Can this boat be saved or do I need to be saved from it?"

All comments and advice gratefully awaited.

[mitiempo]

Run!
Sounds like a disaster to me. A link to pictures would help though.

[Kiltmadoc]

My first response is the same as the initial reply: run!
That said, if you determined to buy this pile of scrapwood, then you should think of following the maxim: "never buy so much as a paddle without hiring a marine surveyor." If you can find a surveyor who also builds/repairs his or her own boats, then you will be lucky.

[bljones]

Do not even take this project if it is GIVEN to you. As soon as you said it has been left uncovered out in the elements, i knew this was not going to end well. When you wrote, "the rear 1.5 metre of one hull is so water damaged that its virtually fallen off..." I started digging the grave. This is not a boat- it is a casket of dead dreams.

You really would be better off building your own cat rather than rebuilding this one- believe it or not, it will be less work, and you will feel more confident in the end result.

[WanderingStar]

The boat is less than half finished and needs rebuilding. Is she really suitable for you, or are you just tempted by a bargain? First and foremost, find the boat that fits your needs. If you really want a catamaran, I'd suggest you look at some that are complete. Many ply and glass boats have been built, you might find one for sale at a good price, ready to go. I wouldn't take on a large rebuild as a first project.

[GNWFast]

Dee4
Unless you have extensive knowledge of woodworking and fiberglass lay ups and don't bother. Don't be penny wise and pound foolish.

It's better to have and not need than to need and not have!

[Dee4]

I take it that would be a "NO" then. Even if a surveyor offers a substantially different opinion the amount of reworking would be prohibitive.

Thanks to all for your replies. Even if this isn't the brightest of starts it remains a start!!!!!! and the effort of signing up has been worth it.