Free boat, but will it be worthwhile ... and what is it?

[Warwick427]

I only have a few pics up now at Facebook so I'm wondering if this little boat is worth the effort? It needs a new mast and boom, some of the wood is rotted around the top and the trim too. Also, it may need the transom redone. Needs rudder and daggerboard as well. Good news is that the hull seems very much intact and about 90 percent of the hardware is still there and in excellent shape.

And what is it? As in what model, who made, type, etc? It is about 12' long and about 5.5' across at the widest point.

Got it for free.

[kpgraci]

...I don't have facebook (it's a religious thing) but there are so many cheap good boats out there, I just don't know...no mast and boom, then it's not free is it?

[Warwick427]

The link should take you to the pictures regardless
Thanks for the input tho!

[smackdaddy]

War, my typically invaluable advice is this...

Save up some money and buy a boat that is in the water ready to sail. You can find Catalina 22s (etc.) stupid cheap and be sailing tomorrow. This one may be "free", but how much money will it take to get it sailing?

Always ask this question..."Do I want to sail? Or do I want to do boat work?"

Personally, I want to sail.

[zedboy]

Originally Posted by smackdaddy

This one may be "free", but how much money will it take to get it sailing?

Majorly. Mast+boom+sails at new retail prices will quickly add up to the cost of a cheap ready-to-sail used boat.

Unless you're very handy and very resourceful at locating used stuff on the cheap....

[capttb]

Same anti-facebook church as Ken and the link won't let me access pictures, regardless, from your description:
There is more missing than boat there, I'd make them pay me to haul it away. For boats and horses most of the free ones are overpriced and will end up costing more than a good one, but will never be a good one.

[HDChopper]

check out GOOD OLD BOAT there is a fair 29 footer good sails rigging ect ...for free just needs an engine or a outboard for it . paceship iirc...

[E32Strider]

There is nothing more expensive than a free boat. Used boat prices are in the tank and materials and equipment just as expensive as ever.

I bought my fully functional 32 footer for the price of a new set of sails, standing rigging, and berth cushions.

If you did accept a free boat like that, the cheapest way to get the stuff you need to outfit it might well be to buy a functional one of the same model and swap everything over. Then you need to get rid of the hulk and might have to pay to have it taken away.

[sevseasail]

I agree with everyone above, that boat is not worth the trouble.
Do a Craigslist.com search in your area and you'll find ready to sail boats for much less than you'll have to spend to get that one sailing again (with trailer included).

[Minnewaska]

So you need to find/buy a new mast, boom, rudder (tiller too maybe?) and daggerboard, which means you will need the hardware, standing and running rigging for them as well. On a 12 ft boat, I will bet those parts will cost more than the same used boat would cost, if complete. That's why it was free my friend. You know you need to fix obvious rotted wood, but I would assume there is core rot you can't see. You didn't mention whether it came with her sail(s).

The appliance repairman tells you that the part and his labor will be $400 to fix your washing machine. You can buy a new one for the same, would you fix it?