Wooden boat restoration....

[jlsparky7]

I found a killer deal on a 40 foot 1950 matthews wooden motorboat. The guy sent me more detailed pics and the boat doesnt look too bad. He says it is water ready but needs some work. Few boards need replaced and minor things of that sort.

I love hands on type stuff I would like to get a project for me and my family to work on in our spare time. This looks like a great opportunity. I used to do construction and have a pretty decent amount of knowledge in how engines work. My uncle has owned a 15 foot bayliner for a few years and knows the basic boat knowledge.

http://detroit.craigslist.org/boa/1016575798.html

Few questions for anyone familiar with boats.

Asside from the typical restoration (stripping the boat, checking for loose/rotted boards, basic engine tune-up stuff) what would be involved in a restoration?

How would transportation work? I take it this boat is too big to go by a typical boat trailer.

Im not really serious about it but just kicking the idea around. Insight is appreciated.

 

[stinkinlincolnw/blaster]

looks cool but thats a lot of work

 

[btonns]

Contact yachtauctions.com. They will tell you how to ship boats. My dad is a boat dealer in Cincinnati and has had a couple 32' boats with fly bridges shipped through them.

 

[CC&Fabb]

Looks like a good project if you have the time and money for it. I bet you dump more than $10k into that thing before its how you like it and before you get it floating again.

 

[jlsparky7]

Looks like a good project if you have the time and money for it. I bet you dump more than $10k into that thing before its how you like it and before you get it floating again.

10k over the next 5 years or so isnt hardly anything. Most people spend about that on their ATVs/snowmobiles/ other toys. Definitely would be fun though.

 

[phragle]

wooden boats are constant maintence, moving it would require a BIG truck and a large flatbed.short haul figure I dont know, long haul probably 4~5 bucks a mile plus permits. I am in toledo and have a close friend who restores wooden lymans. thats a nice project, but you had better have a lot of time and very deep pockets. also take into account what dockage is going to be, my 25' can cost 1200 a year and toledo is much cheaper than detroit. winter is the time to look for boats though, and the deals are just getting better. search boattrader.com. ebay is ridiculous for boats, I have seen bidding wars on absolute junk. look into getting it 'surveyed' thats when a boat is professionaly looked over structurly and mechanically and you will know exactly what it needs. also figure out where you are going to keep it / work on it, there may be zoning/ ordinance issues with sticking that big of a boat in the side yard.

 

[jlsparky7]

wooden boats are constant maintence, moving it would require a BIG truck and a large flatbed.short haul figure I dont know, long haul probably 4~5 bucks a mile plus permits. I am in toledo and have a close friend who restores wooden lymans. thats a nice project, but you had better have a lot of time and very deep pockets. also take into account what dockage is going to be, my 25' can cost 1200 a year and toledo is much cheaper than detroit. winter is the time to look for boats though, and the deals are just getting better. search boattrader.com. ebay is ridiculous for boats, I have seen bidding wars on absolute junk. look into getting it 'surveyed' thats when a boat is professionaly looked over structurly and mechanically and you will know exactly what it needs. also figure out where you are going to keep it / work on it, there may be zoning/ ordinance issues with sticking that big of a boat in the side yard.

Good advice, thank you.