Seattle CL: 45' Lake Union "Dreamboat" Antique Wooden Bridgedeck Cruiser - $25000

[tomlarkin]

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/boa/1435236294.html

"ASKING PRICE IS NON-NEGOTIABLE! IF THIS BOAT WAS SITTING IN TAHOE AND IT WAS TWO YEARS AGO YOU'D HAVE GUYS WAITING IN LINE TO BUY THIS AT $80,000. WE STARTED IT AT $50,000 THINKING IT WOULD SELL IMMEDIATELY. APPARENTLY NO ONE HAS ANY MONEY TO SPEND.- WE WANT IT GONE. CRAZY DEAL - NOW HALF PRICE - $25,000 FIRM Absolutely unbelievable deal. This boat could fetch up to $80,000 in a good market."

http://images.craigslist.org/3n03k83la5T55P85S49an0abebfe0a8131de2.jpg

[Tom Robb]

If it was worth 80K he wouldn't be asking 25. A thing's selling price is what someone is willing to pay.
Nice looking boat BTW.

[TimH]

Would make a nice livaboard.

[Yeadon]

All caps always wins my heart ... not sure that's a Dreamboat. Looking forward to hearing from Lew on this one.

What's the name of this boat?

[Nicholas Carey]

She appears to be listed with Portland Yacht, lying Portland.

Her name is GOLDEN TIME.

http://www.iboats.com/sites/portlandyacht/site_page_4530/images/l_dsc01447.jpg

According to the broker's ad at http://www.iboats.com/sites/portlandyacht/site_page_4530/item_500033.html?listing_page=listing_sum_length_1 .html, the seller lives out of state, had her trucked up from California 2 years ago and hasn't really had a chance to use her and "just wants her gone".

There's 90 pictures on the broker's page for her. It looks like she's got a new and "improved" interior...in honey-colored oak (not my first choice...a little too much like an 80s kitchen in a suburban ranch house)

http://www.iboats.com/sites/portlandyacht/site_page_4530/images/l_dsc01459.jpg

I suspect the seller is either strapped for cash, or ... at 79 years old, she needs some beaucoups expensive work done.

Still, a LUDD-built Geary for $25k...

[James McMullen]

This kind of boat is exactly what I'm working on right now. Even if it needed another $25K put into it, I think it would still probably be a pretty good deal.

[brad9798]

Buy it then, James. :)

That boat needs some serious cosmetic work at the very least.

I am appalled at the painted transom, for one! :eek:

[nextse7en]

The boat definitely has issues, I've seen her in person a few times. Of course I've only seen the exterior. I could see that there were faster issues (rust stains along the port side, forward) and some dutchmans or (gasp) bondo here and there that were never fully faired out.

Still, at 25k it was worth a look, perhaps worth a second.

This is all my rather uninformed opinion mind you. She could be a heck of a deal, but i would have a serious survey completed before even considering it.

On an ironic note, my Chris is in that transom shot, up in the yard above. You can just see the tarps covering her.

[Lew Barrett]

Weighing in, Tim. I don't know this particular boat, but all of us classic power yacht guys are familiar with the design.

As you say, not a "Dreamboat" but rather a Geary spin (possibly actually penned by Monk or influenced by him; need to check first launch dates) of the bridgedeck design. Well worth a look but as always with bigger boats, it needs an experienced or professional eye to fully determine condition. Bleeding fasteners don't bother me so much (if the problems end there....that can be dealt with) and the painted transom might or might not hide a problem. I can't recall recently seeing one of these models (there were a half dozen or so built, maybe more, would need to do a quick bit of researchl) with a clear transom. But a painted transom could be a sign of some problems, or simply reflect an owners desire to simplify maintenance back there. Frequently the former rather than the later, but that's easily determined.

Over the years I've learned not to comment too much on matters of taste in respect to restorations as you never know who is vested in these vessels, but honesty demands I say that the galley rebuild looks serviceable but somewhat insensitive. You know, if the hull is good and the machinery is good, she could be a good deal. There's not a lot of money in boats that need work these days, so bargains can be found, but I am always suspicious of ads that say; "worth $80K but selling her for $25K." In this market, she may only be worth 25K, but that could be the best $25K anybody ever spent if they wanted a nice cruiser presuming she needed minimal work, had good systems and was tight enough to use as is. Only the very best boats can command 6 figure money in this market.

Disclaimer: I should tell you I haven't looked at all the photos on the website.

[Yeadon]

Interesting insight, thanks Lew. Golden Time reminds me of Shearwater (sp?), which is one of your ACBS boats here locally, and is always just about my favorite tour during the shows.

[Lew Barrett]

Shearwater is a 45' Schertzer and a very pretty boat, good choice and a very comforting interior. How about that stove on her?

All the roaring twenties era bridgedecks have a lot of similarities in the same way that the various cars of a given type and era look alike to the casual observer, but one of the reasons I like old boats is that the better designers always had an eye for scale and dimensions. They don't call 'em "classics" for nuthin'!

[Boston]

nice boat but without a complete survey its anyone's guess as to how solid she still is
take your time and give it a good look
B

[Hwyl]

$20K now.

pause for thought

http://www.iboats.com/sites/portlandyacht/site_page_4530/images/l_dsc01499.jpg

[Boston]

Im kinda waiting for one of these types to come along at salvage so I can snatch up all the metal and such
should make my own build a lot simpler to have all the stuff handy

B

[Lew Barrett]

She doesn't took too bad, eh Gareth? ER looks decent....simple, which can be good, and fairly clean. Plenty of room down there too. Lot's of frame sisters, but that's typical for LUDD boats of this era; pretty lightly built as a rule. Most yachts of this era and style (and this coast) are not heavy but LUDD boats seem to me to be lighter than most. Not a good thing or a bad thing, just something to know.

[Lew Barrett]

http://classicyacht.org/memberpages/images/Shearwater_psmhs.jpg


Hey Tim, here's a period image of Shearwater....Merry Christmas!

[Hwyl]

She doesn't took too bad, eh Gareth? ER looks decent....simple, which can be good, and fairly clean. Plenty of room down there too. Lot's of frame sisters, but that's typical for LUDD boats of this era;.

Pretty much what I thought, the sistering looks good. The motor is old but clean.

The listing has expired BTW

[Davy Jones]

Lots of sisters but the bilge looks pretty dry.
The ad also does not want a pick in the boat when the survey is performed? Buy a wood 1930 wood boat without poking a bit....Hmmm, I can understand not drilling the fastner bungs.

[Lew Barrett]

Surveyor shouldn't need to probe with a pick unless he finds something suspicious from the non-destructive testing.

But I take your comment in the spirit given. It is easily possible to read a statement like that as: "My great price means no deep inspection or serious probing is allowed....."

[chas]

A flashlight, small hammer, dull screwdriver and a weekend out in the rain would answer a lot of questions. That looks like an oil finish from a distance, but I don't envy all that brightwork. Ours (a '48 Monk) came painted from the outset and I intend to maintain that tradition. / Jim

[Lew Barrett]

What's your boat's name Chas, and can you put up a picture and tell us about her? Maybe in your own introductory thread? Lots of Monk owners here....I'm one myself.