Freebie old pilot's cutter

[Oyvind Snibsoer]

There's an old pilot's cutter, built 1894, that's being advertised for NOK 1.-. That's a little less than a quarter dollar :D

I've been in contact with the owner, and may go to Oslo to look at it after easter. The boat is a Colin Archer type, 31' with a beam of 3.4 meters (~12'). It's partially restored. There's also some equipment and a Perkins diesel with a defunct, but repairable, gearbox. A few sails are also included, but no other running or standing rigging.

The owner has put 4 layers of fiberglass on the hull, and finished off with three layers of tar epoxy. From what I can judge from the pics, the rest of the work seems to be OK. I would have to get it shipped to Bergen, which will cost ~$3500.

http://cache.finn.no/mmo/524/520/6_1111286762291.jpg

http://cache.finn.no/mmo/524/520/6_1111286762431.jpg

http://cache.finn.no/mmo/524/520/6_1111286762540.jpg

http://cache.finn.no/mmo/524/520/6_1111286762678.jpg

http://cache.finn.no/mmo/524/520/6_1111286762854.jpg

What do y'all think?

[ 03-21-2005, 08:40 AM: Message edited by: Oyvind Snibsoer ]

[Banjo]

The topsides look ok, but I don't like the look of those longitudinal ripples down the sides of the outer hull in the top pic. It might be worth a good prodding when the owners not looking! :)
Banjo

[Oyvind Snibsoer]

I agree. Wonder why he's FG sheated the hull in the first place :confused: Also, it looks like he's caulked the hul with some light brown goo. One thing's fer sure, that boat will never have a white, fair hull unless the whole FG/tar epoxy shebang is taken off again :( Considering the pretty significant cost involved in having it shipped, I suppose I may just be better off loking for something local, or at least something that is able to make the journey under its own power.

[OEX]

Hard to say without looking---its just impossible to be an "expert" without having your eyes, knife and hands on her. That said, people tend to tell you all the things they think might be wrong with the boat. Do not forget to look at what might be right about her. There are not too many of these left in the world. If this is you ultimate dream boat, and she has good deadwood, deck, cabin, etc then strip her planks off and re-plank her---clearly if that is all that’s wrong then you are in good shape. Be realistic, but do not see only the bad, most wooden boats that are free would never be saved if we only thought of these things.
Just because she is glassed, does not mean that she is a mess. It could be he was tired of the leaks in a few areas and did not have the time, want, or skill to fix it. On the other hand, it could be that someone he thought knew his stuff told him this was the solution---many reasons are possible, including, but not limited to, she is rotten throughout. My best guess is that she is iron sick and this was the owners way of not having to re-frame her and fix/repair/replace the planking—many times iron sickness on the planking can be fixed with larger fasteners and strengthening the old fastening holes. Iron sick frames are tougher as they usually blow apart in a line and destroy the inner section of the frame. However, being double-sawn-framed, she might have meat left still.
If I wanted this boat, my first step would be to make sure she “was the one for me”---do you LOVE her. My second step would be to find some people who knew the boat during her life. This will tell you a lot about her--if she was rotten and on the rocks for two years---well....., but if she had been in the water tight for her 100 + years, well, then.... Have you asked the people at Risor? Alternatively, the Colin Archer Society? My third step would be to go see her with someone very good at restorations (If you are not too experienced) and get a very good look---take fastenings out and dig into the keel, etc. My forth step would be to look at a lot of other boats I might love and wait a bit and think. My fifth step would be based on money (unfortunately). Are you doing the work? Then not a problem if you love the boat, but if a yard is doing it for you it could mean a lot of money.
Personally, I would love to list this boat on The Wooden Boat Rescue Foundation's website as a free boat---I will pay the 1 NKR (although with the dollar going down the tube that may be a lot more than 25 cent by then!). Please pass on the contact info if you do not take her.
$3500 transport seems a lot even for the costs in Norway---is that over land or can you load her on a ship and pay less?

Cheers, Bruce

[Alan D. Hyde]

Oyvind, could you tow her round by water from Oslo to Bergen yourself, or with a friend's boat?

In stages, perhaps? That's what--- 400 miles?

Don't laugh. :D Many things are done successfully which most thought could not be done. Back when I was young & invincible I sailed my homebuilt plywood Snipe from Freeport almost out to Monhegan once before time of day and weather convinced me to turn around and head back... :D

Alan

[Oyvind Snibsoer]

The $3500 shipping cost is by ship. Overland is not really an option. The width of the hull means that I'd need a special permission from the roads administration. In addition, a police escort would probably be required, and the transport would have to go at night.

Dunno the distance around the coast from Oslo to Bergen, but it's likely to be more like 600. The shortest road route is ~300 miles. The boat is not ready for towing in the state it's in now according to the owner, so the time to make it seaworthy for a tow has to be taken into consideration. The tow itself would also require a fairly substantial boat, and take up to a week, so that's hardly a reasonable alternative.

Anyways, since I'll be building a summer house now, I've lost interest in this boat. A dinghy or small daysailer is more likely to be in my immediate future now.

You can view the ad at http://finn.no/finn/bo at/object;pdc=1112879214281?finnkode=5245206&sid=3asKur2um214020&pos=2 (http://finn.no/finn/boat/object;pdc=1112879214281?finnkode=5245206&sid=3asKur2um214020&pos=2)

[ 04-07-2005, 09:15 AM: Message edited by: Oyvind Snibsoer ]

[OEX]

I posted the boat on our website for free wooden boats The Wooden Boat Rescue Foundation (http://www.woodenboatrescue.org) .
The boats owner does not know I have posted her, but I think/hope it will be ok with him.

There is a fellow in Romania who might be interested in her.

Cheers, Bruce