Sin?

[firstlastboat]

How much of a sin, mistake, taboo. To not restore an old boat, but to rebuild it and completly change the look, adding some more modern elements?

[S/V Laura Ellen]

It depends on the boat.

[firstlastboat]

22' 1965 Century Raven,

[S/V Laura Ellen]

If the change the boat you stand a good change of devaluing the boat and hurting any chance for resale.

These boats when restored to original (or near original) condition can get really good money on the market.

http://www.antiqueboat.com/boats/images/lato22-2.jpg

If it isn't feasible to bring the boat back to its original condition, then modifications would be appropriate.

[Ian McColgin]

Obviously dessicrating an historical artifact is wrong. This crime was in the past often committed by museums that didn't know what they were doing, and happens less and less much sparked in this country by Chapell's often wrong but pioneering scholarship and John Gardner's practical touch at Mystic.

If you have a boat that's in a one design class or that is concourse de elegance material, you want to keep her true to the original. That's part of the point of having such a boat.

But if you've got a boat, even a classic, for your own use, by all means make it fit your requirements.

For example, Granuaile's former owner added a bowsprit. I can now confidently tell any Marco Polo owner that getting a mast head setting jib 6' out ahead of the stem - maybe have a staysail from the stem to 3/4 up the foremast - will make a happier boat.

Another example from the same boat - Granuail's soles were raised to be at the same level as LFH had drawn for the saloon sole. The cabin trunk was carried right up to the fore mast at the level LFH drew for just the saloon and just abaft the main. Looked terrible, frankly. The trade-off was fantastic and comfortable ventillation and bilges like capacious as a full basement - we had almost 1,000 g of fuel and 1,200 g of water down there.

We've had some examples on this board of some interesting horrors - like the pacific northwest catboat with the hard-top semi-pilot house. You can see the sense but . . .

I very much urge living with the boat for at least a year or 3,000 sea miles, which ever comes second, before getting out the chain saw. Or at least the boat type. It's easier to screw up a good boat than to improve on a mediocre boat.

G'luck

[BETTY-B]

In the eyes of Century collectors, you will drastically reduce the value of the boat if you redesgn it. Most likely to the point of zero value other than a parts boat. You did say "completely change".
What's wrong with the original design? Why not get a more modern boat if that's the what you are really looking for anyways?

DAN

[pcford]

How much of a sin, mistake, taboo. To not restore an old boat, but to rebuild it and completly change the look, adding some more modern elements?

As a professional runabout restorer, I can assure you that your path is a sinful one and you will most assuredly roast in Hell.

really.

[JimConlin]

One of these?

http://www.ladyben.com/boats/2786_2342_lg_03.jpg

If so, stay authentic.

[pcford]

One of these?

http://www.ladyben.com/boats/2786_2342_lg_03.jpg

If so, stay authentic.

Yes, a very sweet boat. I hesitate to think of the "rebuilding." A plywood chicken coop house?

[Tom Hunter]

I'm a rag bagger, but my father was a runabout guy until he died. I'm with pcford, if you mess up a Century don't expect eternity to be kind.

In all seriousness, they are nice boats with some real class. If you want a different boat, sell the Century and get something else.

In the end, we all want the boat that makes us happy. But buying a boat that does not make us happy and then doing a radical rebuild is unlikely to be successful in meeting that goal. Better to just find the right boat in the first place.

[David Conard]

Seems to me that a bit more information would be nice before condemning the idea. I would want to know the current value/condition of the boat (is it too far gone to be feasibly restored?) and whether the planned changes could be un-done.

[pcford]

Seems to me that a bit more information would be nice before condemning the idea. I would want to know the current value/condition of the boat (is it too far gone to be feasibly restored?) and whether the planned changes could be un-done.

Sure, I suppose.

However, I can say that I can't recall a boat being "improved" in this manner. Almost certainly it well be a disaster.

[Lew Barrett]

Just One More Voice.

What modern elements will improve this boat? A radar arch? A spoiler? A cut away transom swim step? Melamine ceilings?:)

There is a high craft in restoring these boats to useable condition. The boat in question is one of a few great practical utility designs of her era. Probably not a boat to restore if you are looking for big ROI (a rarer or older model might be that) but a fine boat to enjoy in style, and distinction with a family or some friends during a nice picnic on the water. She could even be pleasantly used for gentlemanly fishing, as she was in her own day. You can't improve on it apart from a clever restoration to period dress because that's the highest standard these things are held to.

[pcford]

Just One More Voice.

What modern elements will improve this boat?

Yep. Capt. Lew and I are saying the same thing.

[Ron Carter]

Seems to me that a bit more information would be nice before condemning the idea. I would want to know the current value/condition of the boat (is it too far gone to be feasibly restored?) and whether the planned changes could be un-done.

Used to visit with a fellow in Whitehall, MI that restorred runabouts for a living. Asked him one day at what point a boat was beyond restoration. He said there was no such thing. He loved the opening line "this is a family heirloom." In those cases there was no practical limit to how much would be spent.

If the Century doesn't suit you as original I'd sell it and get something more appropriate.

[David Conard]

The point I was trying to make is that I've seen Maynard Bray not condemn a carbon fiber mast on a classic Herreshoff. Why? Because it's easy to undo it. Obviously, he didn't think it would improve the boat.

[firstlastboat]

I am new to the terms, So I guess my wording may have been wrong, but all the feed back is great. What I was thinking of doing was taking off all the horns and lights and stuff on the "hood" of the boat and since I do not have the origanal windshield i was thinking of doing a really small kiinda usless one. Not really adding anything to the boat, but rather doing a real minimalist look.
Also I was wondering on people take for the bottom, Do you think it has to be black? being a Raven in all. Or could I do a stained bottom, without everyone wanting me dead? :)
I really do want to do it right, but kinda unique nothing that couldn't be changed.