Where to buy old workboats?

[DaveU]

Greeting from a first time poster. I am a current plasic boat owner in search of a wooden dream. What I want is a skipjack. I grew up sailing the bay on plastic (fiberglass) sailboats, and have loved the looks and line of the classic Chesapeake Bay Skipjack. So, in the fairly near future I want to buy one and use her as a cruiser for the bay. I would consider one that has already been converted from working to pleasure, but would also consider one in working conditoin where an interior would have to be added. If anyone can help me get my search started in the right direction, it would be greatly appriciated.

[DaveU]

Greeting from a first time poster. I am a current plasic boat owner in search of a wooden dream. What I want is a skipjack. I grew up sailing the bay on plastic (fiberglass) sailboats, and have loved the looks and line of the classic Chesapeake Bay Skipjack. So, in the fairly near future I want to buy one and use her as a cruiser for the bay. I would consider one that has already been converted from working to pleasure, but would also consider one in working conditoin where an interior would have to be added. If anyone can help me get my search started in the right direction, it would be greatly appriciated.

[DaveU]

Greeting from a first time poster. I am a current plasic boat owner in search of a wooden dream. What I want is a skipjack. I grew up sailing the bay on plastic (fiberglass) sailboats, and have loved the looks and line of the classic Chesapeake Bay Skipjack. So, in the fairly near future I want to buy one and use her as a cruiser for the bay. I would consider one that has already been converted from working to pleasure, but would also consider one in working conditoin where an interior would have to be added. If anyone can help me get my search started in the right direction, it would be greatly appriciated.

[Ed Harrow]

Not much of a start, but maybe something:

http://yachtworld.com/boats/view_res...age=&mls_true=

Ed

[Ed Harrow]

Not much of a start, but maybe something:

http://yachtworld.com/boats/view_res...age=&mls_true=

Ed

[Ed Harrow]

Not much of a start, but maybe something:

http://yachtworld.com/boats/view_res...age=&mls_true=

Ed

[DaveU]

Originally posted by Ed Harrow:
Not much of a start, but maybe something:

http://yachtworld.com/boats/view_result.cgi.en?boat_id=73 7906&units=Feet&currency=USD&listing_id=2585&page= &mls_true=

Ed

Thanks Ed,

But what I'm looking for is a real Skipjack, full sized, where you could go aon a several week cruise if you wanted.

[DaveU]

Originally posted by Ed Harrow:
Not much of a start, but maybe something:

http://yachtworld.com/boats/view_result.cgi.en?boat_id=73 7906&units=Feet&currency=USD&listing_id=2585&page= &mls_true=

Ed

Thanks Ed,

But what I'm looking for is a real Skipjack, full sized, where you could go aon a several week cruise if you wanted.

[DaveU]

Originally posted by Ed Harrow:
Not much of a start, but maybe something:

http://yachtworld.com/boats/view_result.cgi.en?boat_id=73 7906&units=Feet&currency=USD&listing_id=2585&page= &mls_true=

Ed

Thanks Ed,

But what I'm looking for is a real Skipjack, full sized, where you could go aon a several week cruise if you wanted.

[Ed Harrow]

Well, maybe this will help:

http://skipjack.net/races/info.html

[Ed Harrow]

Well, maybe this will help:

http://skipjack.net/races/info.html

[Ed Harrow]

Well, maybe this will help:

http://skipjack.net/races/info.html

[jerry s]

lucky for you and unfortunate for the rest of the world, the skipjack fleet is slowly dying. I remember seeing dozens of those beautys at the Knapps Narrows, now you would be lucky to see twelve left. It hasn't been too long ago that I saw a couple of the big ones for sale in the Annapolis, MD newspaper. You might start there.

[jerry s]

lucky for you and unfortunate for the rest of the world, the skipjack fleet is slowly dying. I remember seeing dozens of those beautys at the Knapps Narrows, now you would be lucky to see twelve left. It hasn't been too long ago that I saw a couple of the big ones for sale in the Annapolis, MD newspaper. You might start there.

[jerry s]

lucky for you and unfortunate for the rest of the world, the skipjack fleet is slowly dying. I remember seeing dozens of those beautys at the Knapps Narrows, now you would be lucky to see twelve left. It hasn't been too long ago that I saw a couple of the big ones for sale in the Annapolis, MD newspaper. You might start there.

[Bob Cleek]

You know, although we do need to preserve original old workboats for historical reasons, and doing that is a really wonderful contribution, as a practical matter, restoring an old workboat is always a nightmare, if not a futile endeavor. Fact is, workboats WORK and when they come available for "yacht conversion," or anything other than doing their intended job, the economics are such that they are always pretty well "used up." This is, I beleive, particularly true of skipjacks. The originals are kept in service because the local laws permit dredging under sail. That's hard work on a boat. When they are sold for any other purpose, you can bet they have nothing left in them. Remember, too, that the skipper who is earning a living working his boat is constrained by the "cost/benefit analysis." A lot of deferred maintenance... stuff that is done quick and dirty and cheap for the sake of "one more season." They couldn't make a living otherwise, but it is hard on workboats. Fortunately for you, the skipjacks are extensively documented. There are a bunch of great skipjack designs readily available. Believe it or not, it is more than likely that having a brand new skipjack built would be a lot less hassle and less expense than trying to recussitate a dead one. Not only that, but if you built her true to the traditional design, you'd be adding one to the fleet!

[Bob Cleek]

You know, although we do need to preserve original old workboats for historical reasons, and doing that is a really wonderful contribution, as a practical matter, restoring an old workboat is always a nightmare, if not a futile endeavor. Fact is, workboats WORK and when they come available for "yacht conversion," or anything other than doing their intended job, the economics are such that they are always pretty well "used up." This is, I beleive, particularly true of skipjacks. The originals are kept in service because the local laws permit dredging under sail. That's hard work on a boat. When they are sold for any other purpose, you can bet they have nothing left in them. Remember, too, that the skipper who is earning a living working his boat is constrained by the "cost/benefit analysis." A lot of deferred maintenance... stuff that is done quick and dirty and cheap for the sake of "one more season." They couldn't make a living otherwise, but it is hard on workboats. Fortunately for you, the skipjacks are extensively documented. There are a bunch of great skipjack designs readily available. Believe it or not, it is more than likely that having a brand new skipjack built would be a lot less hassle and less expense than trying to recussitate a dead one. Not only that, but if you built her true to the traditional design, you'd be adding one to the fleet!

[Bob Cleek]

You know, although we do need to preserve original old workboats for historical reasons, and doing that is a really wonderful contribution, as a practical matter, restoring an old workboat is always a nightmare, if not a futile endeavor. Fact is, workboats WORK and when they come available for "yacht conversion," or anything other than doing their intended job, the economics are such that they are always pretty well "used up." This is, I beleive, particularly true of skipjacks. The originals are kept in service because the local laws permit dredging under sail. That's hard work on a boat. When they are sold for any other purpose, you can bet they have nothing left in them. Remember, too, that the skipper who is earning a living working his boat is constrained by the "cost/benefit analysis." A lot of deferred maintenance... stuff that is done quick and dirty and cheap for the sake of "one more season." They couldn't make a living otherwise, but it is hard on workboats. Fortunately for you, the skipjacks are extensively documented. There are a bunch of great skipjack designs readily available. Believe it or not, it is more than likely that having a brand new skipjack built would be a lot less hassle and less expense than trying to recussitate a dead one. Not only that, but if you built her true to the traditional design, you'd be adding one to the fleet!