Ok, I scoured the world for a cheap/free boat and came up with one.

There is a 197? 47' Endurance Ketch available to me for free.

She's DESTROYED beyond all belief. Mold to the point of having to gut the boat, no masts, but a couple engines and a prop are included. The hull appears whole in the pictures.

Is there some reason I shouldn't take this free hull and rehab it into something I can use to cruise in?

Would be quite a time investment as well as a substantial boost to my net worth if I can make it work. I'd stand to save roughly over $60K by doing this. I'd also lose a full year of life to it. I've seen the sisterships for sale for a fortune!!

For sale ketch Endurance 47

47' Endurance 47 Peter Ibold (1983): Sailing Boats for Sale - Ferro-cement - Melbourne - Victoria (Vic)

#Endurance 48, Endurance - Used :: Boat-Finder :: Ireland

The boat is basically a hull with a lot of moldy, rotten wood inside pretending to be an interior. I'd have to add/replace virtually everything, but it's free.

Any opinions?

YIKES!!! Here she is... wrecked as wrecked can be...


Not sure if it was built professionally or home built, which would make a big difference...

Attached Images

ketch.jpg (162.9 KB, 38 views)

YUUUUUUKKKKK! Poor lady. She must have been a beauty in her day.

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Hunter 36
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Kemah, Tx.

I suggest you pass on this one. There will be better deals soon enough.

Yeah. Refitting old boats isn't a pretty or clean job. It's messy, disgusting work. From what I understand there are plants growing inside.

Supporting ideas? Is it the ferrocement hull? Cost of refit?

In the context of the boat market today, I see nothing positive about this boat. There are and will be much better acquisitions. Last week a 28' Shipman went for $250.00, I also heard there is a 28' Compac in very good condition w/ diesel for $20K. I havent been looking for a boat, I just stumbled on these. I have to believe someone in the market could cut a big hog in the ass right now.

The questions that should be asked is; whats good about this boat, and in regards to the sister boats, how far away is the asking price to what the boats will really sell for?

Plus, the ferrocement hull;The perception about this material is bad enough, but I understand repairs should be made by experienced craftsmen. I dont see you ever being able to insure this boat much less being able to sell it to anyone who would need financing in order to buy it.

Thanks, BA. Good input. There sure isn't much positive about the boat other than its size. It's the right size for us. We really couldn't live in anything under 38-40ft in terms of a monohull. That makes it harder, but at least we do know what we need.

You're probably right about the market still having some room to head lower. It should be tied to the real estate market, as it was historically, but for some reason, boats haven't dropped like real estate. So... there is probably still room for some drops, as you mention.

To be clear about my motives, I'm not interested in insuring or selling any cheap/free boat I pick up. I'll buy a new one if it's lost and cruising and living aboard boats is what we're going to do for the next 20-30 years or more, unless we land somewhere in the world we'd like to set up shop and live.

So... this is basically a hull I'm looking at, in ferro that I can fit out. She's slow as all hell (heavy), but because of that, she's also able to take a beating at sea. The boat weighs in at 36,000 lbs. Good weight against rough conditions.

What worries me is my ability to do wood work inside this thing. I'm not a "wood guy." Removing old paint, rigging her, putting on little odds and ends of hardware is all simple.

Anyway, not sure where to stand just now... because the price is right (free, plus $30K or something to get it going). But who knows... maybe there will be better boats for $5000 soon, if the boat market tanks. If it tanks, I won't be able to get out of my current boat though, so that could be an issue.

So where are you going to work on this boat at and how will you get it there?
Where will you live during that time and will you be paying for your boat still as well as dry dock space also?
I would let this pass. Remember you will either have to hire the wood work or make mistakes while you learn.
$$$$$$$$$

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What the hell did I just do

I would strongly reconsider your thoughts about ferro. Yes, it's heavy. It also develops cracks. On occasion you get corrosion of the reinforcing material. Repairs are best described as a nightmare. Homebuilt hulls are notorious for being poorly faired.

Steel, aluminum, wood/epoxy/glass composite and even fiberglass are much easier to repair. For a do-it-yourselfer, I would stick with these.

The trick to doing interior work is to build a mockup. Cardboard is great material since it usually can be gotten free, is just about rigid enough, is easy to work with and is easily recyclable. Beyond that the skills are easily learned at any of a number of community colleges, adult learning programs, etc.

In short, I agree with B.A.'s rationale on ferro in genera and this particular boat. I also think you should heed Shu's warning about taking on substantial additional expenses by starting an open ended project.

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Regards,

Maren

The sea is always beautiful, sometimes mysterious and, on occasions, frighteningly powerful.