Well my wife has
Her dad died earlier this year
he lived on a boat in Liverpool marina
but had been too ill to maintain it for the last year + & hadnt ived on it since last xmas
condition has deteriorated, value has gone from £55k 10 years ago when he bought it to £15k now at best (according to survey)
costing us £500 a month mooring fees, only going to deteriorate over winter too
Brother in law is in the navy- he captains a T45 destroyer but has no clue about this (he suggested towing it out & letting the lads use it for target practice )
so anyone want to buy a boat, could be amazing, but needs a lot of work (also its stuck in lockdown liverpool & we cant get to it!)
needs varnishing
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when new
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water has seeped in through top and down sides
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also has this one as well we need to sell
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any advice appreciated, whats the yachttrackworld equivalent?
(this is just one of the many aspects of his life we are dealing with, my MIL, his ex, his 2 gfs, the adult toys we had to dispose of on his boat !, he also has a lockup with a load of red diesel a jetski and 1000 other things we need to sort through- also costing us £100 a month)
Welcome to boat ownership.
yachtingtreackworld equivalents are sailinganarchy.com (the equivalent of pinkbike, but with more ranting about billionaire boat owners). And the Yachts and Yachting forum, somehow even more cliquey despite being the 'sensible' forum.
My relatively modest hole in the water that I pour money into:
Sell the boat, Sell your house. Buy another boat and live in it. Moorings are like gold dust aren't they?
If it floats, flies or, err, something, then hire it.
I once (part) owned a boat. It sank in a storm one Xmas, we found it on its side half submerged. It kept costing us money for ages after that while we fought with the insurers. They won. Never again.
needs vanishing
FTFY etc. 🙂
It seems a shame to just let the asset sit there and rot, is there anyone local who you can pay to go and make the cabin watertight and any other repairs to weatherproof it over the winter?
Two best days in the life of a yacht owner?
Get it out of the water and find somewhere cheaper than £500 to store it, then sell in the spring. Condition of the engines will be key to a sale, what did the survey say? And what about the hull condition I assume it's wood? Varnish is least of your problems.
The sailing boat is worth a couple of grand depending on condition. See if you can give it away to avoid mooring fees.
Sounds like a right character. Write up a screenplay of his life and when it sells for mega bucks do up the boat to sell/use? Sorry I have no useful suggestions.
whats the yachttrackworld equivalent?
Yachting and Boating World
Strongly recommend signing up and asking there. You will get excellent and expert advice.
https://forums.ybw.com/index.php
I suggest asking on the PBO section. Chances are, someone will know the boat(s)
Let us know how it goes.
A risk of stating the obvious, it looks like it either needs sorting properly ASAP or selling for whatever you can get. I have no idea about the value of it in good condition or as is.
Assuming it's vaguely seaworthy, I imagine you'll be able move it to a much cheaper mooring somewhere in N Wales? But even better - can you get it out of the water onto a hard standing over the winter? That'll be a much better base for repairs and it won't deteriorate so quickly.
Oldie but goldie.
Fill with expensive goods (or possibly not).
Insure for a vast sum of money.
Sail out to sea.
Scuttle it.
Collect insurance.
What could possibly go wrong?
I have an even less useful suggestion. Just stand on it and shout 'I'm on a boat'
I know nothing about boats apart from that they look cool, but I do not want to own one. Two things come to mind:
i) Isn't this what auctions are for?
ii) It would be a pity if you took it out of the harbour to check that everything was in order and disaster struck and it was lost at sea. Looks to me like it's worth 55K, easily. You'd obviously want experienced crew if you did that to make sure nothing went wrong.
On a more sensible note, my dad used to do yacht repairs at a yard. The yard both made yachts of about that sort of size and style, and repaired them.
Rotten woodwork kept his boatyard alive. That, and delaminated glass hulls.
You have rotten wood.
Fire sale price and let some other sap experienced sailor take the problem project on.
He sounds like quite a character.
As above, get it out of the water, stored and inspected properly and get rid of the mooring.
sounds suspiciously like a liability rather than an asset 😂It seems a shame to just let the asset sit there and rot
Probably described FIL too, although potentially also a bit of a legend 🧐
Lonely Island style boat party!!! would be terrible if things got out of hand and there was a fire or something. It's insured, right?I have an even less useful suggestion. Just stand on it and shout ‘I’m on a boat’
If it floats, flies or, err, something, then hire it.
Wings, wheels or tits is the polite version but doesn't cover this case sadly.
As above, get rid of it now. It will only get worse and the chances of finding a buyer in a post Brexit wor;d are pretty slight.
Whatever you do, make sure it's listed as a liability in the estate - you don't want to be paying inheritance tax on money pit...
That's a lovely looking boat - but boats can be very expensive.... especially wooden ones!
I'd be looking to get it out of the water and store it on the hard as it will be cheaper than sitting in a berth.
Quite a few web sites suitable for selling the boat but the £15k price tag sounds about right looking at the other Osbornes that have sold.
If the hull had been GRP the value would have probably been higher.
Thought about turning it into an AirB&B?
edit:
Condition of the engines will be key to a sale
If it was GRP then I'd agree, but TBH the cost involved in the repair of a wooden hull is potentially way more than the engines
FIL had a 42 footer in that very marina which he sold a couple of years back. It was taking ages to sell and he arranged for it to be hoisted out of the water as part of the brokerage arrangement as it was deteriorating without being used.
He did look at moving it to North Wales too, or up the fylde coast, to a cheaper mooring, but he had a bigger chance of selling it via whatever the company is at that marina. Took a while, but he was right.
Having dealt with my FILs far more modest estate recently, I'd recommend getting rid double quick, especially if think any other beneficiaries will be looking over your shoulder waiting for a pay day.
If it's worth £15k, someone will buy it for £10k quickly (relative to how fast or slow boats usually sell).
How much is a decent one worth now? Is it economically viable to fix up and make profit?
Plenty of boat salesman out there who sell for a fee. But I imagine you'll get bottom value
For the yacht there will be an owners club/association with a selling page. Just need to identify what it is! Albin Vega? Contessa 26? looks similar to those but I don't think its either.
Probably worth getting them both out of the water and onto the hard (land) as quickly as you can as should be cheaper all round.
I'd seriously consider banging these on eBay just to get rid. Old boats really can cost you a fortune if you have to pay people to keep or do things to them.
Put it on Gumtree and then start a new thread listing the absurd swap or part-ex offers you get. It will keep us all entertained for a few days. Failing that what others have said regarding getting it out of the water and sold off as quickly as possible.
As an ex yacht owner, I agree with the sell it quick as fast as you can for whatever you can get.
Holding on to it may get you a better price, but by then it will have eaten up the difference in costs.
If you were a boat person though, it looks like a great boat to fix up and keep.
I would only own a boat now if I was going to live on it because the maintenance is a constant (no worse that looking after a house and big garden, but the deterioration is more obvious and dangerous).
EDIT: and I looked at the yacht, and thought, "Ooh, that looks ok". Very quickly stamped down on that thought though. 🙂
Is it economically viable to fix up and make profit?
In general, unless you know what you are doing and can do most of the work yourself, you are better off just setting fire to a pile of money than trying to fix old junk in the hope of selling it at a profit.
Stick it on ebay. My experience is absolutely anything will sell on ebay if you can handle the stupid question Olympics that you are bound to get entered into by listing it.
Having seen my grandad try and sell a boat in a similar condition when he started losing his marbles, get it sold quick for whatever you can otherwise you'll end up spending more money keeping it at the marina that you'll ever make back in the sale.
ebay - starting at a low price, it will find its value.
Surprisingly boats (in general - no idea about this particular one) are currently selling well since all this cv19 stuff kicked off, no idea why, but they are.
If you can prove it runs fine (not just the engines idling in the marina - although thats better than nothing, but does the steering work, gearboxes fine, runs at max speed without overheating , does it have trim tabs - do they work? etc) and has no leaks below the waterline (I presume it doesnt, because its still above the water), then it might sell relatively easily.
I presume it hasnt moved in years though ? if so the hull is probably covered in a thick layer of weed which will make moving it problematic, if it does have a thick layer of growth on the hull dont try and go any where near full throttle or even cruising speed, as you'll potentially damage the engines.
Good luck .
Sounds like the FIL might have appreciated a Viking Funeral?
I'd second the sell quick advice. My folks had a lovely old Nicholson 48 which they sailed well into their 80's. It then spent a year in the marina, hardly used, then a year in the boatshed. It had become too much for then to handle and was costing about 7k per annum just to keep. Dad was convinced it was worth 75k and had it on the market at that, with not a sniff. After 2 years i convinced them to let me sell it, we changed broker and sold within 3 months for 55k, about 3 years ago.
ebay – starting at a low price, it will find its value.
This.
Any extra money you hope to make will be soaked up by the costs you have monthly.
Another saying is around "if you're a billionaire and want to be a millionaire then get a plane or boat". Many years of sailing dinghy ownership has shown me boats are just money pits. Cut your losses and sell for whatever you can ASAP. You should only buy or invest in appreciating assets. lease or rent depreciating assets - Warren Buffet's rule.
If you can move it it’s cheaper to have it in the Albert Dock according to a friend who has a money pit boat. It’s Canal and Rivers Trust I think. Also a boat yard by Thurstaston on Wirral which would be cheaper still I imagine. Try local Sea Cadets to give away.
I lived and worked on a wooden boat for three years, do not attempt to do it up and sell if you wish to have a life or any money, they are a labour of love not quick profit. FIL sounded a proper boatman. I do miss boat life. Good luck.
If it does sink make sure it’s deep water, pesky divers can go quite far down for insurance companies and you won’t like prison.
Need more information on your FIL, he sounds great.
Flog the boat, yesterday. You will very quickly spend more than it is worth, it is a problem that will not go away and will get more costly by the week.
my MIL, his ex, his 2 gfs, the adult toys we had to dispose of on his boat !,
Rule number one of body disposal, don't tell people on the interwebz you used a boat to get rid of your mother in law, girlfriends and ex wife.
Rule 1 of selling anything, don't throw away all the objects of value and keep the dilapidated packaging.
Have you checked behind every panel for packages wrapped in plastic and parcel tape!!? 🙂
Are you also selling the toys, asking for Binners....
😀
Don't they maintain that there are 2 great days when you get into boat ownership
1. The day you buy it
2. The day you sell it
It has the look of a former Motor Torpedo Boat. If so are there any museums?
Contact these guys in Windsor https://www.stanleyandthomas.co.uk/
I pass them regularly on my walks. they specialize in wooden boats and restorations. They Might make you an offer for something they can fix up and sell on. In the right condition, down here on the Thames, it's worth a lot more than £15k.
And get it out of the water.
Re the yacht. Might be a Morgan Giles 30? Built mid 60s to mid 90s.
Quick search shows there is an owners club https://mg30.org.uk/
A 1989 example that has had a full refurbishment and lots of replacement/updated parts is on sale for £20k. Refurb & refit apparently cost the owner £130k. https://yachts.apolloduck.co.uk/boat/morgan-giles-30/649172
If I was in the market for one and wanted to actually do some sailing I know where my money would be going. Hopefully there will be someone out there who wants a project boat and has the space and time to do the work required themselves as would be a shame for her to end up like so many others rotting away up a creak somewhere. Abandoned boats are a growing problem across the country.
wobbliscott
Full Member
You should only buy or invest in appreciating assets. lease or rent depreciating assets – Warren Buffet’s rule.
And yet the Muppet keeps buying Airline stocks when they're high and selling when they're low.
Hoik ot out the water trailer it far from the sea. Dump it in a field. Tada! Quirky glamping site, watch the money roll in.
If you are just wanting shot for zero cash try the facebook group "Sitting there rotting in a boatyard". Used both by people spotting wrecks worth salvaging and people like you wanting shot...as long as it's free. Seems pretty active.
You should only buy or invest in appreciating assets. lease or rent depreciating assets – Warren Buffet’s rule.
And yet the Muppet keeps buying Airline stocks when they’re high and selling when they’re low.
To be fair to him, Warren Buffet has done alright for himself. He doesn’t quite deserve a “muppet” tag!
Bring
Out
Another
Thousand
I really want to hear more about your FIL, he sounds ace.
the adult toys we had to dispose of
The plastic carrier bag you use to lob them in the recycling centre needs to be strong enough for the job. You don't want to be scrabbling around on the floor gathering up the contents when the bag fails like a friend found out when disposing of his dad's gay porn stash.
I'll never want to own a boat even if I won the Euro lottery. Our large weed harvester boat cost about £20k a couple of years ago to repair before it went back in the water, this year it was only £9k, and thank god it's up for renewal and should have a new one next year.
Just had a quick google for an image of one and came across this, This was our new one about 10 years ago and they still want 90,000 euros. The picture of it on the lorry is of it being delivered new. I drove this one for about 4 years.
Here's a pic of our current one taken a couple of years ago.
Have you checked behind every panel for packages wrapped in plastic and parcel tape!!?
I know you’re joking but a girl I worked with inherited her dads home after he had an unexpected heart attack.
She found nearly £60k under the carpets.
Its a nice looking boat and getting rid now would be sensible and whatever you make out of it is a/ not going to cost mooring anymore b/ liability issues c/ another tick off the list.
We had boats in the family and the old man used to say it was like setting fire to cash in a waste bin , but we had great times and must admit to looking at boats myself, but not 50ft of boat !!
The right boat can be great, but the ops does not look like the right boat for a lot of people.
I'm onto my 3rd boat over the last 20 years, and it's great. it's not true about the best days being the day you buy it and the day you sell it.
they are not cheap to run, but there is a scale of 'not as expensive as I thought' through to 'how much!'
What do you give a man you hate? A boat
What do you give a man you really hate? A wooden boat
Just had a quick google for an image of one and came across this, This was our new one about 10 years ago and they still want 90,000 euros. The picture of it on the lorry is of it being delivered new. I drove this one for about 4 years.
OK - I need to know. What the hell is a weed harvester? It does not look as interesting as the title suggests. And what do you do with weed (the boring kind, not the interesting kind) that justifies a machine of that value?
Or is it about removing the weed and clearing the waterway rather than what you do with the weed per se?
Apolloduck might be worth a go as well.
If no takers with it on the water, ask the yard about sticking it up on the hard standing - and also see if PBO, YBW etc forums have suggestions for other hard standings. A berth will cost a bit more than sticking it on dry land for a bit.
You may well find someone adventurous or simple enough to take the Osborne on - or drunk enough to buy the plastic 4KSB (see SailingAnarchy for glossary on that).
At the moment they're both costing a packet and fixing up the Osborne will be costly and painful in so many ways that you can't even begin to imagine. I'd price to sell and consider it a lucky escape.
Oh wow, I'd happily live in that boat. Liverpool though... not a chance. Can you deliver?
I can't add much other than this is a good thread I hope it runs on till you find a solution, your fil sounds like a story waiting to be told. Your bil is a skimmer.
Convert it's basically a floating mower. We mainly cut the main river for our Waterways team to help keep it navigable for boaters. It cuts the weed with a reciprocating blade and the weed goes up the front conveyor bed onto a back conveyor bed. The weed is dumped on the river bank to rot down which doesn't take long. A lot of the top-end of our river is SSSI so has to be placed in certain areas.
This what the front looks like when emptying the weed.
We also cut a lot of the backwaters for flood defence with smaller Conver boats where the Berky is too big to go up. These just cut the weed then we use the Berky to collect the cut weed.
Conver weed boat
Love a Gentleman's yacht thread. Was he a "gentleman"? I've got a very Terry Thomas image of him. Great idea about a viking funeral. Someone on here will lend you a wetsuit if you don't want to use the rubber dingy on the foredeck for the return from the last voyage of the Good Ship Joyce Julia Were they the GFs? Saves on many costs and creates a business opportunity if you open it up to others. Anyway £15k is very optimistic if you look at what has been sold recently or up for sale at the moment.
(this is just one of the many aspects of his life we are dealing with, my MIL, his ex, his 2 gfs, the adult toys we had to dispose of on his boat !, he also has a lockup with a load of red diesel a jetski and 1000 other things we need to sort through- also costing us £100 a month)
as the posts above - what a boss! - more info please.
Some friends of mine had an old relative die and leave them his 'estate', which consisted of the usual things like road bikes,tv's, hifi equipment etc. They also found a massive porn stash consisting of books, dvd's, video, magazines etc. They were going to just bin the lot, but then one of them decided to see if it might be worth selling on ebay, They're about 50% of the way through the pile of porn and have made about £3k on ebay from it so far.
So if this chap is similar - dont throw the porn out, get it sold, there's money in second hand grot
The danger is... There might be more than money in the grot.
Item condition... Used.
This is a brilliant thread.
Love the idea of a boat but just varnishing the wooden trim on a GRP dinghy was enough to put me off proper wooden boats for life.
They’re about 50% of the way through the pile of porn and have made about £3k on ebay from it so far.
Think I'd get myself a new eBay account and PO Box before setting forth and selling someone else's grot😉 The buyer feedback section must make for some interesting reading too.
Sorry can't be arsed to read the whole thread as mildly put off by TINAS lovely BLAZE pic on page 1.
If no-one has mentioned it then Apollo Duck seems to be the boating Auto Trader.
There are loads of Facebook groups. I'm a dinghy sailor so I'd tend towards something like the excellent Dinghy and Boat Advice group but that's probably not right for a bigger motor boat.
Think I’d get myself a new eBay account and PO Box before setting forth and selling someone else’s grot😉 The buyer feedback section must make for some interesting reading too.
They've gone through about 3 ebay accounts so far... It appears that selling grot is against ebay t&c's but you can sell a fair amount before they detect it and you get shut down.
andrewreay
Love the idea of a boat but just varnishing the wooden trim on a GRP dinghy was enough to put me off proper wooden boats for life.
During a less sane period of my life, I commissioned the build of a wooden gaff rig ketch.
The sane thing I did was to specify no varnished surfaces - except the masts and booms. Every bit of wood that went into the boat was soaked in Everdure - a thinned out epoxy, and we used epoxy paints on top of that. It still looked good 10 years later and for a wooden boat it was very low maintenance. The next owner sailed it across the Pacific to the USA from Oz (where I used to live).
@NewRetroTom predigital age, so in a box somewhere with the other black and white pics. 🙂
But seeing as you like interesting boats here's some pics of pearling luggers I took when I was in the Torres Straits over 45 years ago. (Mouldy slides converted to digital). There's a few if you click through that album.
I was thinking of buying one.
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Well we still own both boats
Still costing us money, the marina have been less than helpful, I think they were happy to take out money, with no use of the facilities!
https://www.boatshed.com/osborne_50-boat-277111.html
And apologies to @noone for not getting back sooner
Seems to be working for me?
It is probably the disaster that is skim links preventing them from working. I never click a link anymore. They work if copy/pasted
If you can drag the boats over to Meols, it looks like the council will dispose of them for free!
Well we still own both boats
Price is too high.
Apologies for brusqueness and brevity, but there it is.
Its a niche boat that. Its way too big for weekend type use. You are looking for someone that wants to live on a boat, and fix one up at the same time. It would be hard to sell at the best of times.
I have some experience with the various mariners of the north west and there is no real cheaper option. The mariners of North Wales are more desirable as they are where people go on holiday and keep small pleasure boats. Its also very tidal all around the north west to the extent you cant get in / out of most of them for half of the time. Getting it out of the water is worth looking at. The cheaper ongoing cost off set by the cost of pulling it out, there are also more places that could do that than actual mariners.
