It depends on what it is I've been given if I want it a 32 ft Carmen built 1964 built for Charles.H.Middleton MH 80 numberstdneyvto Hobart 1968 nabd heaps of wins Sydney to Brisbane inshore offshore wins in its division class no motor it's a ball of rust decks needed replacing 8mm to qomm ply and glassed timber mast. A wally Ward design Built by Ron Swanson Griffin boat shed
Wood boats are often some of the neatest boats on the water, but they are the most work by a spectacular margin. Glass boats are not as elegant usually, but they are immortal with basic care. A wood boat is totally a passion project. And big money to maintain, but they are wonderful when done.
@@DangarMarine Would he consider ripping all of the usable bits out of it (absolutely everything that he has spent money on and can't/doesn't want to make from scratch) and then going full SV Seeker? Remake the same proven hull design in steel?
That looks like a good old chugger Stu..I hope the genny and aux engines and hardware are salvageable and rebuildable for him..I noticed that the starboard gunnel was a bit stressed from the cable stay pulling on it so I hope that hasn't sprung a plank lower and causing the leak..Wise words to prospective buyers there as well mate..Thanks for the tour
I think you hit the nail on the head when you talk about investing in a proper marine survey. Getting the boat out of the water and getting it looked at by someone who’s heart is not leading their head. For me this one looks like a money pit but there is also the question of why all the concrete and ballast? If you want the space back and strip out weight how will the boat ride?
Have to say, totally envious of your weather. We live in N/W BC, Canada, temperate rain forest. You could bet it will be cloudy or rainy almost every day of the year here and you would win. Love and enjoy your sunshine that we can't lol.
I agree Stu, fiberglass over a wood boat is not ideal for knowing if you have a problem before it's worse to fix. Wood swells and contracts. Fiberglass doesn't! A good wood will last forever but needs care. Drydock is the best way to maintain but the cost is expensive as you found out.
Leo (Tally Ho) recently said he doubted he'd have started the project if the extent of the rebuild needed was known. This boat hides its state of repair/disrepair; to discover its state major "uncovering" is needed and only owning it would make that possible. Save the Yanmar and then use it as a fire boat to set the French fleet alight or burn in an Up Helly Aa festival.
Enjoyed the vid . . my comments on Maybelle would be run away quickly unless a boat like her is free! and then think seriously about it . . then run! . . The fiberglass hold will hide serious drama and the rotten ribs more than you think to fix unless you can get her out of the water, under cover and really enjoy lots of sawdust. Lots of other old fishing boats in the sea. I finally bought the boat I'd always dreamed about a fibreglass, 30'er, 6 berth, fly bridge, good size cockpit yadda yadda . . sadly two thumping great rebuilt Chrysler V8's meant the fuel bill spoiled it a bit . . . but I did find the Mrs and I were 1 person short of a good crew when we took her out and just didn't get the use we expected from it . . . sold on and a lesson learned.
so can't lift tow or dry dock it.. leaking with some rib rot. and has been flooded halfway up the motor .looks like Barney rubble to me..bit harsh but strip and scrap might just be the go....its got some good gear
You make a great point about some boats find you. I purchased a locally built "Catolina Style" boat [large bow for North Carolina Outer Banks] through a very interesting chain of events. After purchasing it I have run into people that were actually involved in the laying up of the hull, etc. This boat truly found me...and after fully going through it I have come to realize it is a great size for me and my family's needs currently. Any bigger would be cumbersome and smaller wouldn't work. Easy to trailer but big enough for rougher water we encounter. Very good points you hit on Stu. Keep pushing on as I am eager to see her underway exploring the coast.
That's a lot of matches floating there. I love my wooden boats but anything that's been sheathed in fibreglass ain't worth the cost of the petrol to set fire to it.
Matthew Verrelli cause the wood still rots under the fiberglass, however it’s impossible to get to to repair. In most cases it’s cased in fiberglass to Postpone the required wood replacement.
Rev. Jim Jones and the Kool-Aid Drinkers. This can be true. The problem here is, if you didn’t do the work yourself, how do you know if the “years and years” of life have past, or if you still have some left. Short of destroying the hull by peeling the fiberglass you don’t.
You can do that, but fiberglass adds no structural support. 1600 Ton master with 30+ years at sea. I also do surveys. I love old wood boats. But if its encapsulated in fiberglass it’s done. Never seen one that didn’t rot out completely. Never not once. I have watched 2 get restored. Every place that was encapsulated in fiberglass was completely rotted, and had to be replaced. Sorry if it messes up your theory on fun, but there are a lot of people that think life jackets are stupid as well. The original question was why is fiberglassed wood bad. It’s been explained,
@@rev.jimjonesandthekool-aid4488 It's really not that simple. I little punt for running about in an estuary maybe. It's a thin skin of glass that could be hiding a potential catastrophic failure. You'd truly struggle to give that away. At the end of the day it's an old workboat, there's no historic value to burning through money to restore it.
i am finishing a 23 foot markline,never ending money pit so i bought a 20 trailer sailer,that need a lot of work doing to it. That worked,it took my mind off the 23 foot
Dave's method in finding a boat has another benefit you glossed over. With a professional survey, including a haul out, you know at least 1 place that you can get the boat out of the water to work on it, or at least a starting point since that haul out facility WILL know their competition that could also haul it out if you can't work on the boat at that facility.
In 2013 I bought 43’ fiberglass houseboat (RUclips “Big fast houseboat”). I recently sold it. The more you look the more you find wrong. It wasn’t long before I realized the engines and transmissions were not going to last. So, I repowered it. $40,000 later not including my labor. Then updated electronics, gauges upper and lower helm, Marine Air heat pump central air, 3000 watt inverter/charger, $4000 worth of AGM batteries and much much more. I sold the boat because I have an illness, I can’t stop spending and working on a boat and I don’t make enough to support my illness.
@@DangarMarine if you ever come down to Victoria on the bike Stu come stay at my farm near Sale in Gippsland and we'll take my Sonata 7 out and sail around the Gippsland Lakes. Not quite the harbor but still very nice winter or summer with lots of bird life and places to tie up like the pub at Paynesville.
I think what you said about taking time and searching the right way will bring you to the boat you should have is correct. People told me that about looking for a house, just keep looking, have it inspected and eventually the perfect house will be yours. I felt that everyone was being a bit too starry eyed but thats exactly what happened.
Hey Stu, Very thoughtful.. thanks for talking thru how you approach a project. This has great lines and I love stick boats but glass would scare me off this one. It could be a great project for the guy with easy, low-cost boatyard access for a long term rebuild.
@@marcusgrant9892 yeah, fibreglassed to cover up/ bodge the damage. Nothing wrong with a fibreglassed wooded boat, just has to be done properly and during construction
I'll 4th that - death in a fibreglass blanket. Don't do it! This isn't a knock about wooden boats (which I love) but one against the marriage of glass and wood. Oil and water!
I think the kid's idea of filling it with concrete is a great plan. Tow it out to deep water, fill it to the deck, and drink a beer while it settles to the bottom
From my experience as a welder in a marina get a professional inspection done If your really interested in a boat. Once you have a estimate on cost to fix or restore the vessel, multiply that number by at least three. Even then it's still not enough! That's just the reality of the game and I've seen many projects get scraped and hearts broken over boat restorations!
It would be really interesting to get a professional survey done on this boat. People freak out about bit of rot and a leak but neither of those things are an indication that a boat is finished.
I like the idea of you finishing your current boat, selling it, working on a larger one (hopefully one that doesn't need as much work as your current one).
Great advice, Stu. So many people buy “too much boat”- expensive to store, hard to drive around for fun, and just too many problems. I commend you for your work on Renko, but if you look back at those videos, you are one tired guy after a day of grinding/drilling/chasing parts. . Renko was a tremendous display of your talents. Get some rest and give Eddie a few pats for us in the “International Audience!”
Two things that I have learnt you should sprint away from as fast as you possible can and never look back, one is a boat like this the other is ballroom dance classes.
Hey Stu. I have no doubt in my mind that you can fix this boat up etc, but have grave doubts as to whether it is truly worth the effort. I agree with your assessment of the boat and would find it difficult to justify the cost v's the outcome. I would tend to agree with another of your suggestions that maybe there's a better quality and cheaper boat out there just waiting for your skills to used on which will be probably more encouraging because at the end of the day, it's going to be how much is it has been worth all the effort and heartache and to be honest, i see a lot of pain on this one. However, I am ultra confident that you can do it and will look forward to watching you no matter what you decide. Great luck on what you decide bro.
Scrapping looks best; that motor looked Big so it can't be worthless; a generator; a big-ass compressor; some interesting flat-screens on the dash; that other electrical stuff your were praising; if the winches are shot then that's still a lot of steel in a tight package for recycling; etc., etc.. Only need to get the thing tied up near a crane, then take a chain saw and cut Big access holes in the deck and pluck out everything you want. Maybe there's a boat out there that could use those goodies and not much more.... Also: a solar panel, light fixtures, heavy gauge wire, inverters, steering components, maybe some nice Morse controls, nav lights, anchor lights, working lights, maybe some Radios and related antennae, and all that tubing in the crab-hold might be a small fortune in copper..... Do Not fix that thing; I agree with most commenters in saying you are asking for a Nightmare if you think all that rotten wood that you can see is all there is to be found.... Sing the Blues, decry the prolific Rot, insist that buddy Start both motors, and if you can get it for a low price you might even MAKE money on the thing..... You know that laying into that deck with a Chainsaw would be a lot of fun!! GOOD LUCK!
I quite like the look of this boat it sure does still have a lot of potential for restoration and conversion to a dive boat or something other than a fishing boat it will be great when it’s done.
May Belle II is a beast at 50T. She must be quite beamy. I always thought that you would get more useable or live aboard space in beam vs length. More beam will make her slower, but adds a lot more volume for a given length.
First valid use for your mini ROV - you could do an underwater survey to check the hull. It probably needs recaulking to stop the leaks, but those broken / rotted frames have to get fixed, or the planking will never be entirely stable.
I think also should be added that don’t start a new project until the first one is done ! I know a few guys with a yard full of projects and non will get done because of lack of interest !
I had the same instinctive feeling about May Bell II as (I'm guessing) most other older commenters. I love wood boats. Seeing what has happened to this one is sad. It is beyond reasonable repair costs. Two factors: purpose and size. This is a work boat. No matter how you try, it won't make a boat suitable for cruising. Compounding that is the size. With size comes exponentially higher costs, from haul-out to repair to running costs. The size is a mis-match with the purpose of trying a restore. The money you put into it (size) doesn't match what you get out (utility). I am sure that her size along with the cut of her bow is what makes Troy attached to this boat. I am afraid he is at a crisis point in his ownership. Whether the engine runs or not, the boat cannot be sold with that leak, and the leak could sink her at her mooring. To find and fix the leak and to get a survey means an expensive haul-out for this heavy, deep-draft vessel. The likelihood of a poor survey and astronomical repair costs is high. The haul-out and survey costs may not be worth it if the conclusion is to scrap. Maybe better to sell the boat for the cost of haul-out and survey and let someone else figure out how to part it out and pay to dispose of the hull. Consider that Troy will be ahead the haul-out and survey costs, instead of out of pocket. You have a good heart. Thanks for wanting to help a friend in his predicament.
Hi mate. Yes, I agree the only way forward is a full inspection out of the water. I do want to help him with this boat because I can see his is very attached to it. It was his previous work boat and he has spent many years at sea in it. I think it could be made into a good cruiser though. Dave's trawler was a similar layout before he added a new cabin on the back deck to make a really nice boat. Of course, as you say, it wasn't cheap...
@@DangarMarine Wow. Knowing this was his work boat adds a new dimension. I can understand this personally from another context. I headed a technical team in a data center that closed. The company was paying a salvage company to haul away the old computer server systems that I and my team had kept running for years. With permission, I took some of the equipment home. They were big rack-mounted systems with multiple power supplies. I then realized I did not have the power circuits to support all of them. I never figured out a practical use, and then faced the reality that they were obsolete and had little resale value. To use your example from the video, this is a boat that found your friend. It won't be OK until he has tried to save her, at least to finding out if it can be done within his means. I hadn't thought of adding a cabin on the work deck. That would definitely make her more practical for cruising. She has a deep hull, and if it remained heavily ballasted, the additional weight above deck might be OK. Of course that means carefully measuring the boat when she is out of water and checking with a naval architect. If I had to keep the boat, I would want to remove all of the fiberglass sheathing inside the hull to provide access to the frames and planks. The leak she has now speaks to why the sheathing is unsafe going forward. I wish your friend the best.
Heat the hold up with a space heater and use a thermal camera to see the coldest part of the glass skin in the inside, should be where the water is coming in.
That's a good idea. I'd like to give that a go. Of course with the glass being smooth (no visible ribs) I can only assume it is over plywood that is attached to the ribs so there may be a four inch gap between the glass and the hull.
Hi Stu the for and against questions that your thinking of are very good to think about, I helped my brother and two other fishermen fix up a 40f timber boat the hull had to be all sanded and corked, it was a good boat but the work involved was a lot, but in the end she was a really nice boat but you are right when you say that a boat of that size would be nice to have another person involved. It’s sensible questions that you are thinking about, anyway it was an interesting video and pulled the old heart strings for another boat if didn’t have rheumatoid arthritis but your channel is great to watch. Regards John
Your right Stu, buying a boat, project or other is just the start but owning a boat is like pouring your money into the ocean, there is always something needed or wanted for the boat and your boat will always know when you have a little spare cash in your pocket.
Great video as always. Hi! Stu. I found your channel just recently and I’m already hooked. Loved your conversations with Scott of Bus Grease Monkey. My grandson as purchased an older 30ft Grady White and I’ve found myself spending more time at the Santa Barbara Harbor. Cheers to you and the crew.
Wow, like somebody famous is responding to me. I really look up to you Stu, thanks again for doing what you do. PS Was able to find some Coopers beer in the States. I have friend from Australia, took him out on my little aluminum john boat fishing in the bay, gave him some Coopers to drink. Brought back memories for him, said he remembered his dad drinking that. Anyway, keep up the good work.
That was a really good video Stu it made me realise how little I know about serious boats bigger than the 15 footers I've dabbled with. The practical issues of hardstands and skills required let alone the cash is not for the faint hearted. You could do some good video of getting the motor to run if you wanted to spend a few hundred on parts maybe and that would be great to watch and add value to the boat. With no running motor it looks worthless to me and I would really enjoy seeing that motor fired up and running.
Thanks mate. I'm definitely going to give Troy a hand and see if we can get the boat running again. I'd love to get it somewhere up on the hard stand and do a properly inspection on it.
Well, the puppy is the only thing of value I would gladly take. In my humble opinion, not sure if that boat is worth the headaches, but you are the only who can make the decision. Whatever route you take, I will keep following your adventures.
The fiberglass internal lining will only cover up the timber rot that is occurring. The leak into the bilges is a massive concern that will just not be fixed.
You can test how much rot by drilling holes in the likely spots for rot (not all the way through) look in low points and corners. It's very simple to see the condition with what the drill drags out. Reseal with your favorite marine sealants. Just remember once there is water between the glass and the wood, it's not likely coming out.
It would be interesting to drill in a few spots and see what we see. As Andrew pointed out, the glass in the fish room is flat so it is likely to be glassed plywood against the ribs which may mean the planks behind have been able to breathe. It will be interesting to investigate further.
Scrapping looks best; that motor looked Big so it can't be worthless; a generator; a big-ass compressor; some interesting flat-screens on the dash; that other electrical stuff your were praising; if the winches are shot then that's still a lot of steel in a tight package for recycling; etc., etc.. Only need to get the thing tied up near a crane, then take a chain saw and cut Big access holes in the deck and pluck out everything you want. Maybe there's a boat out there that could use those goodies and not much more.... Also: a solar panel, light fixtures, heavy gauge wire, inverters, steering components, maybe some nice Morse controls, nav lights, anchor lights, working lights, maybe some Radios and related antennae, and all that tubing in the crab-hold might be a small fortune in copper..... Do Not fix that thing; I agree with most commenters in saying you are asking for a Nightmare if you think all that rotten wood that you can see is all there is to be found.... Sing the Blues, decry the prolific Rot, insist that buddy Start both motors, and if you can get it for a low price you might even MAKE money on the thing..... You know that laying into that deck with a Chainsaw would be a lot of fun!! GOOD LUCK!
If you swab out the oily fluids after stripping the boat of valuable motors and stuff maybe you could use the hull to make an artificial reef ! You will soon (we hope) have your Detroit Diesel mini tug boat available to haul the carcass off shore to give some fish a home.....
Wow here it’s a lots of work but why not…I have restored a 53 wooden boat from 1942 to a live onboard boat it’s cost a lot off money but it’s was fun …and you have a RUclips channel that can get a bust if you buy it
I wouldn't touch May Bell 2 with someone else's barge pole let alone mine. In my lubberly experience, rotten wood that you can see means rotten wood that you can't see.
I love to do any boat project and we all know it involves with money to spend on and as for wood boat is very difficulty job to do due to not enough wood to match the original. Just be careful how to spend and do your math before decide. Thought to suggest. Good Luck. Double Thumb!
This boat is a great project boat and to do some of the repairs like the leak etc is not as hard as you may think even for a non boat builder. It is built for the ocean and can handle some big seas no problems. Further inspection is needed but it is not very hard to do
Boy, Looked at the lines from the water several times and there is either a bad perspective from that angle or she looks like she has the first stages of hogging going on. I try and ignore the paint to get the true lines. Only a slight bit by my eye but my eye picked it out at almost at once. Seen too many old boats suffering from this. Interior fiberglass is a real worry. I've been a wood boat owner and repairer over the years. She's going to need a big boat yard where some serious frame / plank work can be done. What is she fastened with? Iron boat nails? Galvanized screws? Rivets? Gotta get that fiberglass out of her. Not trying to be the voice of doom and gloom but too many years trying to fix old neglected boats to not be a tad skeptical. Big bank account helps too. Your advice is spot on.
@@forge20 I should probably be clearer. The boat, with some love and attention has another 20 plus years in her. Enough to make it worthwhile working on. Never know what will be found behind interior skins. Work boats were, well, work boats. Make money until it can;t with least upkeep you could afford. Open her up, clean her out. Dry her out and sister what is needed to stiffen her up. Probably some refastening needed as well. A year maybe or more of steady work and she can be a fun boat to own and live on and travel. The deeper the pockets the better. I saved this old boat: pigboats.com/ric/planking2.jpg with about a dozen planks, a whole new transom and timbers and a complete refasten from shear to garboard with galvanized screws and all new cotton in the seams. 50% rebuild on cabin. Took 6 months. Needless to say I was also 45 years younger than I am now.
There is a comment way below, about using a themal imaging camera. What about some sort of ultrasound device? The fibreglass, dry wood, wet wood, and airspace, would all have different densities. Ultrasound would be good at this. And by the way: Nice video of Sydney! Thanks Stu.
Good video Stu but, after working in yards 40 plus years i'm done with wood boats... First is the always maintenance of wood, then water rot, dry rot, worms and getting raw wood to replace stringers, frames, decks and planking. need a big yard for steaming, saws, planers, ect. life is to short i rather be fishing :-) Your boat is fine and your doing a bang up job that you should be proud of yourself............
Thanks mate. There sure is a lot of work in this boat. It is more about giving Troy a hand really but it will interesting to see what he is up against.
Stu is no dummy he’s just being polite.... Great videos!!!!!
Being polite. No there’s a novel concept on the internet. ;)
@@DangarMarine now
10 years worth of weekends and when you're done the boat will be worth a quarter of what you spent. Sounds fun!
Run or swim far far away while its still close to shore.
😂
Tony Aguilar , why run, it will cost more to buy new a lot lot more.
Thanks for taking us sight seeing Sydney, A free boat is the most expensive one to have.
LoooooooooooooooooL the truth hurts
It depends on what it is I've been given if I want it a 32 ft Carmen built 1964 built for Charles.H.Middleton MH 80 numberstdneyvto Hobart 1968 nabd heaps of wins Sydney to Brisbane inshore offshore wins in its division class no motor it's a ball of rust decks needed replacing 8mm to qomm ply and glassed timber mast. A wally Ward design Built by Ron Swanson Griffin boat shed
Wood boats are often some of the neatest boats on the water, but they are the most work by a spectacular margin. Glass boats are not as elegant usually, but they are immortal with basic care.
A wood boat is totally a passion project. And big money to maintain, but they are wonderful when done.
All good points Stuie. I brang a 45 footer back to life after a major fire. You tube was my best friend for 12 months. Great stuff. Keep em coming.
Thanks Alan.
Welcome to the school of dangarStu. Today looks a lot videos and I felt like a student. more than thanks Stu !!
Stu, thats a good looking boat. No negative comment. we already know she can ride the waves.
I'd pass on that one....looks like a huge money pit to me.
Thanks for the video.
Done a few trips skippering this out of Pyrmont when it was a working trawler bagnatos from Sydney owned it unreal sea boat solid old girl!!!
Hey Daniel, that's cool to hear. Troy had been working it up to this year and really loves the way it is at sea too.
@@DangarMarine Would he consider ripping all of the usable bits out of it (absolutely everything that he has spent money on and can't/doesn't want to make from scratch) and then going full SV Seeker? Remake the same proven hull design in steel?
That looks like a good old chugger Stu..I hope the genny and aux engines and hardware are salvageable and rebuildable for him..I noticed that the starboard gunnel was a bit stressed from the cable stay pulling on it so I hope that hasn't sprung a plank lower and causing the leak..Wise words to prospective buyers there as well mate..Thanks for the tour
Yes, I hope the engines are salvageable too. Will be trying to help him get them running in a week or so.
To quote a song lyric " RUN DON'T WALK AWAY"
Run run run rrrruuuuunnnnn fast as fast as you can
I think you hit the nail on the head when you talk about investing in a proper marine survey. Getting the boat out of the water and getting it looked at by someone who’s heart is not leading their head. For me this one looks like a money pit but there is also the question of why all the concrete and ballast? If you want the space back and strip out weight how will the boat ride?
You couldn't pay me enough to take that on, huge money pit.
Have to say, totally envious of your weather. We live in N/W BC, Canada, temperate rain forest. You could bet it will be cloudy or rainy almost every day of the year here and you would win. Love and enjoy your sunshine that we can't lol.
I'm envious of your weather..at least you get rain.
Thanks for the tour mate,,looked like a nice day down on the harbour. Glass Slipper too...classic track from the great man :)
Thanks mate. I’m thinking of putting it on my best of album which will also be my first. ;)
Very good, sound advice Stu. Lots of sense to point to an end.
Thankyou for sharing your knowledge with us.
Thanks Tony.
I agree Stu, fiberglass over a wood boat is not ideal for knowing if you have a problem before it's worse to fix. Wood swells and contracts. Fiberglass doesn't! A good wood will last forever but needs care. Drydock is the best way to maintain but the cost is expensive as you found out.
Leo (Tally Ho) recently said he doubted he'd have started the project if the extent of the rebuild needed was known. This boat hides its state of repair/disrepair; to discover its state major "uncovering" is needed and only owning it would make that possible. Save the Yanmar and then use it as a fire boat to set the French fleet alight or burn in an Up Helly Aa festival.
Enjoyed the vid . . my comments on Maybelle would be run away quickly unless a boat like her is free! and then think seriously about it . . then run! . . The fiberglass hold will hide serious drama and the rotten ribs more than you think to fix unless you can get her out of the water, under cover and really enjoy lots of sawdust. Lots of other old fishing boats in the sea.
I finally bought the boat I'd always dreamed about a fibreglass, 30'er, 6 berth, fly bridge, good size cockpit yadda yadda . . sadly two thumping great rebuilt Chrysler V8's meant the fuel bill spoiled it a bit . . . but I did find the Mrs and I were 1 person short of a good crew when we took her out and just didn't get the use we expected from it . . . sold on and a lesson learned.
Always concise, insightful information. The boat looks like a lot of work but it could work out for the right person.
Thanks mate. It is a lot of boat that could definitely be saved by the right person.
You may be able to tell the rough area of the leak if you use a thermal imaging camera pointed at the fibreglass lining.
Would be a very interesting experiment.
Sabretooth Barnacle good idea. They use thermal cameras on composites to check for water infiltration
I have a cheapo FLIR one I plug into my phone - it's been invaluable over the years even if the battery life is wanting..
Nice shirt, great promoting other channels as well. Love watching content from both
Thanks mate. It was great to visit Alix and Steve. :)
You said a bunch of wise words about what are you going to do with a boat and I love your Pterodactyl birds👍
Hey, an Acorn to Arabella T-Shirt!
Great videos of guys building a sailboat.
Nice one, Stu.
so can't lift tow or dry dock it.. leaking with some rib rot. and has been flooded halfway up the motor .looks like Barney rubble to me..bit harsh but strip and scrap might just be the go....its got some good gear
Sell the good gear, make the rest of the boat an artificial reef!
Use the good gear to build your own bost
You make a great point about some boats find you. I purchased a locally built "Catolina Style" boat [large bow for North Carolina Outer Banks] through a very interesting chain of events. After purchasing it I have run into people that were actually involved in the laying up of the hull, etc. This boat truly found me...and after fully going through it I have come to realize it is a great size for me and my family's needs currently. Any bigger would be cumbersome and smaller wouldn't work. Easy to trailer but big enough for rougher water we encounter.
Very good points you hit on Stu. Keep pushing on as I am eager to see her underway exploring the coast.
Thanks mate. I'm looking foward to exploring up the coast too!
That's a lot of matches floating there. I love my wooden boats but anything that's been sheathed in fibreglass ain't worth the cost of the petrol to set fire to it.
anthonyexmouth how come? Why’s that hurt the value so much?
Matthew Verrelli cause the wood still rots under the fiberglass, however it’s impossible to get to to repair. In most cases it’s cased in fiberglass to Postpone the required wood replacement.
Rev. Jim Jones and the Kool-Aid Drinkers. This can be true. The problem here is, if you didn’t do the work yourself, how do you know if the “years and years” of life have past, or if you still have some left. Short of destroying the hull by peeling the fiberglass you don’t.
You can do that, but fiberglass adds no structural support. 1600 Ton master with 30+ years at sea. I also do surveys. I love old wood boats. But if its encapsulated in fiberglass it’s done. Never seen one that didn’t rot out completely. Never not once. I have watched 2 get restored. Every place that was encapsulated in fiberglass was completely rotted, and had to be replaced. Sorry if it messes up your theory on fun, but there are a lot of people that think life jackets are stupid as well. The original question was why is fiberglassed wood bad. It’s been explained,
@@rev.jimjonesandthekool-aid4488 It's really not that simple. I little punt for running about in an estuary maybe. It's a thin skin of glass that could be hiding a potential catastrophic failure. You'd truly struggle to give that away. At the end of the day it's an old workboat, there's no historic value to burning through money to restore it.
Always a solid presentation...
Glad you think so!
i am finishing a 23 foot markline,never ending money pit so i bought a 20 trailer sailer,that need a lot of work doing to it. That worked,it took my mind off the 23 foot
Dave's method in finding a boat has another benefit you glossed over. With a professional survey, including a haul out, you know at least 1 place that you can get the boat out of the water to work on it, or at least a starting point since that haul out facility WILL know their competition that could also haul it out if you can't work on the boat at that facility.
In 2013 I bought 43’ fiberglass houseboat (RUclips “Big fast houseboat”). I recently sold it. The more you look the more you find wrong. It wasn’t long before I realized the engines and transmissions were not going to last. So, I repowered it. $40,000 later not including my labor. Then updated electronics, gauges upper and lower helm, Marine Air heat pump central air, 3000 watt inverter/charger, $4000 worth of AGM batteries and much much more. I sold the boat because I have an illness, I can’t stop spending and working on a boat and I don’t make enough to support my illness.
Whether you choose this one or another to work on I'd love to see another restore project. I really enjoyed the last one.
I agree with MrBugsier5. Glassing a wooden boat is the kiss of death.
Stu: hey its Dangar Stu here
Me: *likes video*
Second that
Lol. #Truth
Sydney Harbor is magnificent. Australia is such a great place.
Thanks mate. It was a nice sunny day to head into the city.
@@DangarMarine if you ever come down to Victoria on the bike Stu come stay at my farm near Sale in Gippsland and we'll take my Sonata 7 out and sail around the Gippsland Lakes. Not quite the harbor but still very nice winter or summer with lots of bird life and places to tie up like the pub at Paynesville.
Love the Acorn to Arabella T-shirt.
and a year later as I re-watch, I realize I am wearing MY red Acorn to Arabella shirt ;-)
I think what you said about taking time and searching the right way will bring you to the boat you should have is correct. People told me that about looking for a house, just keep looking, have it inspected and eventually the perfect house will be yours. I felt that everyone was being a bit too starry eyed but thats exactly what happened.
Insure it and hope for really really bad weather
Hey Stu,
Very thoughtful.. thanks for talking thru how you approach a project.
This has great lines and I love stick boats but glass would scare me off this one. It could be a great project for the guy with easy, low-cost boatyard access for a long term rebuild.
whit the fiber glass on it it has his death clothes on.. Run from this wreck.
I second that.
@@marcusgrant9892 yeah, fibreglassed to cover up/ bodge the damage. Nothing wrong with a fibreglassed wooded boat, just has to be done properly and during construction
I'll 4th that - death in a fibreglass blanket. Don't do it! This isn't a knock about wooden boats (which I love) but one against the marriage of glass and wood. Oil and water!
I think the kid's idea of filling it with concrete is a great plan. Tow it out to deep water, fill it to the deck, and drink a beer while it settles to the bottom
@@duncanjames914 not really , we glass or c flex wooden boats all of the time here on the chesapeake bay . They last forever
Some of the most expensive things I’ve owned were free. It’s free for a reason and if you catch feelings for it, be ready to spend.
ive got a 20.5 ton, 42 foot, i love it.
I've been down this rd and my problems were nothing like this boat RUN and don't look back
The purchase of that trim little craft would guarantee Heart palpitations ,recurring nightmares ,
and probable bank foreclosure.
But who wouldn't love to see that on video?? ;)
From my experience as a welder in a marina get a professional inspection done If your really interested in a boat.
Once you have a estimate on cost to fix or restore the vessel, multiply that number by at least three. Even then it's still not enough! That's just the reality of the game and I've seen many projects get scraped and hearts broken over boat restorations!
It would be really interesting to get a professional survey done on this boat. People freak out about bit of rot and a leak but neither of those things are an indication that a boat is finished.
A lot of people on U tube and The Instgram look at me people Should Listen to your advice , Verry solid advice
Thanks for the tour Stu, looks like more interesting content 👍👍
Nice goin m8, I'mm goin to have to rethink a couple of things. Thanks m8, you and yours stay safe and well.
i thought you were crazy for working on the trawler. This boat is a nightmare! But it would be fun to see you tackle the problems.
I like the idea of you finishing your current boat, selling it, working on a larger one (hopefully one that doesn't need as much work as your current one).
Yes, it would be nice to find something that it usable faster than Renko has been so far.
Harbour bridge and opera house in one shot!
Great advice, Stu. So many people buy “too much boat”- expensive to store, hard to drive around for fun, and just too many problems. I commend you for your work on Renko, but if you look back at those videos, you are one tired guy after a day of grinding/drilling/chasing parts. . Renko was a tremendous display of your talents. Get some rest and give Eddie a few pats for us in the “International Audience!”
Thanks mate, will do. :)
Great vid stu i can definitely relate to the boat that finds you hit the nail on the head 👌
OLD WOOD BOAT = RUN AWAY AS FAST AS YOU CAN !
Depends how it was constructed and what wood was used, there's a lot of old very good boats out there.
Screaming as well!!!
Two things that I have learnt you should sprint away from as fast as you possible can and never look back, one is a boat like this the other is ballroom dance classes.
That puppy though 😍
Hey Stu. I have no doubt in my mind that you can fix this boat up etc, but have grave doubts as to whether it is truly worth the effort. I agree with your assessment of the boat and would find it difficult to justify the cost v's the outcome. I would tend to agree with another of your suggestions that maybe there's a better quality and cheaper boat out there just waiting for your skills to used on which will be probably more encouraging because at the end of the day, it's going to be how much is it has been worth all the effort and heartache and to be honest, i see a lot of pain on this one. However, I am ultra confident that you can do it and will look forward to watching you no matter what you decide. Great luck on what you decide bro.
Scrapping looks best; that motor looked Big so it can't be worthless; a generator; a big-ass compressor; some interesting flat-screens on the dash; that other electrical stuff your were praising; if the winches are shot then that's still a lot of steel in a tight package for recycling; etc., etc.. Only need to get the thing tied up near a crane, then take a chain saw and cut Big access holes in the deck and pluck out everything you want. Maybe there's a boat out there that could use those goodies and not much more....
Also: a solar panel, light fixtures, heavy gauge wire, inverters, steering components, maybe some nice Morse controls, nav lights, anchor lights, working lights, maybe some Radios and related antennae, and all that tubing in the crab-hold might be a small fortune in copper.....
Do Not fix that thing; I agree with most commenters in saying you are asking for a Nightmare if you think all that rotten wood that you can see is all there is to be found....
Sing the Blues, decry the prolific Rot, insist that buddy Start both motors, and if you can get it for a low price you might even MAKE money on the thing.....
You know that laying into that deck with a Chainsaw would be a lot of fun!! GOOD LUCK!
@@dmc2554 I tend to agree and think the project would be too unrewarding. No need to bust your balls when there's a simpler and cheaper alternative.
Excellent insight. Thanks for the advice.
You're welcome. :)
I quite like the look of this boat it sure does still have a lot of potential for restoration and conversion to a dive boat or something other than a fishing boat it will be great when it’s done.
a boat is a hole in the water surrounded by ( insert hull material here ) into which one pours money. But their still a lot of fun.
Stu on a different level
LIKE!
Valid points awesome job 👍🏾
May Belle II is a beast at 50T. She must be quite beamy. I always thought that you would get more useable or live aboard space in beam vs length. More beam will make her slower, but adds a lot more volume for a given length.
Yes, it certainly gives a huge volume to a boat.
First valid use for your mini ROV - you could do an underwater survey to check the hull. It probably needs recaulking to stop the leaks, but those broken / rotted frames have to get fixed, or the planking will never be entirely stable.
I think also should be added that don’t start a new project until the first one is done ! I know a few guys with a yard full of projects and non will get done because of lack of interest !
Yeah, this is more about giving Troy a hand than taking on a new project. I agree about the one at a time!
I had the same instinctive feeling about May Bell II as (I'm guessing) most other older commenters. I love wood boats. Seeing what has happened to this one is sad. It is beyond reasonable repair costs. Two factors: purpose and size. This is a work boat. No matter how you try, it won't make a boat suitable for cruising. Compounding that is the size. With size comes exponentially higher costs, from haul-out to repair to running costs. The size is a mis-match with the purpose of trying a restore. The money you put into it (size) doesn't match what you get out (utility). I am sure that her size along with the cut of her bow is what makes Troy attached to this boat. I am afraid he is at a crisis point in his ownership. Whether the engine runs or not, the boat cannot be sold with that leak, and the leak could sink her at her mooring. To find and fix the leak and to get a survey means an expensive haul-out for this heavy, deep-draft vessel. The likelihood of a poor survey and astronomical repair costs is high. The haul-out and survey costs may not be worth it if the conclusion is to scrap. Maybe better to sell the boat for the cost of haul-out and survey and let someone else figure out how to part it out and pay to dispose of the hull. Consider that Troy will be ahead the haul-out and survey costs, instead of out of pocket. You have a good heart. Thanks for wanting to help a friend in his predicament.
Hi mate. Yes, I agree the only way forward is a full inspection out of the water. I do want to help him with this boat because I can see his is very attached to it. It was his previous work boat and he has spent many years at sea in it. I think it could be made into a good cruiser though. Dave's trawler was a similar layout before he added a new cabin on the back deck to make a really nice boat. Of course, as you say, it wasn't cheap...
@@DangarMarine Wow. Knowing this was his work boat adds a new dimension. I can understand this personally from another context. I headed a technical team in a data center that closed. The company was paying a salvage company to haul away the old computer server systems that I and my team had kept running for years. With permission, I took some of the equipment home. They were big rack-mounted systems with multiple power supplies. I then realized I did not have the power circuits to support all of them. I never figured out a practical use, and then faced the reality that they were obsolete and had little resale value. To use your example from the video, this is a boat that found your friend. It won't be OK until he has tried to save her, at least to finding out if it can be done within his means. I hadn't thought of adding a cabin on the work deck. That would definitely make her more practical for cruising. She has a deep hull, and if it remained heavily ballasted, the additional weight above deck might be OK. Of course that means carefully measuring the boat when she is out of water and checking with a naval architect. If I had to keep the boat, I would want to remove all of the fiberglass sheathing inside the hull to provide access to the frames and planks. The leak she has now speaks to why the sheathing is unsafe going forward. I wish your friend the best.
Use the goat island slips
Heat the hold up with a space heater and use a thermal camera to see the coldest part of the glass skin in the inside, should be where the water is coming in.
That's a good idea. I'd like to give that a go. Of course with the glass being smooth (no visible ribs) I can only assume it is over plywood that is attached to the ribs so there may be a four inch gap between the glass and the hull.
Hi Stu the for and against questions that your thinking of are very good to think about, I helped my brother and two other fishermen fix up a 40f timber boat the hull had to be all sanded and corked, it was a good boat but the work involved was a lot, but in the end she was a really nice boat but you are right when you say that a boat of that size would be nice to have another person involved. It’s sensible questions that you are thinking about, anyway it was an interesting video and pulled the old heart strings for another boat if didn’t have rheumatoid arthritis but your channel is great to watch. Regards John
Your right Stu, buying a boat, project or other is just the start but owning a boat is like pouring your money into the ocean, there is always something needed or wanted for the boat and your boat will always know when you have a little spare cash in your pocket.
Stu think your project boat is perfect the wife likes it. Best of luck to your friend. Looking forward to more adventures, Jeff in LA USA
BTW, loved the old steel trawler, but on this one, the dog was the only thing I saw that was WELL WORTH the money...BUY THE DOG!!!
Great video as always. Hi! Stu. I found your channel just recently and I’m already hooked. Loved your conversations with Scott of Bus Grease Monkey. My grandson as purchased an older 30ft Grady White and I’ve found myself spending more time at the Santa Barbara Harbor. Cheers to you and the crew.
Ten minutes in and I'm already terrified.
Nice. Thanks for the video
You’re welcome. :)
Wow, like somebody famous is responding to me. I really look up to you Stu, thanks again for doing what you do. PS Was able to find some Coopers beer in the States. I have friend from Australia, took him out on my little aluminum john boat fishing in the bay, gave him some Coopers to drink. Brought back memories for him, said he remembered his dad drinking that. Anyway, keep up the good work.
I also liked the really dirty 25hp cowling on the tender - thief deterrent lol
That was a really good video Stu it made me realise how little I know about serious boats bigger than the 15 footers I've dabbled with. The practical issues of hardstands and skills required let alone the cash is not for the faint hearted. You could do some good video of getting the motor to run if you wanted to spend a few hundred on parts maybe and that would be great to watch and add value to the boat. With no running motor it looks worthless to me and I would really enjoy seeing that motor fired up and running.
Thanks mate. I'm definitely going to give Troy a hand and see if we can get the boat running again. I'd love to get it somewhere up on the hard stand and do a properly inspection on it.
Well, the puppy is the only thing of value I would gladly take. In my humble opinion, not sure if that boat is worth the headaches, but you are the only who can make the decision. Whatever route you take, I will keep following your adventures.
Good to see the Acorn to Arabela shirt.
The fiberglass internal lining will only cover up the timber rot that is occurring. The leak into the bilges is a massive concern that will just not be fixed.
Sadly I think he would have you pay you to take it. It is floating, but that about it. Could change moment to moment.
You can test how much rot by drilling holes in the likely spots for rot (not all the way through) look in low points and corners. It's very simple to see the condition with what the drill drags out. Reseal with your favorite marine sealants. Just remember once there is water between the glass and the wood, it's not likely coming out.
It would be interesting to drill in a few spots and see what we see. As Andrew pointed out, the glass in the fish room is flat so it is likely to be glassed plywood against the ribs which may mean the planks behind have been able to breathe. It will be interesting to investigate further.
Great! Now all I need is a tour of the available real estate on Dangar Island and I'll be set! 😉
Scrapping looks best; that motor looked Big so it can't be worthless; a generator; a big-ass compressor; some interesting flat-screens on the dash; that other electrical stuff your were praising; if the winches are shot then that's still a lot of steel in a tight package for recycling; etc., etc.. Only need to get the thing tied up near a crane, then take a chain saw and cut Big access holes in the deck and pluck out everything you want. Maybe there's a boat out there that could use those goodies and not much more....
Also: a solar panel, light fixtures, heavy gauge wire, inverters, steering components, maybe some nice Morse controls, nav lights, anchor lights, working lights, maybe some Radios and related antennae, and all that tubing in the crab-hold might be a small fortune in copper.....
Do Not fix that thing; I agree with most commenters in saying you are asking for a Nightmare if you think all that rotten wood that you can see is all there is to be found....
Sing the Blues, decry the prolific Rot, insist that buddy Start both motors, and if you can get it for a low price you might even MAKE money on the thing.....
You know that laying into that deck with a Chainsaw would be a lot of fun!! GOOD LUCK!
If you swab out the oily fluids after stripping the boat of valuable motors and stuff maybe you could use the hull to make an artificial reef ! You will soon (we hope) have your Detroit Diesel mini tug boat available to haul the carcass off shore to give some fish a home.....
Wow here it’s a lots of work but why not…I have restored a 53 wooden boat from 1942 to a live onboard boat it’s cost a lot off money but it’s was fun …and you have a RUclips channel that can get a bust if you buy it
make a good anchor for the trawler or a dive wreck
I didn't get the same feeling when I first saw Renko. This one. If I had a barge pole I would not touch it with one.
I wouldn't touch May Bell 2 with someone else's barge pole let alone mine. In my lubberly experience, rotten wood that you can see means rotten wood that you can't see.
Nothing $1M USD can't fix. Go for it, STU!!!
That’s the spirit!
Great points...
I could feel my bank account draining just watching from the other side of the planet ...
Looks like alot of boat and alot of work !!!!
I love to do any boat project and we all know it involves with money to spend on and as for wood boat is very difficulty job to do due to not enough wood to match the original. Just be careful how to spend and do your math before decide. Thought to suggest. Good Luck. Double Thumb!
This boat is a great project boat and to do some of the repairs like the leak etc is not as hard as you may think even for a non boat builder. It is built for the ocean and can handle some big seas no problems. Further inspection is needed but it is not very hard to do
I agree David, further inspection is needed and it may not turn out to be that hard to fix the leak.
Boy, Looked at the lines from the water several times and there is either a bad perspective from that angle or she looks like she has the first stages of hogging going on. I try and ignore the paint to get the true lines. Only a slight bit by my eye but my eye picked it out at almost at once. Seen too many old boats suffering from this. Interior fiberglass is a real worry. I've been a wood boat owner and repairer over the years. She's going to need a big boat yard where some serious frame / plank work can be done. What is she fastened with? Iron boat nails? Galvanized screws? Rivets? Gotta get that fiberglass out of her. Not trying to be the voice of doom and gloom but too many years trying to fix old neglected boats to not be a tad skeptical. Big bank account helps too.
Your advice is spot on.
Thought the exact same thing.
@@forge20 I should probably be clearer. The boat, with some love and attention has another 20 plus years in her. Enough to make it worthwhile working on. Never know what will be found behind interior skins. Work boats were, well, work boats. Make money until it can;t with least upkeep you could afford. Open her up, clean her out. Dry her out and sister what is needed to stiffen her up. Probably some refastening needed as well. A year maybe or more of steady work and she can be a fun boat to own and live on and travel. The deeper the pockets the better.
I saved this old boat: pigboats.com/ric/planking2.jpg with about a dozen planks, a whole new transom and timbers and a complete refasten from shear to garboard with galvanized screws and all new cotton in the seams. 50% rebuild on cabin. Took 6 months. Needless to say I was also 45 years younger than I am now.
There is a comment way below, about using a themal imaging camera. What about some sort of ultrasound device? The fibreglass, dry wood, wet wood, and airspace, would all have different densities. Ultrasound would be good at this.
And by the way: Nice video of Sydney!
Thanks Stu.
I'd like to see a bit more tuck on the stern for following seas, also deep draft a bit limiting for bar crossing.
Good video Stu but, after working in yards 40 plus years i'm done with wood boats... First is the always maintenance of wood, then water rot, dry rot, worms and getting raw wood to replace stringers, frames, decks and planking. need a big yard for steaming, saws, planers, ect. life is to short i rather be fishing :-) Your boat is fine and your doing a bang up job that you should be proud of yourself............
Thanks mate. There sure is a lot of work in this boat. It is more about giving Troy a hand really but it will interesting to see what he is up against.
Stu who are you trying to kid this is a pile of junk
gotta agree. That thing is ready for the scrap yard.
That boat scares me. I wouldn't want to leave the harbor in it.