3 Shall I buy this HUGE Aluminium project boat?

[Vernon]

Ivanhoe is a 54ft Aluminium sailing boat that is in total disrepair. I fly to Australia just to look this boat over and to see if it's the right project for us to take on. She was built as a flat-topped racing boat, then years later changes were made to convert her to a cruising boat but nothing was finished. For a few years now this beautiful boat has sat on a mooring, waiting for the right person to take on this massive project.
Could that person be me?
Enjoy this one and tune in next week for our decision.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Bad Santa]

It's a decision to make using a little bit of formula.
How long will it take to bring it to what you want it to be?
How many years do you have on your clock to enjoy it after it's done.
And, of course, do you have the cash to make it happen.

I met a guy that spent 20 years building a boat from scratch. He was never going to go out on the water in it.
He wasn't an older guy but by the time he finished it, he just didn't feel like going out on it.

 

[Starz]

The clock idea in above post is the answer.
Find a different boat and spend the time with your family.

 

[orionshooter]

Vernon,

I know nothing about sail boats - I’ve never even been aboard one. But, I can easily spot a twinkle in a fellow sailors eye from a nautical mile away. Your face lights up like a lighthouse on a distant shore when you talk about that boat.

That said, I suspect your budget of 100K AUD is not feasible given today’s cost of goods, your locale, and finally your desire for high quality equipment. Likewise, finding cheap labor down there to help with your unskilled grunt work needs will be difficult.

I think the key to success lies in (1) increasing your budget AND (2) buying the boat at a sub rock bottom salvage price to help offset the revised budget.

This is a fascinating project. If I were 50 years younger, I’d hitchhike my way down there and join this adventure. I really hope you’ll keep updating your YouTube channel.

Paul

 

[Dale D]

It's a decision to make using a little bit of formula.
How long will it take to bring it to what you want it to be?
How many years do you have on your clock to enjoy it after it's done.
And, of course, do you have the cash to make it happen.

I met a guy that spent 20 years building a boat from scratch. He was never going to go out on the water in it.
He wasn't an older guy but by the time he finished it, he just didn't feel like going out on it.

Vernon:

It's not my place to advise. I know nothing about boats but I do know how to manage my life. Don't do it! What a horrendous job that would be. It would consume every minute of your lives. Seems to be that you wasted a long trip that should have been preceded by a lot of photos or videos. Not worth the time and money.

Dale Davis
Miami

 

[GFields]

Only YOU and Marie can make this decision. It may indeed be costly and very time-consuming, but it also may be worth it. It could make for a great family project.

 

[tstr14]

"Clock?" I think I'm down to a 3-minute egg timer.

 

[Cymruflyer]

Well, as a fellow sailor, I understand your dilemma. We sailed all over on a Camper & Nicholson 38 mid cockpit years ago and it was fun but we had eyes on Camper & Nicholson 55ftr for future around the world sailing and chartering. Life got in the way because we were in our 20s back in the 70s, so we never did get to that 55, but what a boat that would have been.

With the 54, you could make it exactly what you would want in a perfect boat, since it is at the barebones point. All that extra space would be so nice and then you could do comfortable charter work, which could ensure yourself a good future income, so you need to bear that in mind.

Time is important of course, but only you know those two important key elements, time and money. If you have enough of each then I'd go for it. Not knowing anything else about your current position, I can't advise any more than that.

I look forward to hearing what the outcome would be. Hoping you have some cheap help lined up to get the project finished quickly. Nothing worse than a long drawn-out project.

 

[Vernon]

It's a decision to make using a little bit of formula.
How long will it take to bring it to what you want it to be?
How many years do you have on your clock to enjoy it after it's done.
And, of course, do you have the cash to make it happen.

I met a guy that spent 20 years building a boat from scratch. He was never going to go out on the water in it.
He wasn't an older guy but by the time he finished it, he just didn't feel like going out on it.

I have 12months time and AU$100k budget. If I think I cant do this project within those boundaries then I wont take it on. Pretty simple really from my perspective.

 

[Vernon]

Vernon,

I know nothing about sail boats - I’ve never even been aboard one. But, I can easily spot a twinkle in a fellow sailors eye from a nautical mile away. Your face lights up like a lighthouse on a distant shore when you talk about that boat.

That said, I suspect your budget of 100K AUD is not feasible given today’s cost of goods, your locale, and finally your desire for high quality equipment. Likewise, finding cheap labor down there to help with your unskilled grunt work needs will be difficult.

I think the key to success lies in (1) increasing your budget AND (2) buying the boat at a sub rock bottom salvage price to help offset the revised budget.

This is a fascinating project. If I were 50 years younger, I’d hitchhike my way down there and join this adventure. I really hope you’ll keep updating your YouTube channel.

Paul

Hi Paul. Yes, I'm always excited to step outside my comfort zone and get stuck into something. I wont be doing this project if I dont think I can complete ti within the 12months and $100k though.

 

[Vernon]

Vernon:

It's not my place to advise. I know nothing about boats but I do know how to manage my life. Don't do it! What a horrendous job that would be. It would consume every minute of your lives. Seems to be that you wasted a long trip that should have been preceded by a lot of photos or videos. Not worth the time and money.

Dale Davis
Miami

The trip was definitely not a waste of time or money. I learnt a lot, have now a reference point and the response to this video has shown me that if I do take on a big project then there is a huge audience that will be interested in other.

 

[Vernon]

Well, as a fellow sailor, I understand your dilemma. We sailed all over on a Camper & Nicholson 38 mid cockpit years ago and it was fun but we had eyes on Camper & Nicholson 55ftr for future around the world sailing and chartering. Life got in the way because we were in our 20s back in the 70s, so we never did get to that 55, but what a boat that would have been.

With the 54, you could make it exactly what you would want in a perfect boat, since it is at the barebones point. All that extra space would be so nice and then you could do comfortable charter work, which could ensure yourself a good future income, so you need to bear that in mind.

Time is important of course, but only you know those two important key elements, time and money. If you have enough of each then I'd go for it. Not knowing anything else about your current position, I can't advise any more than that.

I look forward to hearing what the outcome would be. Hoping you have some cheap help lined up to get the project finished quickly. Nothing worse than a long drawn-out project.

Thanks. Yep, regrets people have as life moves on. I think the YT channel would help with finding support and also some helpers who would want to be involved.