Wammo!!!!!!!!!!! I`m stunned. I have just aquired a 53 foot steel sailboat (ketch) for a friend of mine for free????? Yes Free. He collects it at the end of August and transports it to his Yard for completion. Sure its not complete! it has masts, rigging,cabin sole, waterproof bulkheads, chain locker and aft lazarette (I could live in that) the rudder assembly is fitted along with basic steerage, and also stauncheons and life lines and little more. It is a "Rolled" steel hull with a single chine bottom and a plate (semi, long) Keel. The deck house was in the process of being modified having been cut off, and, I think that it was originally a trawler type, rather ugly, high monstrosity so that needs to be re built to make her watetight. I didn`t give my friend any encouragement at all only to mention it to him and I have told him that he, maybe, wouldn`t thank me for doing this (to) for him :o)) but he is going ahead anyway.
He is a first rate Marine Engineer and steel fabricator himself so if anyone can finish her he can? He also has a lot of equipment and contacts along with a choice of reconditioned engines to fit into her, ready in his workshop, which vary from three, six cylinder Gardiners down to a couple of Perkins 4108s. I have promised him a couple of weeks work each year so he has no misunderstandings as to exactly how long or how hard I feel it might be to actually get her finished.
She is a nice looking vessel with a seven foot nicely (walk out on) shaped steel bowsprit and is reminescent of the Herrischoff designed "Arigato Jack" (for those who know of her) ;-0 the only difference being that she will have a deckhouse possibly. He is anticipating actually getting her in the water around March next year and I feel that is dooooable . I have no photos as yet but will post them as soon as I do.
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Pictures!!!!
:)
HiMmmmmmmmmmmmmmm great to hear from you. I haven`t got any yet but when I do I will post them. it is the same as yours almost exactly (to look at) with flush decks etc and ketch rigged and bowsprit (in steel) It needs a lot of work to finish her though. She is a Roberts 53 about 1980 ish and has ben sailed and hen sold and stripped out abour 8 years ago. he hull is a bit lumpy and needs "dressing" and I think that the new owner will fit a low deckhouse. I have showed him Arigato`s (your) site and he likes the style and fitting out quality of yours too.Sorry no pics yet he picks it up at the end of august and transports it to kent, I guess I will also be involved for that exercise too ( wouldn`t miss it actually as I just love standing twenty feet plus, above the side roads with dry wooden poles lifting up the power cables-Not!) and possibly until she sails off on a trans world life? (or he gets bored or runs out of money as so often is the way which would be a shame fo the old girl)
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