The boat was sitting on the ground in Pensacola FL (USA). It was someone else’s project boat and never got finished. Well used and in desperate need of some TLC, this is how the boat looked when we bought it.
It was October 2016 when we bought the boat. The interior was stuffed with cushions, rope, tools and god knows what else; all the signs that the last owner was planning to bring it back to life but never got round to it. The damage to the bowsprit can be seen here but what else was hiding unseen?
Back then my wife was pregnant of our first son and I couldn’t go see the boat; (we live in Atlanta GA). I sent a surveyor, talked to several people that knew the boat and decided to do something crazy!!! Place an offer without inspecting the boat myself. I trusted my instinct and placed an offer. A week later the offer was accepted and it was time to arrange transportation from Pensacola FL to Atlanta GA.
I set the boat on a storage yard 5 mins from our house. Here is a picture of the boat being put on the ground in the storage yard along with other RVs and vehicles. I think it’s the only yacht in our city!
I then built a shed to keep the boat from the weather and to allow me work on it while raining.
Yes, my pregnant wife had to help me a little bit. I love you baby!
By early 2017 the shed was finished and the project started!!!
November 2020 After almost four years of Georgia weather, it was time to give the boatshed some TLC. Wind, rain, storms, hurricanes, sun and everything else had passed over our temporary construction in this storage yard and the side panels were looking decidedly unloved. Plus, if the place looked uncared for, some might be tempted to think it had been abandoned. So, with fiber glassing season over, it seemed prudent to spend a little time making sure the boat stays snug and protected for the foreseeable future.
As the structural frame was still sound, the main work carried out was to remove the boards from the side, inspect them and replace as necessary after first adding a new poly membrane and a support rail. Originally the boards were secured top and bottom with the tarpaulin tie-downs added as needed in no particular sequence. To keep things standard, I decided to keep all the tie down points at a single level above the ground.
Many of the existing side boards were split and rotting so these were replaced as needed. By securing the boards to a new lower rail, we removed the issue of water damage compromising the screws originally fitted to the ground plates.
As part of this rebuild, I enlarged the access to the bow end workshop space and built a new door to suit. With a workbench in there and numerous supplies in parts bins, it was becoming a challenge to stoop down dozens of times a day to get in and out.
Whilst the weather is good enough for outdoor work, it was important to endure that the boat shed was in a condition to take the winter rains and summer sun for the foreseeable future. One less thing to worry about.
I helped with one of the shed doors, my job was to give wood and screws to Carlos!
Q la pasión e ilusión por las cosas q hacéis, no desaparezcan de vuestras vidas, es el mejor motor para llegar a buen puerto…Q los vientos os sean favorables..Para mis amores
I have always loved the SC 31’s I’m curious to know how much you get it for?
I am sure you can find one in decent shape from $20k to $30k. I love sc31s too!!
Even one for 20-30k is still questionable I find. I feel find as cheap as hell with a good hull and build yourself. I love the SC 31 but the second option would be a Alberg 30 but the sc 31 would be ideal to have its roomy.
That was our strategy! Let’s see if we get somewhere…