1600
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Post by 1600 on Jan 10, 2020 12:15:50 GMT -5
I am considering moving to the lake and have always had my eye on a classic wooden boat. I have looked on line and I know a lot have had bottoms redone with modern(ish) materials. This bothers purists but not me. Anyone here have any experience or words of wisdom about these things? My biggest problem is probably going to be the cost. Some of these things are pricey. I'll probably stay under 20'. And, no barrel backs. Those things must be made of gold.
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Post by slacker 🐨 on Jan 10, 2020 12:56:32 GMT -5
You talking something like a Chris Craft?
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Post by Chris Greene on Jan 10, 2020 13:04:27 GMT -5
I seem to recall there was a wooden boat forum once upon a time. I had a passing interest in these about 20 years ago but too pricey for me as well as nowhere to use it around here (we had been contemplating moving to the Couer d'Alene area).
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Post by Laker on Jan 10, 2020 13:28:47 GMT -5
What type of boat are you thinking about...outboard powered, inboard, stern drive or sail? I’ve owned several outboard powered boats made by Wisconsin builders Thompson and Carver. Along the way we also had a beautiful class D hand-built racing boat with P80 Johnson racing engine, class AA hydroplane, and Schneider utility racer. The wood boat I always wanted to own was the Switzercraft Lightning, a really beautiful wooden boat. The Switzercraft boats manufactured at their Crystal Lake, IL facility are highly valued by lovers of wooden boats. This is a Switzercraft Lightning.  |
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1600
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Post by 1600 on Jan 10, 2020 13:59:45 GMT -5
 Something along these lines. This one is listed at $16k. They also have an 18 foot but it's $36k. So answer questions, yes like a Chris Craft, I think I prefer inboard. Definitely not sail. |
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professor
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Post by professor on Jan 10, 2020 14:01:35 GMT -5
There's just lots of constant maintenance keeping the wood intact. Add to that the issues that will definitely go with the old inboard motor, if that's what you're thinking about. A friend bought a 50 year old plus boat, similar to the picture except it was an early fiberglass model, and the glass is very heavy duty. He's very mechanical and has basically rebuilt everything else, including the vinyl covers, the bits of bright work, but he did end up with a new motor, as the old one had so many problems. The ratio of hours spent on the water to hours spent working on it are pathetic.
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Post by Laker on Jan 10, 2020 15:05:38 GMT -5
I think I'd advise you to join a wood runabout boat forum as a starting point. At one point I was planning on purchasing a 22' Donzi Classic so joined the Donzi forum and got lots of information about boats and they had a classified section where members knew each others boats and valuable info was freely given about boats for sale.
As was mentioned, there is considerable upkeep on a wooden boat. For example: the old Thompson, Carver and Cruisers Inc boats with lapstrake hulls will have a tendency to leak a bit when first put in the water if stored on a trailer. It takes a bit for the wood to absorb some moisture and swell. On a Carver I had I battled dry rot in the deck edge and had to inject Get Rot into the wood to treat it.
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SS2
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Post by SS2 on Jan 10, 2020 15:10:13 GMT -5
Why do they call them wooden boats?... because if you ever owned one, you 'wooden' own another.
That aside, yes they are beautiful and cool boats. As mentioned though, the maintenance is insane and if you don't keep up with it, it gets out of control. At an earlier time, I had a wooden twin diesel 42' Carolina Sport Fisherman. A bit of a larger scale then you're looking at, but the issues are the same. Did love that boat, but there comes a time you do say "uncle".
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Post by Laker on Jan 10, 2020 15:13:50 GMT -5
Keep in mind the old expression: A boat is a hole in a lake you throw money into.
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1600
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Post by 1600 on Jan 10, 2020 15:22:39 GMT -5
I've owned a ski boat before so am familiar with the old saying about the "two happiest days of your life are the day you buy your boat and the day you sell your boat". As far as the upkeep, that's why I like the idea of a boat that has had the hull refurbished. I believe they coat it with epoxy. The boat would be stored out of the water on a lift. Light use just tooling around.
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Post by NoSoapRadio on Jan 10, 2020 15:43:04 GMT -5
We rent a house on or near Lake Winnipesaukee in NH every summer for vacation. Wooden boats are a huge deal up there. We try to get over to Wolfboro each trip where most of them seem to hang out. Most are absolutely gorgeous and I love the history of these things on the lake, but given what I've learned over the thirty years we've been going up there about the cost of acquisition, maintenance, and storage -- I wouldn't own one if someone gave it to me.
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Firebird-V
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Post by Firebird-V on Jan 10, 2020 16:17:49 GMT -5
Never owned one but went to a wedding at the Center for Wooden Boats in Seattle - some interesting info on their site
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Post by FlyonNylon on Jan 10, 2020 17:15:58 GMT -5
Can't add much about wooden inboards other than they look cool, have interesting history, and if you've owned a ski boat and have means to move to the lake and keep the boat on a lift, you'll probably get good enjoyment out of it.
I will say though that having a ski/wake boat and spending a ton of time on the lake has been a huge improvement in quality of life for us and essentially makes every few days off in the summer more fun than going on vacation. I grew up skiing/wakeboarding and 5 years ago we spent $10k on a '96 Malibu inboard with the LS1 engine. Probably the best investment we've ever made. I keep it dry docked at a marina 5 minutes away for a very reasonable fee (totally worth it) and do the basic maintenance myself since it's super easy. The amount of enjoyment we get from the boat is really off the charts in terms of the cost/value ratio. It isn't wooden but has required almost no maintenance outside of oil changes, spark plugs, etc and gets a ton of use all summer long.
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Post by oldnjplayer on Jan 11, 2020 10:02:33 GMT -5
Just a reminder that a wooden boat with a fiberglass overlay is still wood and vulnerable to all the weaknesses of wood on the interior. Grew up working in a boatyard when all boats were made of wood. Nothing as beautiful as a wooden boat, but nothing with higher maintenance than wood boats. Also keep in mind the cost of docking in season and storage off season. If small enough you can consider using a boat trailer to remove the boat out of water by yourself. The good thing about lakes is that there are no salt water issues; a whole nother set of issues.
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1600
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Post by 1600 on Jan 11, 2020 10:55:26 GMT -5
Well, they've accepted our offer so I am moving to the lake. It will be months before I pull the trigger on a boat. The sellers have a large pontoon boat that they would like me to buy but not sure that is the direction I want to go. oldnjplayer - The property has a covered boat lift so here in Texas boats are kept at the docks year round. Here is the dock.  |
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Post by Laker on Jan 11, 2020 14:06:14 GMT -5
Well, they've accepted our offer so I am moving to the lake. It will be months before I pull the trigger on a boat. The sellers have a large pontoon boat that they would like me to buy but not sure that is the direction I want to go. oldnjplayer - The property has a covered boat lift so here in Texas boats are kept at the docks year round. Here is the dock. Congratulations on the accepted offer. That is a nice looking dock setup in your photo. |
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BillytheKidder
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Formerly Known As: Billy the Kidder
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Post by BillytheKidder on Jan 12, 2020 9:13:39 GMT -5
You might think of investigating Lyman’s. They are plentiful around here and not terribly expensive. They are a little easier to maintain than some other wooden boats, as they don’t feature acres of varnish. They handle lake chop well.  |
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1600
Wholenote
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Post by 1600 on Jan 12, 2020 10:08:43 GMT -5
Never owned one but went to a wedding at the Center for Wooden Boats in Seattle - some interesting info on their site
Somehow missed this link the other day. Thanks. |
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1600
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Post by 1600 on Jan 12, 2020 10:23:36 GMT -5
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Post by oldnjplayer on Jan 12, 2020 11:30:24 GMT -5
looks like a nice arrangement for dry docking. Lots of luck. Oh wooden boats often smell wonderful... you know like a nice wood guitar.
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Post by 6l6 on Jan 12, 2020 12:12:31 GMT -5
I see lots of classic wooden speedboats around Lake Tahoe. Garwoods, Chris Crafts, Centuries, and a couple of Rivas.
I've talked to several owners and they all advise to bring a VERY fat checkbook if you want to play.
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Post by rok-a-bill-e on Jan 12, 2020 12:36:13 GMT -5
There are many boats that would be too expensive for me to own even if I got the boat for free, and that list includes any wooden boat. A century ago this county had a sizable supply of affordable skilled wooden boat builders. They do not exist today. Prepare to become one if you own a wooden boat, or to pay dearly to the few with the skills and time, if you can find them at all. They are as much of a constant process as they are an object, and the process is to cease being an attractive floating object!
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Post by henrycat on Jan 12, 2020 18:23:40 GMT -5
I've owned wooden, aluminum and fiberglass boats. Wooden boats do have a certain charm, but fiberglass wins hands down when maintenance and durability are considered. Just my 2 cents worth.(:>)
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