| Owning and sailing a traditional wooden boat must | | | | think in years, rather than months. Time, care and |
| surely rank among the most beautiful of human | | | | dedication are required if you really want a beautiful |
| pursuits. | | | | boat that floats. |
| A well-found wooden boat will fill you with pride and | | | | Remember that you will need to remain solvent if you |
| draw admiring glances wherever you go. Whether it is | | | | are to enjoy the fruits of your work. The costs will rise |
| just as a weekend hobby or if you dream of cruising | | | | exponentially with the size of the boat, not just for the |
| the world, it is so much easier to feel a passionate | | | | rebuilding but also for maintaining her as well as for |
| affinity with a solid natural wood hull than one made of | | | | mooring charges. Therefore, your project needs to be |
| GRP, steel or aluminium. | | | | scaled to your pocket, as well as your dreams. Before |
| The cheapest way to own a wooden boat is to | | | | even looking for a boat, you need to get a clear notion |
| rebuild or repair an old one yourself. It can also be the | | | | in your head as to what your requirements are. That |
| most rewarding. Not only can projects be picked up | | | | fifty foot Scottish Fifie would look wonderful when |
| cheaply but also the costs of restoration can be | | | | restored but will you need to hire a crew to sail her. On |
| spread over time. | | | | the other hand, a seventeen-foot mini cruiser won't be |
| The biggest problem for the amateur isn't the lack of | | | | ideal for living aboard. This might seen obvious but it is |
| skills but not knowing what to do. Even if he has a | | | | so easy to allow the imagination to run wild when |
| reasonable idea of what needs to be done it's the little | | | | looking around for a project as there are some |
| tricks of the trade or that odd snippet of advice that | | | | wonderful old boats just begging to be restored. |
| can save hours of work. There are times when you | | | | So where to find a boat which will satisfy the type and |
| can't find anyone to advise you, that's where some of | | | | size you want and will fit your budget? Some are |
| the many books on the subject can be worth their | | | | advertised nationally in boating magazines however, |
| weight in gold. They are usually written by people who | | | | there are gems to found very cheaply in many boat |
| have gained their knowledge by doing the work. | | | | yards and marinas. Often owners have lost interest in |
| However, even the experts will have different ideas | | | | them or grown too old to maintain and sail them. Yard |
| on some subjects. When undertaking a worthwhile | | | | owners to cover outstanding charges repossess |
| project it's best to check out as much information as is | | | | many abandoned boats and they will sell them off just |
| possible. However, beware of the guy in the bar who | | | | to cover their costs. You just have to take the time to |
| knew someone, who knew someone, who did it this | | | | search them out. |
| way. | | | | Restoring a wooden boat will require hard work and |
| Restoring rebuilding and even repairing an old wooden | | | | take time but with a little advice from those who have |
| boat is not a quick fix exercise. Obviously, it will depend | | | | done it, it is possible for anyone to turn the dream into |
| on how much work needs to be done but it's best to | | | | reality. |