Haven 12 1/2 or Doughdish on e-bay

[Tom Galyen]

I don't know about this one, for a boat that was finished in 2003 with "attention to detail" the photos look like something that has had a lot of wear and was not put together that well to begin with. Or as is said around these parts "She was rode hard and put away wet".

Your oppinions?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=63729&item=4526309418&rd=1

Sorry if the link doesn't work this is the first time I've tried this.

Tom G.

[JeffH]

Sure doesn't look like an Airex foam cored fiberglass hull to me, unless there's some sort of technique to mold in a fake bad seam putty job that I'm not aware of. Seems the seller is a bit confused as to design... If it's a Haven, then it's not a 1914 Herreshoff, nor a is it a Doughdish (the fiberglass copy of the 12 1/2). Also, the "beautiful craftsmanship" includes bungs that make no attampt to line up with the grain, and the side deck piece that doesn't match height-wise with the foredeck rubrail. I'm not sure why I'd want "at least three coats of enamel" on my ballast. All in all, though, there's some breakdown of the finish that would be easlily taken care of, and the topsides look no worse than some originals I've worked on (granted, those were over 50 years old). Worth the nine and a half grand they want for it, I suppose.

Edit to add: The trim looks more like oak to me, not teak.
Jeff

[ 02-15-2005, 07:06 PM: Message edited by: JeffH ]

[htom]

"This item is being sold as is, where is with no warranty, expressed written or implied. The seller shall not be responsible for the correct description, authenticity, genuineness, or defects herein, and makes no warranty in connection therewith. No allowance or set aside will be made on account of any incorrectness, imperfection, defect or damage. Any descriptions or representations are for identification purposes only and are not to be construed as a warranty of any type. It is the responsibility of the buyer to have thoroughly inspected the item, and to have satisfied himself or herself as to the condition and value and to bid based upon that judgement solely."

I think it's being sold by someone clueless about wooden boats, or hoping to find a buyer who is. I think it's passing strange that there's no closeup photo of the hull-ID plate on the transom.

[rbgarr]

According to the answer to a question put by someone (and posted by the seller in the auction ad), it's a Haven built by an amateur, never launched, and donated to a non-profit which wants to sell it. They acknowledge they don't know much about boats and I don't think they are trying to rip anyone off, so let's give them a break. :rolleyes:

[peb]

If I needed a boat, I would seriously consider bidding. I suspect it any problems could be fixed quickly and one would have a fine boat. Worth the drive to vegas.

[Bob Smalser]

I don't see any showstoppers from here...he certainly spent a lot of dough in materials to put such a weak fit and finish on...but do we have somebody in Vegas that can gander at those frames for ya?

I think I see some hard spots in pic #6....but could just be his hull fairing.

[johnw]

If that's a doughdish, I'm the Queen Mother. It has a centerboard.

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

http://i14.ebayimg.com/01/i/03/60/3a/f2_3.JPG

..the mind boggles, Sigh :(

[Jack Heinlen]

While poorly aligned bungs aren't a deal breaker, one does wonder about the rest of the construction. Small things like that point to the amateur. Hell, the guy who taught me emphasised the need to have all the screw slots in a line, so as to have equal pressure applied.

What is the boat planked and framed with? The seller doesn't know, I wager.

I'd be wary. A nice one of these is going for at least twice what this one is. Amateurs, unless very intent and studious or well supervised, make all kinds of mistakes, from stock selection to poor bedding to incorrect fastening. Caveat emptor.

[Keith Wilson]

There are clarifications in the questions at the bottom of the eBay listing. The seller is a charity to whom the boat was donated, and they don't know much about boats. Not perfect workmanship (God knows not much I've built would look good blown up to that magnification), but it looks like it would be a very nice boat for somebody. If the construction is adequate it looks like a pretty good deal. Getting it out of Las Vegas and into the water would be a public service.

And Jack, screw slots lined up are cosmetic only and have nothing to do with equal pressure unless the counterbores are EXACTLY the same depth and the screw threads start at EXACTLY the same point, and the orientation of the harder parts of the grain are EXACTLY the same under every screw. Are you sure he wansn't pulling your leg?

[ 02-16-2005, 05:00 PM: Message edited by: Keith Wilson ]

[Jack Heinlen]

And Jack, screw slots lined up are cosmetic only and have nothing to do with equal pressure unless the counterbores are EXACTLY the same depth and the screw threads start at EXACTLY the same point, and the orientation of the harder parts of the grain are EXACTLY the same under every screw. Are you sure he wansn't pulling your leg?
Keith,

I overdrew it. It was a foible, with just a bit of truth in it. He wasn't pulling my leg, and it wasn't a hard rule; just an observation as a marker of tight. However, with consistent drilling snug really does line up, more or less. But the sense of snug is most important, and he knew that and taught it. I liken it to knowing the feel of "just right" in the bearings on bicycles. It's a feel.

In anycase, I doubt our builder of the boat in question gave it much thought. The boat could be a diamond in the rough, but I'd want to have a good, hard look.