buying a wooden fish boat

[budgie]

Hi,
I am thinking of buying a wooden fishing boat to make a liveaboard cruiser. I do not know what to look for in the hull/construction. I am wondering what one should look for when buying. I do not mind doing maintenance, but I do not want to get stuck with a major major repair.

Thanks

[Art Read]

Have you seen this thread yet?

http://media5.hypernet.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=001600

It covers a lot of what your asking about...

[Terry Etapa]

Ah, another one is out there. I've got a few stories to tell ( http://www.home.earthlink.net/~tetapa ).

I haven't been following the market for unlicensed ex-fishboats since I bought mine. Do you know when the last license buy back was? Once the boat is no longer fished, the maintenance drops off. Many of the boats may be rotting away in their slips.

One common area of rot is at the frames at the deck. Many boats have had the frames cut off, a new covering board installed and, aluminum bulwarks installed. Also, many fish holds are packed tight with insulation and fiberglass in a way that doesn't allow any ventilation (rotted frames). It may not be possible to see this in a survey.

I live in Seattle and, the boat was in Comox. My problem was in finding a local surveyor. Being in Vancouver, you might be closer to any potential boat you buy. This will allow you to chose a good local suveyor in advance.

John Tones, another person on the forum, is converting a fishboat. He's in Victoria and, might have insight on surveyors on the island.

John, you out there??

[J. A.Tones]

Well as Terry said, I am in the process of "re-converting" a West Coast trawler (actually she was a gill netter) after converting her 12 years ago and enjoying her all the time. We found that our original interior design, was for living aboard, did not suit us for cruising. Since she needed some re-fastening and lower plank caulking I decided to haul her out and bring her home. She is now sitting in our yard, right outside my shop. Unfortunately we had a very high intensity wind and rain storm here last Nov. which ripped all the tarps off and got everything VERY wet. Just about dry again now to the point that I am planning on resuming work this weekend. Kept the hull soaked with salted water all winter!
I have stripped her out completely and am re-doing the entire interior as well as lengthening the aft cabin.
When I did the original conversion the fish hold was still in place and "the totally worst job" was getting it and all the foam out of the hull. Once that was done the rest was real easy for a normally capable handyman.
I don't personally know of any surveyors here on the Island except the one who originally surveyed my boat but he has since retired.
French Creek have the reputation of being very honest so they may be able to give you a list to choose from.
Good luck on your project if you decide to move in this direction.
Feel free to contact me direct at jtones@shaw.ca if you have any questions.
John Tones MV Penta 36' cedar hull / Volvo diesel
Sidney, BC

[RGM]

For a surveyor try Kenneth Rorison, I think he's in Victoria and still active. Good luck.

[Vern D]

I had my eye on a old wood troller here in town. The owner died years ago and the boat sits. It has a list and some spray foam shot around to keep water out, some spongy planks ect.
I poked around in the hold and discovered the hold bilge was filled with concrete. Gave it the big buzzer.
One of the saddest things I know is an old dying workboat. :(
Vern and Jake (the wonder dog)

[Terry Etapa]

Vern D - I think you'll find almost all of the fishboats of that size ballasted with concrete. That's the way it's done. You'll also find the planks are nailed on with steel (iron) nails. No bronze screws to be found.

To loosely quote RGM, the first new tool you get when you buy a fishboat isn't a nice set of wood chisels or, a slick. It's a cold chisel for busting out concrete.

[Vern D]

Terry, Right you are. I had equated the concrete with hopeless rot. In my Coast Guard days, I was in the CGC CAMPBELL (WHEC 32) homeported in Port Angeles Wa. There was concrete poured around several of the sea chests to keep the "queen" from sinking. Nice technique...lol
:D
Vern and Jake (the wonder dog)