Alden boat.

[Alden40]

First hello too everyone on the WoodenBoat! Im new here
and look forward too learning from some of you as i go.
Im looking too buy a Alden 40' sailboat, and will be posting pics
and more detailed info soon. She is a 1934 motorsailer, and in
the MD area. i have very little history with wooden boats,
but i will do my best too make sure shes taken care of the RIGHT
WAY.

So my first step is this:

Is there anyone in the Balt. MD area that would like too eye this boat
for/with me (i already took a good look) and tell me of any MAJOR
problems with her? I can pick up/drop off, and will even pay for some good
crab cakes and drinks after. I need someone with KNOWLAGE about these old classics.
So if you love looking at true classics, have alot of background in wood boat refurb. work,
and love to eat crab cakes, live in the Balt. Annp. Md area, give me a Message, or email me direct
@ coralgrower@hotmail.com. i need too have a soild 2nd look sooner
rather then later, as im close too buying. Any help will be GREAT help!
Thxs

[Dale Genther]

Alden40 - You are planning on having the boat surveyed before you buy it aren't you ? It would be a mistake to buy it without a survey. You will need a survey not only to let you know the condition of the boat, but you will never get insurance on an old boat witout a survey that is acceptable to the insurance company. If you want I can give you the name of a surveyer in your area who is good with wood boats. Don't get just any surveyor as there are some out there who don't know a thing about wood boats.

[Thorne]

Welcome to the forum!

Give us as much info on the boat as you can, as that is a huge assistance in offering accurate advice.

If you haven't had her looked at by an experienced wooden-boat marine surveyor, do so ASAP. He'll be able to tell you what is wrong, what to fix first, what to leave until later, etc. The cost of the survey is very small compared to the potential savings.

[kc8pql]

I agree with the need for a professional survey. It can save you a huge amount of time, money and heartache in the long run and, as Dale said, you can't get insurance without one.

[Alden40]

Please do send me the survey info. i plan 100% too get a full
survey. What i would like too do is find someone that has enough
wooden boat know-how too tell me if the boat is a total waste of time
before i spend 750 on the survey. Here are some pics. Sorry cell phone
pics. Boat needs paint, and caulking for sure. I found one rib that needs
sister'd. decks, top, all are mush free. Even the interior is pretty dry.
i expected too find alot more rot. the wood paint is peeling, but the wood it self seems hard, and not soaked. Kinda expected more wood rot on boat. A few years ago, he replaced all the iron fastners with bronze.
They all look good. the planking is pretty fair, no planks sticking out.
Seams need caulked. he showed me ribs forward from mid ship all looked
good, no breaks ect. Im worried about the keel bolts though, and the iron
ballest worrys me. Any way too stop metal decay comming from that iron ballest, when i replace the bolts?

http://img175.imageshack.us/my.php?image=29929578nv7.jpg
http://img179.imageshack.us/my.php?image=71238333kj3.jpg
http://img179.imageshack.us/my.php?image=45818924qm2.jpg
http://img179.imageshack.us/my.php?image=90221143be6.jpg
http://img179.imageshack.us/my.php?image=91329866cz3.jpg
http://img179.imageshack.us/my.php?image=22123625uw8.jpg

[Hwyl]

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/8503/22123625uw8.jpg

[Thorne]

I don't have any suggestions for a good surveyor in the Baltimore area, but I'm sure someone will.

Here's how to post photos on this forum:

First - don't attach photos. Most web forums don't allow it, and space
limitations are the main reason why.

Second - Instead of attaching them to a thread, post the pics on the web
somewhere. You have a free website area with any paid ISP's email account,
or use www.picturetrail.com (http://www.picturetrail.com) or other free hosting service. Once posted on
the web, right-click the image to copy the URL (web address). Always test
first by pasting the image URL into the window of a web browser and see if
the image displays.

Remember, the IMAGE URL will end in .jpg, not .htm or html. URLs ending in .htm are the page that the image is at, not the image location itself. If the image URL ends in other code, try deleting everything after the "xxxxxx.jpg" part of the URL to get it to display on web forums.

Third - once posted on the web, try this procedure while logged in to this
Forum:

1. Click the "User CP" link in the browser window in the top left of the
menu bar.
2. Click the "Edit Options" link about 1/4 of the way down the left column.
3. In the "Misc Options" at the bottom of the next page, select "Enhanced
Interface" from the pulldown list.
4. Once this interface has been selected, in any "Reply" window you can
click the "insert photo" icon --> a little yellow square icon with the stamp
in the upper right corner, the mountains in the lower center.
5. Once the little dialog box titled "Please enter the URL of your image"
comes up, paste the URL of the photo in the field.

If unsure of the procedure, test first by pasting the image URL into the
window of a web browser.

[S/V Laura Ellen]

When I purchased Laura Ellen I used:

Frederick E. Hecklinger, Inc. Marine Surveyor, 17 Hull Ave., Annapolis, MD 21403. 410-268-3018 Fax: 410-280-5258.

Very knowledgeable on wooden boats.

[Dale Genther]

Fred Hecklinger is the one I was going to reccommend. He surved Radiance for us and as did our friends Chesapeake Bay Buyboat, P.E. Pruitt.

[Noah]

I've worked with Fred as well, and I hate to say it, but judging from the images posted he will probably tell you to walk away. Unless he's mellowed in the last few years Fred doesn't have much love for neglected wooden boats. Either way he will be a good voice of reason - he does know them inside and out.

[Dale Genther]

Naoh, you are right about Fred and he hasn't mellowed. He'll give you the straight scoop. One thing I noticed about him is that he seems to adjust has advice somewhat depending upon the experience of the person he is doing the survey for. I.E. if the buyer is an experienced, dedicated wooden boat owner he is more likely to give positive advice instead if "just burn it". Which is what he told the new owner on an old Chris Craft here in Rock Hall. The owner was a lawyer who had never owned a boat before, much less a wood boat. If might have been a bit more posivive if, for instance, we were the buyers as he knows us and is familiar with the work we do. Unfortunatly the new owners chose to have the survey done AFTER they bought the boat. It's still sitting on the hard, awaiting the chain saw.

[Alden40]

Thanks all for the suggestions, i agree the boat looks bad. thats why i dont want too burn 750.00 when i can have someone give a look over
for glaring problems i cant see. And if im told its worth looking into
deeper, then ill pay for the survey. but im not going too pay someone 700+ just too tell me its a wreck. i already know that, i need too find out
how much work needs too be done, and make a list of things i cant handle. Ill then get that quoted, and see where im at. If i had too bet now, i would say 100% the boat was not taken care of, but after looking
at the wood, the ribs, planking, and decks. i think she has life in her.
i am worried about them keel bolts though, and that iron ballest.

Anyone want too give a GUESS on replacing the whole keel and bolts with lead? i just would like a ball park. the boats 40' 5300LBS. Outside.

[rbgarr]

A good surveyor may agree to survey with the stipulation that if he sees trouble right away he'll stop working and give you a verbal suggestion to cease considering the boat. You'll have to pay for time and travel, but it can be at a prior agreed-upon rate. It would be best to spend time talking to him/her about your experience with wood boats, what you're willing to do (yourself or have paid for) and whether the process of renewing/rebuilding is enjoyable for you or you just want to get out on the water. Be honest with yourself and the surveyor about your expectations, time frame, funds, resolution and patience.

It will also be useful if you allow for an open time frame for the survey work. The surveyor may be able to combine survey trips so he's doing another survey nearby at about the same time, thus not making a dedicated trip for your job.

A surveyor can also give you a list of items that need to be done to the boat and in what order. Estimating what it costs to replace keel bolts and a keel can be hit or miss even when estimated by a boatyard that knows it has the work (as opposed to bidding on it). You may end up having to replace frame heels and floors also. Can't always tell until you're into the disassembly phase. It's the nature of the beast.

[Ed Harrow]

I think I see evidence of rust on the hull. If that is so it indicates ferrous metal (screws or nails) was used for plank fastening. Not a good thing, IMHO.