Bad News---west coast sailboat "Put Down"

[OEX]

We listed a boat from the west coast, a 1903-racing ketch in restorable shape ( link (http://www.woodenboatrescue.org/carview.php?view=119) ).
This boat should have been a great project with loads of history and doable by an armature. It was one of only a few out west, (hear this all the west coast people asking me to get more boats listed from out your way) and was owned by a concerned guy looking to save her. Well he got a few calls, most just jerking him around, etc, and no takers or lookers---just BSers.

He cut the boat up and threw her away.

I am asked how people can help us (me) all the time. PLEASE just spread the WORD. Please work at getting the existence of these boats to the eyes of people who might care. We are all busy, we all have no money, we all care, but we all talk a good story until we actually have to PUT OUR EFFORTS WHERE IT COUNTS. I spent way too much time on this and money I do not have (example the ad in WB Mag is not running anymore, I just could not do it at 100s of $ an issue, someone want to donate the ad for as year?).

Yup, I am a bit put out, but more sad than anything. A 44 Peterson Schooner cut up last week (20 people called, 8 said they would come see it and no one came to see it). Ben Bow, now useless since the last 1.5 years and local kids killed her (I have the rigging etc--that’s all that’s left). The Sidney Davies sloop...I have had six people blow me off on meetings, just no shows---its about to get cut up too.

I know we all can't take the boats, but maybe we can help spread the word.

Before you start thinking I am a grumpy *&&^$%#, I want to say that a few people have been very helpful and supportive with the WBRF's efforts---thanks!

So West Coasters please get off your butts smile.gif and either look at the boats or help me find them and list them. We all have one afternoon every other month to go look at old boats and send pix and info my way......it does work sometimes.

I can still use help. Money is one thing, but more than that its finding the boats before its too late, and getting people to see the site. I could use someone to post the boats on e-bay and take care of the correspondence between owner and bidder, etc. The Center for Wooden Boats (edit)in WA seems to use e-bay a lot (I have tried to work with them to combine efforts, but either they do not care or are too busy to get back to me (most likely) ). If someone could do this I would be very grateful, its armchair restoration and wooden boat dreaming!---please....

If you do not care about this, then do not stress it; you do not have to. I am talking to anyone who does care and does think it would be fun and “good” to try.

I am going to add another topic with a list of things we, I, could use…please look for it under HELP SAVE BOATS---I will post it on all the subjects folders. Sorry if that is a pain, but it could be worse.

Bruce Elfstrom
The Wooden Boat Rescue Foundation.

[ 01-13-2006, 12:50 AM: Message edited by: OEX ]

[Billy Bones]

Thank you for what you're doing, Bruce. I look at your site every time you post something new.

If I didn't live way far away where shipping is a big problem, I'd be a more active participant.

Still, when I can, I'll spread the word.

[OEX]

Thanks a lot every bit helps. Do you know about this fellow and what he is doing in the Turks and Caicos?
He is getting a community project going that will teach traditional boat building skills from the Bahamas and Turks to the young, etc of the Islands...Really great effort, makes me feel like a wimp mentioning needing help with WBRF. Check it out. Marimtime Heritage Turks and Caicos (http://www.maritimeheritage.tc)
http://www.woodenboatrescue.org/image.php?Id=516

[Nicholas Carey]

That boat looks to be a Seabird Yawl or one of her brethren, not a ketch:

http://www.woodenboatstore.com/images/400003.JPG

http://www.dngoodchild.com/4912pic4.jpg (http://www.dngoodchild.com/4912.htm)

That being said, it's a problem with old project boats. Most likely, they cost the current custodian by the month, so they're more liability than asset. And if it's floating it's worse: around here, moorage runs $8-10 per LOA foot per month.

You can see how they get broken up.

And even for free, you've still got to find the person for whom that boat is The Boat (No Other Will Do). It's a hard task.

WRT to the Wooden Boat Foundation (http://www.woodenboat.org/) (Port Townsend, WA), afaik they don't sell boats on eBay as a general rule (I might be wrong, but...)

However, Seattle's Center For Wooden Boats (http://www.cwb.org/) does: they generate a good chunk of revenue via vessel donations/sales: people donate unwanted/unloved vessels to the CWB and they turn around and sell them to generate operating revenue.

So while the CWB may share some of the same interests with you (e.g., saving wooden boats), the interests of a small 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation are not necessarily wholly consonant with yours.

[GC]

Thanks for your efforts, I took a 1961 CC Constellation when she was offered to me in December. It will cost me upwards of 20,000.00 to get her back in the water, that I will gladly pay just to see a majestic piece of history (and she's not even that old) brought back to her former glory. Something in me just said this boat deserves better than just being left to slowly decay to nothing.

[Thorne]

I will keep my eyes open for more of these boats needing rescue - it is just that it is dangerous for me to surf around on craigslist when I'm in the middle of restoring one boat already. See the thread titled "HELP!" below...

; 0 )

[ 01-12-2006, 11:51 PM: Message edited by: Thorne ]

[OEX]

It was the center for wooden boats---I am busy, so i guess they are to.

The Wooden Boat Foundation just contacted me, we have been communicating, and we are trying to come up with some angles.

Thanks everyone getting involved, I think it des make a little difference.

Cheers

[OEX]

p.s. I in no way meant to come down on the Center For Wooden Boats and I hope no one is reading ti that way. It was more that I am learning that if eBay works or them, well....