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I am kind of new to boating in general and came across what was told to me as a 1978 36' Trojan Flybridge. However everything that I have read and found on the internet has a fiberglass hull. This is not the case with this boat, it is a wood hull. Being new to boating I really was not looking for a wood boat, but it seems as though this would be a very rewarding project in the end. It is in definite need of some many hours of repair and work, but seeing as my brother in-law is a woodworker by trade I think we could pull this off.
Can someone help me identify this boat, as well as if it is to far gone to repair? I do not want to half-job anything. It would sit inside my garage for however long it would take to repair fully. Like I said being new into boating, I will, if purchased have many questions as far as what and how to go about doing certain things.
Pictures below as well as a link to the rest of the pictures and major damage that is visible. The canvas is said to be only 1 year old, as well as 1 new motor that isnt even installed yet. What would a boat of this size/age/condition be worth?
It maybe a 1968 , most likey that boat was built from the mid to late 60s
Unless you know a lot about restoring wood boats walk away . Even if it was free it could cost you $$$$$$ and more . I have been down that road It can be a full time job to keep up with a wood boat ,even more so when they have been let go (as this one looks ) you can find some deals on a glass 36 trojan (32 also) if you look a round
BTW mine is 77/78 trojan you can tell its not the same boat .
Boating is good for the soul
77/78 TROJAN F36 Conv.
6BTA Cummins diesels
Life is to short for a ugly boat
the cabin is the same as what i had it was a 1972 sea voyager it to was a wood hull one of the last wood hulls run dont walk fist few pics are of another boat http://s268.photobucket.com/albums/jj31/mrelevman/
Ok, so even though he is asking $2,500 I am right in coming to the conclusion that it is not worth it on your guys recommendations, and experiences? I would much rather have a fiberglass hull, but came across this cheap, and thought I could use it as a fun project!!!
Thanks,
-Matt
I guess it depends on how much money you're willing to put into this boat but just from the couple pictures I see there it would scare me off.
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1976 F-32 - twin 233hp Mercruisers
I've been told a boat is nothing more than a hole
in the water you throw money into. Meh
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the term "worth it" is very subjective in boating. From a financial standpoint- no boat is "worth it", and ironically, the cheap ones are less "worth it" than the not so cheap ones.
If you'd rather have a fiberglass boat, then you should REALLY avoid a wood boat. To own and live with a wood boat, you have to really love the whole wood boat thing (and many do). There are many challanges in a well sorted wood boat (such as insurance and upkeep)... never mind on a neglected one. IMHO, if the owner paid you 10 grand to take that boat, by the time you get it sorted out, you'd be hard pressed to get just your investment back with the 10k head start.
If you enjoy working on projects, it may be "worth it" from the enjoyment standpoint. I find the "work" very rewarding, but also very labor, cost and time intensive. There are many great deals on good quality fiberglass boats out there... I think that would be the least painful way of trying boating. I'm sure every "deal" will require some sweat equity, but you'll be way ahead of the curve if you start with decent example versus a basket case.
Do you want to buy a job or a boat. That looks like a full time job for about the first year and then after that it would only be a job for weeks at a time between uses. I spent two years on a similar plank boat and it got used about three months.The next owner used it very little. Without steady work everything started coming apart. Five years later, it was not saveable. When wood boats start to go that means the rest is not far behind. The great old wood boats that you see on the water are usually taken care of all there life, not neglected at any time. There are some that can be restored after neglect but you have to dedicate youself to it for a long time. Been there. There is a lot of great boats for sale out there if you look in the small marinas, lots of leg work.
Run away from this boat. Run now, and run fast. Just from the outside pics it's a basket case, unless you're plannig to devote a lot of your next 5 years to this boat and nothing else. Worth it???
another thing to consider mine leaked from the topside for quite a whill from the windows and hatch cover when the weather started to warm up i went inside one warm pre sring day and the smell of mold was overwhellimg i went to my truck a grabed a resperater and a flashlight under all the gunnels under the entire berth and the aft sec were covered with black mold once mold gets in wood it is very hard to get ride of lots and lots of bleach and then more bleach but by then the wood is distroyed so thats just one more thing to consider
The problem with wood boats, in the Chesapeake Bay area, is that a lot of marinas won't allow them in anymore. They are tired of being stuck with and having to cut up and get rid of wood hulls. People, in general, don't want the old wood boats and it's hard to get insurance. I have a friend with a 63 36' Chris Craft, that is totally rebuilt, and he can't sell it. His insurance is $ 1,000 a year.
WOW! What potential! BUT What work! It's absolutely beautiful and I can see so much potential it what it COULD be and it's not bad on the inside and seems to be mostly all there, but the rot in the rear corner is VERY concerning and it would be a head ache. If anything it would be a restore and sell but Wood boats don't always sell easily because they are wood.
I have only Teak on the top deck and inside and it's already enoug maintenance to keep me busy. I couldn't imagine that much wood.
There is a beautiful Wood Chris Craft across from our dock and he keeps the ENTIRE thing covered in canvus all the time and hardly ever takes it out. BUT he has been in that same slip since 1974' and the boat is amazing.
If you get it, you must keep us up to date and take TONS of pics of your progress. If you don't get it, well, you are better off. It is a labor of love, but the main part of that is labor.
79' Carver 28' Mariner
I want another Trojan, preferably a Tri Cabin
We have a sister ship to this in our marina, however,
this one appears to be better.. overall..
Get down inside her to check the ribs, etc and the plank fastenings, too.
This is where I had problems with my Owens,
We fabricated and sistered up mahogany ribs, using strips and epoxy to the existing oak ribs, which really were not attached per sey to the planking.
She looks like some exporatory poking has started and she needs new rub rails, too?
As previously mentioned, did you smell inside for mildew/ mold>?
