Trojan Boat Forum

Alright mates, Sea Voyager, what do you know about this vessel. The Good,The Bad and The Ugly. I am very interested in one such boat and need some honest input here........

the good is wood boats are classic and good looking . the bad is they can be a lot of work keeping up . a full time job IMO . the boat your looking at could be like new or a rotten piece of junk .Its how it was taken care of . of course this is true with all boats but more so with wood .It can be harder to get insurance with a wood boat and some marinas don't like them '

To own a wood boat you need to have a real love of wood boats. if you a just looking for a boat stay with glass '

I love wood boats , but I don't think I would own another .

I agree with Prowlerfish. I have restored four wood boats in the past, the smallest being 16ft and the largest being 35ft and like Prowlerfish says you have to love working with wood, painting and repairing continuously. When I start looking at wood boats, and I still do consider them, I have to ask myself, do I want to buy a job? I love wood boats. Nothing looks, rides and feels like a wood boat but the maintainance is a big issue.

Find one in good shape, stay on top of it to keep it in good shape, and it will be good to you. Let it get away from you and you will have a heck of a time getting it back under control again. I always find the Classics to be more, well, classy...

What everyone is saying is if you want your boating experience to include regular ongoing maintenance and upkeep then go Wood by all means.
If you rather enjoy time boating with maintenance every now and then go Fibreglass... which was my choice.
Most of my work is at either end of the season and just keeping her clean during the boating season while I enjoy the sites and sounds on the water.

These boats sit well in the water and when drifting can handle the chop very well. They are one of the best family boats. They ride differently than a fiberglass boat. As far as the upkeep, it is alot of fun working on them and admiring your work. If you can look at her and plan out what needs to be done a couple years out, you will not always ber working on her. Usually it is painting the bottom every year, touching up varnish and the sides every other year or so. Keeping it inside a boat house in the marina is a big plus. Being a mature vessel, you will be replacing some things every now and then. It is fun to learn how to do some of these things as long as you know your limitations.

You want to make sure you hire a very good surveyor. Knowing what you will need to work on and planning for it financially will keep it fun.

If you want a piece of history, a great hobby and to show off your work I would say go for it, I did.

(ps: and most fiberglass owners are jealous of us-even if they don't admit it.)

jealous ? no way been there done that


Now a Cold molded Buddy Davis or Ricky Scarborough maybe


"These boats sit well in the water and when drifting can handle the chop very well. " same can be said about a F32 or F 36

This debate will go on and on forever. Bottom line, it is a matter of opinion. Problem is you can not have a truly accurate opinion until you have owned one. I bought my '74 F36 Trojan Tri cabin 2 years ago while searching for my next Wooden Chris Craft. After spending a cold hour in February checking out one of my favorate Chris Craft models, a 1966 38' connie double cabin, I came to the conclusion that, just like Dirty Harry said, "a man's got to know his limitations" My big wooden boat days where over. The salesman said he had a F36 Trojan they had taken on trade 2 years previous and wanted it gone. Thought I better take a look. After another cold hour I remember thinking, this boat has a ton of teak on her! I think this is all the wood I need! I gave him a low offer, they counter offered and I went looking at more Trojans. 7 of them in fact. Than, after a month of dickering, we made a deal. Of course the 18' 1962 Grew Lapstrake that I'm restoring helps with the wood boat fix. Ha. Ha.

Well said Jimbo36 I haver owned many wood boats I love there but now only when they belong to someone Else Now i would not mine having a small wood runabout to restore in my garage

What model are you talking about ? Be specific.

Well Mates, I appreciate the experienced insight. I guess romance of the sea in me is saying go wood, but the realist in me is saying at 51 it might be better to stay glass...... Man tough choice tho...... The boats been sold I found out. But was it ever taken care of........The guy said it is the boat on the site here that is used on the main page ???? Well, I am still looking and will be right back with further "REQUESTS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION". THANKS FELLAS. DW

here it is ( for now )
looks nice
http://www.trojanboats.net/default.html

There is a total beauty around here that I have got to get pictures of and post some day... An old 36' Fly Bridge Sedan, probably 1967 or so, named Lady J... Custom swim platform that looks like its always been there, extended hard top over the entire cockpit, huge mast to carry radar, electronics, etc mounted at the back end of the hardtop, interior helm fully upgraded and using Stidd seats at helm and navigator stations (or something that looks a lot like them)... It's absolutely gorgeous. Rumor is the owner has put about a quarter million into it...

Pics to follow some day (but gotta wait for spring now!)

There's a 67 31 Sea Voyager & a 63 31 Sea Skiff at my marina. Both are nice boats in average shape. http://www.jsmarinejim.com

I recently purchased a wood 42' 1974 it was out of water for 3 years,
I did minium on bottom ,floted it and after 30 days it mostly sealed ,I replaced free board above rear salon at rear both sides,and painted as well .new deck sealed 3 coats .Will repair the leaking in hull now, know where it is. (basicly a good cleaning and caulking of all joints to bring back to sound condition ,needs no refasting at this time.The point is after i get it back to good shape .I can paint bottom and sides in the same time the other glass boat owner in my yard take to wash compound and wax there gelcoat.they also paint there bottom in same time if the paint sticks (a problem with glass boats to the new owner)I believe the maintaince is aprox the same to maintain,and some times the larger repairs if incured are easier to spot or repair on wood if both boats were in the same shape when compared.Yes I also had a glass boat but it was new and I didnt have to go looking for core damage ,which can be hard to spot.
A rotten plank is easy to spot.And the best thing is my wife gets to move the furniture around with few built in place pieces,In the end the price per foot cant be equaled because most everyone fears the wood boat work,but I am looking for the better ride everyone talks about although I havent yet expierenced as an owner .These are just my on hand and visual experiances to date not a pro or con for your purchase .good luck
with your new boat .. john