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I wood think twice...Aug 01 '02 Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line Wood, while a fine boat building material, has gotten a bad rap. Buy it if you must, but be prepared for the extra problems you may encounter. So I decided that I needed a boat. One big enough to get to the big fish. (I want to go after Marlin) Equipped with a bathroom and running water...a galley ...with a place to sleep comfortably or just get out of the weather. A peaceful refuge from the rest of the world. A wood boat. Natural wood grain interior, romantic and nostalgic...one that made me feel like a movie star. (yeah, sure, if the movie is Captain Ron) After all, man has been making boats out of wood forever- what better material could there be? After spending $6,000 on a 1960's Chris Craft, and another few thousand fixing it up in dry dock...not to mention 3 months of our weekends... we learned the ugly truth... NOBODY WANTS A WOOD BOAT !!!! Not that fiberglass or aluminum is perfect - all boats have their own unique set of problems, it's just a good idea to know what you're getting into. Remember to have ANY boat you buy surveyed first. From what I understand, this phenomena is somewhat localized to southern California, but do yourself a favor - wherever you are planning on keeping your boat - ask the locals. Boat people love to talk - especially about boats. I have found that it is near impossible to find mooring for my wood boat. The marina managers will just turn up their noses and say "we don't allow WOOD boats..." or they will just hang up. (Do keep in mind that people who offer services to boaters are rude by nature ... they know how much we need them) And then there was the boat yard... No wonder so many people abandon their wood boats! The boatyard must be terrified of liability (understandable) and in the habit of swindling first time boat owners with scare tactics ( most uncool) The resident shipwright came by my boat one day and told me that my boat needed all manner of fixing - new ribs - new screws ( there are about 10,000 screws on a boat that size) a lot of replanking on the bottom. Funny, he came to me and not my husband... All I can say about that is that a SECOND OPINION - one from someone who is not holding your boat hostage - can save you thousands of dollars. I have managed to find mooring (only by giving the marina an obscene amount of deposit money) and I really do love my beautiful wood boat, but I would have done things a lot differently if I had known...  |
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