Sold on Craigslist, a cruise ship is being restored

Built in the 1950s to carry tourists on day trips from the German port of Hamburg, the cruise ship looked bound for the scrap heap, until Chris Willson found the Aurora for sale on Craigslist. Today, his 293-foot ship (which once played a Bond villain's yacht) is parked near Stockton, Calif., surrounded by blueberry fields, and is being carefully restored. Correspondent Luke Burbank reports.
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[@MikeTheDigitalNomad]

As of today, 5-23-2024 this same ship is sunk in the Sacramento Delta to the lower windows at the stern, leaking oil and diesel. There is a hole rusted through the hull and water is pouring in. It needed drydock repairs, not paint above the waterline.

[@andyhastings5950]

The cause has not been determined, it could be a valve failure, cooling piping failure, Ships Shafts Seals failure. And of course a hole in the hull.

[@TheKBK2]

The Aurora is moored about 15 minutes from us, we boat regularly on the Delta and I’ve admired her for years. I love her lines, it’s been awesome to see her transformation over the years to the beauty she is today.

[@samueljaramillo4221]

It’s a beautiful ship. I’m glad she’s been saved.

[@johnpietros9439]

She sank

[@andyhastings5950]

Not yet

[@andyhastings5950]

She's still sitting on the bottom.😢😢

[@peterweltweit]

i went with wappen von hamburg to helgoland in 1967...always loved the lines. i wish you good luck!

[@johnclamshellsp1969]

May 26, 2024 she was sold and is now sinking. What a very sad loss.

[@Austin8thGenTexan]

And here I was - all tied up in knots over refurbishing my (late) parents' 31 ft 1976 Airstream trailer! 🤷‍♂️

[@evilish888]

Software development must have been pretty lucrative. Oh, what's the saying about the happiest days in a boat owners life? The day they buy it and, even more so, the day they sell it Good luck!

[@nghtwtchmn129]

A boat has also been defined as "a hole in the water that you throw money into."

[@jbar_85]

I loved all the little ships that guy had. I love old ships too!

[@ediebaxter6194]

Awesome idea to buy a boat and save it and restore it. Very beautiful boat.

[@philipciaffa6643]

A "boat" is suspended in the davits of a "ship".

[@GeeBoggs]

This is awesome news and only a few miles from my Sonoma, CA home. This was of particular interest to me, because at 17, I made the day trip from Hamburg to the island of Helgoland;. It was a magical day and I hope to visit and support Mr. and Mrs. Wilson’s venture in the near future.

[@davidanalyst671]

it sunk. too bad you didn't help them keep the boat going.

[@richardderosset6960]

Thank you for saving this ship !

[@davidanalyst671]

kinda ironic saying that.

[@maryannkochanski5777]

If you have the money and the passion for restoration! 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍❤️

[@ShipHistory]

This is a great restoration story! We are thrilled to see Peter Knego interviewed!!

[@Celluloidkid]

Blofeld's Yacht : In the movie, this ship serves as the headquarters of Ernst Stavro Blofeld. He summons Rosa Klebb and Kronsteen there twice in the movie.

[@denizalgazi]

The value is its 007 pedigree!

[@selassietetevie4966]

@@denizalgazi I will take it shaken not stirred

[@teymourbayat8266]

In which Bond movie please ?

[@denizalgazi]

@@teymourbayat8266 From Russia With Love

[@teymourbayat8266]

@@denizalgazi Thanks Deniz.

[@richardpark3054]

I well remember when 'Faithful' was moored in Alameda, many years ago. I thought she was very intriguing. Today, she's 'Aurora' and moored in the Sacramento river delta. I fly over her once or twice a month when I practice water ops in my seaplane nearby.

[@lutomson3496]

not in Sacramento at all more Stockton...I worked on her

[@caitlynkelly4312]

@@lutomson3496 🙄 The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, or California Delta, is an expansive inland river delta and estuary in Northern California. The Delta is formed at the western edge of the Central Valley by the confluence of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers and lies just east of where the rivers enter Suisun Bay, which flows into San Francisco Bay and then the Pacific Ocean via San Pablo Bay. The Delta is recognized for protection by the California Bays and Estuaries Policy.[1] Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta was designated a National Heritage Area on March 12, 2019.➡➡➡ The city of Stockton is located on the San Joaquin River on the eastern edge of the delta. The total area of the Delta, including both land and water, is about 1,100 square miles (2,800 km2). Its population is around 500,000 residents.[2]

[@siberia1409]

This ship was the first large ship that Germany was allowed to build post WWII.

[@pS-sv3pm]

To be fair, a small guy can't afford to buy a shop for 800k. Barely even 20k. Very cool though, I wish the pacific princess , the love boat had been saved too

[@daimonmarioperez9501]

Bring people together ❤️

[@daveshondel5108]

I have been on that ship ! and believe me it is so over built that I believe it could withstand a nuclear attack. That ship will be around for another hundred years once they finish restoring it it is truly built like a German tank and it's going to be breathtakingly beautiful.

[@studiosfifty4]

That is so lovely to hear !

[@magicunicorn6535]

I love this story!

[@ted1091]

What a great story. Thank you

[@FloridaRaider]

his home - mid century and nautical...sounds like an interesting man

[@gtags1]

Been following Chris's KZbin channel for a while. Its been quite the transfermation so far and I'm looking forward to seeing the Aurora coming back to life

[@SilverXTikal]

This didn’t age well

[@heithhuffman2461]

Here's an idea... The couple who owns it should start a go fund me website, that would turn donations into ticket purchases, for future rides once the boat is fully restored 👍

[@alane7896]

your kindda smart

[@jim2lane]

Sorry, but a floating hotel is about the best this ship can hope for. The Aurora will most likely never move under her own power again. It's one thing to scrape paint, and refurbish interior spaces, but this ship is just too far gone to be made seaworthy again. The hull has rusted so much over the years that major portions would need to be replaced to provide the structural support required for movement in the ocean. And if you thought the bridge looked bad in this video, you should take a look at the clips of the engine room.

[@petercook3143]

Hi, those controls on the bridge and elsewhere in the ship can be restored, replaced and upgraded on the cheap using readily available parts. Im a Controls Engineer and I regularly do this for customers in the Bay Area. Maybe find me on Linkedin or some other method and I could help you with that.

[@johnwayne2103]

The controls yes but the engines? This dude is about to lose his life savings trying to restore that white elephant.

[@jim2lane]

@@johnwayne2103 as long as they keep to the floating hotel process they should be ok. But the Aurora will most likely never move under her own power again. It's one thing to scrape paint, and refurbish interior spaces, but this ship is just too far gone to be made seaworthy again. The hull has rusted so much over the years that major portions would need to be replaced to provide the structural support required for movement in the ocean. And if you thought the bridge looked bad in this video, you should take a look at the clips of the engine room.

[@Ivellios23]

An expensive lesson... whenever a ship is left to rot, always always always prioritize the hull before the fluff.

[@Treaure]

In my city! Next to Herman and Helen's Marina, where I once worked

[@commonsense31]

Seriously, You should see his KZbin Channel with all progress on the vessel

[@carajones8935]

What is the channel called?

[@terrisantiago9128]

Beautiful

[@Creole_Lady]

That's great! I wondered what happened to that boat. I took some pictures of it when it was moored in town.

[@JohnRohoboth]

who cares!

[@Creole_Lady]

@@JohnRohoboth , you do. Now go argue with your family😂😂😂

[@jonprice78]

it sank in 2024

[@thediner8929]

He met her on Craig’s List?! Lol. What were his motives? Congrats on the marriage and the endeavor with the boat.

[@lewstone5430]

Escort

[@babawali3021]

@@lewstone5430 Troll much?

[@KaliMaaaaa]

@@babawali3021 If you've spent ANY time in Asia, the un equal power dynamics of these types of "couples" is all to obvious and frankly embarrassing. Truth hurts, especially the fragile male ego.

[@JackpodyDK]

Got to be honest, got a good chuckle out of that part of the video.

[@captraykelly]

Great story. All the best with it

[@denizalgazi]

Been watching him and the Aurora being featured on Alanna Zingano's chanel!

[@IngeHBorg]

I wrote about another ghost ship in my novels (the Russian Lyubov Orlova) - but this one is real for me. Anyone remember this brief chapter in the life of AURORA? In the mid-80s, she was called the “EXPEX,” anchored in L.A. Harbor, owned by an entrepreneur who sought volunteer crew of philosophers, teachers, musicians, sales personnel and-oh- perhaps also ship engineers! Being of an adventurous sort back then, I applied and was asked to spend an afternoon in their offices of the then Sumitomo-Bank Building in Long Beach cranking out invitations to prospective exhibitors. The mysterious Mr. “J” had big plans to transport slightly outdated and used first-world technology to third-world countries in his refurbished floating exhibition ship. I was invited to spend the night on the EXPEX with her then Fedora-topped, cash-flashing Iranian owner and his very nice black-clad deferential wife. I bought flowers and boarded the launch. Seemingly impressed with my European way of handling knife and fork at dinner, Mr. J. decreed I would be his “Director of Protocol.” Furthermore, he was glad I could tell him what “Voraus” (Forward) meant on the old-fashioned German telegraph pedestal (the engine room was flooded). The entire ship stank and the only young “engineer” on board quietly told me the rust he scraped off from under the peeling paint “here” was everywhere “there.” Most perturbing, the dotted route of the ship showing on the literature stopped in Kuwait. Too many red flags. I declined the employment offer. A couple of years later, when sailing back to San Diego from Catalina Island, we heard a Mayday call, “This is the M/V Expex. We are taking on water.”

[@paxhumana2015]

The guy tried to sell you a lie and he probably died. You certainly dodged a bullet on that one.

[@Lure-Benson]

As a long time, Alaskan fishing guide, I would turn that ship into an Alaskan floating fishing lodge then park it offshore from some of Alaska's greatest salmon streams for clients to fish. One place for sure for out of the world salmon fishing I have worked in Goodnews bay with the Goodnews river is choked with salmon - trout and Arctic Char.

[@danielesposito9705]

book me already!!

[@geraldmiller5260]

If they make a breakfast restaurant on it, they could call it the Waffen House.

[@christinacascadilla4473]

I’m not sure a guy who has $800,000 to spend on a boat is a “small guy.”

[@el7jake]

Agreed, any more than the one million dollar loan from DJT's father to DJT to enable him to start his first business was a "small loan."

[@drcornelius8275]

@@el7jake TDS alert TDS alert

[@wilfredprins9718]

In these years the vessels looked so much nicer than nowadays

[@silverlily4681]

Wow! It is so cool to live on that boat 👍

[@raymondnoya5653]

Awesome !

[@jul1ann3mari3]

So cool. I hope you enjoy. A lot of work. We are global seas captains and here on the Gulf of Mexico we will put you up and help you out. We have an excellent natural port in Pensacola, Florida. Anchors Away ~ Smooth Seas. The wife has such a positive attitude. Great team.

[@philipciaffa6643]

Anchors Aweigh! - Ms. Horak

[@paxhumana2015]

You know, someone should do some expansion and renovation on it and then turn it into their own superyacht. I would totally do that, given enough money.

[@diraziz396]

Great Story.

[@innfield8836]

It's a good-looking ship for all its age and run-down condition

[@amandahirschfeld7382]

SO AWESOME❤️

[@gerardmeehan8240]

One question how good is the h u l l one was the last time they changed the anodes

[@foghornleghornish]

Here's another that was bought on eBay, a WW2 motor launch (ML1392) that took part in the D-Day landings as a minefield marker on Gold Beach #ShipHappens

[@billl1127]

Wow, well to each their own. I would have run from this as fast as I could. And now that it has sunk, someone has an expensive headache.

[@DannyB-cs9vx]

I hope the volunteers are getting a stake in the ownership.

[@Turboy65]

I'd like to see the ship do 50s period themed cruises. Try to make as much "straight out of 1957" as is possible, modernized only to a limited extent. Keep the look, the feel, the 50s vibe.

[@steveplancich7316]

Someone will need to have at least $100M - $150M they are willing to part with and 3 plus years to accomplish to get a USCG Certificate of Inspection. Complete gut and renewal to include shaft(s), engines, wiring, piping, valves. Likely full of asbestos and other ugly stuff.

[@jim2lane]

Sorry, but a floating hotel is about the best this ship can hope for. The Aurora will most likely never move under her own power again. It's one thing to scrape paint, and refurbish interior spaces, but this ship is just too far gone to be made seaworthy again. The hull has rusted so much over the years that major portions would need to be replaced to provide the structural support required for movement in the ocean. And if you thought the bridge looked bad in this video, you should take a look at the clips of the engine room.

[@gregsbiplays9899]

They plan to restor a few of her engines so she can limp around

[@Dannyboy-nj4wh]

Shes currently sinking😢 hope they can save her

[@chezsnailez]

Wish we had Bond Villain money to buy our own classic liner....

[@AndyCutright]

At about 4:12 you can see Gemma from Ship Happens kzbin.info .. They are restoring a historic WWII naval vessel, one of only two remaining, and a D-Day participant.

[@RF590KG84]

Good grief, how do you keep the hull watertight? How much does it cost to dry dock this thing? Love the idea and if I lived in the locality I'd be in, but just not sure how you could keep this thing floating without massive finance.

[@jim2lane]

As long as they keep it in an inlet like this they can get by with simple patch work to keep it afloat. But a floating hotel is about the best this ship can hope for. The Aurora will most likely never move under her own power again. It's one thing to scrape paint, and refurbish interior spaces, but this ship is just too far gone to be made seaworthy again. The hull has rusted so much over the years that major portions would need to be replaced to provide the structural support required for movement in the ocean. And if you thought the bridge looked bad in this video, you should take a look at the clips of the engine room.

[@sclogse1]

Fiberglass...

[@LoanwordEggcorn]

My favorite part of this story is that he also met his girlfriend on Craigslist.

[@jamesclifford5074]

I know right? Seemed a bit sinister and perverse

[@LoanwordEggcorn]

@@jamesclifford5074 I thought it was cool and funny. Glass half full much? :)

[@stephenhenion8304]

I'll bet my Grandparents rode that boat in the 1960s...

[@leslyehowell3390]

Wow definitely putting the LADY back into Aurora. One rust at time, one bolt at a time, one wheel and instrument at a time. You will lost to fill your time when she is finished.

[@robertmedina3982]

Like the ending!

[@shanecagney7451]

What's the James Bond film?

[@phyllispetras3369]

From Russia With Love

[@leroybishop2245]

Excellent 👍🙏🇺🇸

[@MAgaSUXX]

START a syndiction...sell shares in her and then go on a cruise on YOUR BOAT....?

[@o.h.w.6638]

Craigslist is amazing. You can buy the love boat!!

[@bennyboogenheimer4553]

"Little guy does good" because every little guy has $800,000.00 just sitting around doing nothing. lol!

[@garygerard4290]

all kinds of boats for all kinds of people

[@richardjohnholden5104]

well done

[@BrandonPepper-iz6rh]

Craigslist ship with Craigslist problems lol

[@foxbeary5484]

There’s a ww2 ship called the uss shackle for sale for 130,000 dollars. It needs some help

[@johnwayne2103]

By the time they get finished with the boat they will have to repaint that top portion again. My man bought himself a Parrot who will forever be a 3 year old and need constant attention until he dies.

[@bostonteaparty3926]

Wait a minute!! 04:04 - is this 1980?? Does this man have a scarf around his neck? LOL

[@car5car5]

Good car mechanic can fix anything.

[@ken12269]

He was going to restore the wheelhouse, but that was not in his wheelhouse.

[@roymaduro571]

Nice story

[@thecitygunfightx]

I'd yank the engine out and everything along with it including wire harnesses, etc. And then, I would pay to have 25 or 30 different sails of various sizes installed on her decks and we would literally sail the world for the rest of my life, no fuel needed

[@alicel3992]

Wow!! Glad you saved her but boats take a lot of money, glad you have that too. She'll be beautiful when you're done😁

[@JoeOvercoat]

it looks like squatters had been living in it.

[@_JanetLouise]

yay!

[@boataxe4605]

The current SOLAS regulations will prevent her from ever sailing with paying passengers again unless multi millions are spent.

[@linovieira5260]

No way He paid 800.000 $ for it

[@davidwright873]

thats so effin cool....Im coming to help...let me know how to get a hold of YA....wow....lol

[@reidnolan4456]

I don't see any more videos what's going on?

[@SilverXTikal]

It’s sinking as of today

[@VickersDoorter]

I had no idea you could buy a wife on Craigslist. Very enterprising.

[@darploin5071]

You know why it was full of garbage because the original owner was probably going to have it shipped to alying India For scrapping and that was the way he can get rid of extra trash without having to pay for it to be dumped and then Chris Wilson here bought it and he inherited what the other owner was using it for as a dumpster

[@raymondteo2611]

Utes she’s Chinese and Chinese are very humble people you know small guy with the idea it was like the woods lll but it’s America is a

[@robertphillips6296]

Steel is the most recycled metal in the World!

[@teymourbayat8266]

Nice story, but you cannot restore rust.

[@KATONKA...]

Check out the USS UNITED STATES in Philly, that's historical!

[@jnf1270]

what's with the flag?

[@lizzylightning6224]

Three percenter / Gadsden flag nonsense.

[@nosoyBaizuo]

Where is the S/S United State ?

[@stonew1927]

Cool, but I'm always in awe how people are able to fund such purchases, let alone restore them. Where did a guy like him get all that money to buy it in the first place?

[@geoffdundee]

Stone W ........didnt you listen?...hes a software developer ..............there are lost of folk who you pass in the street everyday who are rich or have more than you imagine......not all flaunt it......some are wise and save..............some old tramps or bag ladies are multi millionaires too LOL.

[@stonew1927]

@@geoffdundee You stated the obvious. Congrats....

[@eastbluedrew1664]

What does happen to retired cruise ships couldn't reuse it as housing for homeless

[@dmclegg66]

Too expensive the maintenance cost is so much it would just be cheaper to build new homes instead.

[@masonclark4602]

Turned into razor blades

[@el7jake]

Yeah, especially tiny houses.

[@poorwotan]

It's a simple economic equation. There comes a point in a ship's life where it is worth more as scrap than being useful in some way. When covid hit, a good chunk of the pre 2000 built cruise ships where scrapped. Why? Mostly because they were mass market ships with no balconies that before were still eking out a small profit in specialty markets/routes. The big cruise lines hate selling their old ships to entrepreneurial outfits since each is then a potential future serious competitor. So for them, it's more than just the scrap value; it's also denying someone else to start up with an older ship. Most of the well known cruise lines started with old converted ocean liners before building their own ships. By scrapping, new cruise lines must have deep pockets to start out (e.g. Virgin Cruises, Ritz Carlton, etc). Still, occasionally, 2nd hand ships still make it to new lines but not very often.

[@ianwilkinson5069]

Looks like it already was at one point hence all the garbage and mattresses. There was a very historic us navy ship near portland a while back that the homeless took over illegaly. They squatted on it for months and months and in that time they ripped almost all of the internal mechanics apart and anything else they could sell as scrap. They set it on fire several times and then filled it with garbage just like this. then when they were going to be evicted they cut the mooring lines and let it drift until it sank. Cant remember the name but she served in ww2.

[@gottabesometime6632]

Thank you for saving this beautiful lady....as Latin terms Aurora...is the feminine meaning....question..., changing a boat's name, is that bad luck? Maybe too many superstitions on my behalf...no females on Vikings boats, no bananas on a boat etc. I wish you all the best with her and many happy years ahead for AURORA AND YOU BOTH!!!

[@TheBTG88]

Changing a ship's name is fine. However, according to sailing lore, the owner should write the old name somewhere on the inside of the hull.

[@Fektthis]

the ships wheel had been stolen. we have an idea where it's at. goes to a guys house full of items from ships who is a big fan of the ship... Yeah, I think I do as well.

[@matthewrosso8569]

“Thank God we were just dating….”

[@bonsaw57]

Yaaaaa now THATS a waste of money! God bless America

[@fourleafclover2377]

Ok that’s pretty embarrassing that he also met her on Craigslist that is not a dating site or at least a traditional one at least she got someone good looks like he’s got money to dish out on 800,000 on a boat that needs extensive repairs 😅

[@tomasinacovell4293]

That's hardly what you'd call "restoration" that's just play, not dry dock. That ship needs rebuilding and it's engines pulled etc, etc.

[@johndunkle740]

Now we should get him interested in restoring the SS UNITED STATES!

[@SBrown-ov9lz]

Dreamers remorse!😢

[@mr.iforgot3062]

She's Chinese you guys! She's from China.

[@hedgehog2565]

a girlfriend from craigslist :D wow ! ! !