Ten Mistakes of Amateur Boat Restoration (Ep47)

[@russellmurphy8111]

Excellent advice

[@motorcityboatwerks]

Thank you Russell 😁

[@gking5522]

I own a 43 year old cruising sail boat... I have lived through all but a couple of your "top ten". But like you, I learned. Now I know where all the white hair came from! 😄

[@motorcityboatwerks]

Welcome aboard ! Mistakes we’ve all made 😁Be sure to like and subscribe. The white hair comes from broken dreams and naked ambition mixed with grit and determination 👌😀

[@kroneditor9266]

Excellent advice!

[@motorcityboatwerks]

Thank you !

[@RobertMorris-wb7nx]

That was hysterical but very, very true. Have you thought of considering being a stand-up comic? As one who purchased a handy man special, some jobs are best left to professionals. My 23-foot sailboat needed a paint job. I worked out a deal with the marina that I would do some of the work and they would do the prep work and spray the boat's gelcoat. End result was a mirror like paint job.

[@motorcityboatwerks]

Thanks Robert! You know what I’m talking about 👍 thanks again for the feedback

[@RobertMorris-wb7nx]

As Dirty Harry once said, "a man has to know his limitations."

[@motorcityboatwerks]

Exactly 🤓

[@jasonfrodoman1316]

Small steps is the best advice. And really think about what that small step will lead to. People need to realize that all systems on a boat are inter-related. One thing leads to another. And often that other thing must be addressed before you can proceed with your original intent. And so on. You often can't repair one thing without repairing a host of other things simultaneously. Lots of work.

[@motorcityboatwerks]

Jason : That’s an excellent way to describe it. 😁👍

[@jasonfrodoman1316]

@@motorcityboatwerks I bought a structurally sound 35 foot sailboat so I can "live the dream" as you say. Previous owner said "you can live on it while you fix it up". Yeah right Dude. Thats why your boat is in its current condition - slowly sinking in the slip. And why I will give you $500 to take the problem off your hands. But I'm getting there.... lots of baby steps. And minimal cash outlay. Folks need to know, if you can't do everything yourself, you will drown. Fiberglass, gelcoat, electrical, plumbing, carpentry. And generally the ability to design and/or fabricate your own parts. Massive amount of work. Dont get me started on sails and rigging. 😆

[@motorcityboatwerks]

Jason in the coming weeks there will be an offer to get my sailboat restoration book free, so stay tuned. 😁👍

[@jasonfrodoman1316]

@@motorcityboatwerks Fortunately I'm almost done now. All new 12v and 110v. New plumbing and fixtures. All new custom build tanks. Diesel up and running with redesign exhaust system. Actually been sanding hull for last several weeks. Talking to Interlux today for paint recommendations. 5 years now one baby step at a time. Boat on 40' modified gooseneck. Sea of Cortez next stop.

[@motorcityboatwerks]

😎

[@dannyjones3840]

Brother, this is excellent advice. I see these fools on fb junk boat pages trying to get something easy beyond their means and capabilities. I'm restoring my 1968 Hatteras 34 that sank. But this is my 4th restoration, and working at a boat yard I get free storage, and discounts on almost anything I need. I boat it at copart for only $150 at auction. But by the time i paid storage, and transport- at cost- from Maryland to NC, i had $3000 in it. 2.5 years later, I'm right at $15,000 and not even halfway done. I hope this video reaches those that need to see it. This will cut down on zombie boats in back yards around the country.

[@motorcityboatwerks]

Thanks Danny! Stay motivated and keep pushing forward. Email me a pic of your project when you get a chance. 🫡

[@davidjackson2115]

emmmm zomby boats.... Nevertheless one mans garbage is another mans treasure. I found "the right boat on sale at the right time" is one of the biggest factors.

[@sscbkr48]

Wow, a 4th restoration, hopefully not due to a 4th sinking. The good news, now you can probably do it a lot quicker, maybe even blindfolded. My OCD father in law who obsesses over his lawn asked me where mine was. Under the boats I replied! When you have a marina in your yard, who needs a lawn mower. 😃

[@motorcityboatwerks]

🙂

[@luchio0377]

Always insightful Sir. 👍🏾

[@motorcityboatwerks]

Luchio thanks so much. Please help Spread the word about MotorCity Boat Werks 😃

[@luchio0377]

@@motorcityboatwerks On it! 👍🏾

[@motorcityboatwerks]

😎

[@bobbylong4443]

😊 thanks I needed this 😊

[@motorcityboatwerks]

I made it just for you and for guys (and gals) like you and me. No BS Real boat restoration. Please subscribe and spread the word 🙂

[@907T]

Great advice Joe. I restored a 28' Marinette years ago. (It was my first project, but I worked on boats most of my life going back to my dad's 1967 Owens.) One fall day after hauling the Marinette, I was walking back to the dock to pick up some gear and saw a couple of yard workers piloting an old Trojan houseboat over to the marine railway--yes they are still being used. I told the marina owner his guys seemed to have trouble steering straight and he told me that Trojan only had one running engine. He said the new owner was excited because he bought the boat for next to nothing. Which was exactly what he got. That boat lay rotting in the yard from then on. And you may be right: I was thinking my next project would be a 37', but maybe a 32 is all we really want. All the best, Joe

[@motorcityboatwerks]

Thanks so much for the feedback. Good luck in your project and thanks again 👍

[@sscbkr48]

The biggest mistake is believing that fantasy is reality and that humor has no place in boat work. I have a 50 yr old 26 trawler that survived the operating table, now in long term recovery. My favorite boat is the one moored on the mantle. Small is indeed beautiful. 😄

[@motorcityboatwerks]

😂

[@Herblay63]

I'm an asthmatic so when grinding or sanding fibreglass, I kit up with a one piece hooded overall with elasticated cuffs, disposable gloves and a 3M full face respirator. Never had a problem, not even a cough. Can't be too careful in my view.

[@motorcityboatwerks]

Very true! thanks for the comment😁

[@Bakanelli]

I’m using 3M 7500 respirator. Never in my wildest dreams I thought I would use it so much for just about anything - bought it for my (hobby) TIG welding Aluminum/SS, but end up using it daily for everything.

[@motorcityboatwerks]

😁👍

[@mikeyadrick5154]

Where were you 50 years ago?? Boat restoration has eaten up 2 marriages and about 37 relationships!! Then there was the Tens of thousands of dollars and a bit of blood. I am in agreement on most of your points--the silicone is ONE BIG one. All boat restoration folks should be born with a barn the size you built--OR LARGER!! I'm in Seattle area--the center of small boats for the whole planet earth---my son has built 2 boats in Monterey---He considers his town to be in a 3rd world country as far as supplies and materials go! This was a GOOD presentation but you really could expand on all your points------iIf only folks would watch, pay attention, assimilate all our info!?----Keep up the good work-----Mikey, Belfair, Wa

[@motorcityboatwerks]

Mike: thanks for the comments. I try to keep the episodes under 20 minutes to keep them consumable. And I try to build episodes as benchmarks that can be expanded and built upon in later episodes. I really appreciate your feedback. It sounds like you get what MotorCity Boat Werks is about 👍. Please spread the word so the Boat Werks gets discovered on KZbin and afar. And if you haven’t already done so, please like and subscribe 👍👍😁

[@scott8689]

So a 72, 42 ft Grand Banks Woodie may be on the list? the forever overhead of on land storage makes it a no go.

[@motorcityboatwerks]

Sadly no. Be sure to like and subscribe

[@scott8689]

@@motorcityboatwerks Emailed you yesterday, just signed up to Patreon too for the Alberg adventure book opportunity. great stuff

[@motorcityboatwerks]

No email received yet.

[@motorcityboatwerks]

Scott you gotta join the right tier to get the free book. ☺️ Christmas free book promo ended…last Christmas 🎅

[@MPrybil]

BOAT===Bring Out Another Thousand. 🙈 Great advice.

[@motorcityboatwerks]

Only if you don’t plan with a budget 😂

[@leighshelton1246]

wise words.

[@motorcityboatwerks]

Thank you 😎

[@fitness4mind]

"That derelict boat is another one's broken dream. Don't let it become your nightmare."

[@motorcityboatwerks]

Good one ☝️

[@romocolan]

Sad but true 😀

[@motorcityboatwerks]

😎

[@charles.neuman18]

7:20 Hey who's that Turner guy? Related to Tina?

[@motorcityboatwerks]

🤣😂

[@1BIGFROGGY]

Man! I've been (painfully) watching this young guy with no money or experience restoring boats or boating in general on KZbin, that 'scored' a 'Free 30' sailboat!' from a storage unit (1969 Alberg) with nothing but a sponge, some rainwater and whatever was left in the boat by the previous broke owner. He could really use your advice!

[@motorcityboatwerks]

Can’t they all ?? 😂🤣😂

[@rcflyer416]

I have started fairly small, on an O’day 23. I had zero experience in repair and restoration when I started out. That being said, I bought it expressly to learn the work. It’s in much worse shape than I originally expected, but hey, now I know to replace rotten balsa core. So far I’m agreeing with everything said here, and I’ll admit I bought a turd of a shipwreck that should have been cut up and thrown in a dumpster.

[@motorcityboatwerks]

I know I’ve been there 😎

[@davidjackson2115]

Great show. PERFECT! You mention big boat - transport - where to put it.... Hits me like my head was can of beans that just had the lid opened! All this just happened. But with good reason. I brought a boat to live on but for reason outside my control bigger then the boatplus crafty Bab not answering aution mail as to size other then 8.5 meters long... had I known how small {the boats bum was 1.4 meters wide = joke} I would not have brought it. It was yacht I effectively made into launch still on hardstand. But aneibour bidded on bigger steel boat 11.6 meters long 4 meters wide American type WW2 PT plainer boat. I agreed to his idea that Im better off working on that and using my smaller one for the steel. The biggest problem I had with my first - was the yacht crappy concept - like you said {I had no idea chimps would made boats chips could sail but not humans who want to walk upright - so I raised / lifted roof etc...}. Will do the same with new one - idea being I can make it to drive car or camper van on back and work on {higher boat roof means higher flat floor for good sunny days}. Im taking my smaller one apart - and view it like an apprentceship and also belting the welded metal "Im testing my welds and seeing how they will hold in storm should you get pushed against rocks." Very good, but thats stick welding - where the metal has the flux on it thus slower cool down so its not going to be brittle. Delemer and testing is to do MIG {quicker / cheaper} but the welds will be more prone to not being so ductile - and we dont want that. All comes to worse - there are options with steel. i love that big wooden boat on dock with round windows in front. Thats similar size to my 'new' hull half rusted. But its all straight forward - the work is simple if you know what yr doing. Its when your trying to figure yr way out of a box - getting cluttered / keeping any bit of metal thinking you can weld it {which you can which is the beaty of steel - but I didnt think about the time wasted in matching the steel /welding it compared to buying new sheet of steel - but thats the poverty trap. Im a Prophet / Servant of God in the Highest degree but below Jesus {1/2 hight} thus an outcast and boat to live on is my turf more removed from persecution }. Dont know if I mentioned - but with new boat if able given problems youve mentioned - but thaks to God I may have meet someone with land etc... I want to cut rectangle hole in hull below bowl with upraised sides well about water line - Ill put those round port windows in hull so can see from bowl and put the anchor up down that way all within boat - I figure no danger or inconvenience and you can see the bottom easy / no danger of going overboard. Plus you can lower fixture to 'seal hull' {not water tight but good enough for bypass flow} but even lower it on a angle to use as lift plainer to be abl to sail etc... more efficently - i want both of best worlds - my cake and eat it too and bi bucket of KFC {NZ SIS spymaster dogs poison not included - as they do - my twitter shows what theyve been up too}. Like yr advice - when young I started out as car painters laborer - only time I got to touch the spray gun "was to clean it" I was too low to even spray undercoat - it was all sand sand sand. But like the apprentce said with sanding - how he copped was you just do one bit at time - dont look at whole thing but get each bit done properly. {now older body wearing out.} Also buddy - I dont want a boat that needs to go to marina - they can all go get f.... {hey religious propaganda not included - Isaiah said "I am aman of unclean lips.... yet I have seen God...". Also - you put metal in a furnace and as far as Im concenred the cursing is the metal glowing red emitting radiation and if not the metal is not hot enough}. Mian thing from all youve said which I am - is "you dont give up" just like my God mission {Ive been summoned} been writing 22 years - persecution /poisoning / sabotage / suppression etc... but God made / 'choose' for job and likewise. I want boat you can beach and beauty with steel is you can weld bits on / improvise / change. Man - if I saw one of those steel ships beached / abandend - next time the person came back to see it - it would be a skeleton. My biggest problem at moment is people - you have nough problms - but some bloody two cent sheep have to be in yr face and sheep wont accept reasoning - they interject / raise their voices but not reason - their the bigger problem. Its those things in blue unifroms the sheep go crying too - or you could deal with sheep like a bit of metal.

[@motorcityboatwerks]

The respirator helps with the fumes and it definitely makes a difference long term regarding brain damage. Thanks for the comment👌 Stay motivated my friend. 😉

[@juanenriquezmartinez6864]

Very well explained, as a rule of thumb you may use common sense, the problem is no ,everyone it has common sense! Idiots restoring boats will loose a lot of money!

[@motorcityboatwerks]

😁

[@finscreenname]

The biggest mistake I see, people starting projects and then waiting on parts or money to do a certain project on the boat while leaving the rest sit. They will sit around for weeks waiting on the most special steering wheel to show up before even cleaning out the cockpit. I understand some things need to be done in order like replacing stringers before you put a deck down but most cases you can bounce all over from project to project with no harm. I do my restores in my driveway. Weather is a factor. I always have rainy day projects waiting in the garage. They can even be easy and fun projects that I wanted to do but the sun was out before and my time could be better spent sanding the hull. Then there are winter projects like upholstery and motors and such. I may (buy, beg or steal) all the parts for the boat's drive package while it's nice out but they stay piled up in the corner for when the garage door stays closed during the winter. That way I always have something going. For me the bottom line is, do something everyday no matter how big or small. Keeps you in the project.

[@motorcityboatwerks]

Right on! Brilliant. This is exactly what I do and why I always have a half dozen or more diff projects going at the same time. Weather rules everything, seven when you have a Boat Werks. It’s all about multi-tasking and momentum. Thanks for your comment 😃👍

[@kjellrogerjgensen60]

Please do not destroy it complety. It is a nice and elegant litle sailboat. It's the sails job to catch the vind, not a wery big pilothouse. 😟

[@motorcityboatwerks]

A proper pilothouse conversion adds to the boat. 👌😎