WE BOUGHT AN ABANDONED 33ft YACHT!!

[@jamesgraham6122]

The 33ft 'Cobra' was built by Tough Bros on the Thames at Teddington from the early 70s. (I was the yacht-broker for Toughs in the early 70s). They also built an identical model but only 27ft called the 'Python'. The advantage of these boats was the fact that they were built incredibly strongly being hand-laid fibreglass, before builders began employing composite construction.. it was very labour intensive but very resistant to osmosis.. you should have a good hull there. Most of the Cobras were built using the Perkins 6:354 diesels, shaft driven as they were fast planing hulls. The Perkins 4.108 is a very strong, reliable diesel, easy to work on being a very basic engine, parts should still be easily available and relatively inexpensive.. and you shouldn't need many but do be careful to treat them gently before starting and revving them up.. I would add some 'Wynns' diesel oil additive prior to starting. The big question is hanging over the outdrives. Outdrives, even relatively new outdrives, are prone to problems.. if nearly new and they're working well, they won't be very soon.. it's just a fact of life with outdrives :)

[@marcturner3647]

Mate you have just done something that i have been wanting to do for years, i really hope you get to enjoy the journey of your new boat, your absolutely nuts but i totally admire your passion and can’t wait to see what happens Cheers Marc from Liverpool 👍👍👍

[@jameshamilton6096]

Jack I have worked with Glass -Fibre and it can be very nasty stuff, you absolutely do not want to be breathing it in while sanding if you like your lungs use a good quality face mask and eye protectors, and I usually wear double gloves (2 per hand) and the stuff still gets through.

[@TheBoatingBuoys]

Hey James! Thank you for the feedback and your most definitely correct, full ppe will be worn next time, I couldn’t breath for days

[@sylvainmorin7497]

hey that is a lot of fun. my suggestion as a semi truck driver, take the motor oil out and replace it with a good synthetic oil with one quart of dura lube and 2 quarts of lucas oil stabilizer, 1 motor sealer and 1 oil stabilizer.. this will get your motors protected from the inside for 6-700 hours and run really smooth.... i drove my semi truck for a million miles this way and my motors when I sold my truck, there were no wear at all on the cams...empty and refill the coolant for new one, test your alternator and try to start it...good luck...

[@TheBoatingBuoys]

Thanks Sylvain! We will definitely give this a try

[@jameshamilton6096]

Congratulations and good luck I shall watching enjoy your journey.

[@TheBoatingBuoys]

Thank you so much! Can’t wait to share it with you all James

[@bucknaykid4236]

Good luck guys

[@TheBoatingBuoys]

Cheers Bucky were gonna need it!

[@kevinmartin3859]

Good luck with finding another yard for a berth don't know where you are living or where your boat is now but maldon in Essex there are a few boat yards I have just subscribed to see how you get on good luck 😊

[@pappybigbearUtqiagkia5840]

Little love get it strong

[@TheBoatingBuoys]

Cheers mate

[@CCooke-nm2be]

Best of luck 😄👍

[@geo7471]

It’s not a yacht it’s a moter boat

[@TheBoatingBuoys]

It’s our motor boat yacht 😂

[@VikingSS72]

good luck

[@TheBoatingBuoys]

Thanks Viking

[@starman9921]

I have subscribed and will be watching you with interest best of luck. Sort of a thing. I would love to do but have zero chance of doing it.

[@Baldybosunfishing]

If your looking to keep her I would look into inboard to outboard conversion mate. She’s a big lump good luck!

[@jamesedwards7241]

Buy an outboard around 40hp. bolt on a mount and jury rig a wire Stroop steering link, and glass over all the through hulls and your set to move it to another location where you can get it out of the water and sort out any issues with the hull. and have time to sort out your engines and props.

[@gonesilent2814]

Getting the registration/new parking going again in two weeks seems the harder part.

[@TheBoatingBuoys]

Most definitely, we are back down there tomorrow so hopefully wet can get the engines running

[@nziering]

That is not a YACHT!! That is a stink pot. Have fun.

[@TheBoatingBuoys]

Well its our big stink pot!

[@stuzx7r]

what yard is this ?

[@TheBoatingBuoys]

@@stuzx7r Essex marina mate

[@stuzx7r]

@@TheBoatingBuoys sent you a message on your email

[@tka1528]

That's not a yacht, its a heap of trash. Your 1200 pounds is going to turn into 12,000 plus pounds quickly

[@neilwharton720]

And the rest bet you can’t get spares for those out drive units that’s where the fun starts,and with no knowledge it’ll be 24k very quickly 🙉🙉🙈 would make a good shed at the bottom of the garden.

[@Richardgwilliams]

First thing bin the Enfield Outdrives Or Totally strip them down and rebuild them thoroughly As yer man who know’s the boats said Even modern Outdrives WILL go wrong! I think the 4108’s will give you about 12 kts Parts are available for those engines still It’s a full planing hull and really would work best with more power Again as our Expert on the model said some were fitted with bigger HP Perkins You mentioned ‘sea fishing’ At sea you really need ‘bigger’ engines Well, depending whereabouts ‘at sea’ you are thinking of In short Mates The Outdrives are the bad bit They will make a big dent in your budget The rest you could sort bit by bit Don’t worry to much about the hull and structure, antifoul and cosmetics yet Yep, the engines themselves will work ok with some fettling It’s the ‘marinising bits, heat exchangers,oil coolers, alternators, fuel pumps, water pumps ( fresh and raw) wiring etc that will need a lot of close attention after standing and lack of use Good luck!

[@rolandnewbold5339]

Go for it man you only live once man yours ratty10