Could I Handle A Boat Project Like This? Colin Archer 46 | Wilding Sailing

[@skaraborgcraft]

Only commenting for algos. Do not underestimate ripping out the interior of a steel boat so you can treat the rust properly. Those Dutch built Colin Archer copies were overbuilt anyway, but unless you blast the entire thing and epoxy coal tar it, you will be in for continous peice meal grinding/chipping and painting. If that rigging is over 20 years, it all needs replacing, even if it looks shiney. Stainless is shite. Also, if there is a leak around an anode, you might have galvanic corrosion issues also.

[@nikmoore4392]

Hi Mark, Im EX Navy and an Ex fisherman. To take on the rust in the bilges below the engine , you have to consider the possibility of taking the engine out. Big job, I've done it lol

[@ianbell5611]

Ex Australian navy here. I was an MTH. Engine room and hull maintenance. Cheers

[@Tampo-tiger]

@@ianbell5611 We don't know what any of these military acronyms mean. I've tried fitting a few in MTH but they are all unrepeatable, like My Todger Hurts etc.

[@carbidegrd1]

Ex Astronaut here...

[@larslange5482]

@@Tampo-tiger Marine Technical Hull, from another Ex- Aussie Navy MTP.

[@Tampo-tiger]

@@larslange5482 Bless your heart mate, I'm very obliged to you.

[@peterjohnstaples]

Mark, you have to take the rust back to bare clean steel then heavy zinc paint and top coats, otherwise the rust will return within months.

[@shieldaigbencher]

Why, don't you, just become the first and last man to drive around the world in a SAAB 9-5 estate? That would be cool.

[@skaraborgcraft]

Best comment so far.....

[@Charliesaysz]

Genius, seal it, stick a mast on it, problem solved.

[@cornishhh]

Whilst searching for a bigger car that needed lots of work.

[@paul44797]

😂😂😂

[@jadams3427]

Hmmm... I think Saab has a better reputation than it merits. They are not in business any more, and for a good reason. It does not mean Mark's car is not going to be a reliable means of getting around.

[@markdemedeiros3239]

With you all the way for whatever comes down the line.....This vessel in her day was bloody gorgeous.....unfortunately her day has well passed...

[@coffee6783]

It's been sadly neglected - needs a lot of TLC and mega£s.

[@ferrumlynx1914]

Not at all- this is not a bad boat.

[@johnfoster3286]

The bigger it is the more it COSTS for insurance, haul outs, antifoul paint, deck paint, lengths of rope, rigging replacements etc etc, and the harder it is to manage in a real blow when single handed. I was in your situation many years back and decided 35ft was max for me. Ive now got a 30ft cat which is looking a lot better than it was when I purchased it.

[@directorstu]

I agree. My 35 foot westerly is about as much as I would want to handle getting out of a marina on a windy day. I can handle it alone though. Its just about big enough for the wife and 3 kids, dispute what they say. My previous boat was 28 foot. Much much cheaper to run . Think insurance. Maintenance costs. mooring fees. Anti fouling . but 28 foot is significantly less room and less sea worthy. Id be aiming for 32 to 35 foot mono

[@stevennieman9837]

Walk away!

[@davidstiglitz4341]

Much more work than I thought you wanted or needed....

[@wyattfamily8997]

Exactly.

[@davidstiglitz4341]

@@wyattfamily8997 I have to confess, this scatter-gun approach is so frustrating....

[@nicktaylor867]

I would be ruled by my heart not my head love the boat. As a non sailor but owner of a narrowboat built in 1991 I was nearly put off buying it because of the rust you describe, 7 years on it is no worse. Any boat though the golden rule and best money you can spend is on a brilliant trusted surveyor. Good luck with your search.

[@briancuthbert4508]

Mark your not that far away from me in Denmark. Your always welcome 😉

[@robertsigsworth8229]

you have seen sailing Melody and the work done on that when it only looked cosmetic. I owned a steel Bruce Roberts 35. Usual story brand new and laid up due to marital problems, it was in Moody's boat yard, and I travelled down from Whitby 5 days a week for a month. It had only been in the water for one season everything rig, engine, sails electrics hardly used but a small amount of fresh water had got in and all the furniture in the port side saloon had to be removed to weld a 1m by 2/3M piece of steel into the hull. luckily the interior had been built by Moody's and they were very quick and efficient. all the other time involved was grinding sanding and painting. 8hours a day 5 days a week I think you are looking at about 3years work, starting with removing most of the interior, even if no plating in involved which I'd doubt it will all need grinding and epoxy taring. All that time and the cost and it would still be an old boat worth no more than 35K

[@cornishhh]

Friends of mine got a very cheap boat where the previous owner had tried to weld the hull without removing the interior and had set it on fire.

[@paulcrane2010]

Get a mast on the SAAB mark. It’s not let you down yet and it’s just had the engine serviced!!

[@tubelab194]

On the hull shape, I've owned a modern Colin Archer type double ender (36' wooden Hillyard) and the modern lighter types are lovely sea boats, slow as molasses, with all that wetted surface, but comfortable in a seaway.

[@jadams3427]

Hillyards ar some of the cosiest boats ever built !

[@davidwolstenholme4676]

Evening mark im off to bed in a minute its 845pm so ill watch you tomorrow had a busy morning im tired should have gone to bed earlier take care and stay safe,

[@giovanni_a67]

I am the last person who could comment about the boat, but I must admit that you have a serious tool for making coffee on the go. Now I want one :-)

[@steveschmidt5489]

Go with the archer 46. They are rare ,reliable , rugged and get it back home take your time getting it to where you want it because half the fun of the journey is getting there and we want to come along for the ride. Cheers mate.

[@marandam6019]

I'm enjoying coming along on your journey to find a new home. This is a beautiful boat!!

[@wyattfamily8997]

WAS a beautiful boat.

[@howardcornwell9841]

You need the hull ultrasonically tested! It's an absolute beauty, but it's between 5 and 10000 too much IMO 👍🙂👍 I don't know why I keep writing comments before I've watched the whole thing 🤦4.2mm not tearable!🤷

[@gardenwaster]

Didn't see any cup holders onboard so its a no, really enjoying this boat hunting

[@johnstuebner9143]

I like this one, is a big project but you should be able to get it home. Yes a lot of work but most of it is cosmetic. Good luck as always. I volunteer to come over and help for. Month

[@TheMikesylv]

Steel is endlessly repairable a good welder a couple angle grinders cutting torches, a little education and there’s nothing you can’t fix or modify. The inside looks great I don’t know about hidden problems, and mechanicals but I like it

[@alextaylor887]

A nice boat but only you will know when you see the right one. Wishing you all the best with your search. Keep up the great videos.

[@fortuner123]

You could scrape the rust off. Dry it. Cover with strong anti rust and the chuck a gallon of oil down the to prevent further rusting. Any further problems then plate it over from the outside. That'll last a long time.

[@christyhanlon554]

Yes, yes, yes put in a low offer and see what happens?? Go for it Beautiful boat👍

[@wyattfamily8997]

No no no no.

[@Sailingon]

The things on the rigging are insulators so you can use the rigging as an antenna for HF radio. For me I'd rip all the teak off the deck, remove as much of the fittings off the deck and get into it with a ton of flappy disks on the grinder and just paint without replacing the teak. Bit of a big boat for single handing

[@chrisrigby3694]

Buy it. It’s nice that one. Don’t be phased by the metal work or the decks.

[@kbenham7683]

You are asking the right questions. Sailing Emerald Steel is an inspiring build story and good information on long-term steel maintenance and the importance of being able to remove interior panels and flooring for periodic inspection and rust treatment (11 sandblasting & 143 still seaworthy - Sailing Emerald Steel ).

[@thomaskrull4766]

I think it is important to think also about the complexity of sailing the boats your looking at. One main ,two mains. The ease of sailing. Is just important as condition. Good luck in the search. We will be watching.

[@datapolo]

Sadly developing a solid set of sailing skills seems to be low on the priority list.

[@pfox9094]

Four years ago I was on the same odyssey around Europe as you. I found a boat I liked just outside Rome. Chatting with a local yard about the extent of work (I'm not a good welder) the yard owner said 'You need to balance how much time you're working on the boat against how much time you'll sail'. Best advice I was given. The Colin Archer is within your capabilites but how long do you want to be working on it? BTW ended up with different yacht with less work.

[@saylaveenadmearedead]

Such a different flavor of boat... rugged but elegant with lots of room for ladies.

[@drewd1726]

My first boat! Agreed. Been watching him since the first. Do what you do friend. You’ll know when you know. 🙏

[@epcode5121]

Loving it or hating it...🧐 Brilliant for your subs, how much fun to see you fix her up. Get that engine out and the rust repairs while the engine gets overhauled by Dad 😎🛠️ GO FOR IT...

[@henrikolesen64]

Colin Archers are amazing boats :P

[@MaryFandStevieG]

Looove the layout,,,,but maybe too much of a project, both financially & physically x Missing You x 🌻 🌈 Love Momma🌈🌻

[@peterb9038]

You'd need a crew to take that around the world. It's big and heavy and would laugh at any kind of big seas , Skip Novak would approve. You'd have to give up on the idea of a solo circumnavigations with that one.

[@jamiewashere]

It's an interesting boat for sure, the size is nice, just so much work and if you consider the work you know you need to do, you have to factor in the work you don't know about that you'll need to do. Once you start on the work you will inevitably find more things that need to be done. I would pass on this, you'll find something better. Also, i really like Michel's channel, been watching his videos since the beginning, such a great guy, and his videos are great!

[@iainmacsporran437]

There's a lot of work there mate not just the rust and a lot of extra money 🤷‍♂️ brought back some memories for me was where I crossed river elbe did a lot of trucking there lol good luck with your search 👍

[@Morrisfactor]

Mark, you are crazy if you buy that 46' CA. It is a "gonner". due to rust. Remember, steel boats rust from the inside out, so the inside corners are probably worse than the rusty, scaling, outside.

[@automarine2771]

Mark it's Mark in Chichester yes you could get the price down to 26k. But that is way to big and heavy for single handed sailing and on a last note it needs a year of work to get it ready

[@alanduncan9204]

Sam Holmes never procrastinates like this. Sam looks, he finds, he cleans, he sails. Also manages to do it without parting with major expense. I think you are looking for too big a vessel - go smaller, newer, with less work needed, closer to home and the price will suit your budget better.

[@BELLE_MYMAIL1]

we are watching Mark...not Sam;)

[@jeffreylee9799]

Please don’t try to be like Sam. Take your time and enjoy the boat shopping journey.

[@alanduncan9204]

@@BELLE_MYMAIL1 Shit I never noticed except the bit about sailing.

[@BELLE_MYMAIL1]

@@jeffreylee9799 I agree:)

[@BELLE_MYMAIL1]

@Lookup2Wakeup I guess Alan's husband..not 2 sure;)

[@jenniferdavis8088]

The inside of the boat looks great! The outside needs alot of work , the rust in the bilge will need alot of attention!

[@grahamwoodage3515]

This is basically one of the most interesting channels on you tube. Nice one Mark. Keep up the good work

[@rosesrambler]

RUN! RUN FAST! RUN FAST AS HELL!!!

[@PaulGriffith]

You know how Sailing Melody handled their rust so you should get a good idea of how to handle a steel boat. If the engine is near end-of-life, then you need to consider the cost of a rebuild or new engine.

[@johnhogg9756]

At the right price I’d say that’s a cracking machine for some blue water adventures. You also talk about taking parents with you for small adventures and tbh I can’t see them enjoying the accommodation on one of those cats you have been looking at - capable yes- but accommodation lacking for inclement weather so could become quite uncomfortable. Something like this one would be safe and also be flexible for bringing people along. Doesn’t need to be this one but reckon something along these lines would be a winner.

[@zedalis]

The Archer is way too much work. Best of luck with the others.

[@buckfastmcsteamin4590]

Just buy something and sail it. If you really want a project, get one that you can sell easy at the end of the season after fixing it up and buy bigger if size is what you're looking for. The season will have started and finished by the time you pick

[@kend1053]

If you like steel boats, you gotta love damp. On a positive note the style is wonderful and interior quite attractive. I'm sure it would be a fine ocean crossing vessel although very slow. It would be a nice boat to live aboard tied up somewhere. It needs a tremendous amount of work. Buy a good grinder and a sandblaster...Keep looking.

[@macdaddy507]

I like her.Very safe ,with projects for your crew to keep them busy🇨🇦🏴‍☠️🇨🇦🇨🇦🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️🎤

[@ajnasreddin]

As you said - it's a heavy girl and needs more than a bit of wind to get underway. You'll probably need something a bit more agile to sail around the world. On the positive side - steel boats are great for sailing over pirates.

[@sixtiesman100]

Thought you wanted a Wharram Tiki....that Colin Archer is to much of a project, I much prefer sailing to restoration

[@tubelab194]

Having owned a large steel schooner, i can conform everything that your friend said is correct. In all likelihood all you need to do is clean up the areas that are rusty, ventilate the space and leave the bare clean exposed inside plate alone - amazingly steel left exposed like this is perfectly fine, if it stays dry and free of salt water egress.

[@hughparsons5702]

Looks like a good boat. Work on deck is just superficial painting. The bilges look not too bad with rust mainly on the plating over the keel ballast. The one area you need to check is the bilge below the heads/shower area that often gets wet, that is where my steel boat rusted through. I would say this one has been well maintained and is worth an offer.

[@paulkorte7843]

Big boat, big problems; the cat boat in wales is still my favourite.

[@caractacus22]

Mine too! Why did he walk past it?

[@Tampo-tiger]

@@caractacus22 Because Sailing Melody bought it as a third option.

[@daveamies5031]

Mark, everyone one has an opinion, often those opinions will conflict, one might say run away where someone else sees great value, if you always listen to the people saying run away you still will be land locked in 2030. What i'm trying to say is take the comments with a grain of salt, listen to the people saying run away and also listen to the one's cheering for the boat (there'll probably be some of each on every boat), filter out the emotional bias parts of the arguments each way and listen to the factual stuff. At the end of the day you're physically on the boat and they are just looking at a video and it's your hard earned, so you're the only one that gets to have an emotional bias in the decision 👍🏼 Wishing you all the best on the hunt and hope you find the boat that's best for you 🤞🏻

[@andrewfromcanada5174]

Big heavily built boat with lots of room down below..Lots of potential but a huge project for sure. Good luck on your ongoing search :)

[@garypiggott5859]

very much enjoying your search for a new home. best of luck.

[@montaguemonro565]

Hell yeah friday wildling!

[@helptheoceans]

I sail since 1978 and ex Vagabond 47ft ketch owner and spend 34yrs at sea as real Seaman and for me RUST is just good happy working day and time will be never lost. Steel sailboat what i actually looking as well up to 60ft is good investement "if" you plan to keep it long term and steel boat is good for explorers as what i am.

[@directorstu]

I can see why you like this one. Great design. Lots of space. Seems expensive for what it is. Lot of time and money to make it right. You are on the road. My suggestion is there is likely to be a better deal ahead of you. Just hopped online..... 32k for a ready to go Conway. And I bet most sellers are keen to get shot before next seasons bills come in.

[@johnnyquest9358]

It would make a great project for the right crew ⚓

[@sailingelectricgitana1286]

Magic word, "crew". He seems to be flying solo and doing a lot of single-handed sailing. The sailing is not the hard part if you have a strong autopilot. Coming in to a dock is the hard part. Unless he intends to live constantly at anchor it's a problem.

[@jameskiehm546]

One of the coolest cabins I’ve seen. I like the boat. My concerns, a diesel with 5k hours is end of life and will need a rebuild at a minimum immediately if not replaced😊. How would you pull it out? Cut out the cabin top? Then the rust, it’s a disease that spreads relentlessly. Last, wiring, plumbing and through hulls. It appeared access is really limited. Honestly, you need to do what Andy and Melissa did on Melody to go offshore, complete rebuild. It makes the Costa Rica boat look attractive. There is value there but the cost to get a blue water safe boat will be high. It would be an insult to the owner but really no more than 15k€.

[@SailingYachtZora]

Thats a big project

[@alfwilhelmengelkamp5334]

Hi Mark, I restored a 30 ft steel boat near Dortmund for 4 years between 2018 and 2022. The time it took me was 8 month. A month at a time. I sold it to Hamburg. The boatyard, AMC Castrop Rauxel, let me work on the boat and sleep in my Camper. It cost €1000 for30ft per year. They have a 20 ton crane. I made some helpful friends there. I live in wales but come from Germany. My nephew lives 10 min away. The masts will have to come down for the journey down.

[@Phil-dj6co]

You take your time Mark you’ll know when it’s right and with your dad what ever problems you come up against you’ll figure it out :))

[@ribblegiggle]

The owner has spent a lot of money on this one. And of course steel can be replaced in sections. Think Trigger's broom. Lovely boat but maybe take a butchers at plenty more. Buyer's market in your favour. Looking to dip my toe into what will be my first buy so you're a great help Mark. Fingers crossed for you and thanks for the inspiration. Simon

[@buzzinsmaug664]

Hey Mark ...it's the first one you have looks at ...and I thought downstairs was amazing ..personally I would check out the next boats to view and then come to a decision ...GREAT THAT YOU MIGHT BE POSTING SNIPETS ONTO THE CHANNEL AS YOU CARRY ON YOUR SEARCH ...WE ALL HAVE OUR NOTIFICATION BELLS ON 👍👍👍.. Take care Andrew ...The Wirral !!!

[@britannia-foundry]

First of all I am very comfortable working with steel so nothing I saw would have put me off, I love the layout, my main concern is how easy it would be to single hand sail????????

[@olafk2297]

Think you need 2-3 people to Sail it

[@Sp3ktral22]

Yes I agree. Too much to handle alone safely in the winds needed to sail. inshore coastal or offshore.

[@LittleBoatAdventures]

Finally someone talking sense

[@djmjr77]

I agree.. steel is very forgiving.. can't talk about the "single handedness" cause never sailed.. but couldn't that be solved by better rigging?

[@charlescann531]

@@djmjr77 it can lessen the work load but I’m not sure it would be enough to single hand it the bigger the boat the harder it is to go single.

[@darrylscott4237]

I really like this boat. I think you have to pull the motor and strip and paint the bilge. You could also cut out the rust on the deck and weld in new pieces. Such a nice boat you can do this with the help of a welder. Good luck.

[@Gardureth]

My opinion: this boat would be perfect if you were 4 or 5 people buying her together, because this is not just a big project, its a continues project, you cannot keep up with the basic maintenance on your own AND enjoy sailing and life. The size and weight will also make hauling her out, and storing her on shore very expensive, in addition harbor-cost will become very high too. I mean, would you sail her solo? raising/lowering and possibly reefing these sails, in heavy weather, with lots of traffic around you and light rain?

[@jeremy87turbo87]

I only disagree because you never buy things with 4 or 5 people or those 4 or 5 people will end up never being your friend again something will happen to split your friendship apart buy things on your own and share them with others maybe even charged to have them with you for their portion but never say it is our boat it is mine and you are welcome to be here on it.... Same things go with business do not open up business with family it will go down horribly

[@alexandermenzies9954]

As much as I like Colin Archer boats this one, unsurprisingly, has ongoing costs proportional to its size. If you had a permanent home port, welding skills and equipment, preparedness to annually sacrifice a substantial proportion of time and money working on renewal, then that would be your future. I think your preferred future is sailing.

[@frankboff8185]

Interesting, if I am buying anything, I look, I do a rough estimate of cost to repair or refurbish the project double that cost then look at the sellers price then deduct the double cost and then start negotiating from there.

[@martinhoflich6150]

Rust is no problem if there is access . That's not the case on the Colin Archer. It's a shame they did not protect the steel properly after she was build. l had two steel boats and three fiberglass boats and believe me plastic handling was much easier . And when the job was done it was done. Rust is endless coming back. sorry for that But she is a beauty

[@zapcat4194]

You would need to budget for sandblasting and a good paint system..... The alternative would be to spend ALL your time chasing rust. Oh yes... I'd recommend a complete survey. Sorry to sound so negative, but I've owned several steel yachts. The Colin Archer is a great sea boat.... This one seems to be full of charm

[@JO-xg9dx]

25k to buy and 15k to spend in 1st 6 months . It’s a nice boat but it’s too big a project . Keep looking - you will find something that suits more . It’s about which boat u feel is for you - not about the boat itself - when u see it - u know etc

[@dj1497]

Thanks

[@katrinebohr3119]

the bigger the boat, the bigger the project. The more people invited to help with the boat, the shorter the project, and the faster you get to sail away and enjoy the seas. Plenty people are ready, willing and able to help and work with you to get a good boat shipshape. Just ask😃⚓

[@MrCrabbing]

So a four cylinder Ford Dorset engine nice and robust good starter and easy to work on, PRM gearbox nice heavy duty unit, yes the corrosion in the bilge need sorting out and looks like access will be tricky also really the teak deck needs to come off and any corrosion on the deck needs sorting out PPG Sigma cover 280 two pack primer for steel I think is what I use and its good. Perhaps you could ask if its had a sonic hull test most insurance companies will want this periodically and a boat that size would want eight or ten anodes. Oprofessional

[@davidwilliams6733]

Run, run, run!

[@belakaroly8852]

I couldn't wait for your video to end, because I wanted to write my thoughts here: - you can find hundreds of such sailing ships - apparently they are looking for boyfriends to buy them because they are "so good" - I listened with a smile to the owner's lecture on the rust on the phone, as he tries to explain that the "dead horse is sleeping" - this decrepit subject is not waiting for you to take him around the world, but for you to take him to a junkyard - and the price is exactly what you would get for the weight of a scrap metal receiver - the thickness of the plate should first of all be carefully checked with an ultrasonic thickness gauge. If serious weakening is found here, those areas must be re-plated by qualified welding specialists. And that's a lot of work and a lot of money. - this boat is neither beautiful nor comfortable. Although the engine started really easily, it is still nearing the end of its life. This is my personal opinion, but you probably know better. Don't get lost...

[@lancedaniels]

Thanks for posting and sharing. Nice big project.

[@ClaesNycander]

NIce video! I have a 40 feet Spray, steel, from 2000. Anyways.. go for it.. it will be sold tomorrow. You should clearly check the hull inside more, under tanks, kitchen, shower areas.. But all can be fixed.. You will not find anything as cool as that one for that price. Cheers!

[@richardcooper4206]

I had a trip round Greek Islands looking fir a boat with my mate. He wanted steel blue water traditional design. We saw several but on a sunny day the inside of this type is like being in an oven.

[@mordokch]

Inside it seems bigger, like 10 feet bigger than it really is. I know it looks a bit shabby on the outside, but really most of that is cosmetic and shouldn't be a big deal to sort out. Replace a few hatches and she should be waterproof ish. But ... that will be a very heavy boat ! It will take a lot more fuel to motor than minky did. I would normally balk at anything looking like this one does, but I have a good feeling that this boat could be a dream for the right person, and I think it suits you sir ⛵ Offer 20 grand and settle around 25, which would be about right imho. This would be a massive step up for you man !

[@zerofox7347]

If you can get it for a price you are happy with I doubt you would go to far wrong with this boat. As long as you become a decent welder an a contented painter 😉 there is nothing to let you down on this boat that wouldn’t on another and as you said the rigging and sails are good. The engine appears to be good. It would look fantastic with a fresh coat of paint!

[@richb313]

I trust when you find "the" boat you are looking for things will work out.

[@frankcoggan3880]

Mark if they haven’t kept up with the rust you can see, i would be really concerned about the the rust in the bilges etc. Mark as i have mentioned before, make sure you do your thinking with your head and not your heart. And remember rust never sleeps. Happy hunting.

[@matthewbaynham6286]

Go for it, it looks beautiful.

[@colinnapier6662]

Lovely big boat with an unusual layout, need to be happy to take on a lot of work.

[@ericdelevinquiere9902]

You realize that these small metal boats are super heavy and slow, and require more hp to move, thus more money. A couple of kt/hr can make a difference when you are trying to get out of harm’s way!

[@haydo8373]

Great point, diesel isn't getting any cheaper. It seems like it would be too expensive to run in 10 years time

[@TheBeaker59]

I can see the benefits for this boat and no really scary projects I guess it depends on your skill set I am not a fan of steel boats to work on (Dirty noisy etc etc) but definitely would prefer one if around coral and reef structure. the beauty of steel is you can cut bits out and replace at will. I wouldn't run away but be sure the end result is what I want.

[@TheBeaker59]

I should add that I don't see allot of work on this boat before you cross oceans just allot of work to restore to pristine there's a huge difference, hence the final result comment, it looks like you could quite literally wait for high tide and motor sail her back to the UK.

[@maarten_notjustagrip]

You will need to pull the engine and have it overhauled while its out. The systems look like a complete crows nest, which would mean redoing things so that YOU know how it works. Cant be calling the previous owner from the middle of the Atlantic whenever something goes wrong.

[@ianfegan3265]

It's a beautiful old boat and I think you are more than up to the task. It looks like the priority is the hatches and sealing of the cabin areas. Has the engine had a rebuild? Quite a lot of hours on it...

[@tubelab194]

The most important tool for surveying a steel boat in the water is a wee awl and a small ball peen hammer. With the owners permission poke (carefully) feeling how solid the steel plate is, tap your hammer lightly on structural components to see that all is solid. You poke very carefully because if the hull is in bad shape you can go right through. As soon as you discover a soft spot, chalk it and DO NOT continue to poke - show the owner and back away!

[@djmjr77]

I really like this one... metal is way more forgiving than fiberglass or wood.. and once you learn how to weld, there is nothing you can't fix..

[@JohnDoe-bq6wr]

It is very similar to "Sailing Flying Coney". They bought a ship, and now they have to fix the complete hull because it is rusty as $hit.

[@Artiz...]

You could imagine a school or youth organisation or a large group of friends/family buying this safe, old North Sea 'chugger'! You'd definitely need all of them plus their friends to be involved in keeping on top of the maintenance required in restoring, owning and sailing this heavy old lump of 'Northern' steel... with central heating no less! Moving swiftly on geezer.... P.S. Nice cheap thin, modern little roll up camping matress from Aldi etc., would be very handy for your back sleeping in your Saab 'stealth' camper Mark! Moving stealthily onwards...

[@domalash]

Many of the parts do look really good and it might be worth the price because of that but the work needed devalues the good items imo. I might offer 20k.. maybe to up to 22k or 24k absolute max. But only if you really need that much space. It does seem big and that will add so much costs. But if you're making money by getting passengers to chip in that might cover those costs and more. So it really depends how much you want a lot of company. I'd rather be solo or just with one other person and you don't need that much room for that. Too much risk of conflict with many people. But if you're serious about having people join you then this might be a great option for the right price.

[@psystealth]

great boat,

[@Adrian-sail]

Hi Mark best boat so far, but a lot of work if you intend taking her around the word. Great live aboard for someone that is happy just to park it up. And again slow in light wind you will spend a fortune on fuel, and I don’t think you will be happy unless you can do 7/8 knots in light wind with some surfing to keep the speed up. All the best

[@SailingWithDave]

That archer was beautiful. What a magnificent boat, one heck of a project though, everything is just going to be big on that boat. Could probably sail it through a hurricane safely though.

[@robertcarkeek8391]

It's not fast, but a wonderful boat. It needs a complete marine survey, and a price adjustment reflected by the results of the survey.