RESTORATION
Small Craft Advisor|July - August 2020
The true cost of bringing and old boat back to life
Robbie Stone
RESTORATION

I admit I have a thing for restoring boats. Before I was 18 years old I purchased a 1970’s Funcrafttri-hull with a rotting floor and completely restored her. Many years and restorations later I find myself pondering the logic of it all: Does restoring an old boat make sense? Perhaps a more important question is does the cost of it all make sense? I have asked myself these questions many times over the years, choosing to simply ignore it rather than confront it. My wife, who is generally very supportive of my endeavors recently asked if restoring old boats “is smart financial planning?” I wanted to say that “absolutely nothing about a boat is smart financial planning,” but I kept my big mouth shut and decided to write this article instead.

My most recent completed project is a 1975 Hurley Silhouette 17. She has a bilge keel and she sat in a field for nearly three years waiting for me to pay attention to her. When I found her on eBay, it was love at first sight. I was drawn by her unique lines, twin keels and the $150 price—the kind of expense that would require no financial-planning conversations with my wife. I eagerly drove the 300 miles to retrieve her in Baltimore and brought her home to Ohio. Once home I realized just how small she was. (I am actually a large-boat guy, and 17 feet is easily the smallest sailboat I have ever fallen for.) Despite my intentions of starting right away life got busy, other bigger boats wound up getting restored ahead of her. The R2AK bug had bitten me around the same time I purchased the boat. The R2AK, or Race to Alaska, is a 750-mile adventure race. The race is unsupported from Port Townsend, Washington, to Ketchikan, Alaska.

This story is from the July - August 2020 edition of Small Craft Advisor.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the July - August 2020 edition of Small Craft Advisor.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM SMALL CRAFT ADVISORView All
A HEAD FOR RUBATO
Small Craft Advisor

A HEAD FOR RUBATO

I dislike port-a-potties. I'm not too fond of poop in any form, really, being non-scatological by nature.

time-read
5 mins  |
September - October 2022
THE ARTFUL SAILOR
Small Craft Advisor

THE ARTFUL SAILOR

Ain' nothin' new about using sails as nautical billboards. The ancients painted all sorts of signs and symbols on their sails.

time-read
3 mins  |
September - October 2022
Twin Keels
Small Craft Advisor

Twin Keels

OUT WIHUEIRIJE with Howard Rice

time-read
4 mins  |
September - October 2022
Cedar Key 2022 Windy Boat Meet
Small Craft Advisor

Cedar Key 2022 Windy Boat Meet

Cartop Cruising

time-read
3 mins  |
September - October 2022
A New Trailer
Small Craft Advisor

A New Trailer

THE BIGHTS

time-read
9 mins  |
September - October 2022
PLAN STUDY: Fancy Free
Small Craft Advisor

PLAN STUDY: Fancy Free

If you're looking for a simple and inexpensive cruising sailboat with traditional character, our FANCY FREE should fill the bill. The sharpie-dory hull with flat-bottom, hard-chine form is ideal for the amateur.

time-read
3 mins  |
September - October 2022
BOAT REVIEW: Rhodes 22 Revisited)
Small Craft Advisor

BOAT REVIEW: Rhodes 22 Revisited)

Overlooked by the masses, admired by owners—there are good reasons the Rhodes 22 has been in production for over a quarter century.

time-read
10+ mins  |
September - October 2022
Another Favorite Mod
Small Craft Advisor

Another Favorite Mod

The always creative Tom Luque sent us details on one of his favorite modifications

time-read
1 min  |
September - October 2022
BLOODY TUESDAY
Small Craft Advisor

BLOODY TUESDAY

“Although the author if indeed he even used his real name) calls this story fiction, we arent so sure. You be the judge. Eds

time-read
5 mins  |
September - October 2022
CRUISING ISLE ROYALE
Small Craft Advisor

CRUISING ISLE ROYALE

I sle“ Royale on Lake Superior is one of my favorite places to cruise. Established as a National Park in 1931, Isle Royale is located about 20 miles off the North Shore of Lake Superior near the Minnesota/Canadian border.

time-read
10+ mins  |
September - October 2022