Fairey – What a shame

[Chris FellowsParticipant @chrisfellows72943]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fairey-Swordsman-33-PROJECT/153172346547?hash=item23a9c886b3:g:w9kAAOSwOuBbk~t9

Sadly I can't see anyone seeing this as a viable project.

Looks as though the hull has been shot with a 12 bore which he makes no mention of.

Chris

Edited By Chris Fellows on 12/09/2018 21:13:17

[Chris FellowsParticipant @chrisfellows72943]

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

A money pit!

Colin

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

It's almost a criminal act to let her get in that state of neglect, for such a classic

The engines may be shot now

Regards Ray

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

I've seen "classic cars" rescued from old barns in much worse condition and sold for a lot more than this, even before restoration. A fully restored Swordsman 33 will set you back over £75K; throw about half of that at this one and do-it-yourself and you've saved a lot of money. This is, of course, strictly for the fortunate few who can afford their dreams. The rest of us have to make do with models! **LINK**

Dave M

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

I would buy it in a heartbeat,

Yes Colin is correct in describing it as a money pit but what price can you put on grace and beauty.

Just need the correct numbers this weekend!

Paul

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

Paul

My friend Scott – he who owns a real Huntsman 31- says that the S33 has some unpleasant handling characteristics, attributable mainly to its large beam. I recall that my first wife had similar traits.
If I had the dosh to buy a S33 then I'd buy a H31 instead, and fit an extra beer fridge with the change.
Still dreaming.

Dave M

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Dave

For shame…. a Huntsman with unpleasant handling characteristics ……wash your mouth out with soap.

Paul

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

The problem with all full size boats is that they need a lot of ongoing expensive maintenance. And if you let that slip they deteriorate at an exponential rate.

This is why so many preservation projects are unsuccessful.

Colin

[Boiler BriParticipant @boilerbri]

 

I agree Colin. One time I miss putting the full cover over the boat when in boat yard for one week, it cost a lot to repair after the boat fill with water in a storm 😪 😤 One reason we stopped having sports boats.

I have to agree though, whoever's it was had enough disposable cash not to bother and just let it go. Looking around the marinas in north Wales. There is always a boat that never moves, who owns it? Are the mooring fees paid? Deck ful of bird cra/.

Dave I had a look at your link, very nice but I still prefer my cottage in criccieth, I can go there every weekend and chill out, much better than sitting in a marina when it's cold and wet. Wandering around Porthmadog looking down on the poor dark side yachties, huddled around there stinky stoves trying to keep warm, naw been there got the t shirt and moved on. Not as much maintenance cost either  😀

Bri

Edited By Brian Dickinson 1 on 13/09/2018 20:01:29

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

Brian
Funnily enough Scott tells me that the Swordsman is known as the Floating Country Cottage, mainly because of its size but also because it has comparable sea-keeping qualities. As Colin says [from personal experience], it's the cost of maintenance that puts many off buying a boat – even one that's already seaworthy. Like owning a Rolls-Royce, if you have to ask about the running costs then you can't afford one.
Liz and I also often wonder about those unloved boats in marinas. I guess that when the novelty of ownership wears off or the running costs mount then it's tempting to cut your losses, walk away and leave the problem of disposal to someone else.

Paul
Read that again, Doc. It's the Swordsman which misbehaves, not the Huntsman.

DM

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Colin has it to rights. The costs do not stop after a bit of sanding and painting.

Still, wonder how much better it would look after just a good clean up??

Ashley

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

Ashley

Still rotten and still full of holes – but cleaner!

Dave

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

How much repair work and replacement of rotten pieces is acceptable to the purists before the boat looses its intrinsic historic value?

Is it more cost effective to build a new 'copy' rather than try and save a wreck?

Paul

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

Paul

I remember a company which briefly marketed updated versions of the classic Fairey boats. In practical terms these were much preferable to the originals, having GRP hulls and modern engines and electrics. They didn't sell at all well and the business folded, whereas old Fairey boats are still being bought and renovated. I guess that one man's wreck is another bloke's challenge [see also "Brexit"].
I've no real idea what the answer is to your question about cost-effective, but this seems to have a bearing on it.

If only…..

Dave M

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Restoring a classic is always a worthy cause but you need to appreciate that the deterioration you see on the surface is perhaps only 10% of the total picture.

Colin

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi All,

Half the battle is having your own storage/work space, otherwise time = ££££ I bought a Jaguar 21 sailing cruiser which had been holed & sunk in the 87 gale bought the wreck from the insurance company 6 months later it was back in the water courtesy of West epoxy If I were 20 years younger I'd buy the Fairey & sort it but alas it's models for me now !

Regards Ray

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

I used to have a Jaguar 21 myself. It sailed very well but was a bad bargain as there were a lot of hidden things wrong with it that needed sorting out. Sailed over to the Isle of Wight on one occasion and discovered that the aft section was full of water due to delamination of the supporting structure inn the outboard well – all good fun.

I had a Jaguar 25 before that whch was in much better condition but with a roller reefing mainsail it didn't really have enough propulsion in average wind conditions so we spent a lot of time motoring. It was otherwise a very nice boat though.

Colin

[Chris FellowsParticipant @chrisfellows72943]

Posted by Brian Dickinson 1 on 13/09/2018 19:55:27:

I agree Colin. One time I miss putting the full cover over the boat when in boat yard for one week, it cost a lot to repair after the boat fill with water in a storm 😪 😤 One reason we stopped having sports boats.

I have to agree though, whoever's it was had enough disposable cash not to bother and just let it go. Looking around the marinas in north Wales. There is always a boat that never moves, who owns it? Are the mooring fees paid? Deck ful of bird cra/.

Dave I had a look at your link, very nice but I still prefer my cottage in criccieth, I can go there every weekend and chill out, much better than sitting in a marina when it's cold and wet. Wandering around Porthmadog looking down on the poor dark side yachties, huddled around there stinky stoves trying to keep warm, naw been there got the t shirt and moved on. Not as much maintenance cost either 😀

Bri

Edited By Brian Dickinson 1 on 13/09/2018 20:01:29

I agree, I'd never have a boat instead of a property. I was lucky enough when younger that the family had a cottage on the Avon with a mooring and a cabin cruiser, so the best of both worlds.

Unfortunately we sold it a few years ago when my Dad died.

If I won the lottery I'd get a similar set up again. A Huntress would be nice, not too big.

A boat in a marina with only access to the sea has little appeal.

We do have two narrow boats in the family but not my cup of tea.

Chris

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

Scott Pett bought his 4-berth Huntsman 31, renamed "Mirak", in 2004. He has been restoring it ever since and there's still no firm date for completion. I have a shared album of 435 renovation photos up to Dec 2015. It bears out everything Colin says about hidden problems. You have to be rich, obsessed, mad or all of them to undertake such a project. I'm promised a ride in her if I survive that long!

DM

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