Yacht Restorations

Wanna Buy a Boat?

It is possible that many reading this post are “between boats”. Finding the right boat is often a time consuming process involving many fruitless inspections. I encourage buyers to be realistic in determining the purpose of their new purchase. Will the boat be used as a year-round live-aboard? Should it be capable of long range cruising? How much room is actually required? Will the boat be tied up at the dock 80% of the time and then hauled out during...

In Consideration of Trim, Finish Work, and Inexpensive Paint

Once the project has been designed, the pattern made, the wood cut and faired, the pieces fit and glued, what was once a vision is now a reality. The fact is, once started – the hard part is over. A progression of processes has taken place – a momentum has begun – and the next thing you know you are admiring your work! It may be possible at this juncture to finish the piece with paint or varnish before installing....

Wood Butchers Are In Recovery

Carpentry projects often seem to be a recovery process. Unfortunately, things often spin out of control once a mistake is made. I don’t care who you are, we all make mistakes. More than once I have said to myself: “I didn’t make the people and put them on the world”. With this in mind, never let fear enter the thought process. It is ok to make mistakes. The longer this art of boatbuilding is practiced the more adept we become....

Organization is a Process

Efficient work routines evolve from previous mistakes. This time of year, when demand is the heaviest, the work is spread out among boatyards in many different locations, sometimes in different states. Professionals in the boat business are often compulsive people and yes, obsessively so. Don’t get me started about misplacing a hammer, an instruction sheet, or a top to a container. It can ruin an otherwise productive week! That said, it can be very challenging to multi-task on different projects....

Welcome to the latest edition of the Classic Yacht Restorations’ website. We hope you like the obvious improvements and the new features such as this blog page. In the coming months, I intend to publish features on this blog page for all boatowners to enjoy. Check back every so often to see what’s new! As the weather grows warmer, the pace quickens around the boatyards, reaching a near frantic crescendo in the month of May. This is the season, short...