Wow! It's a dream of mine to have a wooden boat such as the one you lived on. People always tell me how impractical and hard to keep up a wooden boat is and try to pop my balloon. I think the romance of one might just be worth the trouble.
LOL I can surely empathize with that sentiment. I think I was either 11 or 12 when I first was bitten. I was 58 when I finally was able to get the chance.
>>People always tell me how impractical and hard to keep up a wooden boat is and try to pop my balloon.<<
Having been where you are I would never want to even appear to “pop your balloon” but I would want to prepare you for the dedication it takes. Unless you are very wealthy and can have all work contracted out you pretty much dedicate your life to that boat. Every square inch of that boat needs attention and there are a lot of square inches on a 50’ boat. Believe me when I say it’s a full time job and then some. I’m an accomplished wood worker having owned a company that built custom furniture so was able to do the work myself. I was already retired at that time and spent every day all day with some aspect of maintenance and totally enjoyed the time. We had her within a months worth of work ready to present at the spring boat show. She was gorgeous with her glistening mahogany and pearly white. Then the heartbreaking event that ended it all. Hurricane Ike put her one the bottom along with most of the other boats in the marina. She was a total loss. I will never regret putting all that work into that boat and look back with fondness the time we spent putting her in show condition. The satisfaction of hearing the oohs and aahs of the former nay sayers was sweet. The shock on their faces when they heard of the value the insurance company put on her was especially sweet. All in all it was something I would do again in a heart beat but would caution anyone contemplating owning a wooden boat to first evaluate and study the skills, time and dedication it takes to maintain a craft like that.