It seems like some people with old boats strive to restore them to "as built" condition while others fix them up to be better than new, replacing things like old winches with newer self-tailing models for example.
Then there are some like Tim who are transforming a boat into something totally different (his daysailor project).
In my case, I would like to make a ?classic plastic? boat as seaworthy as possible for offshore use. I have not yet selected a particular boat, and would be interested in hearing comments as to what one might do if ascetics take a backseat to safety and function.
Restoration vs "improvement"
-
JonnyBoats
- Candidate for Boat-Obsession Medal
- Posts: 372
- Joined: Fri Feb 04, 2005 4:54 pm
- Location: Wiscasset, ME
- Contact:
-
Tim
- Shipwright Extraordinaire
- Posts: 5708
- Joined: Tue Apr 01, 2003 6:39 pm
- Boat Name: Glissando
- Boat Type: Pearson Triton
- Location: Whitefield, ME
- Contact:
The word "restoration" in an of itself is generally inappropriate for what most of us are doing. I often use the word because I can't think of a better alternative (rebuilding, perhaps), but I know that I have not techincally "restored" any boat. Restoration implies a return to the original. However, lacking a better term that is as equally descriptive, I, and others, will surely continue to use the word "restoration" to broadly apply to the repair and improvement of any boat.
Here are my general feelings on this. Obviously, individual tastes and budget concerns play a large part in what anyone might do.
Most older boats are not, and never will be, museum pieces; they are meant to be sailed and used, and are best equipped with that in mind. While there may be budgetary reasons for sticking with 1960s vintage deck hardware, there are certainly no "originality" or functionality reasons to do so. If we were talking about classic wooden Herreshoffs or some such, there might be a legitimate reason to stick to the original materials and building methods. But that's a whole different issue, and one of much debate, I know, among wooden boat buffs.
If personal taste causes one to prefer the look of the old equipment, then that is a sound reason to keep and reuse it. I prefer more modern equipment, as it works much better; the builders would have used it at the time if it had been available. This is not to endorse throwing tradition out the window--far from it--but there is a happy medium. New deck hardware does not destroy the classic looks of one of these older plastic boats.
The construction techniques displayed by many of our beloved plastic classics left quite a bit to be desired, and generally can be improved upon thanks to the benefit of 30 or 40 years of improvement in the field. Again: there is no reason to emulate the construction practices used originally, as we now know better. For a museum piece, this would be different...but we're not building museum pieces. There's no reason to immediately eschew traditional construction techniques either, however, lacking any sound reason. It's more about improving the execution of the technique.
My feeling is that there is no reason to hang on to some original piece of hardware (on the sorts of boats we're talking about here) purely for the aesthetic quality of it. First and foremost should be efficiency of sailing performance. If that means that a new winch or ratchet block is better, then so be it. I personally would not choose form over function in this area, at least not in a plastic boat. As much as we love our old boats, and as much as any of them might be "classic", they are still of a modern material and construction in the overall scheme of things, and there is little purely historic value.
The most important thing, I believe, is transforming any boat in a way that makes you, the owner, the happiest. If that means keeping the older gear because it looks nice to you, then that is the correct thing to do for you. Cosmetics are a personal choice, but in no case should safe operation ever take a back seat to how the boat looks. I believe in full cosmetic "restorations" (for lack of a better term) simply because I like a boat to look a certain way, and am happy to do whatever it takes to get it there. But I wouldn't choose pretty paint over having the boat be safe and sound, either. Fortunately, I don't have to choose; I can do both.
In the end, what matters is that you transform any boat into what makes you, the owner, happy. Unless we're talking about a truly historic boat of some sort (which we're not), replacing older with newer will not hurt the value...and leaving original in place will not help. It's all about doing what you like, and what makes the boat work for you.
Here are my general feelings on this. Obviously, individual tastes and budget concerns play a large part in what anyone might do.
Most older boats are not, and never will be, museum pieces; they are meant to be sailed and used, and are best equipped with that in mind. While there may be budgetary reasons for sticking with 1960s vintage deck hardware, there are certainly no "originality" or functionality reasons to do so. If we were talking about classic wooden Herreshoffs or some such, there might be a legitimate reason to stick to the original materials and building methods. But that's a whole different issue, and one of much debate, I know, among wooden boat buffs.
If personal taste causes one to prefer the look of the old equipment, then that is a sound reason to keep and reuse it. I prefer more modern equipment, as it works much better; the builders would have used it at the time if it had been available. This is not to endorse throwing tradition out the window--far from it--but there is a happy medium. New deck hardware does not destroy the classic looks of one of these older plastic boats.
The construction techniques displayed by many of our beloved plastic classics left quite a bit to be desired, and generally can be improved upon thanks to the benefit of 30 or 40 years of improvement in the field. Again: there is no reason to emulate the construction practices used originally, as we now know better. For a museum piece, this would be different...but we're not building museum pieces. There's no reason to immediately eschew traditional construction techniques either, however, lacking any sound reason. It's more about improving the execution of the technique.
My feeling is that there is no reason to hang on to some original piece of hardware (on the sorts of boats we're talking about here) purely for the aesthetic quality of it. First and foremost should be efficiency of sailing performance. If that means that a new winch or ratchet block is better, then so be it. I personally would not choose form over function in this area, at least not in a plastic boat. As much as we love our old boats, and as much as any of them might be "classic", they are still of a modern material and construction in the overall scheme of things, and there is little purely historic value.
The most important thing, I believe, is transforming any boat in a way that makes you, the owner, the happiest. If that means keeping the older gear because it looks nice to you, then that is the correct thing to do for you. Cosmetics are a personal choice, but in no case should safe operation ever take a back seat to how the boat looks. I believe in full cosmetic "restorations" (for lack of a better term) simply because I like a boat to look a certain way, and am happy to do whatever it takes to get it there. But I wouldn't choose pretty paint over having the boat be safe and sound, either. Fortunately, I don't have to choose; I can do both.
In the end, what matters is that you transform any boat into what makes you, the owner, happy. Unless we're talking about a truly historic boat of some sort (which we're not), replacing older with newer will not hurt the value...and leaving original in place will not help. It's all about doing what you like, and what makes the boat work for you.
---------------------------------------------------
Forum Founder--No Longer Participating
Forum Founder--No Longer Participating
-
The Good Goose
- Skilled Systems Installer
- Posts: 169
- Joined: Sat Apr 12, 2003 6:21 pm
I once read a line in a sailing book whose title I unfortunately cannot remember. It went like this. " What are the best winches to go cruising with? The ones on the boat you own right now."
The authors premise was that most boaters spend countless hours and dollars getting their boats ready for cruises they never take. Make your boat safe and then if ascethics aren't important to you go cruising. My boat is safe it looks ok and I sail the heck out of it. If it is a question of a 1500 dollar autopilot or a two week cruise I am on the two week cruise. The question to ask yourself is not how can I get this or that new gadget for my boat but how can I get this boat sailing safely as cheaply and quickly as possible so I will have more time and money for my cruise.
Old winches New winches it doesn't really matter as long as they can get the job done. New sails are great but old ones will get you where your going too.
Working on boats is ok but it pales in comparrison to sailing. Remember that your end goal is to sail. If you can make a beautiful boat in the process so much the better. Get finished and get on the water was my Mantra during my tritons restoration.
Brock
The authors premise was that most boaters spend countless hours and dollars getting their boats ready for cruises they never take. Make your boat safe and then if ascethics aren't important to you go cruising. My boat is safe it looks ok and I sail the heck out of it. If it is a question of a 1500 dollar autopilot or a two week cruise I am on the two week cruise. The question to ask yourself is not how can I get this or that new gadget for my boat but how can I get this boat sailing safely as cheaply and quickly as possible so I will have more time and money for my cruise.
Old winches New winches it doesn't really matter as long as they can get the job done. New sails are great but old ones will get you where your going too.
Working on boats is ok but it pales in comparrison to sailing. Remember that your end goal is to sail. If you can make a beautiful boat in the process so much the better. Get finished and get on the water was my Mantra during my tritons restoration.
Brock