Advice re: Selling/giving 1956 fiberglass 18'

[jhlandau]

My dad Jim's fishing boat has been stored for about 30 years in a dry boat shed (built just for it at the back of his house). The family needs to sell or give the boat away - the house is being sold. We have no idea of its seaworthiness, value, or appeal. None of us are boat owners or fisherman. :redface:

From my mom's file I can only tell you:

model year 1956
Bellingham Shipbuilding Co.
Fiberglass
50 outboard
troll lines
stored in Novato, California (San Francisco)
family memory is that it has not been in the water since the late 1960's

No current pictures YET. The trailer wheels are frozen and we cannot get it out into the light to photograph. Attached are shots from 30+ years ago.

Can this boat still be used? How can we tell?
A friend in boat sales -- but not of this kind -- questions whether it can.

Sure it would be great to get some $$$ for my mom from it, but our main desire is to find it a good home, someone who wants to repair/restore it and use it. "Can Do" took my dad far beyond the Golden Gate and brought back plenty of fish in its day.

Any advice would be gratefully welcome.
Jennifer

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Advice re: Selling/giving 1956 fiberglass 18'

that boat may be more seaworthy, than a 3 year old boat. it is definately worth looking in. hook something to it and grag it out of the shed. get some now pictures, can put it on Craigslist. the motor is probably small for it now, but was the great then.

 

[jhlandau]

Re: Advice re: Selling/giving 1956 fiberglass 18'

WOW thanks for the quick reply, much less the thought that it might be seaworthy. It'll be two weeks before my nephew and truck can help pull it out, so we can get a look at it and new pictures.

So do I try to find someone in the area who can give an opinion on it, or simply list it on Craigs and let whoever is interested figure it out?

Is it ok in this forum to ask about pricing? Where do I even start to know where to set a price. I'm told a lot of folks won't bother if they see a listing with "best offer."

Jen

 

[Willyclay]

Re: Advice re: Selling/giving 1956 fiberglass 18'

You may have a "hidden gem". The Bell Boy boats (Bellingham Shipbuilding) that I remember had round chines and a totally different look than your Dad's boat. His has lines very much like the Uniflite brand that was spun-off from Bell Boy in 1957 and later became famous as river patrol boats (PBR's aka swift boats) for the U.S. Navy in Vietnam between 1965-1972. They were strong, well-made boats and a surviving example of one is on public display at the Patriots Point Naval Museum in Charleston, SC.

The experts on this forum, which I am NOT, can help you with any issue. Good luck with whatever you decide to do with your Dad's great, old boat!

Here's a link to Patriots Point so you can see what I am referring to:

http://www.patriotspoint.org/exhibits/vietnam_base/

 

[SpeedJunkie]

Re: Advice re: Selling/giving 1956 fiberglass 18'

I have limited expertise on boats, but my suggestion is to not to give it away if you want it to go to a good home who may put some money in time into making the boat nice again. Put a price on it even if it is a low one. If they are willing to pay to get the boat they are more likely to put some effort into it.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Advice re: Selling/giving 1956 fiberglass 18'

get some good pics and post them. we have plenty of opinions. most of them are good!!!!!

 

[Willyclay]

Re: Advice re: Selling/giving 1956 fiberglass 18'

Here's a link with lots of info:

http://www.fiberglassics.com/bellboy.htm

Good luck!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Advice re: Selling/giving 1956 fiberglass 18'

that's a saver. nice info.

 

[jhlandau]

Re: Advice re: Selling/giving 1956 fiberglass 18'

Great history. Bell Boy rings a bell, so to speak.

When I was looking for info yesterday -- when I found this site -- I also bumped into THIS article on Skajits. The photo sure looks like my dad's boat.

What do you think?

And yes, I'll get current pictures.

Jen

 

[jhlandau]

Re: Advice re: Selling/giving 1956 fiberglass 18'

Got to the boatshed, cleared stuff away.... here are pictures, dust and all.

We have yet to really get the inside cleaned out -- so these pictures are the ugly truth. :redface:

http://homepage.mac.com/ruedoak/My%20Dad%20Jim's%20Boat%20%22Can%20Do%22%20/index.html

We are still unable to get the boat out into the open. Trailer wheels are not only frozen but it seems right before my dad died, he started to work on them -- one side is pulled apart.

What pictures should I take that would make it easier for one of you to advise me? Again, I am trying to determine how seaworthy, possible interest someone might have in buying/adopting "Can Do" and if selling is possible, an asking price. Any suggestions of next steps are MOST welcome. The property where the boat is currently located closes escrow in about a week. Somehow I need to find a new owner or get the boat trailered to my mom's house!

My sister and I should be able to get "Can Do" cleared out, cleaned up at least for better interior pix by Sunday 10/5.

Jennifer

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Advice re: Selling/giving 1956 fiberglass 18'

the boat will make a great project boat, and well worth salvaging. wish it was on the east coast.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Advice re: Selling/giving 1956 fiberglass 18'

Well, I've seen and worked on a lot worse than your Dad's boat. If you can't get the wheels freed up, put it up on a couple of floor jacks and use human power to slowly push it out of the shed. You need some room to fix the wheels, if that's do-able or on your list. Get that done and then clean it up a little, good basic wash. Might check out the fiberglassics site: www.fiberglassics.com
They have a forum, too, where you might get some advice on pricing/selling. Good luck. Wish it were here in Tejas.

 

[DrCox]

Re: Advice re: Selling/giving 1956 fiberglass 18'

That is a really beautiful boat. Great lines. Its too bad you cannot keep it for yourself. With it fully in tact with motor and trailer even not running someone is bound to give you a few hundred bucks for it if you must sell it. "Free" boats usually are hulls with no trailers, or hulls with crappy trailers. I speak from experience hehe.

Good Luck~!

-DrCox

 

[jhlandau]

Re: Advice re: Selling/giving 1956 fiberglass 18'

The fiberclassics site is great. Found this restoration of a 16' Bell Boy .

Couple more questions...

- how difficult is it to get a boat off one trailer onto another? My husband says it needs a crane. Looks like here people say you can block it up

- are there people/services I can call for trailer repair or to get it trailered? Or is this something we really have to do ourselves?

So it is sounding like doing a Craig's listing (to focus it locally), asking a couple of hundred is the way to go.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Advice re: Selling/giving 1956 fiberglass 18'

Getting Boat Off Trailer

you don't need stands.

1/you can lower the tongue to the ground. i would get some 6x6 or old railroad crossties cut the +- 12 inches, now block up the transom. 2/

Raise the tongue of the trailer the back of trailer will drop away from trailer. this is the tricky part. between the cross braces of the trailer block the keel lower trailer, boat will be suspended on the blocks.

3/ pull forward, lift bow again, and reblock i a different place. repeat until trailer is out from under the boat.

4/ to reload, just reverse the procedure.

if you were just working on the bunks, or painting the bottom. you could just do the first 2 steps.


or you could, get a flat bed wrecker to pull it up on the bed, and deliver it. they did that for me, when i had a wheel come off on the interstate.

 

[DrCox]

Re: Advice re: Selling/giving 1956 fiberglass 18'

Take a look at my restoraton link, it shows the supports I used to get my trailer out from under the hull. I did it alone, with the jack from my yukon and 3 home made Supports.

It is really easy just BE CAREFUL and dont rush.

If you need any pointers I would be happy to walk you through it, PM me for more info.

Good Luck!

-DrCox

 

[jhlandau]

Re: Advice re: Selling/giving 1956 fiberglass 18'

An update on this boat of my dad's.

Still are unable to get it out of the boatshed. The trailer is the problem, as two who have seen it and hoped to get it rolling think it unsafe.

These are the most recent pictures.

We've had two great guys come by, to both look at the boat and trailer. The suggestion here to go to Fiberclassics lead to someone locally who has restored a Bell Boy just like this. He had the kindness to come by to advise us. Would have happily taken the boat, to work on himself or pass on to someone else, but for the trailer. No hubs to mount the wheels he brought.

Then we found a local trailer mechanic. Has taken trailer / hub measurements, and is also trying to tap the local network my dad was involved in, to see if he can find additional help, resources...or who knows, maybe even the part my dad took off and squirreled away somewhere.

One view is that the boat would take $4-6,000 to get restored / up to speed. Another view agrees, but only if taking the boat to a pleasure / sportsman's use. Keeping it geared as a working fishing boat may take less - a new motor, removing the toilet, and more minor repairs to loose window, etc. Any of you have an opinion on this, seeing these photos?

Three people looking at it agree that while the boat seems solid and seaworthy and has lots of value in it once repaired/restored, that we should expect to give it rather than sell it. As one man said, plenty of "turn key" boats of this category to buy at $4500, that most would not want to pay even a couple hundred and then invest in a restoration. And that is fine.

Our trailer mechanic resource seems pretty committed to finding some way to get it out of the boat shed and on to another trailer - possibly even a flat bed -- and on to a new home.

Still not resolved.... but I have learned a lot and greatly appreciate the advice and enthusiasm found here and with the guys who have come by to look at boat & trailer. Seems Can Do is waiting for the right person, who for fishing or history or the passion of restoration, wants to take her on. We have just a few days before the property sale closes -- looks like we need to negotiate for a week or two more. Keep your fingers crossed!

Jennifer

 

[turborich]

Re: Advice re: Selling/giving 1956 fiberglass 18'

I would say your boat is worth a few bucks to the right person. I would not give it away. It would be horrible to see it parted out. Somebody should really restore it & enjoy it!

If you in my city I would help you to get the bearings fixed so that it could be moved. You are too far away though, sorry.

I would list it on craigslist & ask a higher price then you will actually will take, let them talk you down.

 

[cdnfthree2]

Re: Advice re: Selling/giving 1956 fiberglass 18'

Definate cash boat. I have seen worse with higher price tags than a couple hundred on Craigslist. It will have value to whomever takes it off. You should be compensated. It's a classic, start high and go down if ness. Someone may pay happily whatever you ask.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Advice re: Selling/giving 1956 fiberglass 18'

First of all my sympathy & condolences on the passing of your father Jim.
I think the name of this boat not only fits his boat but his children as well.

If I wasn't relocated from Cali out here to Florida I would love to drive up to the bay and buy this classic boat.

To get it out of the barn, maybe try a block under the lame well on top of some type of sled and drag Can Do out?
Also, you may want to contact/find companies that rent classic cars and boats to the movie studios? Either way there is value in that boat, and I wish you all the best in your endavors.