70 Ditmar. Newer wood any good?

Glue a paint brush to one hand and a screw driver to the other, and you should be fine. Having a friend in the lumber business also helps when the time comes to replank.

As for what you'll deal with (besides painting): worms, refastening, replacing screws that rust, seams that spread, wood that rots.......Wood boats are an expensive labor of love.

Have seen this boat as well as the DD "Prowler 76" for sale at $99K, not quite sure why they are priced so low but DD has built many vessels that have stood the test of time, including the "Mojo", which is famous for the picture of her coming out of Moro Bay in 20'+ seas, taking a breaker on the bow and heading back into port with some deckhouse damage but no hull damage.

I would think there may be some merit in glassing the hull to reduce some concerns and upkeep. There are a few yards in the NW that would have no problem with that work.

She may be close to the last DD built for a repeat customer, at least in the same family, they of Fleetwood RV fame. A lot of boat with pedigree for the money, some specialized features that may appeal to the original owners more so than potential buyers, but great long range fisherman.....

Tell us what you really think Mate!

The Ditmar & Donaldson name is well known in CA. They built most of the Charter Fishing Fleet in SoCal, the typical Party/Head Boats that seem to run year round in all conditions. Great craftsmanship, overbuilt frames, almost invisible plank seems. Had the pleasure of working on a project with Mr. Don Donaldson, the partner/naval architect of DD and he was really a true gentleman, soft spoken, but had a keen sense of design and fair lines. Probably the nicest unassuming person I have ever met in this Industry, passed away at age 88 in 2010.

Captain of boat design - Daily Pilot

Heard stories about Richard Ditmar, who never was one to shy away from a drink, and worked magic with large scale plank on frame construction. They also be fine wooden Church pews as well.The story goes that another legend, a young and talented Bruce King, learned his craft at DD before moving on to the local sailboat designs he did for manufacturers in Costa Mesa (Ericson, etc.) during the SoCal FRP construction heyday and used to get "fired" daily by an imbibed and cantankerous Ditmar, but would continue to show up the next day and went about his business as if nothing ever transpired between the two. His legendary status already assured through his firm Bruce King Designs (Hinckley, Hogdon/Scheherazade fame). By the way, I also heard that Bruce was a highly talented classical musician with plenty of scholarship offers (USC, I think), forgoing that talent to stay in the yacht world, and we have much to be thankful to have witnessed his craft.

The DD built Prowler 76 has many miles under her fair hull, including a recent Pacific crossing back to Seattle from Hawaii, not bad for a 35 year old wooden yacht. The tight planking on overbuilt frames, and the real fairness of the hull lines would easily lend itself to an FRP skin, to lessen some maintenance costs. You typically never see major issues with the fasteners on these boats as they just built them so well and stout, and they had an eye to quality. I think the current Mojo was glassed over during a refit (caught fire while being fumigated at a yard in San Diego years ago and rebuilt in a more modern look) and she is still running strong as a USCG Certified Passenger Vessel in CA.

Some pictures of the famous event at Morro Bay, probably seen by most before, which occurred in 1978 on a charter with none other than actors George C. Scott and Trish Van Devere on their way to play at the Crosby (Pebble Beach):