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Looked at and may be buying a 1971 roamer 58

Discussion in 'Chris Craft Roamer Yacht' started by Lsummar, Oct 27, 2019.

  1. Lsummar

    Lsummar New Member

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    Great forum! Selling my carver 3207 and I looked at a 1971 58' roamer today. It's rough outside and needs work all around. Boat sat for 9 years and current owner started working on it when he bought it last year. Motors are cats and were winterized and do run. Hull needs to be painted, topside needs to be painted, teak decks need to be refinished, there's a leak in the front room and bathroom. It's a huge project but it's in the water and floats lol. I am very mechanically inclined and can do everything myself. What should I look for? Am I getting in over my head? It has no bow thruster. How difficult is this thing to handle? It's usually just me and my girlfriend. I noticed no 2 of these things were the same? I see different cabin layouts, some have different port windows etc. This one has the enclosed bridge and a top flybridge as well. Any info you guys can give me is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

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    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 27, 2019
  2. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    You should look for a better boat. Because the things you mentioned it needs, are going to cost what a pristine boat would cost.
  3. MBevins

    MBevins Senior Member

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    Unfortunately Capt J is correct.
    Just a quality repaint will be minimum $80K. And please don't say you're doing it yourself,
  4. Lsummar

    Lsummar New Member

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    I absolutely would do it myself. Why would I have someone else do it.
  5. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Because you may die old and broke and never finish.
    48-50 year old Cat engines may not be supported any more. 48 year old alloy hull could have problems like tin can thin.
    A proper bottom audio survey will be required.
    48 year old wire and abuse during the last 47 1/2 years may need replacing. That copper will cost more than the scrap price of the hull now.

    There is a reason she is in this shape, It is sad but reality needs to come to mind quickly.

    Said another way, someone would have to pay a smart person $100k to take her away, after scrapping, that smart person may break even.
  6. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    I do have a hint what I'm talking about.

    16 Years ago I purchased our 1978, 58' Bertram MY.
    Paid $99k for her.
    I'm still not finished and yet to paint her.
    Today she is not worth what I paid, I have over $150k into her now.

    Oh, I used to manage early 70s era Strikers and a Roamer house boat.
    Also worked on many others.
    I know how thin an alloy plated bottom can get.

    I am old & a lil cripple now.
    Just retired (again).

    Captain Ralph Crapps
    Marine Solutions & Assoc. Inc
    Jax FL
  7. Lsummar

    Lsummar New Member

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    Of course I completely understand. That's why I'm here asking. I appreciate the advice. I know most I could do. Just wondering if it's worth the effort.
  8. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Most I can do also. I could of been fishing or using a ready to go boat instead of waiting an extra year just rebuilding my engines.
    Another year putting in A/C and a gen-set.
    I have learned the hard way, should of mortgaged my but off and raided my retirement money then. I could of been on the water years ahead of schedule, more often and my back would be in much better shape now.
    I'd still be just as broke today.
  9. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Sorry, NO!!
  10. Lsummar

    Lsummar New Member

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    Thanks! I know your right. Just needed a slap in the face lol.
  11. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    <-- Our ole Bert.

    I feel like a heel dumping on you. Didn't mean to slap to hard.
    There are a few of world class yacht brokers here on YF.
    One is in your hood. When your ready to shop, let us know.
  12. Lsummar

    Lsummar New Member

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    Hey I knew this would be a huge undertaking. Just wanted some opinions from you guys. My 32 is the biggest I have owned so far. I do want a bigger boat. Preferably one that needs some work to save some money. But this may be too much. Thank you.
  13. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Buy something you can enjoy. There are 19 people out of 20 that buy projects like this, put a year or two of hard work and tons of money into it, boat still isn't finished, they've gotten no enjoyment from it, and give up and all is lost. But something, somewhere in between in size that is ready to go and go out on the water and have fun. Something like this is buying a job that never ends, and only costs lots of money, with no enjoyment in return.
  14. cleanslate

    cleanslate Senior Member

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    Run from that! If you want a big good old boat, look around at all the 53' Hatteras MYs on the market, you can name your price with a few I'm sure. Lots on the market in fair shape and supported mostly with Detroit Diesels where you can get parts and find people to work on them. Solid fiberglass hulls, glass fuel tanks etc. That boat will still give you PLENTY to work on, BUT you can work on it and use it at the same time as long as you pick one project at a time, start it and finish it before moving onto another...such as me. I've used / run my Old Ocean'' Not '' Yacht since I got it 5 years ago, but I always had some sort of project going on and still do to this day. But generally I can still use the boat
  15. alloyed2sea

    alloyed2sea Moderator

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    Good (very) advice.
    Seriously, no one appreciates Roamers as much as I, but recommend you DO NOT walk into a restoration imbroglio.
    All work and no play, gives a captain (and wife, did I mention the admiral) serious heartburn.
    Buy a fully restored example and save '00s of $ and time (life short).
    Cheers!
    Eric
  16. artwork

    artwork Member

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    OK, so you've gotten all the negatives. I agree with most but not all. You didn't say much about yourself. Mechanically inclined doesn't always match the project at hand, though it will help. Is that experience in boat construction/ maintenance? If you are not familiar with boat construction, don't be surprised if you have to do the same job over again. Next how old are you now and How long are you willing to commit? Capt J had the right idea but the wrong ratio. Its more like 98 out of 100 will never finish a project of that magnitude. I've been boating (cruisers) since the mid 70's, owned a marina in the 80's and have seen these projects languish in the 'bone yards' of many marinas. A wise 'project guy' advised me "Make out a budget. Be sure to include everything you want to add or change. Be generous, things are never as cheap as you think. Total that column. NOW DOUBLE THAT ! !" Wait, we are not done. Now put together a calendar. Are you working on it year around? Just on weekends? Do you have to drive to the project. Add all that time up. NOW TRIPLE THAT !! " He did finish his project and cruised the Caribbean. I saw his boat listed a couple years ago. So he cruised for about 12-14 years.
    So you think you'll be done in a couple/ three years. Are you prepared to commit 9 years?
    I know from wence I speak. Our 58 aluminum Roamer took ten, yes count 'em, 10 years from strip down to launch. We have been living aboard since 2015. It took just under twice my calendar projection and just under twice my original budget. And that was in our back yard! $9 boat units to truck it in and $6.5 boat units to truck it out. That was part of the planning budget. But we are part of the 2%, and happily cruising the waterways from the Great lakes to the Bahamas.
    So if you think you can beat the odds, go for it. These boats have good bones. If it was in fresh water, the 'thin tin' concern is less of a worry. We only replaced the after-most two feet of bottom and the 'V' struts. That's where the props ate away some aluminum (galvanic action). The bottom is 3/8 inch plate, it's not a sheet-metal boat. But the decks are plywood under that teak veneer. If you have deck leaks, anticipate major surgery. This is where being mechanically inclined meets boat building nightmare if you want to do it right. Not just a patch.

    So there was another pile of negatives. But . . . if you are young enough, clever enough, and can buy this boat for a song (say less than $10k), then prepared to spend a truckload of $. Heck, go for it. God loves fools and dreamers.

    then 2004 040730 at NJ dock - Copy.jpg now 20191018_171136.jpg It can be done.
    When you look in your Funk and Wagnels under 'crazy', My picture is right there.
  17. captholli

    captholli Senior Member

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    Its not April First is it??
  18. cleanslate

    cleanslate Senior Member

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    Holy Crow!!! That was like an Atomic explosion response to the OP! It's all laid out for you now !
    Wow boat looks great what a job! And lucky you, you get to use it the way you want. Great job on all of it and your travels.
  19. Lsummar

    Lsummar New Member

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    Lol it's OK. And I appreciate the responses. Just some info about me I'm 42, I run a structural steel company that makes sign structures for the state of NY , I also spent many years designing and building hydraulic power units for nasa, the govt, military, theater industry, and many other large companies. I am a certified welder as well as an aws certified welding inspector, I can program and run cnc machines as well as manual, I can design in cad and solid works, I have done many large electrical panel layouts and builds, wired buildings, some houses etc. However my real passion is not only boating but drag racing I own and build high end drag cars, some with well over 3000 horsepower lol. I build chromoly tube chassis cars from the ground up. I build the engines, wire them, machine my own parts, and have even painted some as my uncle owns a large body shop. That being said I'm no stranger to anything that that boat would need. Just was a matter of whether or not it was going to be worth the effort and money. FYI I was going to buy it for ten grand. So I honestly figured I could get it painted by next summer if I kicked ass on it then chip away on the rest of it while using it. I know it would take many years of work. Hell I completely redid my carver 3207 over the past 9 years and I still fix stuff every time I'm out on it lol. It never ends. I just wanted to at least let you guys know I'm not some knucklehead dreamer that had unrealistic expectations. And I am quite capable. But your right. 1, it's too much boat for me size wise, 2, it's too far gone I think. At least for me, 3, I think I would be better off with something 40 to 48. I really do appreciate the feedback from all of you. That's why I asked!
  20. Lsummar

    Lsummar New Member

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