Galway Hooker.... beginner..??

Gerry.L

Right lads heres the story. Ive being wanting to get into sailing since I was yeigh height. But never really pursued it too much... everytime I went to do it, something else would pop-up... ya know yourself :rolleyes:

So I got a call this morning from the missus and one of her mates from work her husband is selling his galway hooker. So I went had a look at her and shes in great condition (from what I can tell) and the moneys right.

As you have probably guessed by now I wouldnt even have the first clue about a bannana boat never mind a galway hooker.

But the thing is this is my chance to get one, and at a good price. Would it be worth getting it, storing it somewhere until I could get a few sailing courses..????

Realistically, how long would it take until I could expect to be out and about in it....???

Or should I just pass up altogether

fergal.b

They are a big and heavy boat to start with and with all wooden boats they take a bit more work than fiberglass to keep right, I love old boats and like to see people keeping them alive. I would say learn in a smaller boat and when you are ready you will love the hooker.:)

DOTHEDOG

don't count on the weather anyways,you could be waitin till next year

Gerry.L

fergal.b wrote: »

I would say learn in a smaller boat and when you are ready you will love the hooker.:)

Well pretty much thats the plan..... but I dont want to have it sitting up for a year or 2 if thats how long it would take for me to be ready.

I know I wont be an expert after a year but if I was able to take the boat out and do something with it..... anything at all.... even just sail out a mile or so and then turn round and come straight back again. Nothing fancy.

Also, Id be putting an engine into it, just for my own piece of mind really.

fergal.b

As long as you have a back up motor and there is no danger to you and other boaters play away, you could always get someone with sailing experience to go out with you and show you the ropes that would be a great way to get to know your boat.:)

Gerry.L

I didnt want to say this just yet incase it influenced any replies, but my uncle has a hooker aswell.

I could call on him for some help..... let me say that again.... I could call on him for SOME help... so if I have any issues I could get help... but he wouldnt take me out to show me the ropes.. and if he did it would only be a once off sorta thing. Definitely not enough to learn everything I need. Also he's pretty handy at repairs..

So with all that in mind.... would I be foolish to buy this boat?

fergal.b

Everyone who's buy's a boat is foolish

You have a lot going for you, having someone that knows the boat and if you love the look and feel of wooden boats and the price is right go for it, the hookers hold their value so you don't have a lot to lose.

Gerry.L

Ok.. I hope your right. I'll call him tomorrow and see has he still got it, if he has I'll take it..... thanks for the advice Fergal

Tabnabs

BEWARE! The rule of thumb for wooden boats is two days maintenance for every one days sailing. A mate of mine sold a beautiful Irish built Folk Boat two years ago as his family was getting too big for the boat, it's now for sale again as the new owner just couldn't keep up with the maintenance.

Then there are the costs involved in owning a boat, here's a graphic to illustrate



If you're uncle owns a boat and you want to learn to sail, don't buy anything until you've spent a summer sailing with him and anyone else who will take you out on their boats. Dip your toe in the water instead of jumping in and finding it's too cold to enjoy.

ronanmac

Dyflin wrote: »

BEWARE! The rule of thumb for wooden boats is two days maintenance for every one days sailing. A mate of mine sold a beautiful Irish built Folk Boat two years ago as his family was getting too big for the boat, it's now for sale again as the new owner just couldn't keep up with the maintenance.

I think that rule of thumb might apply to more delicate "high maintenance" wooden boats rather than Galway hookers. In my experience, they are more robust and with less "pretty" parts, there is less of the constant maintenance. By and large, after the sanding, painting etc at the beginning of the season, there is little maintenance work with a Galway hooker through summer, unless you are really pedantic about scratches on your weather board!

murphym7

ronanmac wrote: »

I think that rule of thumb might apply to more delicate "high maintenance" wooden boats rather than Galway hookers. In my experience, they are more robust and with less "pretty" parts, there is less of the constant maintenance. By and large, after the sanding, painting etc at the beginning of the season, there is little maintenance work with a Galway hooker through summer, unless you are really pedantic about scratches on your weather board!

Its the sanding and painting and varnishing that is the problem - you say it likes its a piece of cake. My yoke is GRP and I resent antifwoling her every year - let alone taking on the work required on a Galway hooker.

The ratio of 2 days work to every day on the water for wooden boats is spot on. If you think honestly how often you can actually get on the water each summer it makes sense.

torrestorres

damn read the thread title and was expecting something else