Well I did it again! Crack-Boat #3
Went out to Winston Salem (119 miles out) to pick up a Bayliner Buccaneer with trailer for $275
Trip out was non-eventful however when we arrived on site the problems began.
First off the man I was corresponding with via email WAS NOT the owner of the boat. Turns out he posted it for a friend, whom was an older gentleman. This friend who posted it, "Lee", doesn't know anything about sailboats so he went online and found "specs" for the buccaneer and copied and pasted. Again it was listed as a 20.8 ft boat.
I also asked lee via email if the tires on the trailer were good enough for the 100 mile trip home, at least one more tow before they blow up. He responds with "one side might need some air, is a little low" but will be fine. Turns out he simply asked Steve, who stated on site last time he was here at the boat was a year or two ago....Duh!
So we show up and the 20.8 foot boat has magically grown 9 more feet. I knew the boat was for salvage in advance, but was not prepared for what I saw. The "low tires" were buried in a hole, the trailer was sitting on the frame on that side, and both tires on that side were loose off the rim (the bead).
So my friend who went with me and I were looking at it thinking no way. Told Lee this is NOT a 20.8 ft boat....he is "so sorry" as he went online and got specs...didn't know there were different lengths I guess. The old man, Steve, also was apologetic. I was not happy driving 100 miles for nothing.
So we are looking at this hulk, talking about how to get it out of the hole, etc. Told him no way in hull my van could jerk it out. (turns out the already tried with a tractor, but with the flat tires. Steve suggests calling a boat mover, I laugh as that would cost more than boats worth immediately and we don't need a boat hauler, we need a wrecker/recovery.
So I tell Steve I can't pay him $275 AND have to pay to move it as well. I don't think this is a good deal now. Well Steve feels bad, and he also apparently NEEDS to get this thing off his friends farm so he says well fellas If you can move it you can HAVE it free.
Well most of you know me from this thread that the words "Free" change everything...My friend Alex and I look at each other and say "yeah, we can do this."
So we jack it up, brace it with logs that luckily were around, and get the tires/rims off. Ran down the road to a garage where they were kind enough to let us wash the mud off and they re-beaded the tires for $10. BTW these are "mobile home" style rims...with little metal blocks and nuts hold it on the axle. I've never seen this style before and felt it was kinda sketchy from the get go.
So we head back, re-install the tires, hook up the van (my E-150) and give a tentative pull....NOTHING. Van makes NO ATTEMPT to move. I am a mechanic, I know after just a tentative attempt that we aren't doing it with the van, and will burn up the torque converter in minutes. I unhook it.
Luckily for us, this kid arrived (lived there) with his big Diesel 3500 4x4...he is glad to hook up and pull it out of the hole onto the flat. 1 shot its out.
Next step got the Drill out and drilled a ton of holes in the bottom to drain the water out. It drained for 40 minutes and water was still coming out as we left. Hooked the van back up, tied down the boat and hit the road.
oh yeah, Van does NOT like this weight (around 6800 lbs I think) but it's getting a BIT lighter as more water drains.
Look in the rearview and one tire is kinda wobbly. But we decide we came this far so we push on. Had to drive like a semi truck with this weight (anticipate hills, running starts) and I babied the heck out of the van. Lucky I know just how hard to push and when not to...van is fine. Was a white knuckle drive again just waiting for something to happen. At one point a lady pulls up near us on the highway and yells there is smoke coming from under the trailer....turns out it was water vapor as the boat was still draining all the way home, and continued to do so until around 8 pm before it finally stopped.
100 miles later she is in the yard. Admiral comes out and I ask if she likes the "new house"....she asks what happened to 20.8 foot. Good question I said.
So gotta shuffle some boats around today....right now this makes 5 sailboats over 22 ft. She will be moved to the back out of site and cut down and salvage all the gear, then take the keel to the recycler. It's 2800 lb's of lead. the 27' crackboat was scrapped and netted $600 so I am sure being heavier this will be more. We also got all the running gear, standing rigging, 32 ft mast with boom, etc. and a monster trailer to sell.
A little reference....the garden fence is 4 ft high. I believe the boat is about 15-16ft tall easy
What a day huh?
Cheers mates
Dave
Lots to do before I can put her in the water!!!!!!! This post always gets me excited for working on my boat, its nice to to see the progress people make on their boats. Hope to remove the pop top and hatches for a fresh paint today. Wanted to have new paint on before Winter set in but budget constraints and weather did not allow. 
Got my new sails coming to me in the mail, supposed to be here by Wednesday, just in time for my 25th Birthday Next Friday!! Well best wishes everyone!
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