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Buying a Junk in the UK

  • 06 Aug 2014 02:09
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    Reply # 3064745 on 3053839
    Deleted user

    Anyone know anything about this boat?:

    Maurice Griffiths Junk

    Seems to have running backstays - wow, on a junk?

    Just curious. I've pretty much decided to buy when i arrive in the UK next year. I'm just having an idle moment at work...
  • 29 Jul 2014 01:12
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    Reply # 3056197 on 3053839
    Deleted user

    Thanks for the encouraging replies.

    To clarify, I'm not all that daunted by the idea of a conversion, and I'm sure I'd enjoy it. The question is one of time. I'll have $X after buying a yacht, and those dollars represent the amount of time I can spend not working.

    I don't want to exchange my time of not working for a living, for time in a boat yard.

    But I agree, let's not jump the gun and buy sight unseen, something will come up when i arrive next March, either a bargain to convert, or a ready-made junk. And the dog and I can have a bit of a mini tour of the British Isles searching for our new floating home.

    Ash - that's a very generous offer. If I go the conversion route i might just take you up on it.
  • 28 Jul 2014 22:54
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    Reply # 3056149 on 3053839
    Anonymous member

    Hi Matt, don't stress over doing a conversion to much. I found it fairly straight forward there is an excellent support base here. Who knows you might actually really enjoy the process, I did.:-)
  • 28 Jul 2014 06:05
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    Reply # 3055635 on 3055445
    Anonymous member
    Arne Kverneland wrote:

    That appears to be the Gallant-rigged  Jetstream 29, designed by Jack Manners-Spencer. It was mentioned in Newsletter 19 and 20. This sail has no hinge as the wishbone battens go all the way back to the leech. I wonder how efficient that rig was/is...

    Arne 

    Put it this way: after Aphrodite had her rig altered from Gallant to cambered-junk (designed and built by Paul Thompson), the owner reckoned that the boat sailed a lot better than it had before!
  • 27 Jul 2014 21:59
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    Reply # 3055471 on 3053839
    Deleted user

    Hi Matt,

    I live about 70 miles north of Southampton and am about to convert a Hunter 701.

    They are old boats - built in the 70's and designed by Oliver Lee by the same designer as Roger Taylors MingMingII. IN the early days - and being unsure how GRP would last they were built 'over strong'.

    There are  quite a few coming up at very reasonable prices - usually in a bit of a state but with a good hull. I bought mine for under £ 1000

    David Blagden sailed "Very Willing Griffin" in 1972 Ostar in a Hunter 19 which was the 701's predecessor .

    Why am i telling you this?

    I have access to some space, the possible use of a farmer nearby who might permit the boat to be parked pending a Junk conversion, so if your plans do firm up i will be happy to assist you if i can.
  • 27 Jul 2014 20:19
    Quote
    Reply # 3055445 on 3053839
    Anonymous member (Administrator)

    That appears to be the Gallant-rigged  Jetstream 29, designed by Jack Manners-Spencer. It was mentioned in Newsletter 19 and 20. This sail has no hinge as the wishbone battens go all the way back to the leech. I wonder how efficient that rig was/is...

    Arne 

    Last modified: 27 Jul 2014 20:23 | Anonymous member (Administrator)
  • 27 Jul 2014 12:29
    Quote
    Reply # 3055328 on 3053839
    Anonymous member


    Hi Matt

    On the french channel cost, and not a junk but a wingsail on a freestanding rotating aluminium mast, tandem keel, cold moulded-Epoxy (or strip-planked ?) hull. 9000 Euro negotiable.

    http://www.leboncoin.fr/nautisme/683720173.htm?ca=13_s

    I don't know more than the ad reveals. Perhaps a split-junk would also fit ?


    Alain
  • 27 Jul 2014 06:16
    Quote
    Reply # 3055286 on 3053839
    Anonymous member
    There is a steady trickle of boats coming on the market, Matt, so don't rush in too fast.  I'm sure (she said from the safety of NZ) that a fellow junkie might be persuaded to have a look at this Viking and give you a candid assessment.

    A conversion really is a quite straightforward process.  Truly.  Look how many Arne has done: he thinks no more or converting a sizeable yacht these days, than he would changing its paint scheme!  But I'm sure he was daunted the first time he took the plunge.  I'm sure if you took it carefully, step by step, you would soon have it done.  Especially with so many kind junkies happy to offer support and advice. You might feel more comfortable considering a split junk rig like Amiina.  You don't have to alter the mast position (and maybe accommodation) then.  From a financial point of view, it doesn't make much sense to get a boat of this size professionally converted: you would never get your money back and the money you spent could have been used to go cruising.

    However, I think that there's a reasonable chance that you will find something already converted in the UK.  Why not trawl through the membership list and see if anyone owns a boat you might fancy.  As they say: all boats are for sale!

    Best of luck, anyway.
  • 27 Jul 2014 02:58
    Quote
    Reply # 3055265 on 3053839
    Deleted user

    Thanks Roy and Chris,

    Chris i watched your boat on ebay for a while, lustfully. I've read your write-up about the purchase and the trip home, good stuff, thanks.

    Though I'm daunted at the prospect of converting a boat from Bermudan to junk, I'm a little less daunted at the prospect of interior modifications.

    It's just such a gamble to buy a 35 year old boat without an inspection. If I could get some reassurance that the big ticket items are in good nick I might consider buying long-distance, for say, 7,500. Things like osmosis, mast & sail, engine and stern gland, electrics, etc...

    I've trawled the internet for more info on the marque and learned a thing or two, and like what I've found.

    I've emailed Robin Blain asking for some more info and photos. Perhaps I can pay for a survey if I want to proceed.
  • 26 Jul 2014 11:17
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    Reply # 3055037 on 3055034
    Deleted user
    Roy Denton wrote:...but this boat has not sold in the last three years (at least) despite a price reduction below what I had originally offered. 

    That's almost certainly because many owners have unrealistic expectations of what their boat will fetch. From Roy's description, and knowing something about the marque., she's very similar to my boat, with an identical rig, but in less good interior condition if Roy's assessment is accurate. My boat was originally listed at 14,000 euros in France - I paid a lot less than that, and if I was selling her now would not expect to get more than £7,500 - £8,000. I would certainly offer no more than that for the Atlanta.
       " ...there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in junk-rigged boats" 
                                                               - the Chinese Water Rat

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