WILLIE'S STORY
WILLIE WAS CUSTOM BUILT IN 1993 AND IS A LRC (LONG
RANGE COASTAL TRAWLER). FROM WHAT THE
SELLER/ORIGINAL OWNER TOLD ME THE BUILD STARTED
IN 1993 AND TOOK 4 YEARS, SPLASHING WATER IN 1997. I
BOUGHT WILLIE FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND MOVED
TO PORT ARANSAS IN LATE 2004. MY ORIGINAL INTENT
WAS TO EVENTUALLY TAKE THE BOAT BACK HOME IN
CALIFORNIA, HOWEVER, I LIKED PORT ARANSAS SO MUCH
I DECIDED TO STAY. SHORTLY AFTER BUYING WILLIE
(FORMERLY "THE LONESOME DOVE") IN 2005 THE BOAT
WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL BOATYARD FOR A 5 MONTH, 50K
STAY. AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE BEFORE AND AFTER
PICTURES, WILLIE WAS GETTING A LITTLE RUSTY. AMONG
MUCH OTHER WORK, THE ENTIRE EXTERIOR WAS
SANDBLASTED AND ZINC APPLIED, THEN WAS
DOUBLE-PRIMED AND PAINTED, MOST OF THE RAILINGS
WAS REPLACED AND TONS OF OTHER WORK DONE (ALL
RECEIPTS AVAILABLE).
THE ORIGINAL INTENT FOR WILLIE WAS TO CONVERT HIM
INTO AN ALL-ELECTRIC PROPULSION SYSTEM. WILLIE IS
AN EXCELLENT CANDIDATE FOR THIS DUE TO ITS VERY
LARGE ENGINE ROOM FOR ITS SIZE....ABOUT 1/3 OF THE
BOAT'S LENGTH IS THE ENGINE ROOM ALONE. LITERALLY
DOZENS OF BATTERY PACKS COULD BE FITTED IN RACKS
IN THE AFT SECTION AND STILL HAVE PLENTY OF ROOM
LEFT OVER. TO THIS END, THE ENGINE ROOM WAS
COMPLETELY STRIPPED...THE DETROIT 471'S AND GENSET
WERE REMOVED (GONE FOREVER NOW), ENGINE DAY
TANKS REMOVED, KEEL COOLERS CAPPED, ETC. THE
ENGINE ROOM WAS THEN CLEANED (VERY YUCKY JOB),
PRIMED AND PAINTED. THE DIESEL TANKS WAS DRAINED
AND FILLED WITH FRESH WATER TO ADD TO BOAT
STABILITY (THE TEXAS GULF IS IN HURRICANE TERRITORY)
ALTHO TO MY KNOWLEDGE PORT ARANSAS NEVER GOT
EITHER A DIRECT OR INDIRECT HIT. THE MOST WE GOT
FROM THE CLOSEST ONES (RITA AND IKE) IN THE LAST 5
YEARS WAS ABOUT A 4 FOOT(RITA) AND 5 FOOT(IKE)
STORM SURGE. THIS WAS NO PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE
FLOATING DOCKS.
THE BOAT WAS THEN TAKEN BACK TO THE MARINA
WHERE I HAVE SPENT THE LAST 4 YEARS STRIPPING AND
REDOING THE INTERIOR, TO INCLUDE EXTENDING THE
CEILING THE IN THE MASTER STATEROOM (A 6 MONTH
PROJECT IN ITSELF) AND INSTALLING CHERRYWOOD
PLANKING, WOOD FLOORING, OAK AND CHERRYWOOD
PLANKING IN THE MASTER SALON (REAL WOOD - NO
"LAMINATES"), FULL THICKNESS GRANITE COUNTERTOPS,
ITALIAN DESIGN FACETS, A REALLY BIG RED SINK, NEW
FRIDGE AND TV, NEW SALON FOLD-OUT TABLE, ETC. THE
BATHROOM WAS TOTALLY STRIPPED AND REPLACED WITH
MAHOGANY WALLS AND CEILING, CHERRYWOOD FLOOR,
A RENNOVATED 1950'S OAK AND PLEXIGLASS ROOM
DIVIDER CONVERTED INTO A SHOWER STALL, NEW SINK,
NEW ARMY CABINET FROM THE 40'S CONVERTED INTO A
SINK STAND , REDONE MEDICINE CABINET, NEW FAUCET
AND SINK, TANKLESS WATER HEATER, ETC. THERE ARE
LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF HOURS PUT INTO THE
IMPROVEMENTS OF THIS BOAT SINCE 2005.
THERE IS MUCH MORE WORK THAT WAS DONE, BUT IT
WILL SEEM PRETTY OBVIOUS FROM THE PICTURES THAT
MUCH WORK AND LOVE AND PAIN AND MONEY HAS BEEN
PUT INTO THE BOAT. I ESTIMATE THAT I HAVE AT LEAST
200K PLUS INTO THE BOAT.
EVERYBODY LOVES WILLIE. NOT MANY ARE ALLOWED
ABOARD FOR A TOUR BUT FOR THOSE WHO DO, FEW GO
AWAY UNIMPRESSED. IT IS A WELL KNOWN BOAT IN THE
MARINA AND SURROUNDING AREA. ON BUSY WEEKENDS
MANY WHO PASS BY HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT WILLIE. I
SELDOM HAVE TOURS DUE TO MY PRIVACY BUT ONCE THE
BOAT IS YOURS THIS WOULD THEN BE YOUR DECISION.
GETTING THE ELECTRIC PROPULSION DONE WAS A
DIFFERENT STORY. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL FALSE
STARTS AND CONCEPTS WHICH NEVER PANNED OUT. IT
CAN BE DONE BUT IT WILL TAKE IMAGINATION AND THE
ABILITY TO ENVISION HOW TO SKIN THIS PARTICULAR CAT,
I AM ABOUT AT THE END OF MY TIME HERE AND HAVE
OTHER PROJECTS AND PLANS. I CANNOT DEVOTE ANY
MORE EFFORT TO THIS EFFECT. IT IS TIME TO MOVE ON.
THE BUYER CAN CONTINUE ON THE CONCEPT OF
POWERING WILLIE WITH ELECTRIC MOTORS, OR HYBRID
DIESEL-ELECTRIC OR HYDRAULIC DRIVE. OR SIMPLY JUST
PUT BACK IN CONVENTIONAL MOTORS. ANOTHER
POSSIBILITY WOULD BE SIMPLY BUILD A TRANSOM OFF
THE STERN AND HANG 3-4 OUTBOARD MOTORS FROM IT, I
WOULD SUGGEST ABOUT A 4" STEEL ROUNDBAR ENGINE
GUARD AROUND THE MOTORS SHOULD THIS ROUTE BE
TAKEN. OR SIMPLY USE WILLIE AS A FLOATING CONDO AS
IT AS WORKED OUT FOR ME SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.
IF IT IS THE BUYER'S INTENT TO TAKE WILLIE TO SEA,
WILLIE WILL NEED:
1. TO BE HAULED TO THE BOATYARD AND ZINCS AND
BOTTOM PAINT APPLIED.
2. PROPULSION SYSTEM, GENERATOR(S) (THERE IS ROOM
FOR TWO LARGE GENERATORS AND ANY BUT THE
LARGEST DIESEL MOTORS. THERE HAD BEEN TWO 180 HP
DETROIT DIESEL 471 MOTORS IN PLACE USED WITH THE
KEEL COOLERS). IF CONVENTIONAL DIESELS ARE USED,
THE PRESENT KEEL COOLERS MAY BE USED. ALL
WIRINGS, CABLES ETC. FROM THE PILOTHOUSE AND
OTHER AREAS ARE STILL IN PLACE.
3. THE SEACOCKS NEED TO BE REPLACED.
4. SHOULD WILLIE BE TAKEN TO SEA, AN INDEPENDENT
ONBOARD WATER SYSTEM FOR THE BOAT NEEDS TO BE
INSTALLED. CURRENTLY WILLIE IS HOOKED UP TO THE
DOCKSIDE WATER AND SATISFIES ALL WATER NEEDS YOU
WILL HAVE....I AM TALKING ABOUT USING WATER ON THE
BOAT WHILE UNDERWAY. THERE ARE TWO LARGE WATER
TANKS (APPROX 3,000-4,000 GALLONS COMBINED) BUILT
INTO THE HULL OF THE BOAT WITH FITTINGS FOR THIS
PURPOSE).
5. WILLIE CURRENTLY RUNS OFF OF THE DOCKSIDE, 50
AMP SYSTEM WITH 110 AND 220 (STOVE AND A/C USES THE
220). THE 12 VOLT SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE INSTALLED,
ALTHO THE WIRING FOR THIS IS ALREADY IN PLACE
THRUOUT THE BOAT AT LEAST IN THE CEILING LIGHTS. I
DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THIS WOULD ENTALE. IN
CASE OF A MAJOR REWIRE, MOST OF THE WALL SIDING IS
SCREWED INTO PLACE AND CAN BE EASILY REMOVED AND
PUT BACK INTO PLACE. ALL PILOTHOUSE INSTRUMENTS,
CABLES, GAUGES, WIRES, ETC. ARE STILL IN PLACE AND
SO IS THEIR WIRING GOING TO THE ENGINE ROOM.
HOWEVER, DEPENDING ON HOW YOU INTEND TO
CONFIGURE THE BOAT AND EQUIPMENT, YOU SHOULD BE
PREPARED FOR A COMPLETE REWIRE. THIS IS ONLY IF
YOU INTEND TO TAKE WILLIE TO SEA, ALL PRESENT
ELECTRICAL WORKS PERFECTLY AT DOCKSIDE POWER.
6. SONAR & RADAR WILL NEED TO BE INSTALLED. (a new
interphase iscan 180 is included in this sale).
7. A WINDLASS, ANCHOR, ANCHOR ROLLER AND CHAIN
LOCKER INSTALLED. (a new maxwell liberty 2500 windlass in
included in this sale).
RANGE COASTAL TRAWLER). FROM WHAT THE
SELLER/ORIGINAL OWNER TOLD ME THE BUILD STARTED
IN 1993 AND TOOK 4 YEARS, SPLASHING WATER IN 1997. I
BOUGHT WILLIE FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND MOVED
TO PORT ARANSAS IN LATE 2004. MY ORIGINAL INTENT
WAS TO EVENTUALLY TAKE THE BOAT BACK HOME IN
CALIFORNIA, HOWEVER, I LIKED PORT ARANSAS SO MUCH
I DECIDED TO STAY. SHORTLY AFTER BUYING WILLIE
(FORMERLY "THE LONESOME DOVE") IN 2005 THE BOAT
WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL BOATYARD FOR A 5 MONTH, 50K
STAY. AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE BEFORE AND AFTER
PICTURES, WILLIE WAS GETTING A LITTLE RUSTY. AMONG
MUCH OTHER WORK, THE ENTIRE EXTERIOR WAS
SANDBLASTED AND ZINC APPLIED, THEN WAS
DOUBLE-PRIMED AND PAINTED, MOST OF THE RAILINGS
WAS REPLACED AND TONS OF OTHER WORK DONE (ALL
RECEIPTS AVAILABLE).
THE ORIGINAL INTENT FOR WILLIE WAS TO CONVERT HIM
INTO AN ALL-ELECTRIC PROPULSION SYSTEM. WILLIE IS
AN EXCELLENT CANDIDATE FOR THIS DUE TO ITS VERY
LARGE ENGINE ROOM FOR ITS SIZE....ABOUT 1/3 OF THE
BOAT'S LENGTH IS THE ENGINE ROOM ALONE. LITERALLY
DOZENS OF BATTERY PACKS COULD BE FITTED IN RACKS
IN THE AFT SECTION AND STILL HAVE PLENTY OF ROOM
LEFT OVER. TO THIS END, THE ENGINE ROOM WAS
COMPLETELY STRIPPED...THE DETROIT 471'S AND GENSET
WERE REMOVED (GONE FOREVER NOW), ENGINE DAY
TANKS REMOVED, KEEL COOLERS CAPPED, ETC. THE
ENGINE ROOM WAS THEN CLEANED (VERY YUCKY JOB),
PRIMED AND PAINTED. THE DIESEL TANKS WAS DRAINED
AND FILLED WITH FRESH WATER TO ADD TO BOAT
STABILITY (THE TEXAS GULF IS IN HURRICANE TERRITORY)
ALTHO TO MY KNOWLEDGE PORT ARANSAS NEVER GOT
EITHER A DIRECT OR INDIRECT HIT. THE MOST WE GOT
FROM THE CLOSEST ONES (RITA AND IKE) IN THE LAST 5
YEARS WAS ABOUT A 4 FOOT(RITA) AND 5 FOOT(IKE)
STORM SURGE. THIS WAS NO PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE
FLOATING DOCKS.
THE BOAT WAS THEN TAKEN BACK TO THE MARINA
WHERE I HAVE SPENT THE LAST 4 YEARS STRIPPING AND
REDOING THE INTERIOR, TO INCLUDE EXTENDING THE
CEILING THE IN THE MASTER STATEROOM (A 6 MONTH
PROJECT IN ITSELF) AND INSTALLING CHERRYWOOD
PLANKING, WOOD FLOORING, OAK AND CHERRYWOOD
PLANKING IN THE MASTER SALON (REAL WOOD - NO
"LAMINATES"), FULL THICKNESS GRANITE COUNTERTOPS,
ITALIAN DESIGN FACETS, A REALLY BIG RED SINK, NEW
FRIDGE AND TV, NEW SALON FOLD-OUT TABLE, ETC. THE
BATHROOM WAS TOTALLY STRIPPED AND REPLACED WITH
MAHOGANY WALLS AND CEILING, CHERRYWOOD FLOOR,
A RENNOVATED 1950'S OAK AND PLEXIGLASS ROOM
DIVIDER CONVERTED INTO A SHOWER STALL, NEW SINK,
NEW ARMY CABINET FROM THE 40'S CONVERTED INTO A
SINK STAND , REDONE MEDICINE CABINET, NEW FAUCET
AND SINK, TANKLESS WATER HEATER, ETC. THERE ARE
LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF HOURS PUT INTO THE
IMPROVEMENTS OF THIS BOAT SINCE 2005.
THERE IS MUCH MORE WORK THAT WAS DONE, BUT IT
WILL SEEM PRETTY OBVIOUS FROM THE PICTURES THAT
MUCH WORK AND LOVE AND PAIN AND MONEY HAS BEEN
PUT INTO THE BOAT. I ESTIMATE THAT I HAVE AT LEAST
200K PLUS INTO THE BOAT.
EVERYBODY LOVES WILLIE. NOT MANY ARE ALLOWED
ABOARD FOR A TOUR BUT FOR THOSE WHO DO, FEW GO
AWAY UNIMPRESSED. IT IS A WELL KNOWN BOAT IN THE
MARINA AND SURROUNDING AREA. ON BUSY WEEKENDS
MANY WHO PASS BY HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT WILLIE. I
SELDOM HAVE TOURS DUE TO MY PRIVACY BUT ONCE THE
BOAT IS YOURS THIS WOULD THEN BE YOUR DECISION.
GETTING THE ELECTRIC PROPULSION DONE WAS A
DIFFERENT STORY. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL FALSE
STARTS AND CONCEPTS WHICH NEVER PANNED OUT. IT
CAN BE DONE BUT IT WILL TAKE IMAGINATION AND THE
ABILITY TO ENVISION HOW TO SKIN THIS PARTICULAR CAT,
I AM ABOUT AT THE END OF MY TIME HERE AND HAVE
OTHER PROJECTS AND PLANS. I CANNOT DEVOTE ANY
MORE EFFORT TO THIS EFFECT. IT IS TIME TO MOVE ON.
THE BUYER CAN CONTINUE ON THE CONCEPT OF
POWERING WILLIE WITH ELECTRIC MOTORS, OR HYBRID
DIESEL-ELECTRIC OR HYDRAULIC DRIVE. OR SIMPLY JUST
PUT BACK IN CONVENTIONAL MOTORS. ANOTHER
POSSIBILITY WOULD BE SIMPLY BUILD A TRANSOM OFF
THE STERN AND HANG 3-4 OUTBOARD MOTORS FROM IT, I
WOULD SUGGEST ABOUT A 4" STEEL ROUNDBAR ENGINE
GUARD AROUND THE MOTORS SHOULD THIS ROUTE BE
TAKEN. OR SIMPLY USE WILLIE AS A FLOATING CONDO AS
IT AS WORKED OUT FOR ME SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.
IF IT IS THE BUYER'S INTENT TO TAKE WILLIE TO SEA,
WILLIE WILL NEED:
1. TO BE HAULED TO THE BOATYARD AND ZINCS AND
BOTTOM PAINT APPLIED.
2. PROPULSION SYSTEM, GENERATOR(S) (THERE IS ROOM
FOR TWO LARGE GENERATORS AND ANY BUT THE
LARGEST DIESEL MOTORS. THERE HAD BEEN TWO 180 HP
DETROIT DIESEL 471 MOTORS IN PLACE USED WITH THE
KEEL COOLERS). IF CONVENTIONAL DIESELS ARE USED,
THE PRESENT KEEL COOLERS MAY BE USED. ALL
WIRINGS, CABLES ETC. FROM THE PILOTHOUSE AND
OTHER AREAS ARE STILL IN PLACE.
3. THE SEACOCKS NEED TO BE REPLACED.
4. SHOULD WILLIE BE TAKEN TO SEA, AN INDEPENDENT
ONBOARD WATER SYSTEM FOR THE BOAT NEEDS TO BE
INSTALLED. CURRENTLY WILLIE IS HOOKED UP TO THE
DOCKSIDE WATER AND SATISFIES ALL WATER NEEDS YOU
WILL HAVE....I AM TALKING ABOUT USING WATER ON THE
BOAT WHILE UNDERWAY. THERE ARE TWO LARGE WATER
TANKS (APPROX 3,000-4,000 GALLONS COMBINED) BUILT
INTO THE HULL OF THE BOAT WITH FITTINGS FOR THIS
PURPOSE).
5. WILLIE CURRENTLY RUNS OFF OF THE DOCKSIDE, 50
AMP SYSTEM WITH 110 AND 220 (STOVE AND A/C USES THE
220). THE 12 VOLT SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE INSTALLED,
ALTHO THE WIRING FOR THIS IS ALREADY IN PLACE
THRUOUT THE BOAT AT LEAST IN THE CEILING LIGHTS. I
DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THIS WOULD ENTALE. IN
CASE OF A MAJOR REWIRE, MOST OF THE WALL SIDING IS
SCREWED INTO PLACE AND CAN BE EASILY REMOVED AND
PUT BACK INTO PLACE. ALL PILOTHOUSE INSTRUMENTS,
CABLES, GAUGES, WIRES, ETC. ARE STILL IN PLACE AND
SO IS THEIR WIRING GOING TO THE ENGINE ROOM.
HOWEVER, DEPENDING ON HOW YOU INTEND TO
CONFIGURE THE BOAT AND EQUIPMENT, YOU SHOULD BE
PREPARED FOR A COMPLETE REWIRE. THIS IS ONLY IF
YOU INTEND TO TAKE WILLIE TO SEA, ALL PRESENT
ELECTRICAL WORKS PERFECTLY AT DOCKSIDE POWER.
6. SONAR & RADAR WILL NEED TO BE INSTALLED. (a new
interphase iscan 180 is included in this sale).
7. A WINDLASS, ANCHOR, ANCHOR ROLLER AND CHAIN
LOCKER INSTALLED. (a new maxwell liberty 2500 windlass in
included in this sale).
what willie needs
now for the good, bad & ugly: here is a few things which you should be aware
of. many owners will not tell you anything negative about a boat they are selling,
and the surveyer may not catch or care about such issues. there are also myths
or conceptions that the dockside peanut gallery crowd will sometimes voice.....
1. "hey, is that boat top-heavy"?
no, willie is not top heavy. in the strong winds i have experienced so far, and they
can get up to 60+ knot gusts here in the gulf, willie barely moves while the other
boats are flailing all around the place. willie is so stable that while at dockside
you will not feel any movement 90% of the time. the remaining 10% of the time is
when there is a very stiff wind blowing or when when one of my big boat
neighbors are pulling in or out. however, if this is something the new owner is
paranoid about (i was only paranoid about hurricanes and 25 foot seas), there is
room along the outside keel member to weld, bolt or attach many thousands of
pounds of additional steel, cement or other weight, altho in my opinion it would
not be necessary unless under very severe conditions. remember this is a coastal
trawler and it can take a real pounding, but you don't want to cross the north
atlantic with it during a typhoon). about 90% of the time, at dockside, you will not
even be aware that you are on a boat as far as movement or swaying is
concerned. underway i do not remember any significant movement as well.
2. hey, those hull side plates are warped!
yes, some of the side hull plates under the rubrail have some minor warpage. i
don't know if this was due to improper welding cool-off time (as i had heard) or
whatever. what i do know is that i served time aboard several navy ships and
they had the same issue with their steel hull plates and it seemed normal to me. i
don't consider it a problem or i would not have bought willie. all stringers are
securely attached to the hull (hard chimes) without the slightest hint of separation.
additionally, if you look at some of the before pictures, you will see rust at various
places in the hull above the waterline. whether this was due to improper zinc
application or ? when willie was built, i don't know. i had willie completely
sandblasted every square inch on the outside top to bottom, front to back. only
two pinholes revealed themselves and they were slightly below the waterline. i
attributed that to an improper patch in the same place as an apparant prior fix. i
had this area cut out and new steel welded in (not patched). in several other
areas where there was rust, sandblasting revealed areas where there was
pitting. since these appeared minor and were above the waterline, i was not
concerned and had the entire hull properly and professionally zinced,
double-primed and painted. it was not possible to sandblast the engine room, so
i had the entire deck needle-gunned, primed and painted. (2005).
i am only pointing this out because i feel you should know as much as i know
about the boat, even if there is no problem or a surveyor might not catch it or
even care. willie is built like a small battleship and is the stoutest trawler for its
size you will ever see.
ok, rust...... this is a steel boat so i do have to keep on top of it and so will you.
about once a year you will need to go out and put rust treatment on and paint any
red rust spots that start to show and get it taken care of while its tiny. i try to
have a no-rust policy on this boat and it shows.
the electric bill varies depending on the season. i have received electric bills as
low as $45 and as high as near $230. this high end is when during the summer
(its hot in texas), when the effective a/c runs about half the time during the hottest
part of the day. the good news is that willie has excellent cross flow ventilation
and for about 4-6 months out of the year, there is no need (for me anyway) to run
any refrigeration or heating at all. during the short cool season here, the unit
keeps things warm effectively as well.
however, the uninsulated engine room is hotter than hades during the summer.
altho large ventilation openings are present, a ventilation system should be
installed if one is comtemplating putting back vintage old-school noisy hot diesel
motors back in. one idea is to simply mount commercial grade fans over each of
the room's 2 large ventilation openings (one to suck air in and one to force it out.
the engine room will also need overhead lighting. the top lip of the patio deck
should be sandblasted when the boat goes to the yard.
of. many owners will not tell you anything negative about a boat they are selling,
and the surveyer may not catch or care about such issues. there are also myths
or conceptions that the dockside peanut gallery crowd will sometimes voice.....
1. "hey, is that boat top-heavy"?
no, willie is not top heavy. in the strong winds i have experienced so far, and they
can get up to 60+ knot gusts here in the gulf, willie barely moves while the other
boats are flailing all around the place. willie is so stable that while at dockside
you will not feel any movement 90% of the time. the remaining 10% of the time is
when there is a very stiff wind blowing or when when one of my big boat
neighbors are pulling in or out. however, if this is something the new owner is
paranoid about (i was only paranoid about hurricanes and 25 foot seas), there is
room along the outside keel member to weld, bolt or attach many thousands of
pounds of additional steel, cement or other weight, altho in my opinion it would
not be necessary unless under very severe conditions. remember this is a coastal
trawler and it can take a real pounding, but you don't want to cross the north
atlantic with it during a typhoon). about 90% of the time, at dockside, you will not
even be aware that you are on a boat as far as movement or swaying is
concerned. underway i do not remember any significant movement as well.
2. hey, those hull side plates are warped!
yes, some of the side hull plates under the rubrail have some minor warpage. i
don't know if this was due to improper welding cool-off time (as i had heard) or
whatever. what i do know is that i served time aboard several navy ships and
they had the same issue with their steel hull plates and it seemed normal to me. i
don't consider it a problem or i would not have bought willie. all stringers are
securely attached to the hull (hard chimes) without the slightest hint of separation.
additionally, if you look at some of the before pictures, you will see rust at various
places in the hull above the waterline. whether this was due to improper zinc
application or ? when willie was built, i don't know. i had willie completely
sandblasted every square inch on the outside top to bottom, front to back. only
two pinholes revealed themselves and they were slightly below the waterline. i
attributed that to an improper patch in the same place as an apparant prior fix. i
had this area cut out and new steel welded in (not patched). in several other
areas where there was rust, sandblasting revealed areas where there was
pitting. since these appeared minor and were above the waterline, i was not
concerned and had the entire hull properly and professionally zinced,
double-primed and painted. it was not possible to sandblast the engine room, so
i had the entire deck needle-gunned, primed and painted. (2005).
i am only pointing this out because i feel you should know as much as i know
about the boat, even if there is no problem or a surveyor might not catch it or
even care. willie is built like a small battleship and is the stoutest trawler for its
size you will ever see.
ok, rust...... this is a steel boat so i do have to keep on top of it and so will you.
about once a year you will need to go out and put rust treatment on and paint any
red rust spots that start to show and get it taken care of while its tiny. i try to
have a no-rust policy on this boat and it shows.
the electric bill varies depending on the season. i have received electric bills as
low as $45 and as high as near $230. this high end is when during the summer
(its hot in texas), when the effective a/c runs about half the time during the hottest
part of the day. the good news is that willie has excellent cross flow ventilation
and for about 4-6 months out of the year, there is no need (for me anyway) to run
any refrigeration or heating at all. during the short cool season here, the unit
keeps things warm effectively as well.
however, the uninsulated engine room is hotter than hades during the summer.
altho large ventilation openings are present, a ventilation system should be
installed if one is comtemplating putting back vintage old-school noisy hot diesel
motors back in. one idea is to simply mount commercial grade fans over each of
the room's 2 large ventilation openings (one to suck air in and one to force it out.
the engine room will also need overhead lighting. the top lip of the patio deck
should be sandblasted when the boat goes to the yard.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |