Barnfind 25 Sportsman Extraction, In Action.

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Wayne just thinking, what in the hell have I gotten myself into.

Yesterday we had a window of time to do The Extraction” The universe lined up in short notice, tractors, tools, and people. So I got rolling fast and we all gathered to go to work. I will say, what looked simple at one point, was not. We started at 9 and ended around 2PM. I did capture the moments though to share with you all.

Driving through the yard, around the back of the houses

Headed to the shed. Baby Chicks home since 1975

Now to add to the job, on the right of the above image is all new dirt and fresh grass. Yup. Mud and could make things a living hell. 

Those “Yard Arm Jacks” eigh a f’n ton. Holy crap!

But at least lifter her up

You may think this was easy.. Hold on. The jacks hit the trailer.. Or visa versa.. Trailer and tires are wider than the jacks

YIKES.. How do we explain this in the ER.. If we are lucky enough to be in an ER.

Okay, tractor number one. NOTE the new footing hole on the right. There were three of those that needed to be navigated around. YIKES.. This setup helped move BABY CHICK to the center.

The trailer had to be turned around all the jacks which we placed in a non symmetrical way. But it worked.

Out she came. Note that footing hole.. I will add, that there were several occasions where this job was dangerous. Very dangerous. Holes to fall into, Tractors and jacks.. Everyone had opinions. Will the trailer hold up? Will the boat just collapse? AHHHHHHHHHH!

FREE, but not on the trailer 100% Tractor lifting the bow, Jacks on the stern.

YIKES. But there she is. BABY CHICK IV

BAM on the trailer. I will add it helps to have a trailer built for this specific hull.

Slow and steady across the yard

Leaving her home. Like going off to school. This will always be her home.

She gets a look at her old playground. She will be back one day.

The strap toss.. Watch out Wayne.

We made the slow ride to Reedville, about 30 minutes. UGH.. scary stuff.

She spent the night outdoors and today we start the “Clean Out” with gloves, etc.. But those lines.. AHHHHHHHHH

Yesterday!

Same spot a year ago! Mud Mud.. A reminder that no job is too big, and can be fun! She will NOT be a bag of parts. 

 

18 replies
  1. m-fine
    m-fine says:

    Great job! Now the fun starts. That looks like it’s going to be a big project, but a very cool boat when done.

  2. Greg Lewandowski
    Greg Lewandowski says:

    Wow, mission accomplished. Glad it went relatively well and no injuries. She looks to be in better condition than the original photos led me to believe, but clearly a huge job ahead. Was the original Chrysler flat head part of the deal? It would make a nice display engine at the marina. Carry on!

  3. RiverRat
    RiverRat says:

    No problem when you have a backhoe to remove a boat. A two Kubota job. Now you can landscape around it.

  4. Mike D
    Mike D says:

    Who is going to be the last gray hair that has to rebuild a barn find by himself? Matt you are truly blessed Mohave the manpower to pull something off like this.

    When I see boats in this condition (I have one) I try to imagine how it got to that point with the bow showing serious leaking. Did the owner drive it like that, how much water leaked in, did wifey stop going out in it, why wasn’t the repair completed, did he die trying? But more importantly has anyone ever taken a stab at figuring how many barn finds are left out there?

  5. Paul H.
    Paul H. says:

    Impossible to tell how good or bad it is until you really get into it, but at least it didn’t disintegrate into piles of termite dust while jostling it around.

    It will likely need everything, though. How could it not, after sitting in covered yet damp outside conditions for 45+ years? The engine is likely toast and there are more choices now than then, anyway. I had a good experience with the Chrysler Royal straight 8 in my Gar. They are about 145HP, 280 lb ft of torque and smooth as silk. It would move the boat as well as any CC flathead 6 and it would be very rare. I have seen many SP 25’s but I don’t recall ever seeing one with a Royal.

    You or the next owner may get lucky and find there is some original material to work from on this boat, or it may be that it is really only a pattern boat. I don’t think we can really tell from the pics but the time factor and humidity there may not portend well for preservation possibilities.

    Nice to see it brought out of slumber though, and it will be interesting to see what direction the project takes.

  6. Mark in Ohio (sometimes da U P)
    Mark in Ohio (sometimes da U P) says:

    It looks like a job well done. There is nothing like equipment to make things happen . I agree with the above comments. It looks better outside than it did in earlier pictures in the shed. You have a big jiob ahead of you. There is somthing special about dragging an old hulk home to restore. You are lucky to have Troys cheerleader to boost your game plan.

  7. floyd r turbo
    floyd r turbo says:

    Great job of easing her out of there and thru that obstacle course. Having her in there cockeyed sure made things difficult, but nothing $40-$50,000 worth of tractors can’t handle. Those would have made my sailboat pickup a lot easier. Having done this 1400 miles from home I really appreciate the situation.

  8. Ollon
    Ollon says:

    Hmmm. I don’t know Matt. You just happen to get a new trailer for Wecatchem a couple weeks ago and lo and behold you find another SP25 down the street that your old trailer would be good enough to use under. Is the Boatress really buying this?? You are the luckiest man alive.

  9. Sunday Funday
    Sunday Funday says:

    So did the trailer justify the boat that justified the railway which justified the trailer, which justified……………
    Looks like the perfect setup!
    Worked out perfect…just as planned?

  10. Paul C Raley
    Paul C Raley says:

    Great boat! I vote for a Crusader Classic 5.7 (350 SB Chevy) with closed cooling system for the Potomac River. I live right across the river in Tall Timbers MD and the brackish water can take a toll on our old raw water cooled engines, even with frequent flushing, as I am sure you know.

    Paul R

  11. tom
    tom says:

    Hull looks straight in the side shots,sitting on the trailer.One photo from the rear boat looks to have a slight twist to the right,(transom not parallel to dash),but it could be the angle of the photo I’m looking at.Boats stored that long on soil floor can change shape without occasional attention to how its blocked.but like any project like this you don’t really know what you have until you tear into it.Looks like fun either way,good luck,and keep us posted.

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