One More Cool Auction Ahead! In Florida!
You may have noticed a banner on the right of Woody Boater this month, thats for a special auction of the very rare, unique and complex auction of a collection of the Speas Family, which took years to acquire. From looking at the photos there looks to be some cool stuff there. The even better news is that on your way down to Lake Dora this auction is about 1 and a half hours north of Lake Dora, so you can swing by and look over the stuff in person and then bid online for stuff. Sometimes these can be amazing opportunities to score a sweet deal on something you may never find again. You can click here for more info. Here are the dates for the open houses. Open House: March 16 from 12-5pm Open House: March 21 from 12-5pm.
Nice boat on the header! Must have been after lunch, the waterline is missing.
Jim, I need another right angle buffer/grinder. Pick me up one at the auction. And buy yourself a steam whistle – toot toot!
There looks to be some stuff in that auction that I could afford. I just can’t figure out what half of it is.
I was at this place a couple of years ago when the fellow was still alive and it was operating as a museum. Very interesting stuff, especially for rare, early engine collectors. I will probably go up and check it out, after all – there is some room in the truck on the return trip.
A question regarding Edward II:
What happens to the registration numbers on a boat like Edward II after the sale of the craft? I am assuming that those numbers are painted on and that they were the original numbers of where the boat spent much of it’s life.
I guess what I am saying is that if I were to purchase Edward II and I moved it to Oregon and planned to use the boat, the state would require that I change to the correct Oregon registration. But what would that do to the value of the craft?
Do folks that purchase items like Edward II just not use the boat then or can they obtain a special permit or do they just ignore the boating laws when they use the boat once in a blue moon?
Just curious.
I throw cution to the wind and do not put registration numbers on them when they are restored. In the case of my BB, it had OR numbers on it when I boufght it and I just left them on. The baot is being re-finished now and I am not putting new numbers on it, and nor did I put any on Barnwood of the Gar Wood. I have never had any problem on any of the lakes I have used these boats on in Canada or in many places all over the US. I don’t think it impacts value, though if the numbers are buried under layers of varnish changing them becomes a bigger problem.
brian t, in Michigan, the #s must be correct MC’s (Michigan boat licenses). So off the current ones come.
I can’t believe this would effect value one smidgen. It’s not like the hull card, or hull number stampings, or original engine serial # are being eliminated.
I’ve faced this situation before.
If the current #s have been on a while and the boat used on the water (in the sun), carefully sanding them off and leaving the layers of varnish beneath might work. But it’s unlikely, because there will probably be a shadow of the #s left on the hull (because their opacity inhibited sun fading). So, that section of the hull would have to be sanded to bare wood, re-stained, then varnished. [I have no idea whether a professional would be able to do all this on that spot solely, and then feather it in with the rest of the hull side, or whether the entire side would have to be sanded.]
If, however, this is a fresh restoration, it’s a simple matter of gentle surface sanding through the varnish sufficient to access and sand off numbers, then applying new numbers, and then new varnish in that area.
Hope this helps.
P.S. I like your ignore the law and use the boat in a blue moon idea. It has a risky, rumrunner-ish tone to it. Besides, what are the odds a Sheriff or Coastie would pull you over and run the #s. And if he does, the fine is probably a fraction of the cost of the gold leaf and varnish work. 🙂 Still, I’d have the boat registered and carry the sticker with it, so that part is legal.
I’m doing a revarnish on a ’32 CC that is changing reg. #’s. name, and relettering the CC script on the side. Forget trying to “blend” in new varnish with old. Might as well do the whole top sides while you have the varnish out, but on a 30′ Hacker, it would be more significant than this 21′ CC triple. This boat had a good varnish base and I didn’t burn through the varnish taking the reg #’s and letters off until I hit the transom name. Did a little touch up with stain, then relettered. Would have put 3 or 4 coats of varnish on before lettering, however, owner has compressed time requirements and no indication he’ll be selling anytime soon. I recommended registration letters on a plastic “card” to be displayed under way but he preferred painted in place.
Interesting. I would have thought messing around with an original registration would have the same effect on originality and value as would something like Matt having a spazz over an incorrect zipper !
Also, Paul must be doing something different than me for I am stopped by the River Patrol each and every year. Twice last year in fact. Not sure if it is that they want to check out the boat or something else. In every case, they do the full check, say nice things about the boat, and then give me a few coupons for the kids to have a free ice cream somewhere.
I wouldn’t think of not having the registration correctly displayed and current. I think the “coupon” would be something entirely different.
brian t: Antique boats did not leave the factory with registration numbers at all. If they did on rare occasion they were government numbers, the ‘old’ numbering system up until the early 1960s – depending on the state.
Edward II has only had its IA numbers since the mid-1990s when Mike Hagan bought her from Dean Guy (had FL numbers). It has changed hands to owners in CA, MN, and OK since then until now. None have worried about changing the numbers.
I’ve always changed the paper registration and got the title and registration in my name but quite often leave the old numbers on or leave it blank. Usually if you have proof it is registered and the tax is paid they will let you go. I have had to use the “I’m waiting for the sign painter” line once or twice.
Locally here on the Chain-O-Lakes in northern Illinois you have to buy a chain sticker. If you display it they leave you alone. The fine money for no Chain sticker stays local. The fine money for no state registration goes down state.
Depends on what mood the officer is in!
I guess the question is “What is legal and is this a state by state issue or a federal issue?”
Is this two issues,
1. Should the boat be properly registered to the current owner?
2. Is there a law that states the registration number must be shown on the craft?
We want to make sure folks reading this are not misled.
Is it like operating a car without license plates?
I think it’s either less conspicuous than not having a plate on a car, or those tasked with enforcement just don’t do it. Another example – I have had a Sea Doo for 11 years and never put the numbers on it. I have been stopped on the water by authorities for other reasons but never even asked about registration numbers, let alone fined. I have never been asked about it in hundreds of hours on my classic boats either. I do have the number on my pontoon boat though – adhesive stickers were used in that case. I think the law varies from place to place, but I have never been approached or sanctioned for not having the numbers – ever. In Canada water craft are federally registered, though the province of residence is part of the registration character sequence.
So, my choice continues to be to keep the numbers off my classic boats, pay a fine or two should they ever be levied and not be concerned about the labor and costs of adding or removing or changing numbers.
In Hessel, the Sheriff and Coast Guard have really stepped up checks.
The Sheriff is not too bad. He stopped me once for not having the stern flag pole light working. Gave me a warning.
But the Coast Guard? They are really ruffling feathers in these friendly, laid back parts. By example, they aimed a bow mounted machine gun at my cousin who, yes, was indignant at being stopped, but is hardly “a threat.”
I deeply respect law enforcement and our military. But the “Neidermeyer” conduct is over the top in Hessel.
Word on the street (and in The Islander) is someone upstairs is bucking for a promotion. Whatever the reason, none of us wears a pledge pin.
To folks who need a Neidermeyer brush up, here’s great investment of 3:29 of your life.
Vessel registration checks are being stepped up big time, for all who boat within 100 miles of all US borders. 100 miles is the new federal ‘threat area”. Salt or fresh, inland or offshore, no matter.
If your registration is not displayed you should at least have it quickly available. Under the rubric of ‘safety’, it’s simply revenue-driven.
The registration numbers are your boat’s license plate, with only difference being that they usually stay the same as long as the boat is registered in the same state. Changing them should not affect the value of the boat. Do the right thing – have them where your state specifies, along with the annual sticker, if required. To reduce varnishing time and costs, you might think about having the numbers done with gold leaf-like adhesive lettering. If done well, the only way to tell the difference is to run your fingernail over the edges.
I usually advise against putting the numbers on and suggest my clients tell the fuzz that the boat was just varnished and their restorer said they need to wait a few more weeks before the letters go on. I do suggest that the registration and stickers are readily available for the officers but not stored in the cooler. When I’m boating with Paul H I’m more concerned about fuel then registration numbers…..
I believe what you posted made a ton of
sense. However, think on this, what if you composed a catchier post title?
I am not saying your information is not good., but what if you added a
title to maybe get folk’s attention? I mean Classic Boat News /
Woody Boater