Start Your Own Navy, On Craigslist!
Here is one for the real dreamer in all of us. Restore your own Navy ship! That’s right, you can now be your own Navy, you can recruit others, invade ACBS Chapters, run blockades on other marinas. mmmmm I could take over Lake Wahtever-I-wanna-call-it! But first you have to get the non running diesel going. No sweat according to the seller. And you may want to paint the boat, A gallon or two of paint.. I have heard, that you can use porch latex paint on the top sides BTW.. Really, not kidding. It has a flex agent in it. And of course comes in any color you decide you want your Navy to be in.
Just think, if you act fast you could not just show up at Lake Dora, you could invade it! Make a deal with the sea plane guy and you got your self air support. mmmm, I am liking this.. A Woody Boater invasion on Lake Dora…. I could hook up some T shirt cannons and bombard the coast line with propaganda! I am now supreme Admiral of the Navy of Woody Boaterville. Thank you Craigslist! Anyone know how to get a Diesel going? Here is the listing. And if the listing is gone, here is the sellers description! It’s only $30K, maybe it comes with a 29K hammer!
Your own galley area. Enough space to feed an army…Navy!
Just needs starting. You cant ask for a government grant though since you are going to have your own Navy.
“Ultimate Trawler Yacht- 1985 model- Naval Academy Trainer- 108′ x 24′ x 7′ – over 1900 sq. ft. living space( this could be your spacious “live aboard”) – 5 state rooms, 3 heads w/showers, large main salon, seats 15 in mess room- separate galley, 2 stainless refrigerator freezers, marine AC; twin screw 12-71 detroits, 2) 50 KW generator sets, water maker; 1) main engine & 1) generator running- low hrs.; wood hull (dbl. planked Alaskan cedar)- no leaks in hull (marine surveyors say these hulls are best built in history); aluminum pilot house & main cabin; this is a “fixer upper”, but a super buy- the non-working engine needs some minor work- the owner will assist as necessary & supply additional information when you call – boat is sold “as is” – price is non-negotiable – please no emails/texts- call”
Some deck chairs and you’re all good to go! Maybe a cool set of tables made from depth chargers?
Ahhh, just relax in your Mess area after you invade Lake Whatever
Matt, it’s near your home. Head over there with your tool box this morning and let us know when you get that engine started!
And it’s the “training” model. The perfect starter boat.
Matt,I think cabin fever is hitting you big time…..come to Fl soon!!!
I agree! Great potential liveaboard!
Give it a year and it will be in Bone Yard Boats “Free to a Good Home”.
I always learn something from your articles. Is that really a navigable waterway from Norfolk VA to Currituck NC? I had never heard of the North Landing River. That would be a cool trip if it is wide enough, deep enough and the bridges are high enough.
You can fight with Suzie what to call it.
That boat would be perfect for someone who has a whole crew of young men to maintain and operate it at near slave wages. Like say a Navy for example.
YP = Yard Patrol. They are trainer ships for the Navy Academy at Annapolis. They are framed with white oak glued laminated timbers made in Peshtigo, Wisconsin. I designed the gluing form/jig used to make the curved full width frames. I believe we made materials for 21 ships. They were made for Marinette Marine Corporation. We also made shipsets for 224 foot long wooden minesweepers in the 1980s
Here is a picture of some of the frames on the finishing department floor. That’s my brother sitting on them!
Andreas
Wow, Cool story, Andreas. How about this Woody Boater group of followers? Put up a far out “what if” story, and up pops one of our own, who actually was a part of building it!!!
I think fixing her up would be the easy part. Trying to find a trailer and big enough TOW vehicle would be a little expensive.
I’m holding out for PT73
Look at those round thingys on the side. I ‘am thinkin they could hold a hell a lot of BEER or RUM…
Or bacon?
Dont forget to install a sound system throughout. This little ditty’ll keep you company while you’re restoring her. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InBXu-iY7cw
Great, so we have a new frame repair guy, now we need a mechanic to get the engine started.. And run.. And stay down there to keep them running. So far, I see there needs to be a small crew on board at all times. That might ruin the romantic cocktail cruise part of all this..
Might be a good project for Midshipmen at Annapolis to restore it as a fund raiser and then one of our more well to do members could but it and find that tow vehicle Dennis talked about and bring it to Tavares.
I might buy it if I can find a 3″-50 mount for the bow and a couple side launch torpedo tubes. I’d like to retire in style and that ought to be sufficient to scare the Tahitians into relinquishing sovereignty over the islands…again. It worked for the French.
Looks like there’s been a serious drop in the asking price since 2011. Buy it now and save $105,000!
http://www.usedboatsales.org/yacht/108-ft-yacht-ship-yp-678-boat-boat-2
If you want to start a real Navy I might be able to get you a deal on the USS Zumwalt.
How many boats do you think are in the Woodyboater fleet and how many boats does the US Navy own in their fleet? Just a thought….
The US Navy owns every commissioned ship, every decommissioned ship (mothball fleet) and many thousands of Captain’s gigs, motor whale boats, liberty launches and the USS Constitution. Commissioned ships number right around 430, making the US Navy battle fleet tonnage equal in size to the next 13 largest navies combined. I think they’ve got us beat.
Speaking of the USS Constitution, here is some new glued laminated white oak planking for the ship. Made in Peshtigo, WI in 2014