Frequently asked questions:
1. How much would it cost for a good example of a Watson class lifeboat?
Answer: A good example will costs between £10,000 and £25,000.
2. How much will it cost to do a high quality conversion?
Answer: You will need deep pockets for both the labour costs and the material costs. I have seen an number of conversions and have three range figures
Budget conversion £25,000. (Materials only)
Mid range conversion £75,000 (Materials + Labour + lots of your own time + mug your friends for their free time)
High Quality conversion £150,000 (Materials + Labour + lots of your own time)
3. How long will it take to convert a lifeboat?
Answer: Talking to a number of people who have done it before plus my own experiences it does depend on how much money you want to spend and how much time you have but either way it will take you between 2 years and 10 years. It is much cheaper to through money at the project quickly and get fixed prices from a professional boat builder. You will need one or two Shipwrights full time 5 days per weeks for a couple of years.
4. Would you recommend buying a derelict boat cheap as a starter hull?
Answer: This is what I did and you can get a reasonable looking Watson hull for between £500 and £2,500 however this is a false economy as I found out. The heavy structural jobs are very expensive and you can easily spend £50,000 just getting the hull back in good condition, I did. Buy a good hull on which you can start to build straight away!
5. What kinds of problems should I look for when viewing boats and where are the weaknesses?
Answer: The weak points on Watson's and Barnett's are as follows:
a) look at the steel / iron deck knee's these join the hull frames, beam shelf and deck beams together, If you have and corrosion or rust streaks near these it can be a serious problem (especially in the bow) on my boat water leaks from the deck cause the beam shelf and tops of planks to rot and all you could see was the rust streaks. Repairing this means destroying the decks, replacing beam shelves, lots of hull planking, new deck beams (huge cost).
b)Look at the steel floors for corrosion especially around the propeller shaft tunnel(s), on my boat I had to replace every one which is a very expensive job.
c) Get a good sharp bradawl and poke round the hull inside and out for soft rot areas.
6. Do Watson's or Barnett Lifeboats make good sea boats?
Answer: Yes they make great sea boats and will take you anywhere many have traveled the world. Be aware the do roll and have an active motion at sea which isn't to every bodies taste and they are a challenge to maneuver in small spaces as the tunnels reduce prop walk and the rudder is a long way from the props as well. Fitting a bow thruster helps.
Answer: A good example will costs between £10,000 and £25,000.
2. How much will it cost to do a high quality conversion?
Answer: You will need deep pockets for both the labour costs and the material costs. I have seen an number of conversions and have three range figures
Budget conversion £25,000. (Materials only)
Mid range conversion £75,000 (Materials + Labour + lots of your own time + mug your friends for their free time)
High Quality conversion £150,000 (Materials + Labour + lots of your own time)
3. How long will it take to convert a lifeboat?
Answer: Talking to a number of people who have done it before plus my own experiences it does depend on how much money you want to spend and how much time you have but either way it will take you between 2 years and 10 years. It is much cheaper to through money at the project quickly and get fixed prices from a professional boat builder. You will need one or two Shipwrights full time 5 days per weeks for a couple of years.
4. Would you recommend buying a derelict boat cheap as a starter hull?
Answer: This is what I did and you can get a reasonable looking Watson hull for between £500 and £2,500 however this is a false economy as I found out. The heavy structural jobs are very expensive and you can easily spend £50,000 just getting the hull back in good condition, I did. Buy a good hull on which you can start to build straight away!
5. What kinds of problems should I look for when viewing boats and where are the weaknesses?
Answer: The weak points on Watson's and Barnett's are as follows:
a) look at the steel / iron deck knee's these join the hull frames, beam shelf and deck beams together, If you have and corrosion or rust streaks near these it can be a serious problem (especially in the bow) on my boat water leaks from the deck cause the beam shelf and tops of planks to rot and all you could see was the rust streaks. Repairing this means destroying the decks, replacing beam shelves, lots of hull planking, new deck beams (huge cost).
b)Look at the steel floors for corrosion especially around the propeller shaft tunnel(s), on my boat I had to replace every one which is a very expensive job.
c) Get a good sharp bradawl and poke round the hull inside and out for soft rot areas.
6. Do Watson's or Barnett Lifeboats make good sea boats?
Answer: Yes they make great sea boats and will take you anywhere many have traveled the world. Be aware the do roll and have an active motion at sea which isn't to every bodies taste and they are a challenge to maneuver in small spaces as the tunnels reduce prop walk and the rudder is a long way from the props as well. Fitting a bow thruster helps.