"FOREVER"

This is a website about the restoration project we have commenced on a 35 foot 30 year old sailing yacht "Forever". This yacht, a Hallberg Rassy 352 has been around the world once and whether it will go around the world again will depend on many events in the months and possibly years ahead.

 

We initially saw the yacht on Transworld Yacht's website and rang the broker, Stephen Whatley. He informed us that the yacht had suffered from "benign neglect" over the past few years but if we were interested in a "project", then this boat would be ideal. Michael was in Newmarket at the Yearling Sales in September and on the way back to Pembroke Dock, he took a detour to Devon.  He found his way to Starcross,  on the western bank of the Exe estuary where he met Mike and Peggy, the then owners of the yacht.

 

The afternoon was lovely, with blues skies and some heat still remaining in the autumnal sun. He got into a small dinghy with them and they made their way out to the mooring.

 

The yacht looked grand as they approached but closer inspection on board suggested that she was very tired and in need of significant work. Michael had a good look around and although most of the mechanical and electrical equipment did not appear to function properly, he was very impressed with how clean the interior appeared to be. 

 

When Michael got home, we discussed the yacht further and decided to get it surveyed before going any further. We contacted Jonathan Massey, from UK Yacht Surveyors who conducted an initial survey out on the moorings. He did not find anything alarming so the next stage was the get the yacht up on to dry land. Initially, Mike and Peggy were going to bring the yacht up the River Exe to the Retreat Boatyard (where we bought our first sailing boat 8 years ago!) in Topsham but the plans were changed last minute due to tides and water levels up river. The yacht was taken into Exmouth Marina where it was hoisted ashore. Jonathan performed a thorough and exhaustive survey and his report confirmed what we had suspected. In a nutshell, the basic hull and interior were in good shape but the rest of the yacht was tired and most mechanical or electrical items needed replacement. 

 

We then had a prolonged haggling session, trying to purchase the yacht at a fair price for both ourselves and the Vendors. In the end, we bought the yacht for a fair price considering her overall condition and we budgetted on spending the same amount of money again in refurbishing her. The yacht was left in the boatyard of Exmouth Marina Engineering where a lot of the required works would be undertaken.

 

 

 

This website will try and catalogue this renovation, the hurdles we encountered and the paths we chose to overcome these obstructions. Hopefully, the end result will be ready by June 2014 for us to sail her back to Co. Waterford.