JPChapters
Newbie
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2022
- Messages
- 4
Hello,
I did speak on here once before and my partner is floating around on here but I redid my membership and signup. Yada yada yada.
Currently, we our upon a 1968 36’ Willard Vega Pilothouse Trawler. We purchased this in 2021 and put in a new (needed) engine and plenty of other works that were needed from much neglect. We had planned to finish everything (it’s never ending) but chose to switch back to our other trawler we’d had in a yard and thought we’d run from the project that it is but went back to. Sigh.
As for our Willard, we enjoyed time in the Keys and an entire trip up the GICW and into Mobile, AL where we are now doing our work on our other trawler, and continuing some work on this one for the time being….especially as we live aboard her and we can’t ignore what needs to be done.
* I am looking for and interested in information on anyone who has redone on a Willard or similar boat (another boat with similar housing build is Kady Krogen):
Caprail.
Housing walls (all wood and nothing else).
Redone decking on the back mid-deck over the galley.
Any wheelhouse work.
She did amazing on the big trip and is a really fun boat with beautiful classic lines. 9 footers off her stern were relaxing when crossing from Steinhatchee to Apalachicola.
I predict that in 2023 we will be relinquishing her up to a new owner as we reach a portion of the other trawlers refit. We are moving to that one due to the big travel capabilities ahead, more explained below. This one has a very long history (and old capt logs) of her travels every year from Tennessee to The Keys and Bahamas. Super sturdy capable boat. Fiberglass hull (extra thick).
Our other trawler is a one off by a company no longer in production. We believe a few sister boats were made but pretty much we’ve not been able to find anything on them.
She’s a 42’ Aluminum trawler. 1200 fuel tank. 2 engines (currently Lehman 120’s). Semi-displacement. Almost a cusp of full but she’s supposed to really hit some speed (supposed to hit 19 but we’ve not tested this). The hull/housing/everything are aluminum.
She’s made her way with us from Rockport, TX to here on the Texas side of the GICW and did incredible. We moved her right as Covid came down in the area. Sat in water for a year or so and has been on the hard for a year-ish.
As far as aluminum hull issues…only a spot or two to redo- one from some stray wire. One that was in the keel about a decade ago in an inspection and plugged prior to her coming across the Gulf from FL to TX and then 600 miles up the coast after four years in the water in-between and then some. She shows two small previous patches. Otherwise her thick hull is amazing and we aren’t afraid of the aluminum. We actually by far prefer it. Though you’d think in the Middle Gulf Coast it wouldn’t be so hard to find experts experienced in welding it but, whew. That. Thankfully with welding experience ourselves we are now just going to do it (we tried handing work off while we played in the keys and such…didn’t happen).
Long story short…her larger fuel tanks, lay out, size, the aluminum, and twin engines are a couple of the reasons we choose to do our future travels on her (starting with The Great Loop). We will refit her. Starting with what works to go (her wiring and most interior is new though primitive from the previous owner though eventually we plan to change it all. Every inch.), eventually new insulation/walls/and every inch of her interior will get done to our own design. She’s a unique boat and we have a unique plan for her. We thought we’d get it all done in place and then go but to sit and stay for two years (minimum) and buying a house with these interest rates and the attention it would take away have us changing plans to cleaning her up and working under way so we can get back to traveling…which is top priority. We also looked around at possibly selling both project boats and buying new but we found that frankly before $200,000 you’re just buying someone else’s headaches and nothing we liked (and nothing without the same amount of work). We spent a lot of time in that and in the house idea before throwing our hands up. It did make us appreciate the boats we have.
*With this one I am looking for and interested in information on anyone who has refit aluminum boats (of course). As well as entire full interior stripped to bare bones and back up refits. And insulation choices and discussions. (Zero normal wood or curved wall issues for us. Everything sits above the hull and is actually squared out. A rarity.)
We are not retired. He works on push barges on the river and is away weeks at a time. I am a writer. I spend by myself. We both travel everywhere we go and check everything out. On my own I do SO much in each location we are in. Currently I have coffee shop days and enjoy art and creative events and kayaking and hiking. Mid-30’s and early 40’s. No kids. Too many pets. Been living on and traveling by boat for almost two years now and RV before that. We’d be interested in meeting others like us along the way as well as any other boaters and loopers, Willard and aluminum owners. And whoever else on the waters is just interesting and whatnot.
So…that’s my hello intro.
I did speak on here once before and my partner is floating around on here but I redid my membership and signup. Yada yada yada.
Currently, we our upon a 1968 36’ Willard Vega Pilothouse Trawler. We purchased this in 2021 and put in a new (needed) engine and plenty of other works that were needed from much neglect. We had planned to finish everything (it’s never ending) but chose to switch back to our other trawler we’d had in a yard and thought we’d run from the project that it is but went back to. Sigh.
As for our Willard, we enjoyed time in the Keys and an entire trip up the GICW and into Mobile, AL where we are now doing our work on our other trawler, and continuing some work on this one for the time being….especially as we live aboard her and we can’t ignore what needs to be done.
* I am looking for and interested in information on anyone who has redone on a Willard or similar boat (another boat with similar housing build is Kady Krogen):
Caprail.
Housing walls (all wood and nothing else).
Redone decking on the back mid-deck over the galley.
Any wheelhouse work.
She did amazing on the big trip and is a really fun boat with beautiful classic lines. 9 footers off her stern were relaxing when crossing from Steinhatchee to Apalachicola.
I predict that in 2023 we will be relinquishing her up to a new owner as we reach a portion of the other trawlers refit. We are moving to that one due to the big travel capabilities ahead, more explained below. This one has a very long history (and old capt logs) of her travels every year from Tennessee to The Keys and Bahamas. Super sturdy capable boat. Fiberglass hull (extra thick).
Our other trawler is a one off by a company no longer in production. We believe a few sister boats were made but pretty much we’ve not been able to find anything on them.
She’s a 42’ Aluminum trawler. 1200 fuel tank. 2 engines (currently Lehman 120’s). Semi-displacement. Almost a cusp of full but she’s supposed to really hit some speed (supposed to hit 19 but we’ve not tested this). The hull/housing/everything are aluminum.
She’s made her way with us from Rockport, TX to here on the Texas side of the GICW and did incredible. We moved her right as Covid came down in the area. Sat in water for a year or so and has been on the hard for a year-ish.
As far as aluminum hull issues…only a spot or two to redo- one from some stray wire. One that was in the keel about a decade ago in an inspection and plugged prior to her coming across the Gulf from FL to TX and then 600 miles up the coast after four years in the water in-between and then some. She shows two small previous patches. Otherwise her thick hull is amazing and we aren’t afraid of the aluminum. We actually by far prefer it. Though you’d think in the Middle Gulf Coast it wouldn’t be so hard to find experts experienced in welding it but, whew. That. Thankfully with welding experience ourselves we are now just going to do it (we tried handing work off while we played in the keys and such…didn’t happen).
Long story short…her larger fuel tanks, lay out, size, the aluminum, and twin engines are a couple of the reasons we choose to do our future travels on her (starting with The Great Loop). We will refit her. Starting with what works to go (her wiring and most interior is new though primitive from the previous owner though eventually we plan to change it all. Every inch.), eventually new insulation/walls/and every inch of her interior will get done to our own design. She’s a unique boat and we have a unique plan for her. We thought we’d get it all done in place and then go but to sit and stay for two years (minimum) and buying a house with these interest rates and the attention it would take away have us changing plans to cleaning her up and working under way so we can get back to traveling…which is top priority. We also looked around at possibly selling both project boats and buying new but we found that frankly before $200,000 you’re just buying someone else’s headaches and nothing we liked (and nothing without the same amount of work). We spent a lot of time in that and in the house idea before throwing our hands up. It did make us appreciate the boats we have.
*With this one I am looking for and interested in information on anyone who has refit aluminum boats (of course). As well as entire full interior stripped to bare bones and back up refits. And insulation choices and discussions. (Zero normal wood or curved wall issues for us. Everything sits above the hull and is actually squared out. A rarity.)
We are not retired. He works on push barges on the river and is away weeks at a time. I am a writer. I spend by myself. We both travel everywhere we go and check everything out. On my own I do SO much in each location we are in. Currently I have coffee shop days and enjoy art and creative events and kayaking and hiking. Mid-30’s and early 40’s. No kids. Too many pets. Been living on and traveling by boat for almost two years now and RV before that. We’d be interested in meeting others like us along the way as well as any other boaters and loopers, Willard and aluminum owners. And whoever else on the waters is just interesting and whatnot.
So…that’s my hello intro.
