The author is purchasing a 50′ Bluewater coastal cruiser for live aboard use and plans to remodel the flooring and galley. They are considering Ikea as a source of inspiration for their project. To improve the interior, they suggest clearing visual clutter and organizing the space. They suggest updating upholstery, lighting, flooring, and fixtures to create a more polished look.
The author also suggests using classic nautical stripes in navy, white, and red for seating, curtains, and bed linen. They also suggest incorporating marine patterns such as anchors, seashells, ropes, or other marine elements. DIY boat interior restoration resources include sailing magazines, literature about decorating boats, and Pinterest.
To upgrade the upholstered seating and sleeping arrangements, the author recommends consulting a marine professional with expertise in the field. Re-upholstery projects should be left to an experienced and skilled upholstery shop, but working closely with them can ensure the desired results.
The author also mentions that Bluewater boats build the hull, interiors, and gadgets like engines. They also mention boat building repair and project supplies, sailboat restoration, and improving the smell on your boat.
When transforming your boat, you have the option to change seats, interior side panels, dash, boat motor cover, and carpets. The author also wants to redo the interior space, as the cushions and fabric were well past their prime, aiming for a more modern look.
📹 1 YEAR REBUILDING AN OLD BOAT INTO A MODERN YACHT TIMELAPSE (START TO FINISH)
After 1 year of building our old boat it has finally become the off grid yacht we dreamed of. Without having any experience this was …
How do you refurbish gelcoat?
This post provides guidelines for restoring oxidized gelcoat on a boat. The first step is to wash and remove surface dirt and debris. Stains should be removed, and wet/dry sanding should be done. Polishing compounds should be used, and waxing and sealing with a protective substance should be done. The gelcoat serves a significant purpose in protecting the boat from moisture, salt, dirt, and mold. However, it is susceptible to wear and tear, so occasional detailing is recommended to maintain its shiny appearance. Regular service and maintenance can significantly extend the lifespan of the gelcoat or paint. This post aims to provide a new glow for your boat’s gelcoat.
Can I reupholster my own boat?
Reupholstering boat seats is a complex and time-consuming project that can be completed by most people. To simplify the process, consider hiring a professional who is experienced with boats and can handle the work without you doing all the work yourself. It’s important to ensure the professional is familiar with marine work to avoid potential issues. Another option is to ask a friend who is an upholstery enthusiast to help, and offer them a free boat ride as a thank you. Both options can help save time and effort in the process.
Is a 10 year old boat too old?
To find a used boat, consider its age and engine hours. Look for boats under 10 years old with less than 500 hours logged, as this ensures good condition and minimizes future issues. Older boats may be suitable depending on their condition, but they become harder to finance once they reach 10 years. Inspect the entire boat, including exterior, interior, electronics, and motor, by physically walking around the entire thing. This will help you make an informed decision about the boat’s suitability for your needs.
What is the most expensive part of a boat?
The engine is a crucial component of both power cruisers and sailboats, propelling the vessel through the water. The type, size, and power of an engine can significantly impact the cost of maintaining a boat. Larger, more powerful engines are typically more expensive to maintain or replace, and the newer, technologically advanced engines are also more expensive to buy and maintain. The condition of a boat’s engine is crucial to its overall upkeep, and failure to maintain it can lead to engine failure and the need for full replacement.
The hull, the most significant part of a boat’s structure, supports the entire weight of the boat and is made of fiberglass, steel, or wood. The cost of hull repairs depends on the material, size, and shape of the hull. To avoid costly repairs or loss of life, it is essential to study local navigational charts and be careful when docking.
Sails, on sailboats, allow the vessel to harness the power of the wind to propel itself forward. They come in various materials, and the cost can vary depending on the composition, quality, and size of the sails. Lightweight and aerodynamic racing sails are more expensive than casual or leisurely sailing sails.
Do you need to sand gelcoat before painting?
Once the gelcoat has been cleaned and sanded, a 400-grit wet-sanding tool should be used to create a textured surface that will facilitate the adhesion of the paint.
How much does it cost to redo the interior of a boat?
Reupholstering your boat’s vinyl seats, hard plastic areas, and windshields can be costly, with costs ranging from $500 to $300 per cushion. Hourly rates for boat upholstery repair can also be between $50 and $100 per hour. Docking the boat during the repair process can disrupt your summer boating experience. However, Color Glo International offers a more cost-effective solution by repairing damaged surfaces on-site with a CGI specialist. They are a national and international leader in leather and vinyl restoration and boat upholstery repair.
How do you make an old boat look new?
This article provides five ways to make your boat look new again, regardless of its age. These include cleaning and brightening aluminum that has become drab, removing algae, rust, and water stains on fiberglass, restoring life to your wax coat, getting rid of old adhesives and sealants, and eliminating mildew.
Aluminum is a light, inexpensive, and attractive material that can look bright and attractive. However, if not taken care of, it may lose its luster over time. To restore aluminum to its previous luster, use Aluminum Cleaner, a three-in-one product that brightens, polishes, and protects aluminum. This will prevent the “drab” look that may have been caused by the lack of maintenance.
In summary, taking care of your boat is essential for its overall appearance and functionality. By following these five steps, you can ensure your boat looks its best and feels its age.
How much does a bottom job on a boat cost?
The cost of bottom paint for boats can range from $100 to $300 per gallon, with additional costs for labor, supplies, and incidentals. The total cost can average $125-$150 per linear foot. Boat owners must decide how they will store their boat, which can be costly. Options for boat storage include residing in the water at a dock or marina, out of the water on a boat lift, dry storage, or trailer. Bottom paint, also called antifoul, is applied to the bottom of the boat to discourage weeds, barnacles, and other aquatic life from attaching to the boat’s hull.
For boats that reside in the water year-round, applying bottom paint is a necessary process that usually occurs once every year or two. While this does spread out the cost of bottom paint, it still adds up over time. Boats stored above the water on a boat lift can avoid these issues.
Both boat lifts and bottom paint are ongoing expenses that boat owners should consider when comparing the cost of a boat lift vs. bottom paint. Bottom painting is one of the ongoing expenses to anticipate as a boat owner, and most expect to pay for it every 1-3 years. Some companies charge for bottom painting based on the length of your boat, while others provide an estimate that is customized to your specific boat. The cost of bottom painting depends on a few factors that include paint, labor, supplies, and incidentals.
There are three different types of bottom paint to choose from, each with its own price point based on value over time and the level of protection offered. The cost of bottom paint ranges from $100 per gallon up to $300 per gallon, depending on the paint quality and market availability. Marine contractors usually recommend a specific paint depending on the length of time your boat will be in the water. Vessels stored year-round in the water require a different level of protection than those docked for just a few months.
Labor costs are another important factor to consider when calculating the cost of bottom painting. Labor costs not only include the painting of your vessel but also costs associated with removing it from the water and suspending it on blocks to be painted. Incidentals, such as disposal costs and insurance charges, are often minimal but are typically accounted for in the overall estimate the boat owner receives.
In conclusion, the cost of bottom paint for boats can be a significant expense, especially for first-time boat owners. By choosing a boat lift that securely secures the vessel above the water, boat owners can avoid the hidden costs associated with bottom painting and other maintenance, transportation, and storage costs.
How to upgrade your old boat?
This list of 10 DIY boat improvement projects is perfect for those who love their boats. These projects are easy to complete, low-cost, and guaranteed to enhance the cool-factor of your boat. Some ideas include installing a cell phone cradle, adding more fishing rod holders, cupholders, USB charging ports, upgrading your fish finder, turning a cooler into a seat, adding a cabinet door trash can, and getting a rear-view mirror. These projects are sure to make your boat more enjoyable and functional.
Is it hard to remodel a boat?
Restoring a boat can be a labor-intensive process that requires significant time and effort. It can be a peaceful and satisfying experience, but some may find it overwhelming to complete it before the season begins. Unknown challenges, such as the manufacturer’s lack of part availability, may arise, requiring creativity. Liability concerns arise, as the quality of the restoration can impact the boat’s warranty and cause insurance complications. Therefore, it’s best to hire a professional if you’re unsure about how to restore boat parts.
How much does it cost to redo the bottom of a boat?
Bottom painting is a crucial ongoing expense for boat owners, with most expecting to pay for it every 1-3 years. The cost of bottom painting depends on several factors, including paint, labor, supplies, and incidentals. Paint costs range from $100 per gallon up to $300 per gallon, depending on the paint quality and market availability. Marine contractors usually recommend a specific paint based on the length of time your boat will be in the water.
Labor costs include the painting of your vessel and costs associated with removing it from the water and suspending it on blocks to be painted. If there are problems in preparing your boat for the job or issues that require extra work, these costs may soar. Supplies, such as gloves, sandpaper, protective gear, masking tape, and painting equipment, are also factored into the overall price and can accumulate quickly if you’re planning a DIY bottom paint project.
Incidentals are the costs associated with disposal of materials associated with marine contracting jobs. Bottom paint contains toxic chemicals that require special handling, and many states regulate the disposal of materials associated with marine contracting jobs. A good average rule of thumb is to expect $125-$150 per linear foot. For a 26-foot boat, this would mean the cost of bottom paint ranges from $3, 250 to $3, 900 for a quality job.
Over the lifetime of the boat, this adds up fast, along with other maintenance, transportation, and storage costs not detailed in this article. Many boat owners try to sidestep the bottom painting issue entirely by choosing another storage alternative, such as a boat lift that will safely and easily secure your vessel above the water. Boat lift costs vary by specific product line because they are designed to store vessels of all sizes and come in many styles to accommodate multiple waterway scenarios.
At IMM Quality Boat Lifts, we make more than 10 types of boat lifts for residential and commercial use, as well as manufacture floating docks and gangways, accessories, and specialty upgrades. Our highly skilled engineering team has even engineered custom boat lifts for waterfront homes.
As a one-time, upfront investment, a boat lift eliminates many of the maintenance and repair costs that come with storing your boat in the water. Beyond that, boat lifts offer many hidden advantages and features that make life as a boat owner much easier and more enjoyable. For example, a boat lift provides convenient access to quickly launch your boat for personal enjoyment, reducing the time and hassle it takes to hit the water. Additionally, storing your boat out of the water keeps it safe from algae, barnacles, sea growth, corrosion, electrolysis, and hull growth.
Corrosion alone costs boat owners a significant amount in repairs over the lifetime of the boat, plus hull growth. Preserving your boat on a lift vs. applying bottom paint is more favorable for the resale of your boat as well.
When choosing between a boat lift and bottom paint, it’s important to consider your needs and marina or home where you keep your watercraft. As a long-term investment, buying a boat lift will save you more money over time while delivering additional benefits like convenience, easy access, security, and “dock appeal” for your waterfront home.
📹 Abandoned Sailboat! In the Atlantic Ocean
For the full video click here: https://www.youtube.com/embed/j0Mfl0U9jdU”560″ height=”315″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/-B66YP9niNQ?rel=0&modestbranding=1″ frameborder=”0″ allow=”autoplay; encrypted-media” allowfullscreen>
This boat was owned by the recently deceased Alan Mc Gettigan (of the Royal Irish Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire Ireland) who had to abandon the boat in the midst of a severe storm on their way back to Ireland via the Azores. This all happened nearly 10 years ago. All on board, experienced sailors, were safely rescued. .
I’m no sailor(though my father was) but it always awes me the sense of camaraderie while on the ocean, how they just stumbled upon a freight ship and convinced them to give you some fuel. When you’re on the sea, It feels like everyone is a bit more honest and straightforward because they have to be, the seas are dangerous and you’ll go that extra mile so that you know others will do the same to you. Maybe it’s just me being a tad too emotional, but that’s how I feel about life on the sea.
The ship had only been left abandoned for 9 weeks back in 2013. This article, although released just four days ago on December 23rd, 2022, the abandoning of the ship occurred in February of 2013 and was found 9 weeks later, when these researchers stumbled upon it. 9 weeks with nobody manning it and no anchor or anything is impressive as hell. Shows you how durable these beauties can be.
When I was in the U.S.Navy we found a zodiac with divers flags posted, but we seen school of dolphin the fish Dorado and a few Black Tips circling the zodiac. We waited 2 hours in hope the diver would see our ship and surface but as it turned to 3 hours. We put our small boat in and brought the zodiac on board and pulled the flags from the water…realizing the owner possibly drowned. After bringing the zodiac on board our ship circling the area an additional hr. As the sun was setting we left the area, our chaplain said a brief prayer and we went to the Bahamas were the Coast Guard met us took possession of the Zodiac they returned to the area and conducted a search to no avail. This was in 1990
I’m a sailing man. It’s easy to get self-righteous & over-critical. But I did a bit of reading about Alan Mc Gettigan & the boat he abandonded. Ship’s batteries were exhausted. Yep – that’s what batteries do. That’s why boats carry an independent generator. Engine wouldn’t run properly – mucky fuel shaken up by bad weather. Yep – that’s what happens in a boat – so before a voyage, u clean out the bottom of the tanks, purge all the lines, & clean/ replace the filters. Cooker wouldn’t work cos it needed electricity. Batteries flat. We’re back to needing a generator. Why was the boat dismasted? It sh hv had a storm jib up, and laid ahull. The boat was abandoned in perfectly good condition – no hull damage at all. No attempt to make a jury rig from spinnaker poles or whatever. Everything about the incident screams unprepared crew, captain, and ship. The crew gave up before the boat did.
You might be surprised by how many sailboats get abandoned offshore for medical emergencies (or incompetence). I’ve been involved with two, one an elderly couple was airlifted off when the husband suffered a heart attack and we found the boat 2 weeks later adrift. The second was a novice who tried to sail across the Gulf of Mexico solo in Feb with no experience and a lack of seamanship skills. He lost his engine, couldn’t sail and didn’t know enough to put out a sea anchor so was beam to in 3-4m seas for several days before he made a distress call and abandoned his boat (we plucked him off his boat with our FRC and Coast Guard helo’d him from there).
Old story but quite a story, great find, Swans are really skoocum vessels, I mean seriously, it got knocked down a couple of times, survived nine weeks drifting around (!!!?!!!) and was still afloat, a worthy craft that most sensible sailors would have hung onto through hell or high water, but I can see an older crew get tired of being smashed around. I am off to seek more of this story>>>>
A Swan 48 is a huge ship, basically unsinkable, in good condition worth 800,000 Dollars. Why didn’t they use the Swans Motor? The boat belonged to skipper Alan McGettigan from the Royal Irish Yacht Club. He and crewmates Declan Hayes, Morgan Crowe and Tom Mulligan were rescued by a Greek cargo ship 64 miles north of Bermuda when their 48-ft yacht suffered two knockdowns during in 20-ft waves and 50 knots wind. Alan activated an emergency beacon and they left Wolfhound in the water. Nine weeks later, it was stumbled upon by Matt and his team who filmed the recovery. The beautiful boat was abandoned by Alan McGettigan, because of a discomfort level that was by no means life-threatening.
1980’s onboard a naval ship out of of San Diego bound from Hawaii we passed a junk with a .50 caliber mounted on its bow, since it was international waters we could do nothing, but we rendered aid to a sail boat a man his wife and 2 daughter had became sick and needed fuel. We brought the family on board and our corpsman checked them out and we refuel their sail boat, they were told of that boat with the gun…we left the area to do our op….3 days later as we return to Hawaii our Port Lookout spotted something big in the water half submerged. As we got closer it was identified as a sailboat. Upon inspection by out seal team that dove on the boat it had taken small arms fire and article tapes was brought back and it was later found to be that family…no survivors. Our Seal Team commander wanted to go after that junk because we had passed it about 4 hrs earlier heading back to Hawaii. The Captain was mad as hell! He said we can’t be sure and we are not a bunch goddamm mercenaries. So it was stated that Seal Team Sea Fox needed to test the engines and its equipment so we put the Seal Team in their boat out but not before they loaded out with weapons. We had to remain on station….it was a little after midnight and all hell broke loose on the horizon…you can hear automatic weapons fire and some explosion 💥 💥 💥! Later that morning as we were bringing back the Sea Fox the Seal Team Leader met the Captain he asked how was training he said training went as expected.
Mr. Rutherford, thank you for salvaging this lovely yacht. I see from other comments below that the crew were saved after unfortunately abandoning her in a fierce storm. Glad to see that you are still sailing & that your circumnavigation of the America’s didn’t put you off other sometimes arduous journeys at sea. PS: love the full beard & hairy bear look.
I read somewhere they got in a storm, were knocked down a couple of times and made it 80km off Bermuda. While there they lost all electronics and navigation with more bad weather coming in and well the narrow reefs around Bermuda with no charts engine etc they chose to abandon it. Pretty sure recovering it was planned but no lives were lost as I read.
I remember when that boat got abandoned. I was working at the Naval Academy, and was joking with some of my fellow sailors to see if anybody had friends in Intel who could get us sat imagery to locate it. I mean, it’s a Swan 47. Amazing that she’s still in such good shape. Man. I’da been trying everything to bring that sucker into Bermuda. Ev-a ree-thing.
Matt has a great story. I was honored to have him crew on my boat, Paradiso, for the Leukemia Cup Regatta on the Potomac River to help raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. That was about 12 years ago or so. He is a very nice fellow and is making a difference raising awareness of ocean pollution issues around the world. Great job on the salvage Matt. Hope you are doing great.
Interesting scenario. If the boat and crew had set sail, someone will know about them, and Matt will be able to gather the info. It’s possible the skipper was single handing and went over, and the un-maned vessel floundered in a bad seaway, which would account for the “riffled through” look of the main saloon and cabins. Perhaps a delivery? Perhaps robbery? Still in any case, someone would be missing the skipper and the boat.
i once played a coast guard article game with a random dude on the east coast US living on a boat during a storm. only thing he worried about was all the drifting boats coming by going out into the open water. it is possible that this was a boat that got loose in a storm from an anchorage or not to greatly protected marina.
There isn’t much information provided, but it looks like the forestay is gone. Still, you could run a halyard to the bow to stabilize the mast and put up the mainsail. If in the end it couldn’t be sailed, or towed, or motored for salvage, then you could still remove anything of value. And if there was a means to contact the nearest authorities, you could determine if the boat should be scuttled to prevent it from being a hazard to navigation.
So this boat has been out to sea for almost ten years? Wow, that’s unbelievable. Great job, finding her, towing her back in. And I’m glad there was no tragedy, on that boat. The ocean is beautiful, but she’s dangerous. I love my boat, and all the toys on her. But everything I would ever need to survive whether shipwrecked, stranded, shelter, communication, firearm, and shelter, is always onboard. I’ve always been like that from my 1st 16ft Bayliner, I restored at 18 yrs old. Stay safe all of you. Sailboat. Nothing ever goes perfectly planned. ⛵🌊🙏
Well I think you just demonstrated what a lot of people who don’t know much about boats don’t understand. Towing another boat a long distance in the ocean is very very hard. Everyone who hasn’t tried to tow a boat like that I always wonders why people don’t salvage boats they find floating in the ocean. You just showed everyone why. We helped out a sailor and towed another sailboat from the Exumas to Eluethera one time, with our sailboat, in the daylight, on a relatively calm day. Doing it, I realized that it would be impossible to continue that tow at night or with any kind of sea at all.
For all the morons commenting on this article. He explained everything about this on his podcast and why he did not end up recovering the boat. The armchair people talking about what he should have done are. making fools of themselves on a public forum. Matt is one of the most accomplished sailors alive. Maybe there is so much sensational content on the internet that you choose to disbelieve anything you see, that you can’t taking a honest article at its word. It’s just sad that someone can post an amazing story and not have such a litany bozos questioning the veracity or competence of the poster.
I noticed a couple of drawers opened and from my recollection that isn’t likely to happen on it’s own. They also look like they were rifled through. I have to wonder if this wasn’t a pirate booty that once broken, they abandoned as you did. It is unfortunate that you were not able to recover the wreck, the Swan is a coveted design and that boat looked like it would have made a sweet prize. I also noticed the lack of any foul weather gear in the locker, I wonder if that’s evidence of the ship being lost in a storm. There seemed to be ample sails present in the fore peak. I wonder if you happened to notice any electronics as those might be the first things that a pirate crew would remove as a prize if they had to abandon her. I would love to hear more about the condition when you found her. For example, what was the state of hatches at the time you boarded her? Were the batteries charged or depleted? Were there any groceries on board, any fresh groceries? Did you retrieve any registration documents? I noticed the broken forward mainstay and I have to wonder what other damage you noted. I did forensic computer studies for a few years and it’s kind of a bug that infected me, asking questions. I hope you find the answers for yourself as I can only imagine what it would be like to have actually been there. Thanks for sharing.
Roger Bannon’s post states this was abandoned a decade ago in a storm. That may be true. BUT, a sail boat did NOT survive TEN YEARS abandoned at sea, yet remain in such pristine condition. That’s simply not possible. The article shows, both outside and inside, ZERO appreciable aging, no moist air induced algae inside, no barnacles outside. At 1:42, it’s clear that even the sails are in good shape – no tears, and not discolored by mold/mildew/rot. Someone retrieved it – many years ago. They then either claimed it, or at least used, docked and maintained it. The abandonment was recent, perhaps an engine failure.
One of the classic mistakes of seamanship: abandoning a perfectly seaworthy boat. No engine is not a death sentence, by any stretch of the imagination. If you have even a few solar panels and a decent battery, you can keep your bilge empty and sail her home. It’s not like sailing accross an ocean without an engine somehow became impossible after engines were invented.
Four Irish yachtsmen were rescued from the vessel by cargo ship after an international rescue mission involving the US Coast Guard on February 2, 2013, some 70–miles north of Bermuda. Better captions are needed, since this footage is over 10 years old. As mentioned by other The crew were Alan “McGettigan, Declan Hayes, and Morgan Crowe all from the Royal Irish Yacht Club (RIYC), and Tom Mulligan from the neighbouring National Yacht Club (NYC) in Dún Laoghaire, all of whom were rescued
Okay then, now I want to know so much more!!!! I hope you make $cash$ money to keep your adventure going. My name is Alex, I’m 60, and since COVID, have purchased a powered boat and found a new love❤ for the water. (Safely close to shore with A tow boa t US gold membership!) You guys rock. Now I NEED to know what happened to the captain of the lost boat?!
I understand from reading the comments that this is not the case for this boat However it is not uncommon to find abandoned boats in coastal bays etc… That is due to the high cost of junking her in a junk yard as many refuse to take them due to a high amount of fiberglass. Even large ships are sometimes abandoned this way rather than fixing them up which can run into the millions in fact many boats are scuttled, that means intentionally sunk as they can sometimes get away with scamming the insurance companies for millions of dollars every year.
That boat was not ABANDONED. It is derelict. Abandoned means the owner walked away from it willingly wishing no more responsibility for it. Check the bunks. How many people do you suppose were onboard? HOW much fuel is onboard? HOW much food & water & clothes are onboard? This may have been the perfect place to commit a suicide. This may have been the perfect place to dump a stolen boat used for drug hauling. The people onboard may have been over run by pirates & murdered. Get the hull # & crafts name and call the authorities. They will sort this all out. !
why the fuck not sail the swan under short sail. One person Can do it. The swan is what a 1/4 million dollar boat? All you have to do is free it of water, and get up sail. Dumber than a box of rocks… if you ask me., Now unless the crew fell overboard, they abandoned a perfectly sound yacht.. in favor of what ?
If I had found this abandoned boat, I would have made sure there were no bodies on board, written down the registration, model, name, position, grabbed any useful food stores, sailed on and reported her position when I could. I certainly wouldn’t saddle myself with another boat at sea. If anyone finds my boat at sea in this condition; please do the same. LOL. Thanks…
Always step UP into your liferaft. That’s official guidance. In terrible conditions after pitchpoling or multiple knock-downs I’m not sure I could convince myself not to flee! Recently in the GGR2022 sailor Tapio had 6 minutes to get his grab bag and liferaft sorted. Lucky it wasn’t during a storm. They still don’t know what happened.
There are ships that have bean floating at sea for years, they just go round and round following currents, unless someone pointedly sets out to recover them (many hundreds of miles out to sea) no one is going “rescue” them for there meager scrap metal. They are few and far between and eventually sink. There 10s of thousands of sunken ships in the world, just google how many are in the Great Lakes alone.
drink gin for courage and yes on the open seas you will find dead bodies thank you for finding and taking care of a yacht swan 48 as salvage you can claim it as its in open sea hope you run the pump first and check the hull ofr leaks on both your yachts why would anyone go out to sea without a fullmechanical strong diesel engine with new timeing chain or belt and in perfect condition why would you ever run out of fuel and have to ask anyone for fuel you should have trained first.
For whatever it may be worth I do highly laud your efforts to assist with this abandoned boat that at least could have been cosidered a hazard to navigation. However, I would called it in first and not touched anything until I had more information. It could have been something criminal and you could have completely contaminated a crime scene.
I’ve once towed a 54 foot sailing yacht with sever engine failure with ten sea cadets on board with two sailing instructors all the way across the North Sea from Holland to Harwich and onto Foxes marina on the Orwell River at Ipswich as there was two of us on my yacht as it was a mirage 28, ‘’and 28 foot long we struggled at first to get her moving but once she moved her own momentum kept her going all the way as I only had a Yanmar 2 GM 20 HP Deisel inboard in my boat to tow her her with!!…..but we did it to our surprise and the Welcome we got at Foxes Marina was phenomenal as there was so many people there when we arrived any one would have thought we have sailed around the world it was amazing,….also the amount of people to help with getting her to be berthed was absolutely incredible. As this was about 30 years ago now. Also I’m still at Foxes Marina to this day and still got the same boat…..
how crazy, have you been able to find information as to what happened and Im assuming they were air lifted or rescued by a freighter and had to abandon the vessel. I guess its probably a good thing you had to cut it loose before getting becalmed as you would of probably been stuck pushing the boat away for 20 some days! although that boat would of been well worth the hardship of the salvage.