Dragon Keelboat 1964 restoration... Need help!

Audrey2001

Recruit
Joined
Apr 13, 2021
Messages
4
Hi All!
My name is Audrey and I need your help! I bought a 1964 (I think) dragon keelboat to save it from being turned into scrap wood at my local marina but I am way out of my depth in terms of restoring it. I don't even know where to start! I don't have a big budget but have a lot of time!
I have included some photos for reference:
boat_1.jpg boat.jpgboat_2.jpg
 

racerone

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 28, 2013
Messages
38,781
Was traveling on the east coat about 30 years ago.-----Saw brochure for afternoon sailing trip on a wooden boat.---Great deal for me.------Went on the trip and a young couple owned the boat.-----Used it in summers to make coins for winter in the BAHAMAS.----Story was that they bought the boat and needed it repaired / restored.-----When they mention to the shop that they had the original drawings for it the shop owner said.-----Just take every thing off it , winches / mast / rudder keel / EVERYTHING that can be re-used.----Cheaper to build you a new boat than to fix this junk.-----Find about 100 videos on U-tube on a project called ---TALLY_HO by SAMSON BOAT COMPANY.----That will give you an idea of what needs to be done.
 

tpenfield

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 18, 2011
Messages
18,359
Welcome to iBoats :D (y)

We'll be right over to help.

This is what you are looking to get to . . . (right?)
Dragon-Main.jpg
.
1200px-Dragon_(keelboat).png

It seems like a few pieces are missing from your photos though . . . :unsure:
 

tpenfield

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 18, 2011
Messages
18,359
Also, just wondering . . .

What the affection is for this particular boat (Dragon)? Do you know of this type of boat and want to bring it back from the dead? (it is dead as far as I can tell)

Little money and lots of time . . . it would be better if it were the other way around.

The boat is about 30 feet long and has a design weight of about 4,000 lbs. To you have the necessary resources to lift/move/handle this boat?

Do you have all the parts? Or access to the right parts?

Are you just messing with us? :unsure: :rolleyes:
 

Audrey2001

Recruit
Joined
Apr 13, 2021
Messages
4
Hi! thank you both for your replays! In terms of why I have decided to refit this boat instead of buying/ starting from scratch is that I love the history of the boat (it sailed in the 1968 Olympics for Portugal (where I'm from)) and thought it would be a waste to let it rot (more than it already has). In terms of moving and where I will be doing the refit, I have access to a crane/device (as well as a guy that operates the device) to move the boat and it is also on a trailer so can move it to my garden. If by parts you mean rigging I will be buying new and getting a professional rigger to help but that is a long way into the future. I have yet to fully assess the work that needs to be done to the woodwork and will hopefully get the help of a local surveyor to point out the problem points and can start from there! As I progress would love any advice and help anyone can offer and will keep you updated!
 

Audrey2001

Recruit
Joined
Apr 13, 2021
Messages
4
Also here are some images of what she is supposed to look like! A long way to go :)
 

Attachments

  • Large_IMG_43921.jpg
    Large_IMG_43921.jpg
    166.9 KB · Views: 8
  • siena-aus118-6_medium.jpg
    siena-aus118-6_medium.jpg
    14 KB · Views: 8
  • siena-aus118-8_medium.jpg
    siena-aus118-8_medium.jpg
    28.2 KB · Views: 8

briangcc

Commander
Joined
Jul 10, 2012
Messages
2,429
That's going to be a labor of love. I certainly hope you have lots of time on your hands as that's going to be a long road back to being sea worthy.

You might hit up NedL if he's still bobbing around here as he completed a wooden boat restore not too long ago and may be able to offer some pointers.
 

racerone

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 28, 2013
Messages
38,781
It will take more time than you think.-----It will cost more beer / wine / whiskey tokens that you can think of.-----Restoration work is expensive.----
 

tpenfield

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 18, 2011
Messages
18,359
My experience is taking a 12' Beetle Cat (wooden cat boat) from the bone yard to a daily sailor.

Is there a set of class rules that the boat would want/need to stay 'class legal' ( I would assume there is) . That will govern some of your approach. There are probably some wooden boat forums that may be helpful in some of the technical aspects of the restoration.

Then there is budget consideration, as I assume that you will have to buy/make the missing pieces. It seems like a fair amount of the standing rigging is/can be aluminum. Do you have a budget in mind? Sweat equity can take one only so far.

It also looks like there is a book or 2 on restoring these boats, if you have not looked into those resources.

The sails themselves will be expensive, assuming that you will have to get sails made. It also looks like part of the keel is missing? It is one thing to be working with a mostly complete boat, but this boat/hull may be far short of that.

Also, the condition of the hull is of consideration - what is usable and what is not. Will you be re-fabricating the ribs of the hull from the rotted remains of the existing hull, or even line drawings. I would think many of the the hull planks may need to be replaced, or perhaps in total. So you may be using the hull and its components as templates for newly fabricated pieces.

Then there are your skills and prior experience or ability to hire craftsmen/women. That sort of plays into the budget question.

If I had to throw out a number for budget, it would be $20-30K to restore the boat.
 
Last edited:

racerone

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 28, 2013
Messages
38,781
By all the sanding marks it looks like work / inspection was done at one time.-----Work was halted , project abandoned.----Perhaps in your are there are not many other DRAGONS.-----Bragging rights when restored and sailing will be PRICELESS.-----They say that steel " home built " larger boats are finished by the THIRD owner.
 

Audrey2001

Recruit
Joined
Apr 13, 2021
Messages
4
Hey all! To answer your questions: for rigging, I still have the mast and boom, but I will still need to get sails (which I have found some second hand at my club) and all the other rigging, but that is something I will look further into once I advance into the project a bit more. I also have the entirety of the keel (one section is on the trailer detached from the boat)
I have contacted a local wooden boat restorer guru to come by in the next few weeks to do a survey of the main projects to tackle!
Before I start resoring the boat I am cleaning out all the organic matter that has accumulated and replacing the wheels on the trailer that have rusted.
I also think that previous restoration attempts occurred and have found some think strips of what I think is carbon fiber throughout the inside of the boat on some of the joins.
 

Attachments

  • c6560b74-85a6-422b-86f4-9dab96f5592a.jpg
    c6560b74-85a6-422b-86f4-9dab96f5592a.jpg
    291.3 KB · Views: 14
  • 10d545cd-cc78-4912-afc0-b195824927d9.jpg
    10d545cd-cc78-4912-afc0-b195824927d9.jpg
    397.5 KB · Views: 14

tpenfield

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 18, 2011
Messages
18,359
Cheaper to simply build a new boat !!
I was thinking, maybe the hull could be re-made of foam/fiberglass, using the keel and ribs as scantlings for the shape of the hull and foam sheets as the hull planks. Not sure what class rules are on hull material and/or modifications.

It will be interesting to see what the wooden boat 'guru' has to say about it.
 

racerone

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 28, 2013
Messages
38,781
So you spend time to take it apart.---Inspect every piece of wood.---Replace each piece of wood.----Easier to build a new one !!
 

sphelps

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 16, 2011
Messages
11,475
---Find about 100 videos on U-tube on a project called ---TALLY_HO by SAMSON BOAT COMPANY.----That will give you an idea of what needs to be done.
Thats about right only on a lot smaller scale .. I never miss a video .
Even had a shot with them on the whiskey plank ! LOL!
Audrey the story on this boat is pretty nice and I love the fact that you would like to preserve it but wow what a lot of work and money its gunna take to just make it safe if you can . I wish you luck should you actually attempt the rebuild .. Might think about opening a GoFundMe account .. ;)
 
Top