GB32 Woodie Under Contract: Lots of Questions :)

COD · Dec 14, 2021

Another gorgeous woodie! We’re actually wanting to move up and would love to find a good 36 woodie but the ones that are left seem to all be on the west coast. That’s one thing I really miss about living in the PNW and cruising on up into Canada is we’d see so many wood boats. Out here in the east coast, not so much. It’s funny how all the plastic boat owners are afraid of owning a wood boat because of all the “problems” and just about every fiberglass GB we’ve looked at with the exception of one has rotted plywood stuck in between two layers of fiberglass on their aide decks. And so much of the gel coats are oxidized and covered with spider cracks from the hot sun. There’s no free lunch, every boat whether wood or glass has to be taken care of meticulously “if” you want them to stay top notch.

thebruce · Dec 19, 2021

Yup, totally agree.

thebruce · Dec 19, 2021

Oh wow. That boat is gorgeous. Your making me have bilge envy. That’s an upcoming project, maybe this spring. Did you repaint yours or is that original?

charlesamilton · Dec 20, 2021

just bought a GB, well maintained, 2 owners babied her and she is still a ton of work and money. I have been a carpenter for 40 years and I love the wood, and fix it on my boat but you are asking for a non stop project. I had a mahogany 16" Penn yan for years and basically rebuilt it every spring, just not worth it. A brand new boat needs work, in fact the advice I got when I bought my boat was " look around your boat, everything is going to break it just hasn't yet' Buy a newer GB, they are great boats and will keep you busy with all the projects you need.

Keijo · Dec 21, 2021

thebruce said:
Oh wow. That boat is gorgeous. Your making me have bilge envy. That’s an upcoming project, maybe this spring. Did you repaint yours or is that original?

I don't know if the bilge is original as I am, I believe, the 7th person to be owned by her. Other than around the engine bed which I prepped for the new John Deere I have only, more or less, cleaned the bilge.

But I'll get to it as soon as I can.

thebruce · Sep 11, 2024

I figured i owed the group an update on the Barbary Ghost since its been a minute. In short, the BG is a beast thats created so many great memories over the last few years on the SF bay. Such a fun project and i would highly recommend to anyone thinking about buying or restoring a woodie - do it...it's just wood. We've had virtually no issues with the boat in the 4 years we've owned it, and we use it probably every week or two. We had to replace a starter solenoid, some batteries, a crimp on the steering cable broke...and that's it. Every summer i have my boys do a big project: paint the bilge, cabinets, mast, etc. The majority is just keeping up with paint and varnish but we have a guy that helps us on that. With two boat partners the costs are minimal. And my boat partner summed it up well when he said "this boat is the greatest thing you have ever done for me "

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This group was so helpful when i took the leap, I'm happy to pay it forward for anyone who's embarking on a similar project. Just reach out.