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My wee 1968 Springer-effect office boat has a hole. Actually, she has lots of holes and needs complete overplating or new sides. I'm looking for cheap options near Bham to give another lease of life, or innovative bodges to keep her afloat a few more years. Context: Went into dry dock for a check and blacking at Hockley Port. Hull deemed thin and in need of overplating 'soon, in next few years'. I found one proper hole underneath which was plated yesterday morning, but then more leaks appeared as we refloated her - looks like weld on the V has bent and cracked under boat's own weight where it touched the blocks, and there were 2 other small holes that I could find when I took up the floor, so probably more. Plus some very deep nearly-hole pits which wont last long. I'm now beached on our Hockley Port slipway with a bilge pump going so water doesn't come over the floorboards while I ponder options - will be OK here for a few weeks but not indefinitely. What would be the ballpark cost of overplating or replacing everything below the rubbing strakes on a 20ft V bottom boat? It is not a Springer, but looks like one - it has been cobbled together over the years from pieces, and doesn't necessarily have to stay V-bottomed. Any recommendations for people to ring? The guy at Caggys' cant do it, and Tony Fryer at Hawne Basin is away till Friday week - will call him then. But Hawne basin is full on hardstanding at the mo apparently. Icknield Port Loop has just closed We may be able to get it out on slipway with trailer - where would I start asking about that? The winch no longer works on this slipway, so it'd need someone to haul out w vehicle too. So it doesn't necessarily need a 'boat' welder, just someone who could do it on hardstanding. Possible bodges we brainstormed yesterday Concreting bottom as a fix - might sort the bottom and give much needed ballast but not reach the pits above the floor level on the sides. Wrapping with something? Glass fibre etc? Not viable over bitumen I guess Park it in a metal floating tray (the boat has no engine and goes nowhere) The office boat is a luxury - cost me a grand to buy 2.5 years ago and another grand or so to fit out over six months of weekends with a friend, and I have to pay for moorings etc, so I can't pour unlimited dosh into it. My thought is 2-3 grand tops, but if it made it resaleable later, maybe a tiny bit more. Default is scrap, but I love the boat and don't want to. Really annoying thing is that when I bought it knowing it was mainly 3-4mm I wanted to get it overplated while I had it back to steel and *everyone* and their dog told me not to worry - if it had floated for 45 years it would be fine, esp as it will only ever be static, don't waste the money etc etc. Fitting it out was a fun project the first time but the thought of ripping it all ut and doing it all over again - and paying for it again - fills me with dread. AND I've just paid Sherborne Wharf prices to beautifully black and weld a sieve! Grump!! All suggestions - and sympathy - much appreciated Pic of boat, slipway, and sample of hull before blacking, attached.
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