Heart broken
 

I've been vying for the past few months to buy an
1898 70' sidewheeler. Plans were to finish the
reconstruction and make it into a vintage
houseboat. It's less than a half mile from my
house and I drive past it almost every day. I've
been complimenting it for three years.
It would have been perfect. The current owner has
already rebuilt the wheels and installed two 100hp
Gray Marine engines. But he hasn't done a thing
to it in 4 years.
I tracked him down and he's refusing to sell.
I'm heart broken.
S.

Heart broken
 

How about some pictures...

"NotPony" wrote
I've been vying for the past few months to buy an
1898 70' sidewheeler. Plans were to finish the
reconstruction and make it into a vintage
houseboat. It's less than a half mile from my
house and I drive past it almost every day. I've
been complimenting it for three years.
It would have been perfect. The current owner has
already rebuilt the wheels and installed two 100hp
Gray Marine engines. But he hasn't done a thing
to it in 4 years.
I tracked him down and he's refusing to sell.
I'm heart broken.
S.

Heart broken
 

"NotPony" wrote in message
news:Efkkf.510$5V1.455@trnddc02...
I've been vying for the past few months to buy an
1898 70' sidewheeler. Plans were to finish the
reconstruction and make it into a vintage
houseboat. It's less than a half mile from my
house and I drive past it almost every day. I've
been complimenting it for three years.
It would have been perfect. The current owner has
already rebuilt the wheels and installed two 100hp
Gray Marine engines. But he hasn't done a thing
to it in 4 years.
I tracked him down and he's refusing to sell.
I'm heart broken.
S.


Consider that a sign.

S

Heart broken
 

A sign? What, that my heart's broken?
S.

"Scotty" wrote in message
...
:
: "NotPony" wrote in message
: news:Efkkf.510$5V1.455@trnddc02...
: I've been vying for the past few months to buy
an
: 1898 70' sidewheeler. Plans were to finish
the
: reconstruction and make it into a vintage
: houseboat. It's less than a half mile from my
: house and I drive past it almost every day.
I've
: been complimenting it for three years.
: It would have been perfect. The current owner
has
: already rebuilt the wheels and installed two
100hp
: Gray Marine engines. But he hasn't done a
thing
: to it in 4 years.
: I tracked him down and he's refusing to sell.
: I'm heart broken.
: S.
:
:
: Consider that a sign.
:
: S
:
:

Heart broken
 

This was taken in 2000.
http://500walnutgrove.com/images/Lang%20Syne.jpg
S.

"Bart Senior" .@. wrote in message
...
: How about some pictures...
:
: "NotPony" wrote
: I've been vying for the past few months to buy
an
: 1898 70' sidewheeler. Plans were to finish
the
: reconstruction and make it into a vintage
: houseboat. It's less than a half mile from my
: house and I drive past it almost every day.
I've
: been complimenting it for three years.
: It would have been perfect. The current owner
has
: already rebuilt the wheels and installed two
100hp
: Gray Marine engines. But he hasn't done a
thing
: to it in 4 years.
: I tracked him down and he's refusing to sell.
: I'm heart broken.
: S.
:
:

Heart broken
 

If you want it keep after him.

Is it steel or wood? Lots O room...where you going to tie her up?

Joe

Heart broken
 

Steel. I wanted to haul her and put her in my
driveway while we finished her. The ramp next
door is only 12' wide, though. She's about 20'.
Believe me, I'm going to keep after him.
S.

"Joe" wrote in message
ups.com...
: If you want it keep after him.
:
: Is it steel or wood? Lots O room...where you
going to tie her up?
:
: Joe
:

Heart broken
 

Where's the mast go?


"NotPony" wrote in message
news:%Mkkf.6199$a%.1631@trnddc05...
This was taken in 2000.
http://500walnutgrove.com/images/Lang%20Syne.jpg
S.

"Bart Senior" .@. wrote in message
...
: How about some pictures...
:
: "NotPony" wrote
: I've been vying for the past few months to buy
an
: 1898 70' sidewheeler. Plans were to finish
the
: reconstruction and make it into a vintage
: houseboat. It's less than a half mile from my
: house and I drive past it almost every day.
I've
: been complimenting it for three years.
: It would have been perfect. The current owner
has
: already rebuilt the wheels and installed two
100hp
: Gray Marine engines. But he hasn't done a
thing
: to it in 4 years.
: I tracked him down and he's refusing to sell.
: I'm heart broken.
: S.
:
:

Heart broken
 

There's a stack just aft of the pilot house.
She's got enough windage that she doesn't need
sails. After all, look at Haggy's boat.
S

"Scotty" wrote in message
...
: Where's the mast go?
:
:
: "NotPony" wrote in message
: news:%Mkkf.6199$a%.1631@trnddc05...
: This was taken in 2000.
:
http://500walnutgrove.com/images/Lang%20Syne.jpg
: S.
:
: "Bart Senior" .@. wrote in message
: ...
: : How about some pictures...
: :
: : "NotPony" wrote
: : I've been vying for the past few months to
buy
: an
: : 1898 70' sidewheeler. Plans were to
finish
: the
: : reconstruction and make it into a vintage
: : houseboat. It's less than a half mile
from my
: : house and I drive past it almost every
day.
: I've
: : been complimenting it for three years.
: : It would have been perfect. The current
owner
: has
: : already rebuilt the wheels and installed
two
: 100hp
: : Gray Marine engines. But he hasn't done a
: thing
: : to it in 4 years.
: : I tracked him down and he's refusing to
sell.
: : I'm heart broken.
: : S.
: :
: :
:
:
:

Heart broken
 

Did you finish the house already!?

Seahag

"NotPony" wrote in message
news:Efkkf.510$5V1.455@trnddc02...
I've been vying for the past few months to buy an
1898 70' sidewheeler. Plans were to finish the
reconstruction and make it into a vintage
houseboat. It's less than a half mile from my
house and I drive past it almost every day. I've
been complimenting it for three years.
It would have been perfect. The current owner has
already rebuilt the wheels and installed two 100hp
Gray Marine engines. But he hasn't done a thing
to it in 4 years.
I tracked him down and he's refusing to sell.
I'm heart broken.
S.

Heart broken
 

The house is about 95%. Suzanne scraped and
painted the exterior last year (I helped a little
bit). Haven't done much to it since. She hand
dug a 3' deep 12' diameter pool and laid a brick
patio around it.
You ought to come up and see it sometime.
Remember how to get here?
S.

"Seahag" wrote in message
...
: Did you finish the house already!?
:
: Seahag
:
: "NotPony" wrote in message
: news:Efkkf.510$5V1.455@trnddc02...
: I've been vying for the past few months to buy
an
: 1898 70' sidewheeler. Plans were to finish
the
: reconstruction and make it into a vintage
: houseboat. It's less than a half mile from my
: house and I drive past it almost every day.
I've
: been complimenting it for three years.
: It would have been perfect. The current owner
has
: already rebuilt the wheels and installed two
100hp
: Gray Marine engines. But he hasn't done a
thing
: to it in 4 years.
: I tracked him down and he's refusing to sell.
: I'm heart broken.
: S.
:
:
:

Heart broken
 

About three years ago I got to ride on a large, old steam powered stern
wheeler. Of course, I inspected the engine room and was surprised to find an
apartment building type boiler powering it (fuel oil). I wonder if anyone
else has ever encountered anything like that.

Amen


"NotPony" wrote in message
news:Efkkf.510$5V1.455@trnddc02...
I've been vying for the past few months to buy an
1898 70' sidewheeler. Plans were to finish the
reconstruction and make it into a vintage
houseboat. It's less than a half mile from my
house and I drive past it almost every day. I've
been complimenting it for three years.
It would have been perfect. The current owner has
already rebuilt the wheels and installed two 100hp
Gray Marine engines. But he hasn't done a thing
to it in 4 years.
I tracked him down and he's refusing to sell.
I'm heart broken.
S.

Heart broken
 

"NotPony" wrote in message
news:c4mkf.372$Bs2.11@trnddc01...
The house is about 95%. Suzanne scraped and
painted the exterior last year (I helped a little
bit).

He steadied the ladder for her.

Heart broken
 

Interesting idea Steve. I'd like to see that!

"NotPony" wrote
I've been vying for the past few months to buy an
1898 70' sidewheeler. Plans were to finish the
reconstruction and make it into a vintage
houseboat. It's less than a half mile from my
house and I drive past it almost every day. I've
been complimenting it for three years.
It would have been perfect. The current owner has
already rebuilt the wheels and installed two 100hp
Gray Marine engines. But he hasn't done a thing
to it in 4 years.
I tracked him down and he's refusing to sell.
I'm heart broken.
S.

Heart broken
 

I wanted to haul her and put her in my
driveway while we finished her.

Man.............. there goes the neighborhood ;0)
Your yard will be more cluttered and need more cinder blocks than
Scotty's.

Joe

Heart broken
 

I don't think it would be too bad. 70' x 20'
would take up less than half of the parking pad.
The house is big enough that it wouldn't be
dwarfed by the big boat sitting next to it. ( it
would be similar to a sunfish sitting next to
Scotty's trailer) It could cozy up between the
house and the garage. The neighbors are used to
seeing boats in the driveway and on the lawn. The
six small boats that I have her nor would have to
go behind the garage.
S.


"Joe" wrote in message
oups.com...
: I wanted to haul her and put her in my
: driveway while we finished her.
:
: Man.............. there goes the neighborhood
;0)
: Your yard will be more cluttered and need more
cinder blocks than
: Scotty's.
:
: Joe
:

Heart broken - adding a lttle advice
 

S.

As you must know, noone does this kind of a project for the cash out
value.

People get projects going and then realize that life doesn't have the
room (either bandwidth or duration) for the dream.

If you talk to the owner (you say it is nearby) every chance you get,
you can end up on his list of possible new homes should he come to look
for same. He has already demonstrated that he will be looking for a new
home for is love and not a place to dump the damn boat. You ned to show
him that you share his dream and could be an effective custodian.

Best of Luck

Matt Colie (Been there)


NotPony wrote:

I've been vying for the past few months to buy an
1898 70' sidewheeler. Plans were to finish the
reconstruction and make it into a vintage
houseboat. It's less than a half mile from my
house and I drive past it almost every day. I've
been complimenting it for three years.
It would have been perfect. The current owner has
already rebuilt the wheels and installed two 100hp
Gray Marine engines. But he hasn't done a thing
to it in 4 years.
I tracked him down and he's refusing to sell.
I'm heart broken.
S.

Heart broken
 

"Joe" wrote in message
oups.com...
I wanted to haul her and put her in my
driveway while we finished her.

Man.............. there goes the neighborhood ;0)
Your yard will be more cluttered and need more cinder blocks
than
Scotty's.

His neighbors already put up a 'spite' fence.

Scotty

Heart broken
 

"Seahag" wrote in message
...
: Dang, Suzanne's the Bomb!

Yes, she most certainly is. I also forgot to
mention the 150' long retaining wall she built
along the front of the property.

: I still have the directions in the door pocket
of my Jeep!
: Do you have pictures?

Suzanne probably has taken some, but I don't know
where they'd be. Maybe Scotty can take some next
time he parks his mobile home in my front yard.
S.

:
: Seahag
:
: "NotPony" wrote in message
: news:c4mkf.372$Bs2.11@trnddc01...
: The house is about 95%. Suzanne scraped and
: painted the exterior last year (I helped a
little
: bit). Haven't done much to it since. She
hand
: dug a 3' deep 12' diameter pool and laid a
brick
: patio around it.
: You ought to come up and see it sometime.
: Remember how to get here?
: S.
:
: "Seahag" wrote in
message
: ...
: : Did you finish the house already!?
: :
: : Seahag
: :
: : "NotPony" wrote in
message
: : news:Efkkf.510$5V1.455@trnddc02...
: : I've been vying for the past few months to
buy
: an
: : 1898 70' sidewheeler. Plans were to
finish
: the
: : reconstruction and make it into a vintage
: : houseboat. It's less than a half mile
from my
: : house and I drive past it almost every
day.
: I've
: : been complimenting it for three years.
: : It would have been perfect. The current
owner
: has
: : already rebuilt the wheels and installed
two
: 100hp
: : Gray Marine engines. But he hasn't done a
: thing
: : to it in 4 years.
: : I tracked him down and he's refusing to
sell.
: : I'm heart broken.
: : S.
: :
: :
: :
:
:
:

Heart broken
 

"NotPony" wrote

Suzanne probably has taken some, but I don't know
where they'd be. Maybe Scotty can take some next
time he parks his mobile home in my front yard.

Which should be on Thursday.

SV

Heart broken
 

"NotPony" wrote:

"Seahag" wrote:
: Dang, Suzanne's the Bomb!

Yes, she most certainly is. I also forgot to
mention the 150' long retaining wall she built
along the front of the property.

Dang, you definitly need to put pictures up!

Seahag




: I still have the directions in the door pocket
of my Jeep!
: Do you have pictures?

Suzanne probably has taken some, but I don't know
where they'd be. Maybe Scotty can take some next
time he parks his mobile home in my front yard.
S.

:
: Seahag
:
: "NotPony" wrote in message
: news:c4mkf.372$Bs2.11@trnddc01...
: The house is about 95%. Suzanne scraped and
: painted the exterior last year (I helped a
little
: bit). Haven't done much to it since. She
hand
: dug a 3' deep 12' diameter pool and laid a
brick
: patio around it.
: You ought to come up and see it sometime.
: Remember how to get here?
: S.
:
: "Seahag" wrote in
message
: ...
: : Did you finish the house already!?
: :
: : Seahag
: :
: : "NotPony" wrote in
message
: : news:Efkkf.510$5V1.455@trnddc02...
: : I've been vying for the past few months to
buy
: an
: : 1898 70' sidewheeler. Plans were to
finish
: the
: : reconstruction and make it into a vintage
: : houseboat. It's less than a half mile
from my
: : house and I drive past it almost every
day.
: I've
: : been complimenting it for three years.
: : It would have been perfect. The current
owner
: has
: : already rebuilt the wheels and installed
two
: 100hp
: : Gray Marine engines. But he hasn't done a
: thing
: : to it in 4 years.
: : I tracked him down and he's refusing to
sell.
: : I'm heart broken.
: : S.
: :
: :
: :
:
:
:

Heart broken
 

"NotPony" wrote
I've been vying for the past few months to buy an
1898 70' sidewheeler.

Cool. I wonder what it's PHRF rating is?

... Plans were to finish the
reconstruction and make it into a vintage
houseboat. It's less than a half mile from my
house and I drive past it almost every day. I've
been complimenting it for three years.
It would have been perfect.

What was it originally used for? That's pretty late date for
a paddle wheeler; I bet it's a pretty good design.

... The current owner has
already rebuilt the wheels and installed two 100hp
Gray Marine engines.

WHAT!!!!!
Blashpemy!

The original steam propulsion plant MUST be replaced. You
have been warned.


... But he hasn't done a thing
to it in 4 years.
I tracked him down and he's refusing to sell.
I'm heart broken.


Maybe he's just playing hard to get. Offer to trade him the
house.

DSK

Heart broken
 

"DSK" wrote in message
...
: "NotPony" wrote
: I've been vying for the past few months to
buy an
: 1898 70' sidewheeler.
:
: Cool. I wonder what it's PHRF rating is?

6075 non spin.

:
: ... Plans were to finish the
: reconstruction and make it into a vintage
: houseboat. It's less than a half mile from
my
: house and I drive past it almost every day.
I've
: been complimenting it for three years.
: It would have been perfect.
:
: What was it originally used for? That's pretty
late date for
: a paddle wheeler; I bet it's a pretty good
design.

uncertain background. I heard rumors that is had
hauled goods. Also a vetern said he was on it in
the 40's as a soldier being shipped across the
bay.

:
: ... The current owner has
: already rebuilt the wheels and installed two
100hp
: Gray Marine engines.
:
: WHAT!!!!!
: Blashpemy!
:
: The original steam propulsion plant MUST be
replaced. You
: have been warned.
:

Well, from what I understand, there was nothing
muych left.

:
: ... But he hasn't done a thing
: to it in 4 years.
: I tracked him down and he's refusing to sell.
: I'm heart broken.
:
:
: Maybe he's just playing hard to get. Offer to
trade him the
: house.

Don't think so. I don't think the boat is worth
$750k in it's current state.

:
: DSK
:

Heart broken
 

: Maybe he's just playing hard to get. Offer to
trade him the
: house.

NotPony wrote:
Don't think so. I don't think the boat is worth
$750k in it's current state.


What does the actual "worth" of the boat have to do with
anything, if you want it bad enough?

Regards
Doug

Heart broken
 

"DSK" wrote in message

The original steam propulsion plant MUST be replaced. You have been
warned.

A great uncle used to own and skipper a steam-powered tug in NY Harbor back
in the Twenties and Thirties. According to him, steam was far more reliable
than any old "POS diesel" ("Ever had a steam engine quit on ya at a critical
time, kid?"), and the power output could be regulated over a far greater
range than any gas or diesel engine. We took him out on our first sailboat
when he was approaching 95 and fairly uncommunicative. The boat's Perkins
4-107 ran like a well-oiled sewing machine and was flawless that day, but
Uncle Guy, who'd remained silent all day, couldn't contain himself as we
came in to dock. "Wouldn't give you a pile of dog **** wrapped in brown
paper for that POS engine. You should repower with steam, kid."

Your comment reminded me of that occasion.

Max

Heart broken
 

The original steam propulsion plant MUST be replaced. You have been
warned.


Maxprop wrote:
A great uncle used to own and skipper a steam-powered tug in NY Harbor back
in the Twenties and Thirties.

That must have been an oldie. While there were steam tugs in
service up thru the 1940s (and steam trains up thru the
early 1960s) the business was going to diesel not long after
1900. I've read about a number of tugs & pilot boats
converted from steam to diesel in 19-teens.

OTOH a lot of companies were very fond of steam power and
clung to it, possibly your uncle was in one.

.... According to him, steam was far more reliable
than any old "POS diesel" ("Ever had a steam engine quit on ya at a critical
time, kid?")

Yes. Several times. Of course, that was on much bigger &
more complicated plants. But for such a simple device, a
steam engine has many things that can shut it down...
furthermore everything affects everything else... lift
safeties & run low water; lose feed pressure & run high
water; burner drops out (or lose fuel pressure) & lose
boiler pressure & run high water; blah blah blah.


... and the power output could be regulated over a far greater
range than any gas or diesel engine.

That part may be true, especially for a single-expansion
engine with an advanced valve train such as would have been
common in the 1920s onward.

http://www.carferries.com/triple/page13.jpg

Actually this whole web page is great
http://www.carferries.com/triple/

... We took him out on our first sailboat
when he was approaching 95 and fairly uncommunicative. The boat's Perkins
4-107 ran like a well-oiled sewing machine and was flawless that day, but
Uncle Guy, who'd remained silent all day, couldn't contain himself as we
came in to dock. "Wouldn't give you a pile of dog **** wrapped in brown
paper for that POS engine. You should repower with steam, kid."

Your comment reminded me of that occasion.


I hope he was having fun anyway.

There are a surprising number of small steamers running
around, but it's not practical for a sailboat if you want to
have anything else in the cabin. Steam engines and all the
associated boilers & pumps are bulky.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

Heart broken
 

"DSK" wrote in message
...

There are a surprising number of small steamers running
around, but it's not practical for a sailboat if you want to
have anything else in the cabin. Steam engines and all the
associated boilers & pumps are bulky.


Not to mention carrying the 'fuel'.

SBV

Heart broken
 

"DSK" wrote in message
...
The original steam propulsion plant MUST be replaced. You have been
warned.


Maxprop wrote:
A great uncle used to own and skipper a steam-powered tug in NY Harbor
back in the Twenties and Thirties.

That must have been an oldie. While there were steam tugs in service up
thru the 1940s (and steam trains up thru the early 1960s) the business was
going to diesel not long after 1900. I've read about a number of tugs &
pilot boats converted from steam to diesel in 19-teens.

OTOH a lot of companies were very fond of steam power and clung to it,
possibly your uncle was in one.

Guy owned his own tug. He contracted with one of the smaller firms in NY
Harbor. He was the same sort who protested the internal ("infernal")
combustion engine replacing the horse. He explained the diesel as a means
of reducing the crew by one man--the fireman. The fireman was a featherbed
job, actually, because most of the steam tugs were fueled with coal oil
automatically.


.... According to him, steam was far more reliable than any old "POS
diesel" ("Ever had a steam engine quit on ya at a critical time, kid?")

Yes. Several times. Of course, that was on much bigger & more complicated
plants. But for such a simple device, a steam engine has many things that
can shut it down... furthermore everything affects everything else... lift
safeties & run low water; lose feed pressure & run high water; burner
drops out (or lose fuel pressure) & lose boiler pressure & run high water;
blah blah blah.

Guy proudly stated that he'd never lost power during his years as a tugboat
captain. Then again Guy was Irish and inclined to "exaggeration."

... and the power output could be regulated over a far greater range than
any gas or diesel engine.

That part may be true, especially for a single-expansion engine with an
advanced valve train such as would have been common in the 1920s onward.

http://www.carferries.com/triple/page13.jpg

Actually this whole web page is great
http://www.carferries.com/triple/

A good website. Thanks.

... We took him out on our first sailboat when he was approaching 95 and
fairly uncommunicative. The boat's Perkins 4-107 ran like a well-oiled
sewing machine and was flawless that day, but Uncle Guy, who'd remained
silent all day, couldn't contain himself as we came in to dock.
"Wouldn't give you a pile of dog **** wrapped in brown paper for that POS
engine. You should repower with steam, kid."

Your comment reminded me of that occasion.


I hope he was having fun anyway.

He never seemed to enjoy himself. I think he was only happy when he was at
the helm of his boats, or when complaining. His negative comment about my
Perkins did bring the hint of a grin to his lips, however.

There are a surprising number of small steamers running around, but it's
not practical for a sailboat if you want to have anything else in the
cabin. Steam engines and all the associated boilers & pumps are bulky.

And heavy. If I ever lost my current Universal diesel, I'd repower with a
lighter weight Yanmar.

Max

Heart broken
 

OTOH a lot of companies were very fond of steam power and clung to it,
possibly your uncle was in one.


Maxprop wrote:
Guy owned his own tug. He contracted with one of the smaller firms in NY
Harbor. He was the same sort who protested the internal ("infernal")
combustion engine replacing the horse.

Bet he never had to shovel manure, then ;)

... He explained the diesel as a means
of reducing the crew by one man--the fireman. The fireman was a featherbed
job, actually, because most of the steam tugs were fueled with coal oil
automatically.


Yes and no... keeping a steam boiler lit up properly is not
easily automated, even in this day & time. One of my
bread-and-butter jobs is troubleshooting, repairing, and
calibrating combustion controls. Back in those days, it
would be very easy to lose fires due to loss of fuel
pressure, gunk in the fuel, sticking blower throttle, or
even on a small boat, a wave lapping over the uptakes. But
it still beats shoveling coal!


Guy proudly stated that he'd never lost power during his years as a tugboat
captain. Then again Guy was Irish and inclined to "exaggeration."


It's possible that he never did lose power, just rather
unlikely IMHO. It would be a testament to his engineer(s) if
true. In the 17 years or so I worked in steam ships, I saw
plants drop off line by genuine accident maybe 20 times or
so, usually during warm-up.



I hope he was having fun anyway.


He never seemed to enjoy himself. I think he was only happy when he was at
the helm of his boats, or when complaining. His negative comment about my
Perkins did bring the hint of a grin to his lips, however.


We used to say "A bitchin' sailor is a happy sailor."

DSK