Pandora's Box Opened....
Around July of 2004 I heard an ad on the KAOS radio community billboard advertising a “free boat, you haul”. Being a free stuff addict I decided to investigate. What I found was Columbia 22 in sound condition. I asked Steve, a shipwright, and Steve, a captain, to come and check out this boat to determine if there were any insurmountable problems. Both Steves declared her sound and a great deal for the price. $0
Steve, the shipwright, also happens to be Corey's father. How convenient. He has lived and worked in this area for a long time and through his connections we were able to get a boom truck to lift the boat onto a trailer. The cradle situation was precarious and riding in another vehicle I clutched the dash white knuckled as the boat swung a little to each side and pogoed a bit on every bump. Happily we made it to Tenino, visions of the boat falling into a ditch nearly giving me heart failure along the way.
Corey and I were on the verge of leaving for France to pursue teaching positions. We would also end up working on the OceanPlanet during the Vendée Globe, which gave us some information, skills and contacts, which we are using on our project.
So the boat lived, suspended from the rafters until our return. Work has progressed on it since we returned, somewhat slowly, but very surely.
5 Comments:
Hows the Columbia resotration project going? I too have C22 and am most interested.
One more thing from "FREE BEE III"
I also got her for yes $0 ,what a deal & I still only have about $300 into making her sea worthy, not counting my time. BFN
Russ
loved getting the all the info-had a columbia 22 but had to give it up-great boat!!!
Hi There,
Cool project you have going there.
I too have recently acquired a Columbia project boat (traded a case of bud) and am just beginning the restoration process. She's a 1966 C-24 Contender. Lots of problems but lots of potential too.
Wondering if you had any centerline cracks and how you dealt with them.
Center consoles may be thought of as fishing boats, but they also work well for diverse activities ranging from water skiing to gunkholing to oyster tonging - and thanks to modern powerhouse outboards like the Yamaha F 350 and the Mercury 350 Verado, you can now find Center Console Boats large enough to serve as full-blown cruising boats.
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