57’ CC Constellation getting the axe…

cleanslate · May 4, 2022

Mr. Quinn , that's big of you to join and clear the air so to speak. I know it's hard to do. It's apparent you loved the boat, as we all love our boats. I too had a wood Matthews 42' that went to the chopping block a few years after I sold it, it's quite sad. The up keep is brutal on these big wood yachts. Being a DIY boater, it nearly killed me trying to keep up with things. They go down hill quickly, and your old Chris was not the same as when you owned it from what I saw. Sorry for your loss.

Do you have a boat now?

classic · May 4, 2022

Lorenzo Quinn said: ↑

I owned this boat for 20 years. Fresh water rots wood. The decks and cabin tops were either glass or glassed over. Most fresh water intrusion spots were addressed. The boat was due for a refastening. I was very clear with that when I sold it. I also told the new owners to avoid heavy seas with her until this was done. The boat was sold again, and perhaps this information was not relayed. The problem was taking a 54 year old boat into 6+ foot seas. That's contemptable.
It seems the new owner changed his mind and bought a new boat, and didn't care if he beat her up on her way to be a BnB in Cape May.

As for the "rot from stem to stern", that's just inaccurate. The boat didn't break up from planks above the water line as far as I know. I was told the chine trim boards came off in the heavy seas. It needed new screws, and no one wanted to spend the money to do it. All of the 57 Connies are hogging somewhat now. They've been this way for a long time. The upkeep for these old wooden boats is just too much unless they are berthed in a covered dock slip.

I was told by the captain that she started taking on water and was listing on the latter part of the trip to Cape May. He realized that the the boat was handling strangely and sent someone down to look in the galley, which had water in it. They turned around and headed back North to the inlet they just passed because he new she was going down. He was looking to put her in shallow water to save her from sinking and not have his crew die from exposure in the frigid waters. The news articles were incorrect about making a wrong turn. The boat had a nice Furuno GPS/radar system that was working.
I guess they all meet their demise at some point. Sad to see her go. A burial at sea would have been more humane!
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classic · May 4, 2022

The decks and cabin tops were either glass or glassed over.) that's not a good call water gets under them it doesn't take much to get a hair line crack and the rest is history I understand why this was done the teak and varnish upkeep is a killer. it really takes a lot of money to keep these wood boats up to snuff. I am not kicking the tires I understand it and your right I wouldn't take it out in rough water either and your advisement was a good call! sorry for this loss but you have the memories, and you sold it.

Pascal · May 4, 2022

Thanks for the update and info. Not surprised the local media got it wrong

what is troubling is the fact that they didn’t realize something was wrong until they realized the boat wasn’t handling right. No high water alarms, no bilge pump running indicators? Odd. I installed 5 rules 3700 and high water alarms in my 1970 FIBERGLASS 53 Hatteras MY…

sad to see another one of these getting the axe. Or the excavator

classic · May 5, 2022

Pascal said: ↑

Thanks for the update and info. Not surprised the local media got it wrong

what is troubling is the fact that they didn’t realize something was wrong until they realized the boat wasn’t handling right. No high water alarms, no bilge pump running indicators? Odd. I installed 5 rules 3700 and high water alarms in my 1970 FIBERGLASS 53 Hatteras MY…

sad to see another one of these getting the axe. Or the excavator
Click to expand...

Great Points always beefed up the pumps on a wood boat . I know one thing the insurance company will really think about this one no real coverage on this call.

Kayla · Jan 3, 2024

This looks a boat I grew up in. My dad sold one similar to this back in the 2000s. What was her name?

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57’ CC Constellation getting the axe…

cleanslate Senior Member

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classic Member

Pascal Senior Member

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Kayla New Member