Original Midnight Lace info...

If you google Midnight Lace Rendez VOUS 02, you will find a lot of pictures of Laces at a rendez vous in the Chesapeake.
Best,
Maldwin

Somebody seems to not know what they have.

Antique Boat America / Antique Boat Canada

Here's the link:

Midnight Lace Rendezvous - 02 Photo Gallery by Don Dement at pbase.com

Bucket List

Thanks for the Lace link. Can you say Pirate Ships with dock boxes, that look like treasure chests? A Midnight Lace has been on the bucket list for many years........but the bucket is rusty and leaking lately.......

Possibly because Cheoy Lee built the boats in coordination with the Midnight Lace group. At any rate, they are beautiful boats.

Here is a link to the website. It's certainly a timeless design as it looks as good now as in the 80's.

Lace Yachts

Lame marketing

Association = higher price

Tom Fexas was excluded from the ad.

How dumb is that?

An Italian car for sale.

Soooooooooo.

A Lamborghini Aventador J for sale.

Interestingly, there is a picture of the stern of the boat in the ad in the MLR - 02 pics.

Just seemed odd that Tom Fexas was not mentioned.

I agree given the high regard Tom had in the industry. A older model Cheoy Lee isn't all that special whereas mentioning it as a Midnight Lace or Tom Fexas design will likely perk up the ears of prospective buyers.

just happened upon this forum. i am probably the last living original owner of a midnight lace. and in fact still own my 52 that i bought in 1985. i would be happy to answer any questions about the laces. i also have original drawings and photos of the boats under construction in hong kong. they are very special boats. mine can be seen at yacht world or cannell payne and paige as it is currently for sale.

I have a contract on a 52 ft Midnight Lace, and am considering an infrared moisture test as part of the survey. Does anyone have any experience with that process?
Best,
Maldwin

so maldwin did you buy the lace and if so which one? if not what happened?

No I did not, because the survey turned up too much work to turn her back into a yacht. No big individual item, just a lot of little items adding up to about $ 400,000, or more than twice the value of the boat.
Best,
Maldwin

I would say it would be mid range: A high quality yard I trust with fair pricing.
Best,
Maldwin

which lace were you looking at? and of course you know there is still one in maine that is in much better shape for sale. it is currently having it's bottom sandblasted and the wood refinished.

Another day, another failed Lace survey, this time a 44 in Virginia, described by the broker as having perfect varnish turns out to require tens of thousands of dollars in wood repairs and varnish. High moisture readings on the hull, soot in the engine room, rot in the mast, and that was just the first two hours of the survey.
Best,
Maldwin

sorry for your disappointing survey, maldwin. but as you know these boats are on average 30 years old so finding one in meticulous condition is unlikely. unless of course someone has done an incredible restoration but then the price would likely reflect that. finding a boat with exterior teak that has been out and about for 30 years and looks perfect would be a miracle. as a friend of mine once said " it's ok for an old boat to look old". I find that if the woodwork has good looking finish on it than I can forgive some aging kook in the underlying wood. peeling finish and grey spots are a different matter.

For me, 30 years old is brand new! I also think Laces, like Trumpys require a higher degree of perfection than a more salty boat of the same vintage.At the Concordia symposium last summer Giffy Full told Concordia owners if they were unable, or unwilling to keep their boats in the condition they should be in, please sell them to someone who will. I can't afford to keep a Trumpy in the condition she deserves so I am not going to buy one.
Also, brokers should give honest reports on boats they represent, and,to the best of their ability make sure owners are keeping the boats they represent in the condition described. If not, update the listing.
Best,
Maldwin

docwow

Regarding the drying of a hull. I purchased a Lace a year and a half ago, stripped the gelcoat and have been drying her since. I just applied epoxy barrier coat as the moisture readings are now in the low teens and consistent over all areas of the hull with no de-lamination. As to value, I look at this as an investment in what I think is the most beautiful yacht ever designed. I fell in love with this design in 1984 (and nearly hit a bridge abutment rubbernecking the Lace). As a resident physician, affording one then was out of the question but I always dreamed of having one. After looking at, and in promising cases surveying five of them, I finally found one in fresh water with a solid hull and excellent teak (and nothing else) at a rock bottom price. She is now going through a full restoration at woodiesrestorations.com. I hope to launch this summer.