Hi Bill, great to hear from you and thanks again for all the great pictures you sent me. As you see, we are working hard to give her a new life. Nothing is/will be left, she is almost entirely stripped out, to the fiberglass. I have finished to replace all the A/C hoses today. The new galley furnitures are progressing well. Certainly 1 more year before having her back in the water... While we want to keep the magic of a Lace and respect Tom's spirit, we also want to use new materials and technologies for her 2nd life, hope Tom would have loved what we are doing here
Good Evening Bill, I am glad you have joined YF, as I think you will get a lot out of it, and you have a lot to contribute. Best, Maldwin
Hello, I am new to the Yacht Forum posting and looking at the 52' Midnight Lace "Midnight Fancy" for sale in Indian Harbour Beach, Florida. The broker has pics of repairs from a few years back in the underside hull around the struts where a survey ordered by a previous buyer who ended up taking a pass on this boat- survey found problems on moisture metering. Broker is sure both the cored hull and the repair was a balso core- not airex. Does any Midnight lace/Tom Fexas aficionado know how is this possible? I thought Tom Fexas's concepts involved using an Airex core-and very close attention to the construction tolerances and resin ratios. Any advice on this boat would be hugely appreciated. This Midnight Lace has quite a bit of gelcoat problem spots on the top sides that are going to require a total repaint. Thanks!
Hi Bill, Do you think the Midnight Lace "Midnight Fancy" currently for sale in Indian Harbour Beach is a boat you might have owned/sold?
I agree with you. I've never come across any research evidence of a balsa cored Midnight lace. Thank you for your thoughts on the matter. If the yard made these repairs with balsa core do you think that matters any?
There's one for sale on Clear Lake, TX. Little Yacht Brokerage. No connection, our boat is right across from the Midnight Lace.
Hello all, I was hoping to get some opinions on a 52' Midnight lace for cruising Florida and Bahamas waters.
Beautiful Lace pic. I looked at one for sale recently in Indian Harbour Beach, FL that looks very similar to your boat. It does not have front salon windows either. Do you think they were removed/glassed over at some point, or were some 52' models built with -and some without front windows?
Hello, I'm wondering about the windows on your boat. Did you have to replace them? I'm looking at one in Florida that has cracks in the windows and was also resealed at some point but some water had come into the boat and slightly damaged the teak as well. Can we see some more pics of your restoration?
I spent a few hours looking her over in person and my impression was that the only thing wrong with this Lace besides needing a new electronics package was the signs of osmosis and hydrolysis in the hull and topsides, below and above the waterline. The Bad: There is blistering and cracking gelcoat in all the right and wrong places all over this boat. I think it is slowly imbibing water like a sponge but probably not structural integrity compromised. I anticipated her requiring haul out for extended time to dry out, then peeled, ground, filled, sanded and re-gel-coated or painted everything-decks, hull, superstructure, mast. Exterior teak trim and toe rails have rot. Not a quick fix but anything and everything can be repaired right? The Good: The interior was properly redone, and the replacement engines and mechanics are all very good. Now she needs plastic surgery and will be the belle of the ball.
Hi Bill, Welcome Aboard! I have been studying the market for used yachts in general and Midnight Lace 44-52’ more specifically. I will be headed down to Florida after Hurricane Season. Perhaps, you would have time for lunch one day? Best, Jack
The Midnight Lace SIRENA sold last month, and is now based in Stuart. I have seen her go by the Jupiter Island Club Dock the last few days looking great. Judging by the listing, and based on a friend’s report in her former home port, she is the best currently afloat, and well worth the $ 150,000 selling price. Congratulations to the new owner.
Interesting design, I don’t generally like the looks of the newer boats because they lost the 4 to 1 length to beam ratio, as the 52s went from a 13 ft beam to 16. WEATHER GIRL does have a nice low profile despite her larger girth.