Should We Rescue This Free Sailboat??

Sat, 23 May 2026 11:00:49 +0000

Should We Rescue This Free Sailboat? A friend is giving away an old sailboat for free, and now we have to answer the dangerous question every sailor secretly loves: is this a cheap sailing adventure waiting to happen, or is a “free boat” just the most expensive kind of boat?

In this Practical Sailor video, we take a first look at a free sailboat project and decide whether it is worth saving. We’ll tour the boat, look at the hull, trailer, rigging, deck, hardware, cabin, sails, outboard situation, keel, rudder, and all the little clues that tell you whether an old sailboat is a bargain, a rescue project, or a financial ambush wearing bottom paint.

This could become a full sailboat restoration and refit series, where we bring home an old pocket cruiser, inspect everything, fix what needs fixing, install new sailing gear, upgrade hardware, and find out what it really takes to turn a free sailboat into a safe, usable, fun little cruising boat.

If you’re into sailing, sailboat restoration, cheap sailboats, free boats, trailer sailers, old sailboats, DIY boat repair, sailboat refits, pocket cruisers, small cruising boats, boat projects, affordable sailing, or learning how to inspect a used sailboat before buying it, this is exactly the kind of adventure we’re getting into.

So here’s the question: should we rescue this free sailboat, bring it home, and turn it into a Practical Sailor project boat? Or should we run away before the “free” boat starts sending invoices?

Tell me what you see, what worries you, what you’d check first, and whether you think this old sailboat deserves a second life.

#FreeSailboat #SailboatRestoration #PracticalSailor

Practical Sailor is your trusted resource for reviews of sailboats and sailing gear.
https://www.practical-sailor.com

Chat with us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/PracticalSailor/