Don, George, Steve, Paul,
Sorry for the late come back I have been trying to chase details on this while nurse a spouse and kids beyond a nasty flu.

Thanks so much for all your thoughts ideas round numbers and contacts and shared experience. I'm not sure what's going to become of this, but I got wind a few
days ago of an old Spitsgatter sloop that came available. Its a design I have been interested in for a while now.

They are a small two person self bailing cockpit, tiller steering, double ender. They are quite hearty a few have done North Atlantic crossing from Denmark to
AMerica and back. I have posted a picture in case your not familiar with the Spittsgatter.

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=1428795&a=11317846&p=39724738

These boats are the source of a lot of Danish National pride. When they become available they are usually shipped back to Denmark, repatriated, reconditioned
and held tightly. As far as I can tell they feel about these boats about the same way as we feel about LFH on this side of the pond.

There are several sizes of Spitsgatters and two basic classes. However the rarest of them are the Spittsgatter 55's. The 55 designates how many square meters of sail. There were only three 55's built all by the original designer. I don't know about the number of replica's but my sense is not many if any. In any case, A few years ago one of them escaped Denmark and they have been trying to get her back ever since. She sailed on the east coast a while and then found her way to the west coast and last I heard she was being well cared for out their.

Well a few days ago I heard about a spittsgatter 28 foot boat that the Danes had found enough money to buy, crate up and truck to a wharf. However, they never
got the money together to get her aboard a ship and headed for Denmark. I doubt the Danes would have put the money into a replica. So I am guessing she is the
original one. However, that continues to be a guess on my part. There is not a lot of information on this boat other then "get her out of my yard." The biggest guess of all is sort of what shape is she in. She has been sitting dry all summer baking in the California sun crate d over black top. I think that hull is going to be pretty dry i.e. not water tight,. A soaking might cure it, but it might be a lot more then that. I do know she comes complete, but not sure if the rig is in good shape or not.

In any case, any boat that is sitting on a wharf derelict with a sign reading please take me is usually a full scale restoration. Which is something I think I'd be interested in doing. There are smaller Spittsgatters on the Maine Coast that seem to enjoy the Gulf of Maine a great deal. Beyond all that if this is the boat I think she might be. Well its a real classic. If I could get her tuned back up to beautiful. Hmnn.

In any case that's my latest windmill I'm charging.

Don your round numbers seem to be right on with quotes I have gotten. I sure do appreciate your willingness to share knowledge based on experience. Sounds like
your San Juan moving experience is what I want to avoid.

Paul good thinking about the shipping her by ship. But like George said she would have to go as deck cargo. When I ws in the Merchant marines I saw small boats go on my ship steel landing craft and steel tugs and both took a real pounding. I think from a cost perspective and a what would be left of a wooden boat. I think I'm going to have to thing the camel route. Still at this point all ideas are worth considering.

Steve, It sounds like negotiating is a matter of timing. But I'm not sure I'm going ot have the luxury of time. If I 'm going to move her. It probably will have to be fairly soon. The sling time looks easy as I am on the wharf, but your right to get the price first

George , glad you found your way out of NYC. Sometimes I wonder if the native Americans would renegotiate the deal and take it all back. The yacht haulers
seem a bit more expensive, but I think ya get what you pay for. On the other hand a road trip may be in the offing. It depends on if I can figure out if this is the
original boat or a later copy. If I get a sense that its the real thing. I'm going to take a red eye and have a look or have her surveyed.

PArt of the issue is going to be where to work her back into herself. I think my father in law might object to my filling his hay mow a half baked boat. Not to mentions pigeons and boats sort of shouldn't ever mix Besides. That herd gets mighty hungry 2 times a day. I'm looking at other options for dry storage with room to work. My present shop won't do, but I might be able to find space around her locally. OR maybe.....the equipment barn ! In any case, If I can dot my i's and cross my t's on all of this and its
the right boat, it might just be a neat next project. And who knows after I'm done fixing her up maybe I'll help her get back home.

Thanks for your input. I'll keep ya posted. Any thoughts appreciated

!RUSS