1969 27' Flybridge

[Fr. Frank]

I know of a 27' flybridge model that languished in Brevard county, Florida for 14 years, because no one would pay the $2000 asking price. When 1st put up for sale, it had sunk in 3 feet of water - not even enough to cover the engines. It had, prior to sinking, twin Mercruiser 250 ci/250 hp inline 6 engines and a top speed of about 37 mph. Her name was "Raven". After sinking at Anchorage Yacht Basin, (where I was the Dockmaster)in 1989 in Eau Gallie, Florida, she was abandoned for about 10 years on a dry rack in the yard. The asking price in 1996 from the bank that repo'd her was $500. Sometime between '97 and '01, (while I was off in seminary learning to be a priest) ProjectBoats in Grant, Florida moved her to their yard, and put an asking price of $2000 on her. Because I made the mistake of telling my wife the truth about how much it would cost to restore Raven, my wife wouldn't let me buy her, not at $500, and not at $2000. About a year ago, she was finally sold, to someone who was planning to restore her. I understand by word of mouth that that restoration still has not begun.
My professional estimate in 1996 of restoration costs to original-like condition, including repowering with new 4.3 Mercruisers, was $35K.
What a boat.
(by the way, I know where another 1970 27' Flybridge is - Nassau, Bahamas, belonging to a Police Captain who bought it after it was seized for drug-running) What a boat!