InTheBite

Restoring A Classic

Restoring a Classic

Lost River Marine has been known for the last 30 years to produce quality work, so it had not been very difficult for this customer to bring his newly purchased vessel to their facility with no concerns regarding quality workmanship.

The purchase was a 44’ Express Garlington from 1991.It had a pair of tired lugger diesels, overworked rupp outriggers, original tower with cloth tops, and an over worked Gen set and outdated electronics.Not only that but the vessels paint was chalky, faded and damaged, the teak woods had been beaten by the sun showing every sign of neglect. Some had said that the boat wasn’t worth the $50,000.00 but that’s where LRM and the owner had seen its potential to turn a beaten boat into a pristine gem fisher.It did not take long to take the ugly betty and turn her around. After the smoke cleared, this Garlington 44’ Express was now outfitted with a new pair of Caterpillar C-9 Acerts, 7F Gears and controls. Powering all electrical needs with a K3-9.5 KW Marine heat exchange cooled generator set from Phasor.After a paint job LRM hired High Seas Fabrication to put on a new tower with hard tops outfitted with LED lighting and 2 pairs of electrical teaser reels wrapped with a hard glass enclosure.

From there, a full electronic package was added, new covering boards, teak decking and more.All dressed to impress this 44 Express runs an impressive 36 knots burning 58 gallons per hour top speeds and 31.4 knots burning 29 gallons per hr at cruise.She has been restored to new condition, earning a replacement value of 1.3million, with less than half of the money invested.At the docks some have asked if it was a new boat and found out to their amazement this Garlington to be a 1991 model.The owner and crew could not be happier with their decision to purchase this vessel and having Lost River Marine handle the task of bringing  this boat back to perfection. Not only has she become a real head turner, she is running her “DUE COURSE” and raising plenty of catches.