This is one of the most unique and sought-after  vintage hulls made by Melges: a cedar-cored M20 with Stuart Proctor spars from England.  This boat left the Melges factory in 1972.

Normally, Melges cored their M20s with end-grain balsa, sandwiched between an outer fiberglass hull and an inner fiberglass skin that formed the cockpit floor.  While it was easy to work with, and created a stiff box structure, balsa core deteriorates dramatically after it becomes wet.  And when that wet mush freezes in winter, well, you get the picture.

The Cedar hulls did not have that problem.  Melges only made them for a couple years, according to the experts.  And we have seen pictures of these hulls with the cedar exposed and varnished.  The lines of the M20 are beautiful in glass…but laid up in cedar they are beyond words.

This scow came from a storage barn in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, where it was abandoned by its owner. It has a serviceable trailer.  Neither has  title, though we have a receipt from the boat storage owner, who is pictured with the boat above.

Condition: The deck is as stiff as the day it came from the factory.  We walked all over it and found absolutely no soft spots.  The hull has been glassed over, typical for this year.  Where the boat sat on the bunk of the trailer, we see signs of stress fractures.  It’s hard to know if this requires new cedar or if this just needs new glass.  The truth lies inside that fiberglass skin.  Hence the price.  All running lines are shot. Standing rigging looks good.  The spar is magnificent.  Older main and jib, are included.

If interested, leave a comment below and we will get back with you!