Over the years part of our focus has been to caution newbies on the pitfalls of purchasing old steel, and wood _frame_d glass boats without having someone knowledgeable giving them guidance. The following thread is a sad situation from our RiverQueen section below.
http://www.houseboatingworld.com/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,28/topic,2885.0/Many old boats, BOTH STEEL AND GLASS, are past economical restoration. The owners try to sell them cheap to get out of disposal, dockage/storage costs. They prey on newbies who don't know any better.