From Craigslist to Cruise Ship: My $2 Million Restoration Journey and Why I Don’t Regret It

In 2010, Christopher Willson discovered a historic cruise ship in disrepair listed on Craigslist.

He dedicated himself to renovating the vessel, investing approximately $2 million of his own resources into the project.

However, last year, he faced the difficult choice of stepping away from the endeavor. Now, the ship is in a state of sinking.

This narrative is derived from a discussion with Christopher Willson, a 52-year-old retired engineer who devoted over 15 years to restoring a cruise ship he named Aurora. The content has been revised for brevity and clarity.

In 2008, I resided in Santa Cruz, California, and juggled multiple projects. One of my undertakings was the creation of some pioneering virtual tour software.

At that time, creating a virtual tour involved taking two 183-degree fisheye images and combining them using a Java platform. This method allowed for full 360-degree navigation within the image.

I was a frequent user of Craigslist, where one could find all sorts of deals. In Silicon Valley, many individuals were selling off computer equipment, tech gadgets, and various electronic devices.

I began to see a ship listed repeatedly on Craigslist. Initially, I dismissed it, but my growing curiosity eventually led me to consider it as a fantastic opportunity for a virtual tour.

The boat was moored on an island close to a quaint Californian town known as Rio Vista.

On my initial visit, I pretended to be a potential buyer. The atmosphere on the boat felt eerie. It was an old, rusty vessel, and for many years, its electrical system had been lifeless, leaving it in darkness.

Nonetheless, it boasted an impressive design and elegant staircases. It resembled a grand yacht more than a typical cruise liner.

I returned home pondering, “What has this ship achieved?” Lacking knowledge of the boat’s name, I had no way to make reference to it.

After extensive research through countless images, I stumbled upon a remarkable discovery. The vessel was called Wappen von Hamburg, notable for being the first ship that Germany was allowed to construct after World War II.

This ship was truly a trailblazer in the realm of cruising, with no effort spared in its design — every element was meticulously crafted.

The ship featured four lounges and once housed luxurious cabins, although those had been removed. It included a primary lounge and entrance, a total of 85 cabins, and various other spaces, one of which was a dining area that could host approximately 250 guests.

It puzzled me how such an exquisite ship, steeped in history, found its way to the California Delta.

Initially, my intention wasn’t to buy the boat — which I later named Aurora — but rather to help its owner resolve the issue.

It was unlawfully anchored on state property, and there was already a six-month overdue deadline for its removal.

At that time, I didn’t yet own the vessel, but I was actively seeking solutions to remedy the situation. My objective was to secure a safe haven for the boat, which I successfully achieved.

In late 2008, I secured a one-year lease for the vessel at a decommissioned army base in Rio Vista. Nonetheless, we needed to devise a plan for when the lease concluded.

In 2010, I finally landed a long-term lease for Pier 38 in San Francisco.

Later that same year, I acquired the boat. (Editor’s note: Willson chose not to disclose the purchase price of the boat. However, in 2022, Willson revealed to BI that the boat was first listed on Craigslist for $1.2 million, but he successfully negotiated with the seller to cut the price by half. BI has not independently verified the boat’s selling price.)

With the assistance of dedicated volunteers, we spent months working on it. I even decided to move onto the ship that year.

Yet, just a few months into our long-term arrangement, after I had invested approximately $80,000 of my own funds to enhance the boat’s infrastructure and transport it to the pier, we discovered that the leaseholder of the pier had lost control of it.

After the loss of the pier, the Port of San Francisco sought our departure. For some time, I made efforts to communicate with them, trying to convey how difficult it was to secure a new home for the ship. Ultimately, a lawsuit was initiated to expedite our eviction.

At that point, all the volunteers who had been dedicating their time to the boat had completely ceased their visits.

In 2011, we secured a location for Aurora at a marina in Stockton, California.

We had grand aspirations for Aurora. We believed it was a safe haven and aimed to improve its condition. Unfortunately, the marina owner lost ownership of the marina.

It seemed like we were leaping from one challenge straight into another.

Once the owner departed from the marina, various obstacles emerged that hindered any progress on the Aurora.

A dredging problem in the channel where the Aurora was docked made it impossible for us to move the vessel. Being caught in this predicament led me to wonder if I was squandering my life dealing with a situation that was beyond my control.

For a long time, I felt somewhat confined. Therefore, in October 2023, I made the decision to sell the boat and take my leave.

After five years of contemplation, I finally made the tough decision to move on, a choice influenced by a series of unfortunate events. The power company had cut off the marina’s electricity, causing the boats to gradually face more and more problems. One by one, vessels began to succumb, with one sinking right next to us, soon followed by another.

Fortunately, I found a capable mechanic to take over the endeavor—someone who had shown his expertise and dedication during the renovations by volunteering his time. I believed in his ability to handle the situation and was more than willing to assist him in organizing fundraisers, recruiting volunteers, and providing hands-on help with the various projects.

Even though I left behind an immense amount of valuable materials, furniture, and art, I sold the ship to him for a mere pittance—around $20. This was less about the money and more a gesture of goodwill; my hope was for his success.

Fast forward to May 2024, and Aurora too began to take on water, settling down about four to five feet. During this critical time, the new owner was nowhere to be found, and upon his return, he was met with the alarming sight of a hole near the waterline.

Currently, Aurora remains at the marina, yet unfortunately, the contractors have demolished the boat.

Reports indicate that the contractors removed all belongings from Aurora, discarded them into trash bins, and deemed them as debris.

It’s disheartening to witness this situation. Had we been able to relocate to a nearby dry dock, Aurora would have become a lasting presence in the community.

We created countless memories with Aurora.

The primary area and seven cabins underwent restoration, with the main entrance nearing completion. The lower entrance was entirely finished and exquisitely detailed. Additionally, we were fortunate to receive donated furniture from the Island Princess, the ship that appeared in “The Love Boat.”

I personally invested nearly $2 million into refurbishing the boat. While we never solicited donations, a number of people contributed small amounts over time—I maintained a record of these donations from the start, which amounted to around $4,500.

The remaining funds used for the boat were generated through the sale of T-shirts, the creation of a YouTube channel dedicated to Aurora, and income from various tech projects I undertook.

Prior to my involvement with Aurora, I dedicated 12 and a half years to working as an electromechanical engineer in disaster recovery. Throughout my career, I earned money through cryptocurrency markets and continued my engagement in technology via contract work. Additionally, I participated in corporate auctions for high-tech companies, purchasing items to resell online.

The entire venture evolved into something truly remarkable over an extended period. The insights I acquired from that vessel are quite significant. Part of me wished I could have continued being a part of that boat indefinitely.

While I feel a sense of sadness regarding the overall situation, I hold the belief that everything unfolds for a purpose. I don’t have any regrets about my time spent on it, yet I recognized the importance of leaving before those feelings of regret could take hold.

It was time to progress and embark on a new endeavor.

This year, an opportunity arose for a 300-foot sailboat, but I think I’ll take some time on solid ground for now.

I am now in search of a venue such as a theater or maybe an ancient church for my next endeavor — something that carries historical importance and possesses a unique charm.

For the complete story, visit Business Insider.

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