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A man who invested $2 million in restoring a ship he purchased on Craigslist claims he has no regrets, even after selling it for a mere $20.

2025-04-17 23:03:00 By James Martinez

Claiming 'No regrets' is undoubtedly a daring assertion after investing $2 million (£1.6 million).

Man who spent $2 million restoring ship he bought on Craigslist 'has no regrets' despite selling it for just $20

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A man who invested millions into the restoration of a classic cruise ship has stated that he has 'no regrets' despite selling the vessel for a mere $20.

Christopher Willson, an American man, decided to take on the renovation project of a lifetime when he came across a 293-foot vessel with 85 cabins on Craigslist back in 2008, and purchased it in 2010 after attempting to secure a long-term lease for the boat.

Originally named Wappen von Hamburg, the cruise ship was built in Germany and was the first ship the nation was allowed the build in the aftermath of World War II. It first came into service in 1955 and underwent various owners and name changes over the years, before being renamed Aurora by Willson.

Christopher Willson's adventure aboard the Aurora ship started in 2008.

Willson declined to state how much he'd paid during a recent interview with Business Insider, and he and his long-term partner set about restoring the vessel with the ultimate goal of turning it into a public museum.

He even began documenting his renovation project on his YouTube channel called Aurora Restoration Project.

Nonetheless, Willson's aspirations of witnessing the Aurora regain its past splendor have been definitively dashed, as a succession of challenges and necessary relocations have left him feeling 'confined' by the grand endeavor.

By October 2023, Willson made the decision to sell the boat onto a new owner for just $20 (£16) after spending close to $2 million (£1.6 million) on the project. He had invested the majority of the money himself, through revenue generated from the ship's YouTube channel and money made from various tech projects.

"I'm feeling quite down about the entire situation, but I have faith that everything happens for a purpose," Willson shared with BI as he contemplated the time and money he invested in the boat.

The restoration initiative has unfortunately deteriorated over time (Kristina Werner-Meris/California Department of Fish and Wildlife/US Coast Guard).

"While I have no regrets about any moment I spent on it, I realized it was essential to move on before any feelings of remorse set in."

Following the transfer of ownership, the Aurora encountered additional problems. In May 2024, it was reported that the vessel had begun to take on water after a breach was found along its waterline.

“It has been determined the ship has suffered a hole and is taking on water and is currently leaking diesel fuel and oil into the Delta Waterway,” San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office revealed in a statement in X at the time.

The Aurora was eventually re-floated in the June, but Willson has since added it was later 'razed' by contractors.

"It's unfortunate to witness," he remarked. "Had we been able to relocate to a site with a dry dock, it could have become a lasting establishment in a neighboring area."

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