what boat for my restoration?

[SCARE!]

hi guys, i just registered!
im a long-time lurker on the forum, great stuff! many hours spend reading over all the past restorations you all have embarked on. great inspiration.
so i have finished moving house, and my job is all smooth sailing now, so i can finally start looking for a little project.
i have been around the water all my life, but i have never owned my own boat.
i am more than capable of a little restore, having spent time doing up old cars, bicycles, houses etc..

now, i am looking for a little runabout/dinghy type project, which i will use over summer at the beach, cruising around the islands, nothing really special.

i would just like some advice on what is the easiest for a first-time boat project (or what am i going to get done the fastest, because i know when i start, ill be itching to get it in the water asap)
wood / glass / ali?

what shaped hull should i look out for? im keen on something around the 12' size...

any help/advice, pitfalls to watch out for, would be great!

sorry if this is a generic newbie question, i know exactly how i sound!

 

[drewpster]

Re: what boat for my restoration?

I hear New Zealand is beautiful!

I recommend you start with a boat that is solid. The major projects you see going on in here are just that, major. They take a real commitment to get done. If you are looking to tinker around with an old boat start off with one that is about 80% good and work on the last 20%. It will give you some experience, and you are less likely to burn out before you get to go boating.

If you are looking to go insane right away then pick one in the "everything is at least there" variety. Avoid a project that has already been started by a previous burnout. Its always a gamble. At least if you do all the work yourself you know what has been done. Its a real pain to have to go behind and fix someone else's goof-ups.

If you have the money, center console designs are great for salt water. Try to find one of a conventional design. More modern foam core designs (foam core meaning, foam injected molds, like Boston Whaler) are more difficult to repair when the foam gets wet.
Aluminum hulls are great if you can work with metal. Some guys in here swear by them. But they also have their challenges.

Either way buy a good sander. Your likely to need it.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: what boat for my restoration?

Find a 14' aluminum. I know you say you want a 12' but in my opinion the difference in stability and roominess between a 12' and a 14' is great. Get yourself a nice Johnson/Evinrude 9.9HP and go have fun. Probably won't even be much if any of a "project". My dad just picked up a nice 14' aluminum with a 5HP Merc on a galvanized trailer for $600USD two months ago.

 

[SCARE!]

Re: what boat for my restoration?

yes! New Zealand is beautiful, you have no idea!
beaches in all directions, 5 minutes one way, half an hour in the other direction..

thanks guys.
i am leaning towards either a wood or glass boat..
i just dont find aluminium that attractive, and i really wanted to do a lot of sanding! and ive got painting equipment, so i was quite looking forward to that side of things..
plus it's summer here now, so i was going to wait till the weather starts getting a bit cooler next year, and grab myself a bargain, and spend the winter on the do-up. so i've got time on my side..

i'll keep reading up on some restos on here, there are a few i quite like, so i'll try make an educated decision on other peoples experiences..

any more opinions would be great!

 

[PaulyV]

Re: what boat for my restoration?

Best fly fishing in the world!!!

 

[BobsGlasstream]

Re: what boat for my restoration?

SCARE!
I don't think it's fair talking about beautiful beaches in MIDDLE OF THE WINTER. Just kidding.
I'm not sure what is available in your area but I agree with ezmobee as for the size of the boat.
How much of a restore do you want to do. Most of us are doing it because we love things like this (some say were just nut's). That needs to be your first decision.
drewpster's, suggestion is also valid. You could enjoy the boat and work on it at the same time.
Good luck on your decision.
Bob

 

[robthompson66]

Re: what boat for my restoration?

You got that right, I love a project. I can't seem to sit still, except to post here! It's definately very important to find a boat that is complete, even if you think you want to replace everything, it's nice to have a choice as to what you want to replace when. Everything really adds up $30 here, $100 there and before you know it you're at $10,000!

The boat I am working on now had a few missing parts but they are generic items, like the stereo and water system pump. Things like windshield frames and aluminum extrusions for the rub rail are a lot harder to replace, so keep that in mind. Even the rubber gasketing material that holds the windshield glass in place i'm finding in my case is next to impossible to replace because the manufacturer's change designs every so often. What I have learned is to save everything that isn't totally destroyed with the thought that it will have to go back on, then when the project is done, you can always throw it out if you didn't need it. Better safe than sorry.
Best of Luck
Rob

 

[SCARE!]

Re: what boat for my restoration?

i want to do work! dont get me wrong, i will have about 7 months up my sleeve.
i love restoring and working on things, and im not shy of a bit of elbow grease!
just dont want to many headaches, and i wont be buying a rotted out steed.
i am prepared to sand, paint, redo seating etc.. kind of similar to: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=225499 but not neccessarily ali at all..