Should I restore this row boat?

[floathisboat]

Hello, first timer here. I don't know anything about boat restoration, so I was hoping for a little advice. How much restoration does this boat need to get it on the water and be safe. It's been sitting out in the AZ sun for 20 years, would that compromise the integrity of the fiberglass hull? Can I just slap some paint over it? I don't really know where to start or what the cost would be? Should I just scrap this boat project and find another one? Any help would be appreciated, thanks!

 

[MTboatguy]

Needs a new Gel coat and some serious suface work and it is not going to be all that cheap. Can it be done, sure, time and money can fix just about anything, will you get on the water this summer, unless you are very dedicated, I seriouly doubt it would be ready.

 

[floathisboat]

Hmm...sounds like it's not worth it then.

 

[MTboatguy]

Hmm...sounds like it's not worth it then.

Let a few of the other guys chime in here, but it does look like a lot of work in your future if you want to get that one on the water this year..

 

[fishrdan]

For the money it's going to take to resurface the boat, you could buy something else water-ready. That's not even counting if the wood is rotted out inside, or the time it's going to take.

To me, looks like someone sanded it down to bare fiberglass, then left it out in the sun which delaminated the fiberglass. Maybe the gel/paint burned off in the sun, or sand blasted in dust storms?

 

[mickyryan]

pfft boat would be simple to fix it is just a row boat 150 in gelcoat and materials and you could have it looking spiffy!

 

[tpenfield]

If you want a project, go for it. Looks to need some prep work and then gelcoat.

You will need some spray painting equipment.

 

[Scott Danforth]

they also make brushable gel coat. it flattens out pretty well. a weekend with a DA, 80 grit, some acetone and gel and you can be done by sunday. let cure for a day and start fishing the following week

 

[MTboatguy]

There is a lot of loose surface fibers in that worn glass that would need to be taken care of before a gel coat application. If I was going to do it, I would coat with resin, let cure, then gel coat, my self would prefer a spray gel coat for the best finish, but that is just me and I hav the equipment to do the job.

Now if I had to invest the money to buy the equipment and supplies, I would probably put that money to finding a water ready boat.

 

[Woodonglass]

The fiberglass on that boat is pretty much SHOT!! Anytime the fibers are exposed to the elements as this boat is, the water and contaminants penetrate to the inner core which weakens it. IMHO repairing this hull would be Putting Lipstick on a Pig. It would look nice but would still be a PIG! On a positive note, since it's just a floater and never have a motor on it...It probably would be safe on calm water. I'd For sure use Epoxy for the repair and then paint it.

 

[MTboatguy]

The fiberglass on that boat is pretty much SHOT!! Anytime the fibers are exposed to the elements as this boat is, the water and contaminants penetrate to the inner core which weakens it. IMHO repairing this hull would be Putting Lipstick on a Pig. It would look nice but would still be a PIG! On a positive note, since it's just a floater and never have a motor on it...It probably would be safe on calm water. I'd For sure use Epoxy for the repair and then paint it.

I was wondering when you would show up!

 

[Lightwin 3]

Being a fellow Arizonan, I can tell you the sun has baked off all the gelcoat. It has probably compromised the underlying glass as well. Anything you put on it will soak in like a sponge and proabaly won't last.

Also, that would not be the most stable hull for its size. It would be heavy and has very rounded chines.

 

[kcassells]

So gelcoat evaporates from the sun to nothing? Its obviously a project someone started and let go. Like a couple guys said...easy peasy. Sand it down, add some glass, poxy or poly, paint it.
Its a weekend job or two. Geez... its already prepped to go.
I'll keep an eye out for disappearing gelcoat.

 

[MTboatguy]

So gelcoat evaporates from the sun to nothing? Its obviously a project someone started and let go. Like a couple guys said...easy peasy. Sand it down, add some glass, poxy or poly, paint it.
Its a weekend job or two. Geez... its already prepped to go.
I'll keep an eye out for disappearing gelcoat.

I need to dig out some of the pictures from Corvettes that sat in the sun for years that I have worked on! You would be amazed at what the sun beating down on fiberglass can do.

 

[kcassells]

ya cool...I said let me see how the sun melts the gelcoat. I guess anything is possible.

 

[mickyryan]

Im with kc, here in florida boats sit in folks yard for 30 + years and never lose Gelcoat i mean on a microscpopic level sure but that boat was sanded , can tell by the back where gelcoat is still there , looks like a cold beer and dinner called and he never got back to it

 

[MTboatguy]

ya cool...I said let me see how the sun melts the gelcoat. I guess anything is possible.

The sun really has nothing to do with it, it is the intensive nature of the UV and breaks things down, sun is fine, UV is not our friend.

 

[MTboatguy]

The sun really has nothing to do with it, it is the intensive nature of the UV and breaks things down, sun is fine, UV is not our friend.

That said, for the money, you can find a water ready row boat for what you are going to put into that one.

 

[Lightwin 3]

I need to dig out some of the pictures from Corvettes that sat in the sun for years that I have worked on! You would be amazed at what the sun beating down on fiberglass can do.

Yes it does melt gelcoat. You live here, look at cars around you. Not a spot of rust but many with paint missing.

As stated above, you can find a completely rust free Corvette here (Corvettes do rust-internally) but the f-glass is beyond repair.

If you want to do it, knock yourself out. You'll end up with a heavy, unstable boat.

 

[Lightwin 3]

Hope it works out.