Is it worth it restoring a boat ? and when is it not ? how do you estimate ?

Got a Boat · May 23, 2005

I am thinking about buing a bigger boat, but i dont want to spend 30grand for a new one so i like to buy an older one and revamp it. I like to get a 5 or up 5.5meter half cabin were u can sleep in it and the motor must be reliable. Around 90 Horse Power would be a minimum when you wannt to take some camping gear and suply 4 a few days boating with with and the dog and or some friends. I had a look around whats available, the most boats look like **** or the owner is asking a ridiculous price for it or the trailer is ****ed or the motor looks like it has been operated on a submarine. There is always something to fix or to replace when you buy an older boat, but wehn is it not wort it anymore to touch an old boat to renovate it, i have to say i want to use it and it has to be save and reliable, it suks when your vessel is falling apart when you are 20Km ofshore and the sea is filled with sharks while a storm is building up. I dont want to winn any fashion competition with. So how much time and monney would you invest in a project ? What has to be right when you buy a boat ? e.g. flor, trailer, motor and trim and tilt system ? How important is the root under floor when you like to have an save boat ? are there some fiberglassboats wich you dont have to worry about rotten stringers ? I like to get a aluminum boat because of this matter but they are rare. How do you make sure the motor does not give you a headache, eg. corrosion on the power tilt system, or overheated, or some problems with the electric. I could get a 5.5meter 1/2 Cabin with a 1998 175Horsepower Evinrude and a rosty trailer for 7500 Australian Dollar. The boat is older than the motor and to be polite, the trailer is no good. SO i expect to spend some more monney, some work i can do myself and the Motor tune up will be left to the Profesional. I list the estimated coast Boat with Discount 6500.- New trailer with brakes 2500.- New Carpet and Seats 1000.- Bilge Pump, new dual Battery & wiring, basic safety gear including new epirb and radio. 1500.- Tune up for Motor and perhaps some parts 1000.- 12500.- is stil cheap when yu think how much you would pay for a new one, and also considering most of the time you are on land and cant go boating. But I did not count my own labour. On the other hand i could save a few Bucks more and get a much newer one wich is also lasting much longer. And I can be sure there is no rot in the flor.

Got a Boat · May 23, 2005

Re: Is it worth it restoring a boat ? and when is it not ? how do you estimate ?

I thank you for some ideas and experience, i am living in Australia were boats and parts cost much more in the US, they managed to make price cartels, also 2Hand boats are far too expensive here compared to the US Market. E.g. a 25liter Quiksilver fueltank cost in AU exactly 2times more then in Los Ageles.

JB · May 23, 2005

Re: Is it worth it restoring a boat ? and when is it not ? how do you estimate ?

I think the deciding factor has little to do with cost, Got a Boat. Restoring a boat almost always costs more than its finished value, even if labor is not in the equation. I think the deciding factor is the amount of joy you derive in creating, sweating, refining and tuning. Something is worth, in your heart, what it represents in personal sacrifice and investment. If you have that creator's urge, go for it. If you just want a bigger boat you will be disappointed. Good luck, and no worries.

Buttanic · May 23, 2005

Re: Is it worth it restoring a boat ? and when is it not ? how do you estimate ?

I have done two full keel up restorations. One was a 31 Bertram and I am presently in the process of doing a 22 foot Chris Craft. I always go into the restoration assuming that everything may have to be either repaired or replaced or refinished. It always costs more than I estimated in both time, money and labor. I only will do a boat that I really like or have wanted. I would not do it just to afford any bigger boat. It would have to be "THE" bigger boat I have alway dreamed about.

Luna Sea · May 23, 2005

Re: Is it worth it restoring a boat ? and when is it not ? how do you estimate ?

The way I've always pictured getting my big dream boat/sport fisher would be to find one that needed a repower, and maybe cosmetics, maybe a repo that needed repower. I would not go looking for said boat that was structurally unsound...............

Ralph 123 · May 23, 2005

Re: Is it worth it restoring a boat ? and when is it not ? how do you estimate ?

JB nailed it in my opinion. I would just add that if you head down this path you focus only on "high-end" hulls - there will be even less return by trying to turn a Hyundai into a Mercedes if you know what I mean... Better to just restore a Mercedes. Fact is, they are better built to begin with and it will be easier in the end. Here is a quick way to estimate - spend time at all the supplier web sites to get an idea of the cost of all the components you'll need. Start with the engine and work your way through all the major components.

tengals123 · May 23, 2005

Re: Is it worth it restoring a boat ? and when is it not ? how do you estimate ?

Welcome to iboats 'got a boat'. First things first, just take a deep breath and relax a little. Buying, restoring and anything to do with boating need to be an enjoyable experence. I also live in Aust. Melbourne. Follow my link at the bottom of this post and look at my restoration. I also have a thread called ' Cruise Craft Restoration '. As far as parts and fittings and time goes, no you will not get any finacial gain from restoring a boat, be it big or small. What you will get is a sounds, good quality rig that you know inside out. With parts etc, I can help you track stuff down, I know where to buy 95% of the things you will need cheap. Also, speak to 'Dunaruna and Tinkerer', here on iboats they are also Australian and know the processes. I am here on iboats everyday. If you have any questions let me know. Are you handy with tools and relativly knowlageble with boats and the like? cheers

Mark42 · May 25, 2005

Re: Is it worth it restoring a boat ? and when is it not ? how do you estimate ?

I think it is worth what ever you are willing to spend to build what you want. Not too cost effective from a resale point of view, but cost effective when you look at what you can get for the same money. If the money gets you what you want and you plan on keeping it for a while, I can't see how you could go wrong - assuming that the boat your starting with is is a good candidate for a rebuild. Notice I say rebuild, not restore. A restore can cost an arm and a leg because of the implication that all parts are repaired or replaced with the exact same part. A rebuild give you the opportunity to use more popular and contemporary parts (and therefore less expensive) to create a nice, fresh, reliable boat. I would price the whole project out. And don't leave out the detail parts and work - that can make or break a project. BTW I use Microsoft Project to estimate my projects. I find it easy to cut and paste the part #, description and prices w/shipping from websites into Microsoft Project. So its easy to build an accurate list of supplies and cost and the supplier. It is amazing how quickly parts add up. And don't over estimate how much you can rebuild yourself. There comes a point where it's not worth rebuilding a steering system when a new one is less than $200. Good luck

Peter J Fraser · May 25, 2005

Re: Is it worth it restoring a boat ? and when is it not ? how do you estimate ?

Got a boat, I'm with Tengals on this one and I'm across the 'Ditch' in NZ. I believe our market and yours will be very similar. If you have the skills and tools to rebuild an older boat then you will enjoy building it to do what you need. No one else can do it that easily for you. I am in the process of rebuilding an older boat to suit my needs. 20 months spent on the project to date and I hope I will have it completed for this coming summer. My project is listed at the bottom of this link. Be patient, the right project will come your way. Regards Peter

Solittle · May 25, 2005

Re: Is it worth it restoring a boat ? and when is it not ? how do you estimate ?

Peter - Great project - keep us posted with your progress.

Nos4r2 · May 26, 2005

Re: Is it worth it restoring a boat ? and when is it not ? how do you estimate ?

Here's an idea for you Got A Boat. It's the way I've done things with my 5 metre 1/2 cabin boat. Place a want ad in a country-wide boat owner paper. Don't be too specific about what you want. Mine read:-Wanted, boats and trailers up to 20' boat. Condition unimportant-will consider anything. What you've got to consider is that people actively selling stuff usually know what it's worth or have an agenda.People who respond to want-ads are more likely just to want something out of the way fast-for example if they are moving abroad or moving somewhere they can't take the boat with them and are limited in time to get rid of it-or like mine, the guy needed to sell before next year's mooring fees were due. So far I've bought my boat for £400, then sold the 9.9 merc that was on her and the canopy for £375. She's solid as a rock and the transom's never been drilled.

My engine (built out of three) for £300-then sold the remains of the other 2 motors for £250

and my trailer for £225 from a guy who wanted it off his drive-the guy who bought his boat hadn't come to collect the trailer 6 months later.It's worth nearly £1000.

I've also bought another 4 hulls on trailers from that advert and dismantled them for a profit on ebay-then ploughed the profit back into my boat, buying all the gear etc. So far the whole lot owes me nothing apart from time and effort.It's even paid for my fuel and I've had nothing but positive feedback from the stuff I've sold. Granted, I've done a lot of running around and so on-and a lot of work on her. The repaint is gonna have to wait for next season though-I'm gonna strip the dulux housepaint that's on her topsides(yuk)during the year as it falls off to the touch.

Mark42 · May 27, 2005

Re: Is it worth it restoring a boat ? and when is it not ? how do you estimate ?

Nos4r2, Hows Piper looking now a days? I love that cabin design and tri hull. Bet that is one steady ride.

Nos4r2 · May 27, 2005

Re: Is it worth it restoring a boat ? and when is it not ? how do you estimate ?

Cleaner but still wearing the same paint topsides unfortunately! Most of the work I've done isn't visible from outside apart from cleaning the calcified freshwater growths off the bottom and antifouling her. It took 3 days on my back just to do that and to clean the black rubber marks off the sides from going through canal locks.I'll use her as-is for the season then get down to painting her in the winter.No sense in rubbing down when I can be fishing! They are quite steady. Don't know what she's like on the plane yet as I've only ever used her on a canal to move her to a ramp with the 9.9 she had on her-but she dont move when you walk around and she's only 16' long. Did most of the wiring today. The Merc 50's going on her tomorrow and the cockpit floor's going down. Should be ready for a trial next weekend.

JohnRuff · May 27, 2005

Re: Is it worth it restoring a boat ? and when is it not ? how do you estimate ?

There is a much simpler formula. If you are single - it is worth restoring any boat. If you are married - there is no boat worth restoring!

tengals123 · May 27, 2005

Re: Is it worth it restoring a boat ? and when is it not ? how do you estimate ?

JohnRuff,

great call. cheers

Is it worth it restoring a boat ? and when is it not ? how do you estimate ?

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