New here. Restoring a 1986 Fourwinns 160 freedom

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Hunter404

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First i would like to start of by thanking everyone in this group i have been looking through the forums for years.
Now its time for me to join and pay if forward.

I just bout a 1986 fourwinns for a really good deal. wanted to get the family out on the lake again.
I was told the boat was restored about 6 years ago. so i was wrong by thinking i don't have to do to much to be able to use it.
Well i was wrong first finally got motor started and it was knocking so doing a full rebuild on that.
Then i started looking at everything else now with me being picky I have started by taking out all the upholstery to replace my self i pulled the carpet to find the floor was not done properly. so here i am doing a full restoration on a boat that i will never be able to get my time or money back out of.

I am excited for the new skills i will learn.

Anyone know these boats anything i should be checking out while i have everything apart?
Where is the best place to get Marine Upholstery?
 
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Hunter404

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Thank you. Do you know the measurement on the base for the back to back seats?
some one had taken them out of my boat and put pedestal seats in so i picked up some seats just need to make the base.
 
tpenfield

tpenfield

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Jumping aboard for this. . .

Sounds like you are doing a cut 'n gut, new interior upholstery, and an engine rebuild. Been there, done that in various forms. . . not all at once.

I have recently gotten my marine vinyl from Sailrite (Morbern brand). Morbern, Spradling, and Nautolex are the more prevalent brands of vinyl. . . that is if you are going to do the vinyl skins yourself, or at least source the vinyl.
 
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chevymaher

chevymaher

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Benn out there got the measurements. Now I got to put it into something of a blueprint so it is usable. I haven't forget.
 
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Hunter404

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@tpenfield That definitely was not the plan for this. doing a full gut i thinking i might just leave the floor for the summer and do it this winter maybe one soft spot under back seat.
Engine is currently at the machine shop getting tested, bored, decked, polished. hopefully will get it back this week so i can start the assembly.
cut most of the new wood for upholstery.
I will post some pics when the web sight lets me or i figure out what i am doing wrong.
 
chevymaher

chevymaher

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I was working on the chevelle. But i checked in at my lunch now. I e-mailed it to you. Whatever you need let me know I got tons of notes from doing the boat.
 
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Hunter404

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Thank you very much i appreciate all the help i can get! now if i could just find someone to do all the work for me for free.
Who am i kidding i would just take over anyway i enjoy projects.
This is the biggest scale boat project i have taken on. Need to sat keeping better notes i see they will come in handy.
 
chevymaher

chevymaher

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I just e mailed you the link to where the doghouse starts. I got pictures here to I dont think I posted. Or they were posted somewhere else of the fiberglassing of the mess.
 
solar7647

solar7647

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I am currently doing an 87 216 Sundowner! I will be tagging along. Im sure the fun times you will have once it is all done you will get your moneys worth. Good luck
 
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Hunter404

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today i finished taking out all the upholstery cut all new wood. should be getting engine back from machine shop this week. hopefully by Sunday i can have the engine cover made motor back together so next week we can start doing the new upholstery.
that is if the wife does not ground me for being out in the garage to much. at least my 4 year old like to help.
Sorry guys i am really bad at remembering to take picture as i go along and hopefully it will start letting me up load them soon.

chevymaher do you remember what size plywood you used for the seat base? Thank you so much for all the help too!
 
chevymaher

chevymaher

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It was all 1/2 exterior plywood. Except the parts labeled differently. Those were just pine in the other isle. Welcome. I assume you got the butt load of PDF's I sent you?
 
solar7647

solar7647

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Hunter404

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it would be nice if i could post some pics like to get opinions on colors.
i have blue and gray seats i used some lime green thread for the french seam. i pretty sure i will go with white but its different not sure if i like it.
 
tpenfield

tpenfield

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Hunter404 said:
it would be nice if i could post some pics like to get opinions on colors.
i have blue and gray seats i used some lime green thread for the french seam. i pretty sure i will go with white but its different not sure if i like it.
Click to expand...

If you have your pictures posted on a hosting site, then you can use the format button "A" and then use the 'Image' icon, (which is right next to the Link/Unlink icons) to post your pictures. You just need to get the URL of the image from your hosing site and paste it in the dialog box that come up when you click the 'Image' icon.

The uploading via the paperclip icon was broken , but I just tested it and it seems to be working again :)
 
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