SheldonZ28
Cadet
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2021
- Messages
- 6
Hey Everyone, Figured I would get a build thread going to document the restoration of my 1977 Sunray SV170!
This is my first go with restoring a boat, and I am kind of drinking from a firehose trying to learn everything as fast as possible to get this build done over the winter! I have pretty limited experience with composites, but otherwise mechanical projects are my favorite deal. I have previously restored quite a few cars, done some extensive builds and I build space robotics for my job (The Canadarm!) so I am confident I can figure it all out!
I picked this boat up at the start of September after watching local listings for a few months. I had little interest in spending much money on a boat that is claimed to be good, and was preferring the route of a cheap start that I can perfect it all so I have no worries on the water next year. I was looking for a 16-19' boat, not really knowing enough to have a specific boat in mind so when this one came up with a nice look I went to take a look. With limited experience by my side, I misjudged the integrity of the stringers but I am already in love with it and excited for the full build up!
I have not been able to find a huge amount of information on Sunray, and only have come across a few ad's for similar boats, I do know they were manufactured by PrinceFib in Princeville, QC and it appears they are mostly modeled after Glastron Runabout's of its day.
It has a 3.0L/181 Mercruiser 140hp, MC-1 drive with the seemingly rare (or just obsolete) linear trim sensing setup. The previous owner of this boat had passed away and it was left sitting in a barn for a number of years. Judging by the 2007 date code on the battery in it, I am imagining sometime around then is the last time it saw water. It does appear that the boat did not sit in the water at a dock for most of its life, and likely was put in and out for use
Her first day home after a bath!
Initially I anticipated a interior restoration and mechanical rebuild
It had a couple spots of damage on the hull I did know about, I just did not know the significance of the damage on the transom. The bow damage was due to it sitting on its trailer with no roller and some dummy letting the metal portion of the trailer punch through
Knowing I would first have to deal with the interior, I removed it to check out the floors. I knew they were quite solid when I looked at it (having jumped up and down on them) but found some damage at the back where the previous owner had left wet ropes and such
After seeing the bit of damage, I knew the floors would have to be at least partially replaced ... or so I thought. Once I got the floors up it was obvious I had misjudged the stringers which were well rotted
The old foam was super nasty, and had been holding water at the stringers. Also it seems these boats were cranked out with little concern for longevity as there was no proper draining through the bulk heads
I suppose I am already in this deep, and I love the boat so away I went on cutting stringers out
This stuff is nasty
Cleaning it up
The side stringers were not as bad as the keel and bulkheads but I am going to replace it all anyway
So I started work on making the new stringers and getting them in to place with Epoxy PB
It became apparent the only stress I was going to feel on this boat was chasing good weather to work on it so I decided to rent a garage that could fit the boat in it for the winter restoration
Blocked up in her new winter home
Started doing a bit of assessment on the engine and thankfully I finally found some luck. The engine is 120/140/100/120 compression so I am going to rebuild it. I do love me an engine build so this is the part I was excited to do from the get go
With all my previous engine removals being from vehicles... oh boy was it a treat to take one out of a boat, so easy!
Started getting a look at the transom. It seems the top half is bone dry and great shape. Next was to remove the gimbal housing
This is my first go with restoring a boat, and I am kind of drinking from a firehose trying to learn everything as fast as possible to get this build done over the winter! I have pretty limited experience with composites, but otherwise mechanical projects are my favorite deal. I have previously restored quite a few cars, done some extensive builds and I build space robotics for my job (The Canadarm!) so I am confident I can figure it all out!
I picked this boat up at the start of September after watching local listings for a few months. I had little interest in spending much money on a boat that is claimed to be good, and was preferring the route of a cheap start that I can perfect it all so I have no worries on the water next year. I was looking for a 16-19' boat, not really knowing enough to have a specific boat in mind so when this one came up with a nice look I went to take a look. With limited experience by my side, I misjudged the integrity of the stringers but I am already in love with it and excited for the full build up!
I have not been able to find a huge amount of information on Sunray, and only have come across a few ad's for similar boats, I do know they were manufactured by PrinceFib in Princeville, QC and it appears they are mostly modeled after Glastron Runabout's of its day.
It has a 3.0L/181 Mercruiser 140hp, MC-1 drive with the seemingly rare (or just obsolete) linear trim sensing setup. The previous owner of this boat had passed away and it was left sitting in a barn for a number of years. Judging by the 2007 date code on the battery in it, I am imagining sometime around then is the last time it saw water. It does appear that the boat did not sit in the water at a dock for most of its life, and likely was put in and out for use
Her first day home after a bath!
Initially I anticipated a interior restoration and mechanical rebuild
It had a couple spots of damage on the hull I did know about, I just did not know the significance of the damage on the transom. The bow damage was due to it sitting on its trailer with no roller and some dummy letting the metal portion of the trailer punch through
Knowing I would first have to deal with the interior, I removed it to check out the floors. I knew they were quite solid when I looked at it (having jumped up and down on them) but found some damage at the back where the previous owner had left wet ropes and such
After seeing the bit of damage, I knew the floors would have to be at least partially replaced ... or so I thought. Once I got the floors up it was obvious I had misjudged the stringers which were well rotted
The old foam was super nasty, and had been holding water at the stringers. Also it seems these boats were cranked out with little concern for longevity as there was no proper draining through the bulk heads
I suppose I am already in this deep, and I love the boat so away I went on cutting stringers out
This stuff is nasty
Cleaning it up
The side stringers were not as bad as the keel and bulkheads but I am going to replace it all anyway
So I started work on making the new stringers and getting them in to place with Epoxy PB
It became apparent the only stress I was going to feel on this boat was chasing good weather to work on it so I decided to rent a garage that could fit the boat in it for the winter restoration
Blocked up in her new winter home
Started doing a bit of assessment on the engine and thankfully I finally found some luck. The engine is 120/140/100/120 compression so I am going to rebuild it. I do love me an engine build so this is the part I was excited to do from the get go
With all my previous engine removals being from vehicles... oh boy was it a treat to take one out of a boat, so easy!
Started getting a look at the transom. It seems the top half is bone dry and great shape. Next was to remove the gimbal housing
