Restoring what I believe is a 1970's Chrysler Sport Satellite

[Jrzner]

So I bought this boat and trailer for 200, and had to pay another 100 to put some tires on it. Now I am new to boating, this is the first boat I have owned, I have been out on boats, just never owned one. I am planning to fully restore this boat, but the problem is, I can't seem to find any info on these types of boats anywhere, or where to even begin for that matter. Any help would be much appreciated. Images posted below, if you guys seen anything that might be out of place, feel free to take me to school. I do know that the steering is locked up currently.

 

[Jrzner]

Guess I should also mention that I would like to turn this into a catfishing boat, as that's what I enjoy doing.

 

[Baylinerchuck]

Welcome to iBoats.
Is the transom cracked??

 

[Jrzner]

Welcome to iBoats.
Is the transom cracked??

Yes sir, that big crack in that one photo is right down the middle of the transom.

 

[Jrzner]

I started to rip the carpet out and found the plywood under the carpet. I then proceeded to rip the plywood up and found another deck below that, that seems to look like more plywood with fiberglass over it, but I am not so sure. If anyone could give me some info on what I am looking at here, that would be great. First photo is mostly still the plywood I ripped up, the second photo is the front half of the deck without the rotted plywood I ripped up, and just the back remaining. I am also not too sure what the two holes are that are stuffed with wood.

 

[Jrzner]

Oh also, the four other holes are where the seats where, there is foam under it though. If I were to even stab that second layer, it would pierce the foam.

 

[Baylinerchuck]

Looks to me like a crappy attempt at a repair. The old deck was covered over with new plywood because it was rotted. The hole with the wood in it was an attempt to stiffen the soft spot created by the rotten or cracked plywood. That wood stuffed in the hole probably rests on the hull underneath. Hopefully the hull isn’t cracked. That old girl definitely has issues.

 

[Jrzner]

Looks to me like a crappy attempt at a repair. The old deck was covered over with new plywood because it was rotted. The hole with the wood in it was an attempt to stiffen the soft spot created by the rotten or cracked plywood. That wood stuffed in the hole probably rests on the hull underneath. Hopefully the hull isn’t cracked. That old girl definitely has issues.

Okay, so I was right, that's just another deck I will need to rip up to make sure there isn't any further damage further down. I did a full walk around the outside of the hull and it all looks good, but that also doesn't mean the inside isn't trashed to hell.

 

[Baylinerchuck]

Looks to me like a crappy attempt at a repair. The old deck was covered over with new plywood because it was rotted. The hole with the wood in it was an attempt to stiffen the soft spot created by the rotten or cracked plywood. That wood stuffed in the hole probably rests on the hull underneath. Hopefully the hull isn’t cracked

Okay, so I was right, that's just another deck I will need to rip up to make sure there isn't any further damage further down. I did a full walk around the outside of the hull and it all looks good, but that also doesn't mean the inside isn't trashed to hell.

Expect to see a lot of ugly. Rotted wood and a ton of soaked water logged foam. Pretty much all older boats are in this shape unless they’ve been garage kept.

 

[Jrzner]

Looks to me like a crappy attempt at a repair. The old deck was covered over with new plywood because it was rotted. The hole with the wood in it was an attempt to stiffen the soft spot created by the rotten or cracked plywood. That wood stuffed in the hole probably rests on the hull underneath. Hopefully the hull isn’t cracked

Expect to see a lot of ugly. Rotted wood and a ton of soaked water logged foam. Pretty much all older boats are in this shape unless they’ve been garage kept.

Yeah, from my understanding the boat as been sitting out in the weather for a very long time with no cover. I just recently moved up here to Nebraska, so I am assuming it's gonna be in pretty back shape due to the snow and rain.

 

[Baylinerchuck]

Plenty of help here for all your restoration questions.

 

[Jrzner]

Plenty of help here for all your restoration questions.

My only fear is I start cutting into something and I screw it all to hell. I have no mechanic or woodworking or even fiberglass experience.

 

[Scott Danforth]

your boat has had a "deckover" which is the equivalent as used-car companies using the sunday paper and 50 gallons of bondo to cover rust

you are in for a full gut-n-restore.

at the top of the forum are the stickies. specifically this one. https://forums.iboats.com/threads/how-tos-and-other-great-information.283508/

go thru links 14, 15, 18, 2, 3, 4a, and 4b in their entirety.

watch every video, look at every picture.

I estimate it will cost you about $2000 to get the hull to where it is safe, and about 6 months of weekends.

 

[racerone]

On these older vessels you can " see a good shiny hull "-----But you often can not see the structure that makes it a seaworthy boat.----Yes , many older boats out there that are candidates for a complete refit.----If you have the time and a willing helper you can fix this yourself.----Will take plenty of beer tokens too.----The 17' boat I am working on will use over $1000 US in West System epoxy alone.------Then there is the motor.----Start with posting the compression numbers here on this site.----It can easily require $1000 in repairs as well.

 

[Jrzner]

your boat has had a "deckover" which is the equivalent as used-car companies using the sunday paper and 50 gallons of bondo to cover rust

you are in for a full gut-n-restore.

at the top of the forum are the stickies. specifically this one. https://forums.iboats.com/threads/how-tos-and-other-great-information.283508/

go thru links 14, 15, 18, 2, 3, 4a, and 4b in their entirety.

watch every video, look at every picture.

I estimate it will cost you about $2000 to get the hull to where it is safe, and about 6 months of weekends.

Thanks, I am gonna take it to my local boat shop on Wednesday to see if I can't get the guys there to show me where I need to start tearing down everything. I just don't wanna start cutting in the wrong spot and end up costing me more.

 

[jimmbo]

So I bought this boat and trailer for 200, and had to pay another 100 to put some tires on it. Now I am new to boating, this is the first boat I have owned, I have been out on boats, just never owned one. I am planning to fully restore this boat, but the problem is, I can't seem to find any info on these types of boats anywhere, or where to even begin for that matter. Any help would be much appreciated. Images posted below, if you guys seen anything that might be out of place, feel free to take me to school. I do know that the steering is locked up currently.

Here is a Link you might find interesting. Has links to several Factory Brochures

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