1988 Regal Sebring Cuddy Fix or sell, part out?

K-haynes

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Aug 28, 2020
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Original owner of this boat, which has provided excellent service over the years. Though it has no hour meter, it is a low hours boat with a great running mercruiser 4.3. (I would estimate less than 400 hours) The engine coupling spun on it a week or two ago and after looking around I can see that the engine mount pads are a bit soft and will likely need to be rebuilt. Though the deck is not soft and it sounds solid everywhere I tap but the mounts, I know the transom is suspect.

I've researched the threads/videos (friscoboater etc) and though I might attempt to fix the pads, I don't think I have the energy to take on transom/stringer replacement if that is required.

I found a thread on another forum where a guy had the exact same boat and only needed to replace the engine mounts, but who knows if I will be that lucky.

So, the question is, how would one determine a price for this boat or a part out(ball park)? The trailer is in great shape, the engine and outdrive are also in good shape except for the coupling? The interior is good, but could use some attention. It has been in a covered slip for the last 17 years and under cover prior to that. Nada says it's worth about 3k running, so I know it's not worth a lot. Any input appreciated!
 

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Lou C

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Nov 10, 2002
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Nice boat and cuddys in that size are hard to find. I would consider fixing it, if you can pull the engine or get someone to do it for you. If you sell now you will have to spend at least 4x what you think its worth to get something decent that doesn't have the same problems developing and then you know what you have. I did something similar with my boat about 13 years ago. Got a lot of good use out of it after that. And could not have bought anything good for what it cost to fix (approx $4500 for a stringer repair and deck replacement) I did some of the work and had the shop do the tougher parts. Still good now.
 

K-haynes

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Aug 28, 2020
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Thanks Lou, my preference would be to get it going again certainly, but I have access to another boat. I'll pull the motor and do some exploration on the mounts and transom I suppose. Still curious what kind of market there is for this kind of project. I suspect the power train and trailer would bring more separately than the whole package, but hate to see it scrapped.
 

Old Ironmaker

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Dec 28, 2015
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Sometimes "low hours" isn't always a good thing. 400 hrs on a 32 year old boat is 12 1/2 hours per year. That is ridiculously low. The old "should I spend good money after bad?" question plagues us all. The same goes for a major repair bill on an older passenger vehicle. I think the answer to that question is a personal one as in what position one is in financially? I would take the boat into a trusted marine mechanic and ask them what they would charge to go through the boat stem to stern. I don't believe you will get a surveyor to look at it because of it's size. That way you will not have as many surprises while doing the rebuild. It might be the best 1000 bucks you spend. $1000.00 is a guess, but might not be too far off depending on the hourly rate for a marine mechanic where you are. Marine rates around us is about $85.00 USD per hour.

Good luck to you and nice looking boat by the way.

JD
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
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Jul 23, 2011
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I agree that 400 hours on a 32/33 year old boat is next to nothing. that literally is less than 2 outings per year.

only you can answer the question on the restore vs part out.
being the original owner, I bet there is sentimental value that would be hard to overcome.

however the boat is 32/33 years old and in that time, there have been 5-6 generations of 4.3's from GM and another generation on the drive. parting it out, dont expect more than a few hundred dollars for the driveline

NADA values are a general rule of thumb. so dont base your opinions on that.

since you already have to pull the motor and drive to fix the coupler, I would drill some core samples. if its only your transom in some areas and your motor mount blocks, your into it for about $1000 in repairs if you do the work yourself.

if you have full stringers, deck, transom, etc. depending on the layout, up to about $3k, more if you have interior work to do.

either way, start with sample drills.

or sell the boat as a project boat for $2k (yes someone will buy it) and point them to the forums.
 

K-haynes

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Aug 28, 2020
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Thanks for the input guys. Since I don't have an hour meter I could be off a bit but not too much. My 05 jet ski has 233 on it and I've probably used it as much or more than the boat. Hoping for the best when I get the motor out. It has run better in the last few years than it did when new. Put a brand new outdrive on in 2004, so it has even fewer hours than the engine.
If I could get by with 12 to 15 hundred I would fix it for sure.
 

K-haynes

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Aug 28, 2020
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Update: I pulled the engine and was lucky to find that only the mounts were soft. Had a local repair shop replace them and reinstalled the motor. Put in new bellows, y pipe seal and water hose while it was out and the old boat is running again. Thanks for the input here!
 
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