1989 Renken 2000 I think I'm in trouble

[ZGHVAC]

So I bought a 1989 Renken 2000 with trailer for $500, needed some work... Much more now than I thought... So it has a 1979 Chrysler motor on the back, seems solid but I have to rewire the ignition, which finding a wiring diagram seems to be impossible. Deck is pretty rotted =( but I figured I'd come here for advice and help! Should i rip up the rest of the fiber glass deck? SHould i put treated wood over the top?

motor model number is 1154H9A

 

[DeepCMark58A]

Sell the motor, sell the trailer and consider it a lesson learned.

 

[ZGHVAC]

But why? Is the repair process that difficult? The hull is solid. I have all the electronics, just looking for advice on the deck.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

If you deck is rotted you have rot elsewhere. You will spent 3-5 thousand plus to have a useable safe boat.

 

[jbcurt00]

Simply, you're at the top of the iceberg, everything below deck and the transom are likely to need significantly more work then you expect, hope or want.

Add a vintage Chrysler motor, and its a bigger project, have you priced rebuild parts yet? Availability?

No, you can't just deck over w pressure treated.

 

[ZGHVAC]

Parts are available, I’m pretty mechanically inclined, but always willing to do research. So I tear up the deck, remove the foam and all the rotted wood, buy new wood and foam, install? I understand there’s Lot to it but it could be a fun project right?

 

[ZGHVAC]

Are boats different from old cars with rotted bodies? I understand cars don’t go on water but it couldn’t be over all that different.

 

[Wildey]

Parts are available, I’m pretty mechanically inclined, but always willing to do research.

Do the research (should have done that first, IMHO).
It's all right here on this forum. All of your questions are already answered .... multiple times. If you have a "new" one, by all means ask.

I understand there’s Lot to it but it could be a fun project right?

IF ..... you can afford the $, time, effort required and have the required space.
Very rewarding, if you'd rather work on a boat instead of boating (grin)
Cheers

 

[jbcurt00]

Are boats different from old cars with rotted bodies? I understand cars don’t go on water but it couldn’t be over all that different.

Yes, different

It's more like a uni-body: the hull (everywhere not just part touching the water), deck (floor), stringers (floor joists), transom, all the fiberglass cloth/mat and polyester resin holding it all together and the flotation foam are part & parcel of the whole. Need to 'touch' (replace) 1, it's likely you need to do the rest too.

Looks like a full gut & rebuild, otherwise you can't be sure it's seaworthy

Might get away w shoddy half arse bandaids for multiple years, might get 1 season out of them...
Might get no safe outings at all.

No way to KNOW its sound, so by default it isnt.

When it let's go, you, your passengers and anyone unlucky & close enough to come to your aid, are all at risk.

 

[ZGHVAC]

So i gut all the wood and foam out, what am I looking for exactly? I’m assuming there’s guides on here, it’s mainly going to be on small inland lakes. From what I’ve seen on here, plenty of people have taken on worse projects and came out ok.

 

[Wildey]

what am I looking for exactly? I’m assuming there’s guides on here

Have you attempted to do ANY research ? ? ? ? ?

, it’s mainly going to be on small inland lakes.

.... nothing over waist deep to play it safe.

 

[Scott Danforth]

But why? Is the repair process that difficult? The hull is solid. I have all the electronics, just looking for advice on the deck.

the deck is the last thing to rot after the transom and the stringers (the skeleton structure of your boat

while the fiberglass skin may look good, the bones are rotten

go to this sticky. https://forums.iboats.com/threads/how-tos-and-other-great-information.283508/

read threads 14, 15, 18, 2, 3, 4A and 4B in their entirety.

this will explain the repair process.

to restore the hull, expect to shell out $3500 and spend 6 months of your life getting itchy

 

[ZGHVAC]

Have you attempted to do ANY research ? ? ? ? ?


.... nothing over waist deep to play it safe.

Yeah a bit, looked up manuals, looked up parts, looked up deck replacement.

 

[briangcc]

It's not a house where you simply deck over the bad stuff. You're cutting out the floor, the stringers, the transom, grinding it all down to good solid glass, reinstalling the transom, reinstalling the stringers, glassing over the both, installing the floor, glassing that in (whole stringers/transom/floor give structural support to your boat so it doesn't break in 2), then doing interior work.

That's the cliffnotes version.

In otherwords...have you looked through the resto forum for any of the "I have a soft spot in the floor" restos? Cause they're about to be very eye opening for you if you haven't.

 

[ZGHVAC]

It's not a house where you simply deck over the bad stuff. You're cutting out the floor, the stringers, the transom, grinding it all down to good solid glass, reinstalling the transom, reinstalling the stringers, glassing over the both, installing the floor, glassing that in (whole stringers/transom/floor give structural support to your boat so it doesn't break in 2), then doing interior work.

That's the cliffnotes version.

In otherwords...have you looked through the resto forum for any of the "I have a soft spot in the floor" restos? Cause they're about to be very eye opening for you if you haven't.

Yep looked up the resto thread, it’s very involved but not terribly horrid, I don’t think my transom is rotted, wouldn’t my motor be sagging? Also the roads I had to drive on to get the boat home are riddled with pot holes, if it was rotted it would of ripped off. But this is the discovery phase so I’m optimistic, thanks for all the support! I appreciate all the replies and feed back! I will start a different thread with a detailed log of my adventure.

 

[Lou C]

Start buying tyvec suits, gloves and one of these….
I use it when I paint the outdrive with anti fouling paint. I use the fume filters with the n95 inserts for painting & the large P100s for grinding & sanding ‘glass. This work is hazardous to your health do NOT scrimp on safety equipment!

 

[briangcc]

From the inside of your boat, as far down as you can get, sample your transom. You tell me....wet, non-existent, or dry?

 

[Lou C]

I did a partial job like that, lol, once was enough. Never again, if I can’t afford a late model boat I’m sticking to hot rods then. No thanks!

 

[Scott Danforth]

I don’t think my transom is rotted, wouldn’t my motor be sagging?

first thing to rot is the transom
second thing to rot is the stringers
last thing to rot is the floor.

to verify, tilt the motor up, get on the AV plate with a buddy and jump up and down. a good transom will not flex.

 

[ZGHVAC]

Well guys I appreciate all the advice, all the moral boosting words from you guys! I saw that guide, going through it, it’s very in depth, thumbs up to that guy. I’ll be taking on this adventure as soon as it stops raining every other day here in Michigan.