1991 Wellcraft Eclipse 232

[91_eclipse232]

Hello everyone, my name is Robert and I'm new here on iboats.com. I wanted to show what might be my new project boat. It was my father's boat and now has been handed down to me. It is in really rough shape and i'm debating on the challenge of restoring it. First allow me to describe what I have here. It is a 1991 Wellcraft Eclipse 232 powered by a 5.7 Mercruiser, Alpha 1 Gen 2 drive. The boat has been sitting in the Florida weather on it's trailer for 7 years uncovered and the only reason why i'm even considering restoring it is because this was at one time a beautiful boat and not to mention it's a Wellcraft. This boat needs alot to get it back in good shape. The floor is soft from front to back, the motor needs a rebuild, the interior needs to be redone, and the hubs on the trailer are rusted. So, yeah alot of time and money are to be invested in this project. The only thing good on the boat is the drive. I kinda scared to even mess with it and would like some suggestions from you guys, because again this is my first boat. Is it worth it to even mess with or should I just buy another boat for the price of what it's gonna take to get this thing going. Also does anyone know what it would run to get the deck repaired professionaly and if anyone knows of a company locally here in the tampa area that's reasonably priced. I do not have the time to repair it myself and would rather just to have it done. I have posted some pics of current condition of the boat so tell me what you guys think.

 

[91_eclipse232]

Re: 1991 Wellcraft Eclipse 232

 

[91_eclipse232]

Re: 1991 Wellcraft Eclipse 232

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1991 Wellcraft Eclipse 232

Welcome to the forum. That is a beautiful hull and worth restoring in my opinion. If the drive is good a new block really isn't THAT expensive in the grand scheme of things. It's definitely a DIY kinda thing though. It would cost you thousands to have the deck repaired professionally. It will be a big job but you can fix this boat yourself. All the help you need is here on this site. Check out the epic hull extension thread for info and also this one http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=271420 as it's a resto of a larger hull also. Good luck.

That's a nice trailer. The hubs are no big deal. Trailer parts aren't particularly expensive.

 

[91_eclipse232]

Re: 1991 Wellcraft Eclipse 232

Thank you for the link i'm still trying to learn how to navigate on this site so any help is greatly appreciated. I can do the motor work, interior and everything else with the boat but the fiberglass is something I do not have a whole alot of experience with. I am comfortable with doing the rear part of the boat because it's gonna be covered with carpet and easily to get to but the front is what worries me. It is the slick fiberglass and I dont know how to get it back in that condition once I cut out all the soft spots. But I will take a look at the link you sent and again any extra help would be appreciated.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: 1991 Wellcraft Eclipse 232

Hello m8 and welcome to Iboats ..

Wow...Nice hull and all..but..

Its 20 years old..and 7 years neglected. I think from your pics your looking at a full blown uncapping gutting/stringers transom etc.

Your powerplant and drive Is worth something if its in good shape.

What kind of $$ are you looking at putting into an investment like this ( You will never get what you put into this time/materials what you could sell it for the day after you finish it ) .

I MIGHT be able to get a few bucks off this boat if I resto'd it ( and thats a pro with connections on cost on materials ).

Your cost just in Safty equipt. would cost you over $200 .. just protection for youself not including others around you.

Then you add on Containment..etc..your into a few Thousand before you know it.

If its a bad investment .. and you dont have a Connection with this boat..then sell it and put the money into a better resto boat .. IMHO...

YD.

 

[91_eclipse232]

Re: 1991 Wellcraft Eclipse 232

See... I do kinda have a connection with this boat. It was my father's boat and I would love to get it back in shape and see the smile on his face the first time we take it out. But I know it's gonna take alot of time and money and that's why I'm kind of torn on which route to take. It's been way to long for this boat to sit, especially uncovered and I wish I could have started the resto sooner. But I have talked to several people and everyone has been telling me to restore it. I'm just a lil worried about the whole fiberglass thing. But I think i'm gonna try to tackle this. I may not be able to take it out this summer like I wish but it should be fun to do. Not to mention it would give my dad and I something to do together like we use to do when I was younger. Plus I could start boating with my family and sharing boating with my kids. I have read some of the old forums about deck repair but I haven't really seen anything about bowel repairs. I want to repair under the bowel because I think there might be some rot underneath. Could i just cut the bottom out and repair underneath and put the bottom back in and just fiberglass it back ???

 

[betayv]

Re: 1991 Wellcraft Eclipse 232

hello there that is a nice boat and hull, I have the same boat but 1995, here is link to my resto, http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=352664&page=5

if you willing to spend the time and the money DO it here you can get a lot of answers, I will start taking out the outdrive and the engine and clean the entire hull to really check what have to be done and make a plan, will take time and $$$. good luck ...

 

[91_eclipse232]

Re: 1991 Wellcraft Eclipse 232

Thanks, Betayv. I actually read about your boat a couple of days ago and cannot not believe you picked it up for only $500. You have a amazing boat and what you have done with it is great. I wish mine was in half the shape as yours. I especially like how the deck has no carpet I will try to do the same with mine. It will not be anytime soon but once I start the work I will post pics.

 

[91_eclipse232]

Re: 1991 Wellcraft Eclipse 232

Ok, it's official. I have done some research and I have decided to uncap the boat and and turn this bad boy into a complete resto. I plan on starting to remove everything from the boat and once I have done so the uncapping portion will be started. This will be my first time doing a project like this so I will post pics with my progress for any guidance along the way. I do have my father and his friend who we be helping me but any extra suggestions would be appreciated. I was told that in order to uncap the boat you would have to remove the screws behind the bumper guard and it can seperate the top from the bottom. So, here I go... wish me luck.

 

[erikgreen]

Re: 1991 Wellcraft Eclipse 232

Sounds like you have a plan.

I wouldn't worry too much about getting money out of it, or it being a bad investment (it is if you look at the money and time involved only.. but read on). Most of the projects here are done for other reasons than to make money. It's rare to even get your money back out of a boat project.

YD has a bit of a different perspective, being a professional who does this, and his eye is on the bottom line.

Just keep in mind that part of your payment for the project is what you learn by doing it, and the satisfaction of being able to say "I did that" when people ask about the boat.

Also, Wellcraft is actually a pretty well known name, and they made quality boats. A restored Wellcraft would be worth quite a bit more than some other manufacturers, and it has a classic look that won't seem too dated.

Have fun and post pictures of the work

Erik

 

[betayv]

Re: 1991 Wellcraft Eclipse 232

hey is good to hear you going to fix it, Im changing the rub rail on mine and I already fix some of the scratches on the hull with gelcoat I pullish one side of the boat and look great, good luck with the project.

 

[91_eclipse232]

Re: 1991 Wellcraft Eclipse 232

Thanks guys, I can't wait to start the project. In fact it's been all I've been thinking about. This weekend will probably be when I start this so until then I'm researching alot more and dreaming about all the things I wanna do. This website is great, everything I need is here and plenty of good folks to help along the way.

 

[Friscoboater]

Re: 1991 Wellcraft Eclipse 232

I can ofer you a couple of words. Do not get discouraged... And get the right tools. It will make your life easier.

 

[91_eclipse232]

Re: 1991 Wellcraft Eclipse 232

I like to work smart and not hard so if certain tools are gonna make things easier I will get them if I don't have them already. And I plan on taking my time with this one so I do not get discouraged. Thanks for the advice.

 

[91_eclipse232]

Re: 1991 Wellcraft Eclipse 232

Well, not to much has gone on so far. I have to do some work to the trailer's hub and leaf springs tomorrow so I can take the boat to a friends house next weekend which will be the start date of stripping and uncapping...can't wait!

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: 1991 Wellcraft Eclipse 232

If its a bad investment .. and you dont have a Connection with this boat..then sell it and put the money into a better resto boat .. IMHO...

YD.

I wasnt suggesting it was a bad investment I said " If " it was a bad investment ( which only you could have determined then so on and so forth .

Ok..lets get this thing uncapped and start a grindin' .. Ill be here .

YD.

 

[91_eclipse232]

Re: 1991 Wellcraft Eclipse 232

I wasnt suggesting it was a bad investment I said " If " it was a bad investment ( which only you could have determined then so on and so forth .

Ok..lets get this thing uncapped and start a grindin' .. Ill be here .

YD.

OK...thanks man.

 

[sherm169]

Any updates? I am working on a very similar boat restoring the deck and stringers. Looking for advice on getting to the bow.... Has anyone separated the hull from the top before? Worth it or not?

 

[GA_Boater]

Any updates? I am working on a very similar boat restoring the deck and stringers. Looking for advice on getting to the bow.... Has anyone separated the hull from the top before? Worth it or not?

No - He left.