1992 Wellcraft Eclipse 232 Restoration.... TONS OF PICS!

[MrConrs]

New to iboats and LOVE this site! I spend hours just reading and looking over all the restoration projects!

Well here is mine. I know that betayv has already posted his restore on here. My boat is in a little worse shape then thiers was. Any rate. Here goes..


Purchased the boat over two years ago and it sat for more then two years after that. Didn't touch it at all due to divorce. Thats over. Lets get this boat going!

 

[MrConrs]

Re: 1992 Wellcraft Eclipse 232 Restoration.... TONS OF PICS!

 

[MrConrs]

Re: 1992 Wellcraft Eclipse 232 Restoration.... TONS OF PICS!

Next was the tear down... TWO YEARS LATER!!! sheesh!

 

[MrConrs]

Re: 1992 Wellcraft Eclipse 232 Restoration.... TONS OF PICS!

Some rot in floor. nothing major thankfully. Was able to get stringer out with a screw driver and vacuum. Maybe not the best way to fix a stringer but has worked well in the past for me.

 

[MrConrs]

Re: 1992 Wellcraft Eclipse 232 Restoration.... TONS OF PICS!

Some sanding while i bashed my brains in figuring out how i wanted the interior. The factory setup just doesn't work for me.

 

[MrConrs]

Re: 1992 Wellcraft Eclipse 232 Restoration.... TONS OF PICS!

Purchased a donor boat to rob the motor, outdrive, transome plate and trailer. And of course its a Wellcraft. Motor fired up first try, went into forward and reverse just fine!

 

[MrConrs]

Re: 1992 Wellcraft Eclipse 232 Restoration.... TONS OF PICS!

Cleaned up the donor boat parts and installed! The transome plate took quite a bit of work as it did NOT fit. Hit the built in swim platform. A little grinding on the inside of the swim platform to make the last 1/4" clear did the trick.

 

[MrConrs]

Re: 1992 Wellcraft Eclipse 232 Restoration.... TONS OF PICS!

Painted the blidge area with Blidge Kote! Goes on THICK and very nice!

 

[MrConrs]

Re: 1992 Wellcraft Eclipse 232 Restoration.... TONS OF PICS!

Re-did the donor trailer, new wood, paint, and lights. boat fits on it MUCH better!

 

[MrConrs]

Re: 1992 Wellcraft Eclipse 232 Restoration.... TONS OF PICS!

 

[MrConrs]

Re: 1992 Wellcraft Eclipse 232 Restoration.... TONS OF PICS!

Started on the interior. I beat myself up so many times on how it was going to look, how it was looking, did i like it. I must of re-did the rear seat 5 or 6 times to get the right size, height, look. Always had the right size, just the height was either not tall enough or i wanted it shorter or deeper...

 

[MrConrs]

Re: 1992 Wellcraft Eclipse 232 Restoration.... TONS OF PICS!

Well this is where i'm at today. I got the floor glassed in, the carpet is glued in. I have more side pannel to do and some glass work for the shifter assembly, some more paint outside and inside, the stereo system and then upholstrey and foam. Hopefully by the end of July it will be on the water.

 

[MrConrs]

Re: 1992 Wellcraft Eclipse 232 Restoration.... TONS OF PICS!

I haven't taken any recent pics.... kinda wanting to wait till the boat is done. Give that shock and aww to everyone.

 

[MrConrs]

Re: 1992 Wellcraft Eclipse 232 Restoration.... TONS OF PICS!

I always read this forums and look at the pictures and everyone does such an amazing job. I always find myself asking the same question though. Boats are their passion. What do they do for a living. So I figured I would put a little bio on my page. I have been an auto mechanic for roughly 15 years, I went to college for computer science and network engineering. Don't really care to much for computers though. I'm 29 years old. I got divorced roughly 2 years ago maybe longer, close to the time i bought this boat. I have moved twice and changed tow vehicles since getting the boat. Between the g/f and I we have 6 kids. And most of them like to try to help out. ALL of them enjoying bouncing around inside the boat. I hope everyone enjoys my project. I hope to finish it soon and will be posting a ton more pictures soon.

 

[SouthTexan]

Re: 1992 Wellcraft Eclipse 232 Restoration.... TONS OF PICS!

All I can say is WOW! That is a great job on a beautiful boat! Can't wait to see the rest!

ETA: I am curious what the more experienced builders will have to say about the modifications to the stern seating. I am contemplating something along those lines when I rebuild my interior. Looks like you have some serious fiberglassing in your near future!

 

[Luhrs28]

Re: 1992 Wellcraft Eclipse 232 Restoration.... TONS OF PICS!

Man when you decide to work on something you really go to town on it! That's going to be a great boat. I especially like the shape of the windshield and side glass. Nice high freeboard also.

If you keep at it like this it'll be done in no time.

 

[MrConrs]

Re: 1992 Wellcraft Eclipse 232 Restoration.... TONS OF PICS!

I absolutley love this boat! I bought it due to the 3/4 mid cabin. I haven't posted any pics of the cabin yet but it will be getting a full restoration also with tv and dvd. I had to sell my previous boat due to bills piling up!

Here are some pictures of what I turned it into...

 

[MrConrs]

Re: 1992 Wellcraft Eclipse 232 Restoration.... TONS OF PICS!

 

[MrConrs]

Re: 1992 Wellcraft Eclipse 232 Restoration.... TONS OF PICS!

I did finish ALL the carpet and interior pieces. This was the first real water test with my father out on lake mead. Not sure why we choose night time but it was a blast. The boat came with a rotted to the core stringer/ floor. It was COMPLETELY redon. The seating from the factory was back to back and two jump seats on either side of the engine cover. I converted it to swivel captain chairs with a 10" sub in the base of each one. Full bench seat in rear with sun bed. The cabin was COMPLETELY empty! only thing in there was moldy carpet. I built the side storage up top and the front peiece with the tv fab'd in with dvd and two speakers. If you look at the side pannels the ONLY orginal peices are the light blue and dark blue peices mounted to the white. They are the ORGINAL upholstery. I was able to go to Keyston Bros and match up the colors. Pretty sweet if you ask me. Sold this boat after i moved to Texas. About 3 years ago. Miss that boat. It had a cracked 383 in it that the previous owner wanted to keep. I scored a freebie Merc. 260Hp for redoing the front end of a family friends daughters truck! and a few other repairs on other vehicles of his. That night i took these pics with a 21pt prop i hit 57mph gps. I was pretty happy with that as it was a HEAVY boat with a bad carb. Ended up getting a new carb, new distrib. and his 61mph gps.

 

[MrConrs]

Re: 1992 Wellcraft Eclipse 232 Restoration.... TONS OF PICS!

Well worked on the boat today for a bit. Got the captain's love set if you will all ready for glass. reinforced with 1/2 ply. covered with a cloth and ready to lay some resin, then mat and resin. Can't wait to get this part done. its the most involved piece i'm doing. Will try to post pictures tomorrow.