Cost per foot

[zool]

Re: Cost per foot

Well it is just a thought and I do need something to do this winter. First step is to stop at these homes that have boats seemingly unmoved for years. Thanks for the replys and maybe I'll have a boat salvage yard this coming spring.

Search free boat on craigslist, and sort thru what comes up....

something like this may be a good starting point

cheap 1986 four winns 241 liberator

 

[Daniel1947]

Re: Cost per foot

I just feel the need to throw my 25 cents in here. I am an old guy, 66 years young, I have been around cars all my life. Built my own drag race door slammer from the ground up. I have been messing with engines, etc. for a long time. I have helped friends find true classic auto's and how to get away from the cheats and liars. I can find the bondo where there isn't supposed to be any, I can run diagnostics on engines, transmission, differentials, etc., I know where the serial numbers are, I know where the numbers are on differentials, transmissions, etc., I know what a "broadcast sheet" is and where it is located if it is still in the vehicle. Within a couple hours of computer searching I can tell you if the vehicle is original, matching numbers, or been restored with cheap parts. All of my expertise was worthless when I purchased my first boat 3 years ago. The guy had it in his garage, and I got the same story that is heard here over and over. "My kids aren't interested in skiing, I don't have time to take it out anymore, I have maintained it and kept it garaged, etc. etc." Boat looked great, engine sounded great, water ran out the pee hole, everything was great looking. "Lipstick on a pig." I got one summer out of it before #3 cylinder burned a piston; man oh man I had no idea how expensive hard parts for a Mercury engine were. One piston - $108, a whole set for my 360 V8 Dodge was $125. Got the engine rebuilt and hit the water again late this summer. I noticed the drivers seat was a little loose; got it back to the house and while kneeling on the floor (er, ah "deck, sorry) to find out how to tighten it up, my knee went through the deck. I started to read the forum here, and yep, upon further examination I have found the stringers are also rotten and I am pretty sure the transom is also. My first boat and probably my last. I will be restoring it, it is my winter project. I paid $3000 for the boat, put another $600 into the engine, and will probably spend $2000 to maybe $3000 to do the restoration. So when all is said and done, I will have roughly $5500 to $6500 into a 1989 Astro Quickfire 18FS. I have looked at new boats; nothing decent out there for less than $20,000.

I guess what I am trying to get at is this: All of the restorations done correctly on Iboats, yield in most cases, a boat that is 100% better than when it came off the production line. First boat buyers, like myself, are easy pickings for the cheats because I had no idea about "rotting wood"...nowhere is the saying, "buyer beware," more true than for a first time used boat buyer. I had access to all the nucks and crannies before I bought the boat, I just didn't know what to look for. The boats that are properly restored have, for the most part, the decks completed sealed to the sides of the hull, so visual inspections are not easy. Once again, regardlsee of all the photos, documentation, etc., I would never pay anyone $6000 for a used 1989 boat, but I will restore mine with the help, assistance and knowledge from the folks here on Iboats.

 

[rsmitty814]

Re: Cost per foot

If you rebuild for yourself and keep the boat that is admirable. Reselling for a profit simply won't happen. In FLA I can buy a boat like this that needs nothing, looks new, and runs great for under $1500 all day long. Change the style to a center console and the price jumps however. For about $2500 I can buy a very nice 17 to 21 footer loaded with all the bells and whistles and it needs nothing. It boils down to your market and what you want to do. Personally I have had a lot of fun and experience with rebuilding. I would not do it again. Just sayin.

Pick up 4 of those $1500 boats for me. I'll be down to pick them up.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Cost per foot

Pick up 4 of those $1500 boats for me. I'll be down to pick them up.

You'll have to hire the space shuttle for that because they're on another planet in a distant galaxy.

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: Cost per foot

fl has way to many boats for sale so the prices are dirt cheap but theres a lot of junk you have to look at to find the diamonds. The diamonds are normally in dry racks where they have sat for years as the owner talks about the boat he owns but never uses it. If I honestly wanted to make money on boats then I would go into the wrap business. People buy pretty things. People will buy a pretty boat that's sinking and still swear they have bought a nice boat because it looks good. Take a 15 year old boat that's covered in black mould with a rotten interior and the first question a Iboat member will ask is "when did the manufacture switch from wood to composite and what kind of motor does it have". Others will says its a rotten boat. Now look at a 25 year old boat that's pretty and has new upholstery it doesn't matter if its has soft decks its pretty so no one cares. Take a old bassboat throw a wrap on it so it looks new and a little carpet and that 300 wreak is a 2000 boat and we get a new member when the motor falls off the transom.

 

[mercurymang]

Re: Cost per foot

OP, I think you just need to find you a small cheap boat and do a restore. Then you will see what it's all about. I'm with these guys. If you are trying to make money at, it's probably not going to happen. But it's still fun and you may find another way you could make money at it. If I thought I could make money at it I would do it too. Not trying to discourage you just give you the facts.

 

[64osby]

Re: Cost per foot

In my time here there was one person I read that stated he made money buying and selling used boats. He would buy $5k boats that only needed one major item fixed. A new motor, new upholstery, new what ever. There rest of the boat was solid and did not need a new floor, stingers or transom. He would do 5 or 6 a year and make money. They were quick flips, not long term renovation projects. I don't recall who it is or was, and maybe they were truthful, but then again maybe he was a fisherman.

You would be money ahead spending your time searching for the cheap barn find. One that needed cleaning, impeller and carb work, then flipping it for a modest profit. But I think most of here are looking for the same find.

There are some opportunities. I have made money on boats, but there is probably more to be made on parting out an old boat then on renovating one.

 

[jimmy wise]

Re: Cost per foot

What I have to input is upholstery.......I do it correctly. Its not cheap.... I did an estimate on a junk byliner...it was fully upholstered. It came up to 7100. For all the r and I materials and labor for four colors. I broke it down in hours......the boat was toast.

 

[jasonbailey]

Re: Cost per foot

I have an 18' that I'm getting ready to replace transom, deck, and stringers. I figure I will have about $2,500-$3,000 in materials and tools to complete the project. The boat is stored indoors so I don't have to do anything with the seats.

Here is what I'm guestimating:
$1,500 Resin
$250 Fabric
$200 Plywood & other lumber
$250 Tools
$300 New wiring/fuse block/lights

The hull is 28 years old, motor is 4 years old. I could probably sell the motor for about $3,500-$4,000. Even after repair & upgragde of the hull, I'd be lucky to see $1,500-$2,000 for the hull.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Cost per foot

fl has way to many boats for sale so the prices are dirt cheap but theres a lot of junk you have to look at to find the diamonds. The diamonds are normally in dry racks where they have sat for years as the owner talks about the boat he owns but never uses it. If I honestly wanted to make money on boats then I would go into the wrap business. People buy pretty things. People will buy a pretty boat that's sinking and still swear they have bought a nice boat because it looks good. Take a 15 year old boat that's covered in black mould with a rotten interior and the first question a Iboat member will ask is "when did the manufacture switch from wood to composite and what kind of motor does it have". Others will says its a rotten boat. Now look at a 25 year old boat that's pretty and has new upholstery it doesn't matter if its has soft decks its pretty so no one cares. Take a old bassboat throw a wrap on it so it looks new and a little carpet and that 300 wreak is a 2000 boat and we get a new member when the motor falls off the transom.

Dead nuts on. dont forget to add the power pole and chrome rod holders to get another $1000 out of it.

 

[idonthaveaname]

Re: Cost per foot

Pick up 4 of those $1500 boats for me. I'll be down to pick them up.

All day long....

18 FT Boat Hull very nice and cheap

STEURLY QUALITY SIGN 18 FT

price to sell 18' boat with trailer need gone a.s.a.p

1976 18' BOSTON WHALER

1984 Ranger Bass Boat 18.5 ft

18' V Hull Boat w/ Yamaha 150 Motor

18 foot Crestliner boat & trailer

CUTE 18' BOAT

Not all are at $1500 (close) but everything is negotiable.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Cost per foot

All day long....

18 FT Boat Hull very nice and cheap

STEURLY QUALITY SIGN 18 FT

price to sell 18' boat with trailer need gone a.s.a.p

1976 18' BOSTON WHALER

1984 Ranger Bass Boat 18.5 ft

18' V Hull Boat w/ Yamaha 150 Motor

18 foot Crestliner boat & trailer

CUTE 18' BOAT

Not all are at $1500 (close) but everything is negotiable.

In FLA I can buy a boat like this that needs nothing, looks new, and runs great for under $1500 all day long.

If you don't think those boats don't need major work done to them you're very naive and have a great amount to learn yet about used boats.

 

[idonthaveaname]

Re: Cost per foot

okay dude. i was hoping you would get the point of it. Most of the boats I listed can be bought for less than $1500. Most of the boats shown need...at best...a little cleaning up. I bought my 17' Proline for under $1500 and other than a few cosmetics it needed nothing. The ones I sent were found in 5 minutes and with some shopping around solid older and cheaper boats are not that hard to find down here. Just making a point that one does not need to spend $3000 or $4000 in a restore to have a decent boat. Life is too short to spend on the side of your house buried in fiberglass and sawdust without your family next to you and on the water. Just sayin.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Cost per foot

okay dude. i was hoping you would get the point of it. Most of the boats I listed can be bought for less than $1500. Most of the boats shown need...at best...a little cleaning up. I bought my 17' Proline for under $1500 and other than a few cosmetics it needed nothing. The ones I sent were found in 5 minutes and with some shopping around solid older and cheaper boats are not that hard to find down here. Just making a point that one does not need to spend $3000 or $4000 in a restore to have a decent boat. Life is too short to spend on the side of your house buried in fiberglass and sawdust without your family next to you and on the water. Just sayin.

LMAO!!!:laugh:

Ignoring rot doesn't make it go away.

We'll be here for you when the transom falls off of that proline.

 

[rsmitty814]

Re: Cost per foot

All day long....

18 FT Boat Hull very nice and cheap

STEURLY QUALITY SIGN 18 FT

price to sell 18' boat with trailer need gone a.s.a.p

1976 18' BOSTON WHALER

1984 Ranger Bass Boat 18.5 ft

18' V Hull Boat w/ Yamaha 150 Motor

18 foot Crestliner boat & trailer

CUTE 18' BOAT

Not all are at $1500 (close) but everything is negotiable.

You said cherry. None of those are.

 

[Daniel1947]

Re: Cost per foot

As the saying goes, "talk is cheap." Instead of someone "talking the talk" I would really like to see someone "walk the walk." Get a resorable boat, motor and trailer. Restore it back to a good, clean water ready boat and sell it. Document it all. show proof of purchase, receipts for materials, photos and/or videos of the actual work in progress, then show "us the money." Not saying it can't be done to turn a profit, but I know I can't put $2000 to $3000 into my restoration and recoup the total investment, let alone make a profit. Second reason is I wouldn't screw over the next guy like I got screwed over. But I can't blame anyone for my ignorance, except myself.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Cost per foot

iBoater, FriscoBoater did it. He did not disclose profit margin, but I do know the buyer was well pleased with the purchase. You can read all the details in his thread here on the forum.

 

[idonthaveaname]

Re: Cost per foot

Gentlemen. It seems you relish in the argument. I never said cherry and it was a 5 minute check online as an exemplification of available vessels so let's be a little realistic rather than wanting to prove you're an imperious contributor. And while they may not be perfect, not all of them needed restoring to the extent you were asking about. Granted they would all require a full inspection. I also said for about $2500 I can buy a very nice 17 to 21 footer loaded with all the bells and whistles and it needs nothing. More so this was a conversation that you boys turned into a squabble.

"We'll be here for you when the transom falls off of that proline." Well jigngrub all i can tell you is my rotting 1984 Proline was checked by a marina mechanic for signs of wear and she came out with a clean bill of health. So ya'll can sit up thar in Alibamy and shout down yonder here all ya want.

My offerings and opinions are free of charge...do with them what you may. It's quite apparent you know more than I do.

 

[idonthaveaname]

Re: Cost per foot

iBoater, FriscoBoater did it. He did not disclose profit margin, but I do know the buyer was well pleased with the purchase. You can read all the details in his thread here on the forum.

Wood has a great point. FriscoBoater did a great restore and documented everything. I have watched his Youtube presentations a dozen times and the guy is really good (no offense Wood). He was also smart enough to have advertising on his Youtube and you can bet he makes a few bucks off that. Smart guy and quite the craftsman.

FriscoJarretts - YouTube

 

[Daniel1947]

Re: Cost per foot

I followed Frisco's threads, yes he documented everything except for profit margin. Now I am just an old fart, but if he had $xxxxx.00 in the boat restoration and sold it for $xxxx.01, it would be true he made a profit. But if I remember correctly, he never documented the amount of time he put into any of the three boats he did. Heck, GT1M has hundreds of hours of labor in his fine project, I have all the respect in the world for everyone on the forum that supplies useful as well as expert information. But I will go out on a limb and make a BOLD statement right now: If you figure in your labor, you aren't selling a restored boat for a profit, unless you are extremely lucky. If you are going to make a business out of restoring old boats, you have to figure in your labor costs. If you just want to restore old boats and recover your expenses for material, and maybe make an extra $100.00, the go for it.