Hey ya’ll! Make sure I’m not being stupid

[Wrfkaratemonkey]

Hey guys! A family friend can no longer use his boat due to declining health, and it was offered to me for just a couple hundred and I got it today!

The trailer is is very nice and the boat is sound and everything works, except the floor is in need of repair. I made a quick video to show you the boat and explain what I’m thinking about doing. If you wouldn’t mind it’s like 2-21/2 minutes long and I’d love some input.

This forum is always great. Thanks everyone in advance! I’m super excited to get on the lake!!

 

[shep546]

Sounds like a good plan.

If I were in your shoes I'd buy a cheap electric trolling motor if you plan on going far with the older unproven engine.

Cheers

 

[Scott Danforth]

great news..... you have a project boat.

last thing to rot after the stringers and transom is the floor.

links in the stickies on restoring boats. specifically to thru links (completely) 14, 18, 2, 3, 4a and 4b in that order.

 

[Wrfkaratemonkey]

Thanks guys!

i have a trolling motor already, it’ll be on shortly since the mount is already there. As for the motor he has the records from a rebuild in 2016. It fired right up for me so should be solid. Always good to have a backup plan.

I feel better now now and I’ll go ahead and get a temp floor in till the winter.

 

[Wrfkaratemonkey]

Well, I decided to take a sheet of plywood and see how it felt. I wasn’t comfortable, so I decided to “just do it right the first time stupid”. I need a new bit for my skill saw so I’m done pulling floor up for today but it’s all coming out. It’s very wet and smelly under there. The hull that has been exposed thus far looks exactly as it should. So I’ll get all of this old wood out, get it all clean and dried out, and get a new floor in.

 

[Wrfkaratemonkey]

Here’s what I’m working with under the floor

https://youtu.be/4nWBb1VQ1Z8

its always nerve wracking to dig into the floor of a boat. At least to me it is. But having helped my (anal perfectionist) dad take his 18’ racing jet boat down to the hull and completely rebuild every little thing I feel confident. I’m sure I’ll get t done and have time to use it still. Better safe and right then the alternative.

 

[Dennischaves]

I would do a core sample of the stringers and transom
as Scott said the deck is usually the last thing to rot