jayhanig
Master Chief Petty Officer
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2010
- Messages
- 836
Back in late August I bought a 1985 17' Galaxy Bowrider Model 176 with the 140 HP GM stern drive. Being brand new to boating, I stupidly didn't insist on a test ride. Then Hurricane Earl interfered plus getting electronics installed and a few minor thing taken care of. To make a long story short, it was late September or early October before it hit the water.
And hit it it did. Aside from some problems with the trim, I never was able to get it to plane. Slow RPMs too, although it sounded good. But when I pulled it back out of the water, I found I'd brought a significant amount of the sound out with me. It drained for quite a while.
So I took it to a place that specializes in stern drives. And I waited. And I waited. And I waited. Finally I got a phone call saying the transom was rotted and that was where the water was coming through. He estimated roughly $2000 just to fix the transom and said he didn't consider it worth doing.
Well, I've got both an emotional and financial investment in this boat. So what to do? I called the local community college, which happens to have a Marine Technology program. Unfortunately, the instructor told me he was already scheduled through the academic year (August 2011) and so it would be next fall before he could even consider it as a project for his students. But I did get a recommendation out of him for somebody who does good restoration work.
So I called this other fellow and he estimated sight unseen it should run $1800 or thereabouts but he'd really have to see it. I remained noncommittal but I got good vibes from the guy. I got the address of where he works and told him I'd tow it up there early next week to let him see it. He did estimate it would take 2-3 weeks to complete in the winter (maybe 1.5 weeks in the summer when he's going balls to the walls).
My next step was to reconnoiter, which I did this afternoon. He rents space in a huge building at a Wilmington, NC boatyard. He wasn't there when I arrived, but then again I didn't tell him I was coming. But I got a tour of the place from another guy who was working on a 65' dinner boat up on blocks and he had good things to say about my guy.
So I'm seriously considering it. I've got about $3000 in boat, trailer, parts and labor in it and another $1000 or so in electronics. I just can't see parting it out and maybe getting half of that back at best.
![011_[640x480]-Ml0U4.jpg](http://www.imagenerd.com/uploads/011_[640x480]-Ml0U4.jpg)
![008_[640x480]-Er2yC.jpg](http://www.imagenerd.com/uploads/008_[640x480]-Er2yC.jpg)
My lady friend said I need to change the name from the "No Good Deed" to "The Money Pit". But I'm obviously being punished so the former name still is appropriate.
And hit it it did. Aside from some problems with the trim, I never was able to get it to plane. Slow RPMs too, although it sounded good. But when I pulled it back out of the water, I found I'd brought a significant amount of the sound out with me. It drained for quite a while.
So I took it to a place that specializes in stern drives. And I waited. And I waited. And I waited. Finally I got a phone call saying the transom was rotted and that was where the water was coming through. He estimated roughly $2000 just to fix the transom and said he didn't consider it worth doing.
Well, I've got both an emotional and financial investment in this boat. So what to do? I called the local community college, which happens to have a Marine Technology program. Unfortunately, the instructor told me he was already scheduled through the academic year (August 2011) and so it would be next fall before he could even consider it as a project for his students. But I did get a recommendation out of him for somebody who does good restoration work.
So I called this other fellow and he estimated sight unseen it should run $1800 or thereabouts but he'd really have to see it. I remained noncommittal but I got good vibes from the guy. I got the address of where he works and told him I'd tow it up there early next week to let him see it. He did estimate it would take 2-3 weeks to complete in the winter (maybe 1.5 weeks in the summer when he's going balls to the walls).
My next step was to reconnoiter, which I did this afternoon. He rents space in a huge building at a Wilmington, NC boatyard. He wasn't there when I arrived, but then again I didn't tell him I was coming. But I got a tour of the place from another guy who was working on a 65' dinner boat up on blocks and he had good things to say about my guy.
So I'm seriously considering it. I've got about $3000 in boat, trailer, parts and labor in it and another $1000 or so in electronics. I just can't see parting it out and maybe getting half of that back at best.
My lady friend said I need to change the name from the "No Good Deed" to "The Money Pit". But I'm obviously being punished so the former name still is appropriate.
