Larson Repair

[OnABoatBabe]

Can anyone tell me if I can salvage this!?

 

[OnABoatBabe]

It is a 1967 Larson All American

 

[jbcurt00]

Can anyone tell me if I can salvage this!?

Salvage? Do you mean 'save' it from further composting?

Yep, just need a big pile of want to, some skills working w your hands, a good bit of time and a fair amount of money.... anything can be rebuilt

it wont be easy or cheap though, even if you get the boat for free.

no trailer, no outboard and no interior are all big negatives as is its overall condition..

 

[OnABoatBabe]

Yes! I have the skill, passion and drive to make the money to fix this! I am in Buffalo NY Niagara Falls is so close, there are many freebee parts and fun characters willing to help teach someone this stuff. Any idea what my steps should be? Bodywise first to row it.. Find an engine and mount it? Should I start with a sail? I did see a free boat trailer listed on craigslist, are they universal or somewhat compatable to most boats? I am a single mom with a 4 year old daughter and we dream of fishing off our boat! I don't see any other way to find a boat without paying a lot upfront, as you can imagine living by waters has influenced the boating market and they sell like cars, ha. I will keep my eye out for a running voyager.. in the meantime, this looks like a project and an opportunity for a learning experience for both my daughter and I!

 

[MTboatguy]

Well anything can be done, unfortunately as many of us have found, the most expensive boat you will ever get is the free boat. If you live in a community that has a lot of boats and someone is giving one away, normally you will find there is major problems with it.

The boat you have pictured, will most likely need a new floor, new stringers and a new transom, which are all a lot of work. In addition, you will have to learn fiberglass skills which for some can be a challenge and for others it is like nothing at all.

Which ever way you decide to go, there are many of us here that will lend support and tidbits of wisdom we have all learned along the way to becoming boaters!

 

[Scott Danforth]

my advise to a single mother with a daughter that wants a boat project..... find an aluminum boat that needs a bit of TLC, not a rotten hull of a fiberglass boat that needs $4000 in hull repair and $2000 in interior work prior to rigging it with a motor and finding a trailer.

you would be better off finding a complete and running aluminum boat for $2000 and be on the water shortly, replace the floor and transom if need be

fiberglass project boats as a first boat generally sour people on boating.

 

[briangcc]

As the other guys mentioned yes it can be saved. I wouldn't be thinking about taking it out on the water as it sits currently as the issues the guys mentioned would make me want to stay on dry land until I knew it was ready to go. Given other restores here probably a year or two restore project - life gets in the way sometimes.

As for trailer....yes they're universal to a degree. Get one that fits the length of the boat - I'm guessing 15-17' long?? Bunks I would imagine would work fine. Make sure it's adjustable AND has the paperwork to register it. The ramps around here you really don't need a roller trailer. Yes I'm local, Lockport NY.

Sail - no. Paddling, not unless you're in incredibly calm waters. Glenwood Lake, Medina NY would be a good one to paddle in...but not with that boat. You'd want an open bow for that and it'd be a chore. Provided the substructure is good - highly doubtful given the photos - a cheap way to get on the water is a small transom mounted trolling motor and a 12v Deep Cycle battery. You're not breaking any land/speed records BUT you'll have the power to move from fishing spot to fishing spot. The local sporting goods stores have them as do the outdoor store chains. Under no circumstances should you head out into the upper Niagara River with a trolling motor only. Current is WAY too strong for that..unless you're specifically looking for a very up close view of the Falls.

Given your locale...there is one bonus that there is a large, national store right on Niagara Street off the 190. White building, blue sign. Can't miss it. I can't mention the name as its a competitor to Iboats but its right on the waterfront.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Those old Larsons look pretty nice, but unless you have lots of time and lots of money, your daughter will be in junior high before you get that thing on the water. Sharing boating with younger kids is magical, and it can give you some of the best time together, but you won't have much of that if all your free time is spent out in the garage rebuilding the boat (or working so you can pay someone else to do it.)

I think Scott Danforth's estimate of $6000 (not counting the cost of a motor and a trailer) is fairly accurate. Add to that several hundred hours of labor (probably 200-300) and you have an idea of what you're facing. I really enjoyed restoring my boat, but it needed quite a bit less than your All American, and I was fairly handy with tools already. If you don't mind the work and are up to it, it can be a very rewarding process. But if all you want to do is get on the water for fishing and boating around there are cheaper ways. Look on Craigslist and expand the radius of your search, and I bet you'd find something that is ready (or nearly ready) for the water.

Good luck!

P.S. The windshield, if intact, on that boat may be the most worthwhile part of it. Those old windshields are hard to come buy, and you often see folks looking for them as they restore or repair older boats. Selling the windshield alone might help get you closer to your goal...

 

[kcassells]

Totally cool boat and the windshield appears to be intac. Thats a plus. Like the others have said it's a project boat. May not hit the water for a year or two depending on your ambition, labor and cash flow.
But yup cool boat to bring back to life!
Good luck! Your daughter will remember this her whole life.

 

[Woodonglass]

I have to agree with Scott. That is NOT a good Starter boat. It's a Major undertaking and would take a minimum of 2-3 years to get her on the water safely. An aluminium boat would be a MUCH better choice. If the motor runs you can get on the water in a few weeks Even if the floor and transom are bad. Budget would be a lot less too.

 

[MTboatguy]

To bad we are on opposite sides of the country, I have a 14 footer aluminum that needs to take a little girl and her mom fishing!

LOL