Need opinions on this...

[tmcalavy]

Must be getting cabin fever. Ran across a boat like this, see attached pix, and can get it for not much scratch. The outboard is an unknown, which doesn't bother me...other repower options available; electrical will have to be rewired. Anyway, guy says the hull and transom are sound, but there is one small soft spot in the deck where the passenger's feet would ride. Haven't checked it out in person yet. Need opinions from those who have re-decked fiberglass boats like this. Is the deck a sheet of thick fiberglass or was it glass-over-wood in the late 70's bass boats? I've done decks in aluminum boats but never fiberglass. Considering this as a future project if it does measure up to inspection, but don't want to get in over my head/skills. It will be a long-term project...aimed at providing a true fishing platform with modern design. Just wondering how hard deck replacement/repair actually is in this type of glass boat. Thanks for the input.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Need opinions on this...

If there are soft spots in a boat that old most likely all the wood will need to be replaced, do a search and you'll find out it's rare to have only a small soft spot in the floor. It is a long term project to rebuild it.

Is this the boat, or only a pic of a similar model?

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Need opinions on this...

When I said all of the wood, I meant floor, stringers and transom.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Need opinions on this...

Thanks Ondarvr. The photo shows a similar era boat, same make, model and construction and year. Guess what I'm really asking is a difficulty rating to redeck/retransom this type of boat...from 1 to 5, 1 being do-able with average skills and 5 being high degree of difficulty. To get an idea of what I've done in boats in the past 5 years, you can search my username on the forum and see my most recent project, that is in the final tweaking stage. Inspecting the boat is the only thing that will tell me the extent of the deterioration...plan to do that soon.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Need opinions on this...

motor looks to be Chrysler. this is a separate the hull and cap project. as the deck runs under all those built in goodies. read all the deck replacement threads. look at the completed projects forum, especially the skany beast.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Need opinions on this...

motor looks to be Chrysler. this is a separate the hull and cap project. as the deck runs under all those built in goodies. read all the deck replacement threads. look at the completed projects forum, especially the skanky beast.

also http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=269341

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Need opinions on this...

The skill level is about 2.5 to 3, not too difficult, just somewhat involved. The hassle factor can be a little higher, there's dust, sticky stuff that smells, long hours alone at night and on weekends, things like that.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Need opinions on this...

Thanks for the input guys. It will factor into my decision when I go and look at the boat.

 

[oops!]

Re: Need opinions on this...

The skill level is about 2.5 to 3, not too difficult, just somewhat involved. The hassle factor can be a little higher, there's dust, sticky stuff that smells, long hours alone at night and on weekends, things like that.

tim......one way to think about it........do i want a project?
if its a boat you want......then go get a boat that doesnt need work......but if you want a project?

hope that helps

 

[redfury]

Re: Need opinions on this...

Buying that boat means you are going to be taking it out of action at some point to repair it, plain and simple. The question is, are you ready to take on such a task?

I'm into year 4 or 5 of my boat rebuild due to lack of work space, money, tools, equipment, time and gumption. If you have at least 3 of those available to you, then you have a better chance of it not becoming a never ending project.

It's a neat boat though, for the right price, I'd consider it.