Newbie Needs Suggestions

[liliysdad]

I have been lurking for a week or so, and now I feel as though I may be competent enough with terminology to ask a few questions.<br /><br />I recently purchased a 1968 Thunderbird Thundercloud 1500 Tri-Hull fiberglass with a 40hp Evinrude Big Twin, all for $100.00, including the trailer and five spares , four lifevests, a 60lb MinnKota troller, and assorted accoutrements(sp?)<br /><br />My questions are as follows; Is the Thunderbird worth fixing up? She is a little beat, but definitely serviceable, after I do saome transom fixing. I see very little mention of these boats, and was wondering why.<br /><br />Could someone please direct me to a website that explains the process of fiberglassing? I am new at this stuff, but I have no boubts it is not beyond my comprehension.

 

[cotterman]

Re: Newbie Needs Suggestions

liliysdad if you go to the top of this page and do a search in these forums on any of your questions, you are sure to find a wealth of information.<br />good luck

 

[liliysdad]

Re: Newbie Needs Suggestions

I hadnt even thought of searching for the 'glassing, I guess I had a brain fart, thank you.<br /><br />I did, however, search for the Thunderbird brand, and what few posts came back were more in mention of the Formula boats, and only one or two made passing mention of the tri-hulls.

 

[DJP]

Re: Newbie Needs Suggestions

I'm sorry i may sound like an ass but..... I think you should sell the Minkota, and the outboard to someone else sell the trailer and use all the proceeds for a downpayment on a Pursuit, Sea Ray, Grady White, Hydro Sports, or anything newer that you can SAFELY go about your boating affairs. If a family and children are involved I hope you take my advice, don't cheap out on your Marine fun. a boat that old is not sea worthy UNLESS it has been completely restored, and for that kinda money it ain't happenin'.

 

[liliysdad]

Re: Newbie Needs Suggestions

Well, you do sound like an ass, but thats to be expected. The boat will not be sold, because, for 100 bucks, what have I got to lose? I can always sell the remains for more than I have in it at this point, and for a while to come. <br /><br />The boat will only be used on small lakes, and had been used on theses ame lakes up until last season or so, so I am not concerned with its "seaworthiness".<br /><br />Thank you for the advice, as always.

 

[DJP]

Re: Newbie Needs Suggestions

For 100 bucks you've got alot to lose, if you put faith in that craft, be it on small lakes or not, anyone can just as easily drown in the bathtub. You can have the last word that doesn't bother me.

 

[Lark40]

Re: Newbie Needs Suggestions

Well, I would also chime in the "seaworthiness" issue.<br /><br />I recently had a 1977 17' fiberglass tri-hull that seemed in reasonable shape. Had the original Merc 1500 inline six outboard and handled well.<br /><br />Then I had to drill a hole in the lower transom to install a depth gauge. Man! the water just poured out of the drilled hole. And, the inside of the boat was dry!<br /><br />So, what I had was a waterlogged transom - big worry with the max horsepower engine. Not worth fixing, but worrying about the transom ripping off killed the fun of boating. Sold it to a guy who just wanted the engine.<br /><br />So, take the advice you get here seriously - it could save you a lot of grief...

 

[liliysdad]

Re: Newbie Needs Suggestions

Thank you for all the advice, I realize you are all much more experienced than I am. At the same time, However, I am by no means a hard-core boater, nor do i see myself becoming one soon. This boat floats fine, and has for the last several years, and while it is not fast, shiny, or "fully restored", I do not feel as though it needs to be any of the above for my uses, mainly just cruising the shoreline, and mayble a litle fishing occasionally. <br /><br />The transom on the boat is solid, it is just the fiberglass is cracking in a few areas, the wood is intact. the hull does not take on water, and I have verified this. <br /><br />I appreciate the advice you have all given me, but if I wanted to spend 2-4k for nice, fast boat, I wouldnt be asking these questions, on this board. I got this boat mainly as something to wrench on, and something to piddle with.<br /><br />Again, thank you, and I will refrain from asking questions about this boat, and will attempt to glean information on boat restoration / modification from other sources. <br /><br />Thank you once more.

 

[flashback]

Re: Newbie Needs Suggestions

Lilysdad, don,t let these newbee,s run you off. This site is full of genuine hard working souls who take junk boats and make something out of them. you will find a lot of folks here who know how to fix or repair darn near anything, so hang in there, if you like your boat, restore i,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Solittle]

Re: Newbie Needs Suggestions

Dad - Don't let Trippin stop you from askin questions. Fire away. Just cause your boat has a few years behind her does not mean that she will sink first time out. Don't know your Thundercloud but Formula did make a tri hull called Thunderbird around that period I think.<br /><br />I suggest that you beat the Search function for all it is worth. There is a ton of stuff already here. My guess is that %75 of the questions asked have already been answered.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Newbie Needs Suggestions

liliysdad, don't sweat it, some do not see any value in trying to make do with what ya got. Usually they have enough disposable income, or lack the skill necessary to take on a project. Use once and destroy, thats the mentality now-a-days.<br /><br />That being said, a boat is not something to take chances on. Go to the Project Boats section and read my posts on my project. I have taken a 1970 17ft Silverline tri-hull and gutted it to the bare outer hull. I am fully rebuilding this old boat into a center console fishing boat. I have already glassed in a new, thicker stronger transom. I also have the stringers cut and ready to glass in this weekend. I originally got this boat for cheap just for the 125 horse Merc hanging off the back, and realized I could build a boat exactly the way I wanted it.<br /><br />In my mind, the Boston Whaler Montauk has been my inspiration. While this certainly will NOT be a Montauk, it will have the attributes I want. It will be stable, strong, and with the 125 horse motor, it should run fairly briskly. This boat was completely rotted, no one in their right mind would take on a project like this, but I am notorious for taking on projects. This is not for the faint of heart. You have to either know what you are doing or research the heck out of it, and ask plenty of questions. Make a plan of attack and research costs and time. You then have to decide if you REALLY want to do it. I did not get into this to save money, I got into it because I like to do projects. I have about $700 or $800 into this project so far, and I still have to get paint and wiring and a switch/breaker panel, not to mention countless other incidentals. My estimated end cost will be $1200 to $1500. Once the boat is done, I then have to rebuild the trailer. <br /><br />Don't let the nay sayers get you down, but also listen to their cautions on safety, you can never be too safe. I can't swim, so you better believe I have confidence in my skills....Good luck...

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Newbie Needs Suggestions

liliysdad <br />Don't worry about posting questions about your boat just because a couple of guys disagree with what you have. The majority of people on here will be happy to help you, whether you have a canoe or a yacht. We are not all so fortunate to have the money to buy whatever we want, so keep the questions coming. BTW, I bought a '67 Wellcraft 16'er sittin' in a lady's garage 5 years ago for 300.00 and it's doin' just fine, thank you.

 

[liliysdad]

Re: Newbie Needs Suggestions

Thank you guys very much for the support. No, I do not have a lot of disposable income, and I do not buy into the "old boats, cars, houses, et al., are junk unless professionally retored.<br /><br />I have wanted a boat for a long time, and for some reason, the late 60s-mid 70s era tri-hull bowriders always caught my eye, not really sure why. There is no way I have the 3-4k just laying around to buy a nice , solid boat with, and when this came around, I could not pass it up.<br /><br />I am not afraid to get my hands dirty, and really enjoy the hands on approach to doing things, and I have no worries in tackling anything involved with this boat myself, with a little information.<br /><br />flashback, the tag on my hull lists Thunderbird as the manufacturer, and there is a dash plaque that says "Thundercloud 1500", so I assume this to be correct. From what litle info I have gleaned, Thunderbird and Formula were seperate entities at some point in time, and my boat must be a fruition of this .<br /><br />JasonJ, I have read everything I can on your project, and I am quite impressed, you have done a very nice job, and I am envious. My goals with htis boat are not show quality, but just something fun and cheap to play on the water on the weekends on, and something I can be proud of because I know what it was, and what has ben done to it, and also know that this is MY boat, not a boat I paid someone else to build for me.<br /><br />rickdb1boat, this boat is waterworthy, but the previous owner got it from his deceased brother , and had no use for it, hence the ultralow price. the price is not due to an inherent flaw with the boat, just someone wanting it to go where it would be valued.<br /><br />Thank you all, and I am going to fix this boat up the way I want it, and in the end I will have accomplished one of two things, I will have a boat to use and be proud of, or I will have failed, but gained valuable hands-on experience to use when the next 100dollar tri-hull comes along.

 

[DJP]

Re: Newbie Needs Suggestions

Good luck brother, my opinon in no way was meant to discourage you from your project, just a hard warning that with an old boat you may find that after your time and trouble, your effort and expense equals a newer vessel. Have fun

 

[cimmaronjim]

Re: Newbie Needs Suggestions

Go for it, There is value and satisfaction in something you fix up yourself, regardless if you spend more money than you would buying something new. At least you can spend it a little at a time as you can afford it.

 

[SCO]

Re: Newbie Needs Suggestions

It's good to get all sides on this. Safety is an issue, because the transom with a running outboard could break off, or the hull could split on a 40 degree day, or the steering cable could break, and throw you out of the boat and circle till it gets you. You need to be aware of your dangers. The typical boat of the 60's I bet has bad wood throughout, but you can and should replace it with new that you get at home depot. The biggests costs are going to be for epoxy and motor replacement parts, but I've had one of those twins and it ran great with a carb kit. <br />You can retrofit an emergency engine stop which will kill the engine if you get thrown. Its a commitment, and in my case was and still is fun.

 

[liliysdad]

Re: Newbie Needs Suggestions

Thank you for the support.<br /><br />I have already pulled the floor, and it was rotten, but I have done some digging, and the stringers are in good shape, i.e., no rot.<br /><br />The transom will be braced temporarily, until I decide whether to attempt to keep this hull, or find another one. <br /><br />Like I have said, it was a 100 dollar boat, and I hope to get that much enjoyment out of it, which I already have, just tinkering with it. I am going to replace the floor, and re-glass and carpet the interior, and re-brace the transom, and put her in the water, by myself, with my little brother in his boat alongside, just to see wha she does, and we will decide where to go from there.

 

[fishfearme]

Re: Newbie Needs Suggestions

lillys dad, <br />I am reminded of my childhood and my dads $7.00 dollar boat. It was an old everglades airboat. He put an old kicker on it and away we went. Many a day was spent off the coast of florida, miles from shore, catching fish, crabs, and gathering oysters. It was the time of my life. We kept bailing wire and duct tape aboard for repairs, and a coffee can for a bilge pump. Anyway, after growing up and spending 20 years in the coast guard, i've seen many a seaworthy boat, and many i'd be scared to even set foot aboard. I am reminded of an old unofficial motto, "Today's boater's, tommorows floater's". JUst ask your self one question, is that old boat worth your life? Try to imagine it on a cold day on that small lake, upside down, with you clinging to the hull. I am not trying to discourage you either, just be careful out there and remember 80% of all drownings could have been prevented with a life jacket.<br /><br />Good Luck