Opinions wanted on potential resto - Bayliner Contessa

[erikgreen]

So, I'm buying a boat for parts. This is a 28 foot Bayliner Contessa, 1985, that had a collision with land and is damaged mostly in the bow, but also a bit on the starboard fly bridge. It's a dual helm rig.

The bow pulpit was apparently ripped off, the rail was broken off its stanchions, and the bimini top was bent. The canvas is all off and folded and stacked inside the cabin. The windshield on the fly bridge is gone.

I'm buying it for the engine parts and drive (I want a VP drive) for my other boat. There are also a lot of nice extras like a spare fishfinder and trim tab setup.

I was planning on hauling the boat to a landfill or maybe just selling what parts I don't want as-is.

But, I want opinions of those here as to whether it's worth a resto job. I know I can do the damage repair. The interior is in good shape, no real rot or mildew - even though it sunk partway briefly, they got it dry right away, and the water never reached the cushions and decor.

Apart from the damage, the boat is in decent shape. Just wear and tear from some moderate use over its life plus dust and such from sitting for 2 years since the accident.

To get it ready to sell I'd need to get an engine, drive (I have a spare mercruiser at the moment I'm trying to sell) probably some tweaks to the controls, and something like $300 in materials to repair the hull damage, plus my time.

Assuming I clean up the interior and polish/freshen where needed the carpet and fabrics, fix the bow, and get a working drive in the thing, do you think anyone would want to pay say $5000 for a Bayliner this age?

Opinions wanted, pics attached.

Edit: Just found out I don't have a pic of the bow damage... but imagine the bow to be stoved in in a 2x2 foot section right at the cutwater. Easily fixable, just takes time.

Erik

 

[oops!]

Re: Opinions wanted on potential resto - Bayliner Contessa

, do you think anyone would want to pay say $5000 for a Bayliner this age?

sorry erik....i just saw this post.

the boat would sell for that in this market with a trailer.....but i dont know about yours.

as you know.....boats with that kind of damage are great to find cause you get them cheeeep, cause everyones afraid of the glass damage.

it all comes down to your market bud.....but even at 3500....after you rape the boat for the VP and other stuff.....if you build it they will come

cheers
oops

 

[erikgreen]

New parts boat - maybe a resto?

New parts boat - maybe a resto?

I just thought I'd share a couple of pics of the parts boat I just bought.

It's a 1985 28 foot Bayliner contessa that was salvaged after an accident. According to the seller (whom I trust) it was in the water (fresh) less than 6 hours. According to him the engine wasn't fully pickled properly, so it will need a rebuild.

But the rest of the boat looks ok. Particularly the Volvo drive and transom, trim pump, and accessories. She went down in shallow water and over on one side, so I don't think she completely flooded, but we'll see.

I mostly bought the boat for the drive and engine manifolds (which are in better shape than the ones on my boat that I used last year). But there are a ton of other good parts... haven't found any rot yet, either.

One pic of the bow damage here, caused by hitting a wing dam:

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk168/erikgreen/bliner/P8260052.jpg
More pics here if anyone's interested:
http://s280.photobucket.com/albums/kk168/erikgreen/bliner/

I'm at least going to pull parts from this... but I do honestly think it might be work some resto work.....

Erik

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Opinions wanted on potential resto - Bayliner Contessa

Heh, thanks.

I'm trying to imagine how I'd rape the boat... itchy

She's home now, we'll see what happens.

 

[likalar]

Re: Opinions wanted on potential resto - Bayliner Contessa

Erik,

I saw the other thread with the picture of the major hull damage.....I'm no glass expert (though I have done some smaller hull repairs), but there's no way I would feel comfortable selling that boat, after repairs, to another party. The structural integrity of the hull has been compromised, and only a well-engineered, expertly designed repair should be attempted. Bayliner's chopped mat gun method of building is not the easiest to mate to, and as your photo shows, not the strongest in a collision. You would basically be fabricating a good percentage of the hull, and hope to sell it for 3-$5,000? I think the repaired boat would be worth less than that, and that's not including the hardware replacement costs. This is all just my opinion, though, and I tend to be practical. Can you post the damaged hull photo here? That will get you more knowledgable responses than this one. Best of luck.

Larry

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Opinions wanted on potential resto - Bayliner Contessa

I don't think I'd sink much cash into that homely old tub.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Opinions wanted on potential resto - Bayliner Contessa

DEAR GOD....I just merged your two threads. Now that I've seen the bow damage I think you should definitely part that thing out.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Opinions wanted on potential resto - Bayliner Contessa

I wouldn't waste my time.

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Opinions wanted on potential resto - Bayliner Contessa

Honestly, the bow damage doesn't worry me. (link here: http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk168/erikgreen/bliner/P8260052.jpg )

Now I'm thinking I may have to do this repair just to prove to you guys that it can be done

The hull is solid and generally unblemished where it's not damaged, and I am confident I could do a repair on it that would not only look original but be at least twice as strong as it was. Essentially I'd mold it and do the layup from the inside, then reinforce the whole area with foam bracing. All done with biax glass and epoxy plus some corecell.

If you look at the pics where the ablative bottom coating flaked off, the hull looks brand new and shiny. I think the whole thing would polish up like that.

The other reason I'm thinking I might re-do it (I can't believe I'm sort of arguing for this now) is that the interior is in decent shape. Sink and alcohol cooktop, head with sit down shower, settee and couch, and the bow berth are all usable as-is, I'd just need to run them through the wash. No major holes or stains, cushions are springy and full.

I'll see if I can take pics tonight of the interior and post 'em.

The wiring looks ok, not corroded for the most part. At this point I know I'd need to fix or replace the following on this boat:

* Drive
* Part of the engine
* Some of the wiring (most looks like it was never wet)
* pulpit
* Bow damage
* Flybridge windscreen
* Flybridge starboard crack damage
* railing bits
* cleats
* Plumbing pump and some tubing
* Fresh water tank
* Teak refinish

... other than that it's in better shape than a 30 foot boat my friend bought for $12k.

More pics coming (this should be a fun discussion)

Erik

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Opinions wanted on potential resto - Bayliner Contessa

Interior pics are here: http://s280.photobucket.com/albums/kk168/erikgreen/bayliner interior/

Summary: I looked, but only found a little dirt and no rot yet on the interior. Doesn't smell too bad either.

If there's rot it'll be in the wood structure and stringers below decks... I'll check on that and the transom before I declare the boat rot free. Foredeck is solid, not even a little sag under my 300 lbs.

I dunno... it's a Bayliner, but I actually like this boat's condition and the way it looks... the quality of construction is actually very good for the most part. It has a welded steel windshield frame, even. Solid stuff.

FYI, I was told by the seller that she only partially sank... after hitting the dam she rolled to starboard a bit and that side got wet.

Erik

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Opinions wanted on potential resto - Bayliner Contessa

Well, after being forced to neglect this boat and my "main" project boat for almost 2 years by the city I live in, I've come back to assessing their condition and deciding what to do next. I still can't work on them at home, but I joined a shared workspace and some things I can do now.

My other boat is now a mess but is mostly non cracked or rotted. I did a pretty good job sealing it, but it still needs a clean-out, a lot of sanding, a new interior, motor mounts, transom installation, electronics, motor install.... the list goes on.

*This* boat, on the other hand... was rammed into a dam, partially sank, was left outdoors for a couple years on stands with water getting inside from a missing window, was bought by me, left outdoors for a couple more years due to the city being jerks, with me pulling the drive off for a rebuild and some parts getting removed... is still in better shape than my "project" boat.

I'm impressed... Bayliner built a hell of a boat back in 1985. I can repair the bow, install the motor and sterndrive, and she'll float. Some control repair/replacement, install the electronics from my other boat, and I'm back on the water with room to sleep

 

[aspeck]

Re: Opinions wanted on potential resto - Bayliner Contessa

Sounds like you got your troubles resolved, maybe not to your liking, but resolve. Glad you can move forward now and get to work at getting a boat in the water!

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Opinions wanted on potential resto - Bayliner Contessa

Hey Erik, good to see ya again!

Oh boy...

I don't think I'd sink much cash into that homely old tub. -------- Now that I've seen the bow damage I think you should definitely part that thing out.

I wouldn't waste my time.

...yah, what these guys said a long time ago ^^^^^.

 

[GWPSR]

Re: Opinions wanted on potential resto - Bayliner Contessa

[... disparaging commentary... ]

Aw, don't listen to the Tin Man. That boat has a LOT of potential. Heck, I'd trade ya in a heartbeat.

Yes, the bow will be a hell of a repair, but it looks pretty darned good otherwise.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Opinions wanted on potential resto - Bayliner Contessa

That boat has a LOT of potential.

Are there a nice pair of 5.7 Merc's we can pull otta there??:encouragement:

 

[GWPSR]

Re: Opinions wanted on potential resto - Bayliner Contessa

Are there a nice pair of 5.7 Merc's we can pull otta there??:encouragement:

Well, selfishly, I'd gladly liberate one of them

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Opinions wanted on potential resto - Bayliner Contessa

Are there a nice pair of 5.7 Merc's we can pull otta there??:encouragement:

Unfortunately, no

I actually have to go with a single 5.7 non vortec, although I am thinking of putting the vortec heads on it at some point. For now, I have to go with what's available. Also, part of the appeal of getting back on the water quickly comes from this boat already having the transom for a single engine installed.

It's actually a volvo DP290, I had the lower unit serviced and resealed a couple years back. Should be in perfect operating shape. Of course, the DP props aren't cheap, but at least they're coming down.

Yep, the bow will be quite a repair.. but it's really the only thing wrong with the hull from a functional point of view. The damage to the flybridge is cosmetic although significant, and the only other major ding is the plastic air intakes at the stern. Everything else wrong can be fixed with a little fairing compound/glass fiber mix or even just paint.

Really the only reason the bow is tricky is the shape... I can't easily pull a mold from another part of the boat, I'm going to have to use flexible molds or hand build a mold to achieve a fair shape then add the strakes after. Probably I'll over-build it for safety.. having an extra strong bow never hurts.

Inside I've got most of the old cushions and woodwork out. I need to lighten her up so I can haul her on my twin axle trailer to a place I can fix the bow. The engine controls are still in place and functional (they never flooded, at least that I can tell). I'll check out the wiring and simplify it for now. The water heater is still good, I'll pull and store it. The fuel tank is in perfect shape. Much of the 110 volt wiring I don't need, but it's not corroded, so I can pull or keep it. There'll be a lot of workarounds like using battery powered stick on lights at night until I get time/money/energy to rewire the 12 volt systems.

The kitchenette (alcohol stove, sink, fridge, counter) is coming out. All might be good, I'll keep whatever is. The head seems to be just fine... it was made to get wet, after all. I may pull it for now and re-do the plumbing later on.

I'd like to avoid putting any wood back in (use foam cores for all panels, etc) but the budget probably won't permit that for the most part. I can use polycore for walls etc. but the floor would have to be corecell or similar. Maybe I can get some scrap aluminum tread plate

At least it looks possible to get her repaired and floating this summer. I'll start a thread when I start building.

Erik