Pics of the 1972 T-Bird Apache before restoration begins!

[Trauma King]

As I have posted in the past this boat was neglected for 10 yrs. It had 3 trees growwing out of it ,a couch. lawn mower ,radial saw table, 15 bags of trash, 30 buckets of junk and 6 inches of natural "mulch" that accumulated over the years in the bottom. The seats had decomposed to only the covers 2 flat trailer tires and rusted out trailer tounge. The white on the boat was "BLACK" mold growth and the hull gad a green algea film on it. So this is after clean up and gutting the interior to the fiberglass floor.

 

[maxum247]

Re: Pics of the 1972 T-Bird Apache before restoration begins!

Looks like she cleaned up nicely!
Mine had sat for a dozen years. I was spared the trash but got a load of walnut shells and mulch instead. I could have used the saw table at the time though.

 

[WizeOne]

Re: Pics of the 1972 T-Bird Apache before restoration begins!

As I have posted in the past this boat was neglected for 10 yrs. It had 3 trees growwing out of it ,a couch. lawn mower ,radial saw table, 15 bags of trash, 30 buckets of junk and 6 inches of natural "mulch" that accumulated over the years in the bottom. The seats had decomposed to only the covers 2 flat trailer tires and rusted out trailer tounge. The white on the boat was "BLACK" mold growth and the hull gad a green algea film on it. So this is after clean up and gutting the interior to the fiberglass floor.

Quite impressive looking for it's age and treatment. Too bad you didn't have any before pictures. Your description seemed to be pretty incomprehensible.

 

[oops!]

Re: Pics of the 1972 T-Bird Apache before restoration begins!

and thats before resto????

what are you doing to it?.....hows the deck......or should i ask?

 

[Trauma King]

Re: Pics of the 1972 T-Bird Apache before restoration begins!

and thats before resto????

what are you doing to it?.....hows the deck......or should i ask?

The deck is solid ( fiberglass ) the right rear transom may have some decay. I am going to pop the top off and check everything out I dont know if the stringers are bare ore encased in Fiberglass, I believe I heard that they are encased in FG if that is the case all the better.I need to replace the gas lines and check the 34 gallon fuel tank for integrity.It has new steering cables and assembly that work great. I will replace the transom and have the entire upper and lower refinished to original specs that goes for the paint and the interior.My biggest challenge will be finding an original steering wheel and canopy assembly. This boat has the snaps for a total encloserue of the fore and aft. I need also to find new windshield ( slight pitting) and grab rails for the front that are correct for this boat.

I also need to locate the hard raised name plates for the right and left rear that has the T-Bird logo and the word THUNDERBIRD as well as the "Apache" name plate that goes above the glove box. Otherwise she is all there and complete.

She does look good as it stands and the transom has no flex or weak areas but from probing know there is an issue on the right side. I would take her out now but the motor is a 1976 and I believe it needs a tad bit of work. I may just replace it with a 135 ( max for this boat).

By the way it is the original color just severley faded

 

[orthoguy]

Re: Pics of the 1972 T-Bird Apache before restoration begins!

Good luck, she will be nice when you get done!

 

[Trauma King]

Re: Pics of the 1972 T-Bird Apache before restoration begins!

Quite impressive looking for it's age and treatment. Too bad you didn't have any before pictures. Your description seemed to be pretty incomprehensible.

My wife freaked when she saw it as I pulled into the driveway, I have to say i had some reservations my self. there was so much weight in the boat it buckled the trailer cross beams, another added cost but still not compared to the price of a new trailer. My wife has since recinded her feelings of what a piece of s*it.........LOL

 

[maxum247]

Re: Pics of the 1972 T-Bird Apache before restoration begins!

That was close, almost put you in a cramp on any future projects. But now that she's seen the results you've got it made.
I "think" I almost have the wife won over for a third project even though I haven't finished the second one yet, can't take any chances have to be prepared at all times for that next project.

 

[joeykahrs]

Re: Pics of the 1972 T-Bird Apache before restoration begins!

I know it's been a few years, doubt you'll respond, but just in case, did you ever find somewhere to get those emblems? the Thunderbird writing, logo, and glovebox ones?

 

[ricohman]

Re: Pics of the 1972 T-Bird Apache before restoration begins!

It really cleaned up nicely. My old tri hull made a nice fishing platform.
Hope you have as much fun with yours when it done.
Nice pics BTW. Big and large is way better then the usual tiny thumbnails! Makes the story so much easier to follow.

DOH! Just realized this post was resurected. Oh well, maybe we will get to see pics of the finished boat