Starting a boat restoration on a 1988 vanguard bomber I got for free. need advice

[mpmaza2id]

The other day on craigslist i just happened to be on as a guy posted in the free section that he wanted to give away his boat and that it needed a new floor. So i called and was lucky enough to be the first one. So i went and got it. Its a 1988 Vanguard bomber with a 5.0l V8 inboard. So looking at it i know the floor needs to be redone and the cushions need to be redone. The engine and the out drive look like they are in good shape I just need to get new hoses, belts and tune her up. But the problem is i dont know where to start. Do i start with the engine or the floor? Also what else do I need to look for. The guy said he got the boat a month ago to fix boat doesnt have the time. He said the guy he got it from was the original owner and had it out on the water three years ago but one night it rained and the cover split and the boat filled with about 4 inches of water. Since then he just let it sit for three years. So any advice on what i need to do would be great since this is going to be my first boat restoration. Thanks

 

[boatnut74]

Re: Starting a boat restoration on a 1988 vanguard bomber I got for free. need advice

I would definatly start with the engine. If the engine and drive aren't any good it could be very expensive to fix. If the engine is good start tearing out the deck but be prepared for transom and stringer rot as well. Also, post up some pics so we can see it to.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Starting a boat restoration on a 1988 vanguard bomber I got for free. need advice

What kind of outdrive??? An OMC Cobra by chance?

I agree with above that you should probably establish the motor and outdrive first before you proceed.

Do you have the paperwork to register the boat which is critical!!

 

[mpmaza2id]

Re: Starting a boat restoration on a 1988 vanguard bomber I got for free. need advice

I do have the title for the boat. And I will post some pics of it when I get home. I will also check out the drive when I get home and see what model it is

 

[boatnut74]

Re: Starting a boat restoration on a 1988 vanguard bomber I got for free. need advice

Being an '88 I would assume it's a cobra. If it has the white leg of death hanging out the back, it might not be worth the time since parts are expensive, unless you convert to Mercruiser like I am planning on doing.

 

[mpmaza2id]

Re: Starting a boat restoration on a 1988 vanguard bomber I got for free. need advice

I have added photos to my main post. I do need some help identifing the out drive so any help would be appreciated. The serial number for it is 08942. it was really faint on the plate so if its not the whole serial number i am sorry.

 

[boatnut74]

Re: Starting a boat restoration on a 1988 vanguard bomber I got for free. need advice

That's a Mercruiser with Alpha one drive. Dodged a bullet there Try and get the motor running first. Make sure there are no cracks in the block, heads and exhaust manifolds. If all of that is kosher, you can start on the demo. That is one heck of a deal for being free. I would love to find a free boat with that motor and drive as a donor for my project.

 

[mpmaza2id]

Re: Starting a boat restoration on a 1988 vanguard bomber I got for free. need advice

Thanks for taking a look at the pics. After reading some of the post i was getting nervous that i hade a messed up drive. I will post more pics of the floor and transom once i get the cap off and everything off of it. I am sure i am going to need some help and pointers along the way. So far this board has been more than helpful.

 

[mpmaza2id]

Re: Starting a boat restoration on a 1988 vanguard bomber I got for free. need advice

Well today i went and drilled a couple of small holes in the transom and the wood does not look rotten at all its still looks like good plywood but it did seem kind of damp but i really couldnt tell. Also i took a closer look at the engine everything seems to be fine. The one big problem i see myself having is getting the cap off. I did find a couple of soft spots on the floor so that will definatly need replacing and i took a look at the stringers they looked in good shape but i didnt have enough room with the cap on to drill a couple of small holes to check for sure.

 

[mrdjflores]

Re: Starting a boat restoration on a 1988 vanguard bomber I got for free. need advice

where did you drill the holes in the transom?? should be at the very bottom edges as thats where rot usually takes up residence

 

[mpmaza2id]

Re: Starting a boat restoration on a 1988 vanguard bomber I got for free. need advice

I drilled in four different spots two on each side of the engine. I drilled on the left side of the engine once at the bottom and once towards the top and on the right side i drilled twice on the bottom once on the corner and once about two inches above the drain plug. I figured since the dran plug goes thru the boat it would be a good spot to drill around.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Starting a boat restoration on a 1988 vanguard bomber I got for free. need advice

Well if anything you have many great parts!!!

I would concentrate on starting that beast first and then worry about the restoration

Now that you updated the pictures.....you scored a bonus being an alpha 1 with a mercruiser!!

 

[mpmaza2id]

Re: Starting a boat restoration on a 1988 vanguard bomber I got for free. need advice

Thanks. Now for my next question what is the best way to clean the engine area without getting the engine to wet. Also what is the best way to flush all of the old fluids out.

 

[Struc]

Re: Starting a boat restoration on a 1988 vanguard bomber I got for free. need advice

Don't worry too much about getting the engine wet. Just make sure water doesn't get down the carb or into the valve cover breather tubes is all. I took a pressure washer to the back of my boat because of all the built up hardened oil residue from many, many years. Water won't hurt anything unless it gets INSIDE the motor.

So, what is stopping you from trying to start the motor? Did I miss something?

If it's been unused for 3 years, the gas is probably bad. I'd start there by trying to get the bad gas out of the tank. You can probably siphon it out. Or, you could just remove the line from the tank and put it into a portable tank temporarily to see if the engine starts. Since the Alpha1 is off, you can supply water to the engine by removing the hose off the back, and putting a garden hose in it, and just cracking the hose valve open.

 

[mpmaza2id]

Re: Starting a boat restoration on a 1988 vanguard bomber I got for free. need advice

I have to throw a couple new belts on the engine and connect the wires back up. Also the guy that had it before decided to cut the gas tank lines and other wires so as soon I get that fixed and drain the oil and gas and replace them both I will try.

 

[mpmaza2id]

Re: Starting a boat restoration on a 1988 vanguard bomber I got for free. need advice

I climbe in the boat and was looking for soft spots in the floor that the guy I got it from was talking about couldn't find any. I am going to drill some holes in the floor to check for rot. Where are some good places to drill

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Starting a boat restoration on a 1988 vanguard bomber I got for free. need advice

I'd recommend you start your core sample drilling back in the engine compartment down low on the engine mounts. Boats usually start to rot in that area first. That's also where I'd drill core samples of the transom. As low down on the transom as you can and about 1" deep. Do NOT drill all the way through the transom. If the wood shavings are dark and wet then you have issues. If they are light colored and dry then you should be fine. Fill the holes with 3M 5200 sealant and carry on with getting the motor running. If the shavings are bad, then I'd prepare to pull the motor and outdrive out of the boat. Make's it a lot easier to work on both the motor and the boat.
That's my 2?.

 

[mrdjflores]

Re: Starting a boat restoration on a 1988 vanguard bomber I got for free. need advice

i'll add 3? to Wood's suggestion to make it an even nickle