Thought about this project. Yes, no, maybe?

[bonz_d]

For a start I have included a link to another thread of this boat. It is here. http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=387885

I have had this sitting here now for awhile on the back burner as it were and haven't come up with a course of action. Burn it? Restore it? Or somewhere in-between? Sense I've aquired this I have come across many of these boats and most seem to be in the same state of repair. Needless to say there isn't much value in these hulls, as I've stated there area number of them around.

If you look through the pictures in the old post you can see there is a lot of crazing and chips in the gelcoat. From what I can tell most of it was caused from bumbs and knocks as the glass is not that thick and from what I can tell the boxed parts seen on the sides were built into the hull and then filled with expanding foam to add structural strenght and rigidity to the hull. There are also no stringers in this boat!

So as there is little value to this hull my thoughts are this. Repair as cheaply as possile in order to use it to fish in some very marshy areas of my local lake w/o worring about what it looks like. Basically a work boat.

As it sits I have the transom pulled out of it along with part of the inside floatation boxes that were all dry rotted. The floatation boxes were made from what looks like 1/4" ply that were then glassed over. Now my thinking is to rebuild the boxes the same way only instead of glassing it all in just glassing the seams then painting the inside with marine paint. Sorry, just can't see spending $400-500 on glass and resin for this boat. Also not expecting this to last another 10-20 years either. If I get 5 years I'll be more than happy. As it sits I can't even give it away! I've tried, believe me.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Thought about this project. Yes, no, maybe?

Cut 'er up.

 

[zopperman]

Re: Thought about this project. Yes, no, maybe?

Cut 'er up.

I second...

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Thought about this project. Yes, no, maybe?

Chainsaw Fodder!!!!

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Thought about this project. Yes, no, maybe?

I would take it ..

Was it supposed to have stringers in it ?

I really dont see anything structurally wrong with the boat in your pics. Your last pic is a basic glass patch job.

I do not see why this needs to go into the local dumpster.

You dont care what it looks like .. just to float you while you catch a few fish and some beers on your local small lake .. its fine IMO.

A weekend and mebbe a few hundred bucks you would be golden.

Or you could just put 25 bucks here and there and fixer up a bit at a time.

Scrap ply and stuff you see kicked off on the curb for trash day is all you need ( aside from a gallon or so of resin and a few yards of mat ..few rattle cans of rusto or fusion paint ).

Unless others are seeing something im not ..

YD.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Thought about this project. Yes, no, maybe?

YD, it was designed without stringers. Yes there are already a couple of patches that even though they are not pretty they are solid. There is also no foam under the decking it's all in the side floatation boxes.

Just thinking it would work great for fishing aroud the rock gardens and stump fields w/o worring about banging it up. Also just remembering when I was a young teen and my 1st boat was an old plywood hull that was just painted and nothing was glassed. So what's the difference? Just thinking a couple sheets of 3/8" ply, a few rolls of seam tape and a little resin and a gal. of paint. What would that cost? Couple hundred? Hard to find a nice tinny row boat for that.

 

[zopperman]

Re: Thought about this project. Yes, no, maybe?

Bonz, it's your boat and if it has sentimental value to YOU then by all means restore it. It's a labor of love, not a money maker. you coudl jump in a few hundred bucks and have it done. I just personally, would save the money towards a different boat, but that's just ME.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Thought about this project. Yes, no, maybe?

I agree Bonz .. fix er up and use it as is. no fancy stuff .. not alot of cost .. and the boat is workable from what I see from your pics.

less then a few hundred I would imagine.

YD.

 

[oops!]

Re: Thought about this project. Yes, no, maybe?

we are kinda in the same boat.....
we ave a 12 foot glass boat that is just toast..gonna cost more in materials than its worth.

however we need a skiff to go back and fourth to the house boat that is morred in a bay....the reason we got it is bacause its fo freekin ugly that no one will want to steal it. the problem is that it will cost him more in my labour than the boat is worth..... i have a feeling im going to be doing the boat as a favor.... i figure about 10 hours glassing and cutting new transom wood and seats.

however.......i am in agreement with yd......if you want a cheap fishing rig......go for it.....'ell......paint sharks teeth on it !

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Thought about this project. Yes, no, maybe?

Thanks for the replies guys!

It does have current registration as a plus along with a 9.5 hp Johnson! Honestly I wasn't even thinking of painting the outside, just the inside were the wood will be replaced. I also already have a couple pedistals I could throw in it. As for labor, it's just a hobby!

I also think it will draw less water than my Lund so I can really get back into the thick stuff with a push pole if I have to.

The best question I have is that if I just seam tape the joints what is the next best way to seal the ply before painting? I know it wont last forever but paint is much cheaper than glass and resin.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Thought about this project. Yes, no, maybe?

elastomeric .. ? might be a good choice ..

YD.

 

[Hydra-sport_Road-kill]

Re: Thought about this project. Yes, no, maybe?

Wow! I thought the ugly little puppy was gona get put to sleep by ez, zop and wog but here comes YD to the rescue. Who'd a thunk it?

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Thought about this project. Yes, no, maybe?

Wow! I thought the ugly little puppy was gona get put to sleep by ez, zop and wog but here comes YD to the rescue. Who'd a thunk it?

Im kinda the PETA .. but more like PETB ..

Whats your take on this ?

I just dont see why anyone would take a chainsaw to a perfectly good floating boat.

YD.

 

[Hydra-sport_Road-kill]

Re: Thought about this project. Yes, no, maybe?

I'm with YD on saving this li'l boat. I remember getting a 10 or 12 foot flat-bottom Jon-boat for my 11th birthday. I never have loved a thing since, more than that boat. My friends and I had innumerable adventures paddling it all over the lake we lived on. I'm thinking there's some little kid in the area that would totally freak out with that boat as is or spruced up.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Thought about this project. Yes, no, maybe?

Yup, just a fishing boat. With fish guts/blood, worm poop and all the other good stuff that goes with fishing. No fancy carpet or $100.00 folding seats. No lights, no trolling motors, no batteries included.

Structurally the hull is pretty sound and nothing that can't be repaird. This hull is very light for it's size. From what I can tell most of the crazing is because the glass is not very thick in many areas and any hard bump would be enough to cause it.

If nothing else I guess I've convienced myself to go ahead with it.