the end

[anthony115merc]

today was a very sad day for me i went out to do some on the boat and removed the rub rail under it the fibreglass was soft i peeled some back and i seen some black wood poked and went through did some more same thing then peeled the glass off the deck and that was the same its only there is only about 20cm down by 50cm wide rotted which made me think is it really worth it? though bout it pulled the rotted wood off and thought some more. then thought if i get rid of this hull i will never buy another so i am thinking towards selling the trailer,25hp,2hp,115hpx2 plus spares. and will think bout it for the next few days there is not that much rot probbably $20worth but it just made me think really hard and now am unsure as what i should do it might be the end of boating for me

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: the end

"Never say die" I am sure that some of the real "experts" out here will be along shortly with help and advice. Some photos may help everyone understand your problems. A picture is worth a thousand words.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: the end

Quitting?

After all the advice and guidance you received..... and your quitting!

Sell off your collection of outboards.........

Sell the hull to anyone that is looking to plan a Viking Funeral.........

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: the end

sorry Anthony, that's exactly what i expected. thats why i said educate yourself in wood working, there is a lot of work to do to that boat to make it safe, but it can be done. it will take time patience, cussing, shearing, and a lot of alcohol if you a drinking man.

the only way i would tackle that boat is, if like you, it had very sentimental attachment. many years ago i cut up a boat that my dad and i built together. it was hard to do. but it was the best thing at the time. now i could have repaired it but it would have rotted away before now.

i'm not going to tell you to quit. that decision is yours, are you dedicated enough, yourself, and financially to restore the old boat? that's your decision.

 

[anthony115merc]

Re: the end

i just went out to it and took some photos maybe i can cut the damage out the scratch marks are where it is affected

it is a very centimental boat i would love to see her back on the water and really want to do it but just am not so sure about doing it. i have been thinking very seriously today about it and the help here is great

 

[Robj]

Re: the end

Anthony,

After all that you are giving up??? I know your boat needs a lot of work and I too would rethink fixing it, but to give up? Don't do it. Salvage what you can from this boat, then get rid of it. Find yourself a fibreglass boat and then use all the knowledge that you gained from this site and apply it to your new boat. They are out there, someone is trying to get rid of one just a few blocks away from here, but I know that is a long ways from you are. Look and you will find. Just because this boat does not work out for you it does not mean you have to give it up. Think of it as a better plan A. You can use some parts from this boat, so your sentimental value is not entirely lost.

I am quite sure that you will find more rot if you keep looking. While I am not an expert on wooden boats, once they get glassed in, the glass traps water, the wood cannot breathe and it starts to rot. That is why a poor glass job will kill a wooden boat in no time. About your cost estimate, with boats it is always more than you think, in your case probably way more.

Good luck and don't give up. It is just a small hurdle that you have to overcome.

Rob.

 

[sturdavj]

Re: the end

Anthony,

All is not a loss, you have started down a path that many of us having chosen to follow. The question is not one of what will you do with this hull, but where will you hook up with the next one, like fish there is another one just beyond the next wave, or trough, depending on if your riding the crest at the moment....

Now that your a member of the boating fraternity where do you turn from here, from what you listed you have the best parts of a boat, you just have to figure out the best way to keep them all floating in the same location, with the exception of the trailer they won't float. I know I was there when my hunting partner dropped his at a boat ramp with a ninety foot hole, on the Colombia River up here in Oregon. The boat ramp is now closed, that is another story in itself... at last count there was 12 vehicles on the bottom, 7 with boat trailers, 5 were stolen vehicles that were dumped.

I understand attachment, I (still) own a boat I bought in 1986, two months AFTER my father died, I always wanted to go fishing (trolling) with him but did not have the opportunity to do so. I have fished many times with my son out of that boat, we now fish out of a larger boat. For the past three years I have wanted to sell that boat, but do you know it still sits next to the bigger one. Maybe this will be the year it goes away....

Good luck. Keep your lines in the water, not in the trees.

 

[Mark42]

Re: the end

You can fix it. It will just take a long time. And if the deck is rotten, and it doesn't sit in the water, there is probably lots of rot on the hull where it does contact the water.

I suggest you strip off all the hardware and pack in boxes. Then haul the hull to the dump. Save the trailer and look for a free project boat that has a fiberglass hull. Free boats usually don't have trailers. Then start your restoration from there.

Take a weekend and visit the marina's in your area, there are always boats for sale. Ask about the junkers that they may want removed.

Best of luck. Boating is fun. Get a boat that will get you on the water sooner rather than later.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: the end

I really liked the old boat, but like our friends, parents, and grandparents, it has lived it's life and wants to go to boat heaven. as said strip everything usable on another boat. then you can cut her up, and use her for winter fire wood. that would make her happy, to be useful one last time keeping you warm. then you can scoop the ashes and have a service for her, and throw her back in the water where she belongs.

Damn, how did a old hard ***** like me come up with this. guess it's the love of boats.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: the end

...I suggest you strip off all the hardware and pack in boxes. Then haul the hull to the dump. Save the trailer and look for a free project boat that has a fiberglass hull. Free boats usually don't have trailers. Then start your restoration from there.

Ditto here. From the looks of your pictures that boat would have to have signifigant historical value before I would get buried in it. Sleep on it overnight, then fire up the chainsaw. Then go out and get yourself a Fiberglass hull.

 

[anthony115merc]

Re: the end

i have been thinking for a while and decided to get rid of the hull i would love to take her out for 1 last time and sink her and know she went the way she wanted to go this is hard to think about doing seem as its been with us for 14years and been through about 7 motors.

i would love to get a fibreglass boat rated for my 115hp but i would think it would be very hard to get a free one i just would find it very hard to spend money on a hull that needs work i will look into it i might place a wanted ad in the paper and see if any one has somthing for me i work at a marina so i will ask around and ask the guy i brought the trailer of he had lots of **** boats lying around that look somthing like i want i would like to have either a halfcab trihull or speedboat so i will look into it.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: the end

the problem with sinking is that it is wood, and very hard to sink, and keep down, would probably become a boating hazard.

 

[anthony115merc]

Re: the end

i would like to but wont be able to seem as i have nothing to tow it with so off to the dump with her

 

[flashback]

Re: the end

Ya, TD, it kinda sounded like a "Boat's Prayer"

 

[erikgreen]

Re: the end

You're safer that way anyway... most state or the national DNR do not allow people to sink boats without a permit and a lot of hassle (environmental impact, etc).

To add insult to injury, usually if you have really bad luck, your expensive boat sinks in deep water and (god forbid) one of your friends or family are killed, they still require you to pay to refloat the boat and get it out of their water.

I know all this because I'm familiar with a few accidental sinkings and a few planned ones. We've put a couple small boats in diver training lakes so the students have something to look at, and it requires permits, environmental assessments, cleaning of the boat for pollutants, and permission from anyone with property surrounding the lake.

If you really want some closure, get a burning permit and have a bonfire with lots of kerosene

Erik

PS: Start looking for a new boat.. there are plenty of "project boats" about, I can hardly keep from shopping for my next project before I've finished this one

 

[Windykid]

Re: the end

Anthony, think about the new challenge. You can look for a new free hull, or trade, bartor motors parts etc...

This is not the end but the beginning. You have learned a lot here, no sence in throwing that down the toilet. keep on learning.

 

[sourbsted]

Re: the end

i have been thinking for a while and decided to get rid of the hull i would love to take her out for 1 last time and sink her and know she went the way she wanted to go this is hard to think about doing seem as its been with us for 14years and been through about 7 motors.

i would love to get a fibreglass boat rated for my 115hp but i would think it would be very hard to get a free one i just would find it very hard to spend money on a hull that needs work i will look into it i might place a wanted ad in the paper and see if any one has somthing for me i work at a marina so i will ask around and ask the guy i brought the trailer of he had lots of **** boats lying around that look somthing like i want i would like to have either a halfcab trihull or speedboat so i will look into it.

You might have trouble finding one free but you could find one very cheap. Ebay boats don't always sell cheap but the one's out of the paper or someone who know's someone do. I could give some good example's...
I payed $500 for mine it's a savage escort 5m fish/ski boat i spent less than $2000 doing it up. The trailer needed a lot of work.
i found one same as this for $600 trailer stuffed the 115 merc worn out but the hull was ok...
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/4-5meter-Car...QQihZ019QQcategoryZ102698QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
The dearest part i found was trying to find a cheap motor thats in good condition...

 

[TK]

Re: the end

Finding a inexpensive can be an easy thing depending on where you live. In south Florida, all I have to do is drive around in various neighbor hoods that I know where boating is. There are lots of boats sitting in backyards that people would sell if asked. Now I understand where you live in the down under might be a little different, how ever if you search out these areas you will find stuff.

Check out my project,( Project Started 79 Chris) and I can tell you that I got this boat very little cost to me, cause I knocked on this guys door, and asked if he wanted to sell.

Best of luck, one of these days I want to visit your area.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: the end

like i said in the other post, the one sourbsted linked, if in the states you could keep me away from it. equates to $414 US. and has my favorite brand engine. that makes a really nice set up.

 

[anthony115merc]

Re: the end

you might call me crazy but i think i can still have a bit of fun in her as the rot is above water line i might tape the glass back on to keep water out and use it for a bit of lake fishing where there is no waves just till i get another project maybe its crazy but so am i i can swim well enough and have read threads on how to raise a boat up from the bottom any objections?