Please Help me im soooo lost...lol

[nieo63]

this is my first time trying anything like this with the "tread" thing and even a boat for that much..lol i just bought a '89 Citation 18ft. Boat w/ '88 Karavan Loadrite Roll on Trailer .. alittle about my boat.. the shell is in good cond. some soft spots on the floor very dirty. It is an INBOARD MOTOR.....the motor is there, the outdrive is missing. the motor is in parts lol ... ok now for the questions... ive been looking for any information on my boat or any like it is citation even a manufactor.. citation is what it says on the outside of the hall water side.. cant find any infomation lol.. it needs parts looked on ebay nothing.. i live in pa 3hrs away from nj. can i put a different motor in it then what is in it? can i just make it a outboard motor? alot of the throdle and steering componits are missing. thanks... a friend in need..lol justin ohh and its a bowrider??? whatever that is..

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: Please Help me im soooo lost...lol

Um..did you buy this boat or get it for 'free'? Looks like you got a classic B.O.A.T. (Break out another thousand). Have someone evaluate it, replacing the outdrive may cost more then the boat is worth.

Ian

 

[nieo63]

Re: Please Help me im soooo lost...lol

i got trailer and boat for $250.. i mean im not trying to make it a top notch boat i mean i got limited means but more of a project boat... or a fishing boat?

 

[Mike Robinson]

Re: Please Help me im soooo lost...lol

I'm no expert on this topic and know nothing about your particular boat, but, around here (western Canada) quite a few people have converted their inboard/outboard boats to outboards by having an aluminum "pod" made that bolts onto the transom covering the hole where the outdrive was mounted. I would recommend doing thread searchs on this website for more information.

Here is a link to a magazine article about such a conversion done here in B.C.

http://www.casmarine.com/user_files/images/File/New life for old boats article.pdf

Good Luck!

Starting a thread and posting pictures of your boat on "Boat Restoration and Building "will help. There will be someone here with the kind of experience you are looking for.

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: Please Help me im soooo lost...lol

Scrap the boat, paint the trailor and sell it for a few bucks profit. It's my best recommendation. Sorry, no offence intended, but you're in for some very large money repairs.

Ian

 

[drewmitch44]

Re: Please Help me im soooo lost...lol

Im lost too... Im in this little room. and, uhh, its all dark in here i cant see anything. and there is this teeny tiny little light in the corner. And i can get out of here. And something smells funny and when i try to touch the tiny light i cant get to it. I dont even think there is a door in here and its so dark that i dont even know if im standing up or if im laying down. Im not sure even how i got in here but i hope i can get out soon!!


What the ....

 

[Floatsum]

Re: Please Help me im soooo lost...lol

Scrap the boat, paint the trailor and sell it for a few bucks profit. It's my best recommendation. Sorry, no offence intended, but you're in for some very large money repairs.

Ian

X2

I see good, ready to goes for $2500-$3500 on Craigs list all the time.
Some good,,, some NOT.
Motor, outdrive, controls, will run you more than that even if you do all the work yourself.
Then you'll need to consider fuel tank condition, batteries, plumbing, wiring, paint(?), maybe some glass work. On top of that you say there are "soft spots" in the decking? I'd guess there are weak stringers to go with the soft spots too. After that you'll still have a $2500 outfit with a old trailer.

Sorry, but you asked.

 

[45Auto]

Re: Please Help me im soooo lost...lol

Quote:
Originally Posted by This_lil_fishy
Scrap the boat, paint the trailor and sell it for a few bucks profit. It's my best recommendation. Sorry, no offence intended, but you're in for some very large money repairs.

Ian

X2

X3

You need an outdrive - $500 for used, probably in poor shape

Engine in pieces - $500 at least, it was taken apart for a reason .....

Bellows, U-joints, etc - $300

Probably needs manifolds - $500 at least

Prop - $100

Controls - $200 if you can find used

Soft floor - probably soft stringers and transom also - $500

Upholstery? How much ugly can you stand?

Alignment, outdrive and engine tools? What do you have? Not much is my guess.

Boat in PERFECT condition would be worth $2000 - $2500. If you do all the work yourself you'll easily be over that without thinking about it. If you have to pay anybody to do ANYTHING, boat mechanics run $100 per hour.

Get out from under it cheap while you can, unless you're looking for an extended project to waste money on.

 

[nieo63]

Re: Please Help me im soooo lost...lol

dame..lol.. hmm ok like i said im just going to use it as a fishing boat i mean nothing speedy just to get me out to the spot and fish.. or a party boat .. maybe i can just redo the floor.. uncle is a carpender and plug the hole where the motor to the outside and just get like a 25hp motor.. im not at the ocean or nothing just want something to fish on or party on... that way i can bypass the steering and main motor and all that ****..lol? would save me alot of money?

 

[45Auto]

Re: Please Help me im soooo lost...lol

You can obviously do anything you like! Look around and see how many boats you see like you're describing. It's do-able, just not very practical. It'll take a lot of work, and that will be an ungodly heavy hull to try to push around with a small outboard.

In the price range you're looking at, sell what you can from the Citation, and use the money to pick up something like this you can probably put a little into the motor and have something you can use.

http://neworleans.craigslist.org/boa/1161693433.html

 

[nieo63]

Re: Please Help me im soooo lost...lol

thanks for the suggestion.. i can see what ur saying about not being pratiable.. and i probaly got over my head and jumped into it with out know what the h.e.l.l. i was thinking but i mean now i got it and i can stick a for sale sign on it but dnt think ill get any takers... if i would stick with it how much hp u think i would need in like a lake with hardly no current just to go at a slow but not a crawl speed??.. if i gutted it more then what it is.. fit soft spots throw some cheap boat dock carpet.. i mean i got it..lol trying to make the best of it.. around my area the cheapest thing i even found was like a 1984 alum boat really poor shape no motor no trailer for like 1000.00 that boat u sent a link to around here would be arond 5000 around here trust me i checked ...lol

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Please Help me im soooo lost...lol

On a 18ft glass hull thats a heavy boat.
A used outboard will cost you more than you think.
75hp would be too small.At least a 115 or up....

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: Please Help me im soooo lost...lol

On a 18ft glass hull thats a heavy boat.
A used outboard will cost you more than you think.
75hp would be too small.At least a 115 or up....

Well to be fair he is talking about just using it to get to a fishing hole on a small lake. A 50 horse would do the trick, but still, around here a good 50 horse (20+ years old) that won't require hundreds in repairs will run close to $1000, then add in all the work. We are all on the same page though, scrap her. Part out anything of value, if there is anything.

Ian

 

[Nandy]

Re: Please Help me im soooo lost...lol

A good working outboard with controls will run easily 1k. Yes, you could find one cheaper if you take your time and are good fixing it. For that hull I would not go under 70 hp and that will be close to underpowered but will probably move that hull. Probably you will be looking at 115 or more to be powered properly. After you get the motor you need to fix the hull and attach a bracket ($150 to 300 without hydraulics) to the motor. After over $1500 you will then know how your boat will behave or perform... Not a good idea... You came for advise, you have advise, fixing this boat is not a good economic decision. Save that money and check a boat that is working and you can test. We will help you make a good decision. In the other hand, if you like the boat that much and it does what you want once you have it fixed then whatever money you spend is good.

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Please Help me im soooo lost...lol

...

Here is a link to a magazine article about such a conversion done here in B.C.

http://www.casmarine.com/user_files/images/File/New life for old boats article.pdf

...

That's an interesting read, Mike -- thanks for posting it. Too bad they didn't take more pictures of doing the work for the article though.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Please Help me im soooo lost...lol

What you really need to do is learn to be a scavanger (which means you develop skill in seeking things for free or at least minimal costs). The next thing you need to do is determine what your mechanical skill level is. Since you said the engine is in pieces, you have a start on determining which way you need to go with the power plant : 1) fix what you have, or 2) repower with an outboard. If you were checking e-bay for parts based on the name of the boat, it is no wonder you found nothing. Boat engines do not come from the manufacturer of the boat. Most over the years came from GM or Ford. So determine who the engine manufacturer is (get the model and serial number information off the engine label. Then get the outdrive information off the outdrive. You may have Mercruiser, OMC, or Volvo outdrive but my guess is it's going to be a Mercruiser or OMC based on the vintage. Depending on what you have, there are some on-line service manuals for the engine and outdrive that you can download. Parts for older GM and Ford engines are still available so don't give up on the engine repair issue. Engines can be in fairly tough shape and still be rebuildable. What you need to understand is this project will only be financially practical unless you do the work yourself. Engine rebuilding (at least the block and head work) must be done by a machine shop with final assembly by you to same the most money. But if you don't have the skills, this is probably an expensive project no matter what you do. Stringer repair is a must regardless what you do. That requires floor removal. Stringers are the foundation of your boat. If those are bad you take your life in your hands every time you leave the dock. I've seen the result of a failed structure like this and it is not pretty.
Let us know what you skill level is in various areas and we can make more suggestions but I just have the feeling you are way over your head on this and ought to write it off as a lost cause. Sell the trailer to cut your loses. Then do a better job of looking for a more serviceable boat. You cannot and should not simply pop for a boat because of its price. You need to make sure whatever you buy is serviceable.

 

[nieo63]

Re: Please Help me im soooo lost...lol

does anyone want to buy this ..lol

 

[Nandy]

Re: Please Help me im soooo lost...lol

Im lost too... Im in this little room. and, uhh, its all dark in here i cant see anything. and there is this teeny tiny little light in the corner. And i can get out of here. And something smells funny and when i try to touch the tiny light i cant get to it. I dont even think there is a door in here and its so dark that i dont even know if im standing up or if im laying down. Im not sure even how i got in here but i hope i can get out soon!!


What the ....

Drew, your meds are next to that light. Make sure you take them before you start playing with them straps... Remember, last time the lake dried...

 

[JoLin]

Re: Please Help me im soooo lost...lol

thanks for the suggestion.. i can see what ur saying about not being pratiable.. and i probaly got over my head and jumped into it with out know what the h.e.l.l. i was thinking but i mean now i got it and i can stick a for sale sign on it but dnt think ill get any takers... if i would stick with it how much hp u think i would need in like a lake with hardly no current just to go at a slow but not a crawl speed??.. if i gutted it more then what it is.. fit soft spots throw some cheap boat dock carpet.. i mean i got it..lol trying to make the best of it.. around my area the cheapest thing i even found was like a 1984 alum boat really poor shape no motor no trailer for like 1000.00 that boat u sent a link to around here would be arond 5000 around here trust me i checked ...lol

Save yourself a lot of money and heartache. Scrap the boat. Right now you're only out a couple hundred bucks. A drop in the bucket compared to what it'll cost you to put a grossly underpowered, possibly unsafe hull into the water.

Take a step back, hang around the forum and read the buying advice that gets posted here. It's good stuff. You need to be realistic in your expectations, too.

The good news is you can give yourself a pat on the back for coming here before you got into this "project".

Good luck!

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: Please Help me im soooo lost...lol

Junk it.