When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

[Scottydawg]

Re: When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

I must be slap retarded. Here is how I just started. I have never owned a boat and don't really know much about them. I have wanted one for a while though. Anyways, Someone gave me an 88 Bayline 18ft Cobra (needs a resto). The trailer was shot so I started looking. I came across a trailer in some guys yard and stopped. He wanted $100 for it. It needed prob another 1-2 hundred to get it up to speed. He pointed at a 72 Warren Craft Cabin boat with a 125 Mercury (needs resto) (sig pic) with a perfect trailer and said, "you want that?". I said "how much?". He said "300". I started thinking... If I get this trailer, I will have to spend another 1 or 2 hundred to fix it. If I buy this boat, I will have a great trailer. Then I thought, If I do that though, I will then still have a boat with no trailer. So, I offered him 350 for both and drug it all home. So, here I am with two restos. I am having fun learning though. I am not in a hurry though. I want to enjoy the journey.

 

[Downrigger39]

Re: When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

Thanks SSCHEFER for the encouragement. I wish I could continue but DR said would be ay risk. I think the wife bribed him. But I have given up . For now. At my age better listen to Dr. I did want to thank everyone who helped with project I was very lucky to have found this site for imfo on what to do and ask question. Great site and anyone who messes with boats are a pretty good bunch. Here is where I stoped my restore Any offers LOL Good luck to all.


http://s439.photobucket.com/albums/qq113/DOWNRIGGER39/

 

[drewpster]

Re: When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

The bottom line is your level of desire. If you are looking to get on the water cheap then good luck to ya! Anything that says "Marine" on it is at least 40% more expensive than non-"Marine".
If you are looking to improve a boat you love then how far you go is going to depend on how much is too much. The greater the desire the farther you will go.
If you love the water, love working with your hands, and love the vessel, my bet is that you will go as far as you can. But again, that's a choice. I set the limits based on how far is far enough. I bet you will too.
The work is hard, frustrating, expensive and sometimes painful. But to me the result is more than worth it. I have arranged my resources around what I want to accomplish.
Should you tackle a complete restoration on a 40 foot cruiser? Maybe, maybe not. It depends on your level of desire.
I work from job to job. Right now I would be happy if I can get the center stringer on my runabout bedded correctly. I will check my level of desire before I start the next one. Then I will check it again when I spend the cash for the supplies I need next. When the desire runs out, then the job is done, with no regrets. But for now my desire is strong to see my restoration done. So that is as far as I will go.

 

[NickAndJena]

Re: When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

One boat rebuild is enough to last a lifetime if you ask me

The way I look at... When I'm doing the work myself, I really care about the result so doing it right is key. Even if I have to redo a few steps here and there, I know it will be done right in the end.

When doing things right, this boat will last a lifetime -- or at least as long as I want to own it.

I'm a freak and probably need to see someone about trust issues, no doubt, but it's been a fun experience so far. I have learned a lot from you guys and I appreciate the help given here on the forum.

I certainly don't want to change my career, this isn't THAT fun. But I sure do look forward to hittin' the lake on this restored boat... Until then I guess I'm stuck grinding fiberglass.

Nick

 

[sschefer]

Re: When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

This is why you don't quit unless God or the Doctor tells you to:

Thursday, May 28, 2009, Lake Sonoma, Ca.. The MonArk Legend lives. Maiden voyage.. If I didn't resto this boat it would a 1000 12 packs right now. Instead, I had this out my rear view mirror.... All Day!!! ---

 

[proshadetree]

Re: When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

Sorry I was in the corner.Part of therapy.Looked at a different boat today.Shh dont tell.I need a house by the lake with a 900x900 place to store my babys.Yea ill live in a van down by the river as long as I get to have more boats.Need to find a way to drive 3 at a time.

 

[Downrigger39]

Re: When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

The Dr didn't tell me to quit fishing lol I would have to go to the grave to get me to stop being on the water. I have alrady bought new boat. But thanks I know what you are saying and that was a great pic.

 

[57chris]

Re: When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

I have never finished a project that was worth calling a project without getting frustrated first and swearing to throw the whole thing in the garbage. Sometimes it is hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, or remember why you even started this journey in the first place, and i'm talking about any ONE project. My best advice to you is to sell one and invest that extra time and money into the other. If you do find something better than either of the two, heck sell off both of them even if you lose. Sometimes an attempted restoration is a lesson in what to look for when shopping for a project, and that's worth something in the long run.

 

[sschefer]

Re: When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

It's Sunday so my response to 57Chris is simply -- Amen.

 

[sc00ter78]

Re: When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

It's time to walk away when you burry it with other junk and find other projects instead.
Or when you start another project boat, unless uour that type to do multiple project boats.

 

[jpmurphy]

Re: When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

I began my first resto this past Jan on a 16' tinny that was a freebie. We also moved into our retirement home last August, so I have more projects than Bob Villa and crew. Our retirement home is an older brick ranch thing. I've never had to deal with the maint of a older home so everything I've had to replace/repair in this house has been a learning experience for me. The same holds true for the boat.I've tried to pace myself on all of my projects. Whenever I became frustrated with the progress on the boat, or lack thereof, I would shift my attention to another small project on the house. We have 3 bathrooms and I'm nearly done converting two of them into one large bath. Spent 2 months on that project, but we had a backup head so no big deal or inconvience. Finish plumbing the sink, back to the boat for a couple of days. Too cold to work in the shop, back to the bath project for a few days.

I've missed my boat inspection appointment date, missed several "get wet" deadlines I had set for myself. Boat is ready for use right now but I know that if I don't repaint the motor now, it won't get done until this coming winter. I want a finished project when I first hit the water.

Give up ? No way. Just step back and do something else until your motivation and desire return and jump back in there tiger..

 

[jonesg]

Re: When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

Don't set deadlines.
Don't work in vain glory or drudgery,
Just set yourself in motion and KEEP yurself in check.

If it isn't fun...don't bother.

 

[jakebrake]

Re: When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

you give up after you've torn out the trmites holding hands that used to be any wood on the vessel, found the rocker arms actually rotting, the pistons are rust siezed to the cylinder wall, and the clinton era gas in the tank is too hard to jackhammer through.

when you get a "your next blood transfusion id free" coupon

when fiberglass has become the only fiber in your diet, your wife files for divorce, and you walk in and your kids say "who are you?'

after that, when tou step on the hull floor and fall through...okay, give up.

 

[Perseverance won]

Re: When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

I never had a boat in my life (Im 53 now ) never even knew anybody with one.My boss gave me a 19 ft Hurricane that had been in the lake for 3 years..nevr winterised or run.
After cracked Block (fixed with JB weld) bust off flywheel exhaust hoses and to many other things to mention.I got it on the lake 3 days ago with my 2 young sons (10 and 11 ).I nearly gave up when I found the cracked block but persevered.
You should have seen their faces as I pulled them around on the lake on the tube ....they were having a great time ...so was I...never felt as proud that I had kept goin on the boat...
So I guess the time to give up is when you pop your clogs.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

I guess I'd give up when she's laying in the Gulf under 300 feet of water

 

[sschefer]

Re: When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

I guess I'd give up when she's laying in the Gulf under 300 feet of water

ROFLOL.. Yep, that would be about the same time for me too! You gotta know, as soon as the Coast Guard released me, I'd be on the road looking for another one

 

[blot101]

Re: When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

i'm fairly new to it too... my troubles mostly are that all the boat parts, and motor parts are ALL obsolete.

a 1957 (ish) glastron.

the more frustrating part, is noone cares to help. the key is to either have skills to fabricate, find someone who will help you that has those skills, or be willing to pay a lot.

i think the trick to not giving up is having money, or other options.
during the long search for my starter, it would be easier for me to enjoy the boat with a different motor, just until i could get the old one fixed....

oh well though, i wait...

 

[sschefer]

Re: When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

i'm fairly new to it too... my troubles mostly are that all the boat parts, and motor parts are ALL obsolete.

a 1957 (ish) glastron.

the more frustrating part, is noone cares to help. the key is to either have skills to fabricate, find someone who will help you that has those skills, or be willing to pay a lot.

i think the trick to not giving up is having money, or other options.
during the long search for my starter, it would be easier for me to enjoy the boat with a different motor, just until i could get the old one fixed....

oh well though, i wait...

One of the things we learn to do well is to improvise. You have to be creative sometimes. In the end you stand back and say... There, take that you &(*(#*&$)#. When it's all done and some one say's how did you figure that out..You respond, with a big grin, oh,,,, that was easy!

 

[OV1961]

Re: When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

One boat rebuild is enough to last a lifetime if you ask me

No truer words have been written here, F14. Or at least one at a time for the certifiably insane. I like to fix and build things, but I'm almost at my mid-life crisis point, which will absolutely not involve repairing anything.

 

[Les Robb]

Re: When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

Wow what a response from the group. My personal experience includes dragging three assorted hulls home and finding out after closer inspection they were way beyond economical restoration so out to the local landfill they went. Finally found the jewel and trust me by the time I finish and total all the costs I would never be able to come close to buying one new or good condition at the yard. In fact the total won't even come close to the cost of a good 70 hp engine. Pick carefully and really explore the transom decking and if it dosen't look good cut a hole in the deck and check the stringers and the foam. If it's poured and waterlogged you got big problems.

By the way, gained a lot of experience with seperating cap from hull etc and at least I recycled the aluminum from railing and rub rail.