'73 Chrysler Sport Satellite

[yt]

OK I'm new to the forum and new to boat ownership.

The good news is that the motor looks to be in decent shape.
The bad news is that the floor is very soft in spots. No holes yet but if I stepped wrong my foot would go through.

Thing is I'm not sure I want to get into a big project right now so wondering what I need to look for safety wise to get through this season with as little effort as possible.

 

[yt]

Re: '73 Chrysler Sport Satellite

Looks like the transom is possibly starting to go. the outsides about midway are soft and expanding. The top and bottom are felling solid as well as the piece going across the top edge. Between this and the decking rotting I don't suppose there's any way to take it out a few times this summer?

 

[yt]

Re: '73 Chrysler Sport Satellite

Also found this crack. So is there any hope for this old thing? Just wondering if it's worth the work or should I find another boat that need power and mount the Merc on it.

The interior looks decent especially if I clean it up but the carpet is hiding the worst of it.

 

[yt]

Re: '73 Chrysler Sport Satellite

Any advice would be much appreciated.

My first boat, have worked on cars and other projects but this is new.
Anyone know the construction of these Chrysler cathedrals? In this boat is the floor (sole, deck whatever I should call it) part of the structural integrity? In the pic of the transom from under the splashwell. That piece that appears to be attached and raised that the bolts go through. Is that the transom or is the transom the entire back of the boat? From what I can tell the bad part is just the edges of the middle of that one piece about a quarter of the way across on each side. Would really like to use the boat a little before fall then consider working on it later but if it's not safe I need to know.

 

[yt]

Re: '73 Chrysler Sport Satellite

Excellent source of information I found ..

http://www.westsystem.com/ss/assets/HowTo-Publications/Fiberglass-Boat-Repair-and-Maintenance.pdf

hmm. hope it's okay to post a link to another site here.

 

[slvrwolf1]

Re: '73 Chrysler Sport Satellite

1st off welcome to I boats. I am at work right now and pics are blocked so I cant see extent of damage.
2nd If you take it out with the transom rot you have the risk of ripping the whole stern off the boat, losing you motor in the water, sinking the boat and drowning.

Depending on how soft it is on the transom you might be abble to get an aluminum plate to mount up to re enforce it to get you around for a bit but I wouldnt put alot of power on a rigged up transom.

As for the rest of the boat I cant see the pics so I cant really say. As far as "Is it worth the work" it depends on what it means to you and if it is worth it to you. You can usually get boats pretty cheap anymore. I usually buy cheap $300 - $600 boats and put alot of time and money into them cause it is fun and keeps me busy and when I have finished it is something I can look at and say that I did that, I am the one who brung that thing back to life.
I had a heart attack a few years ago cause all I did was sit around and watch tv and eat and no physical exercise so I got a hobby. Expensive hobby tho.

 

[jonesg]

Re: '73 Chrysler Sport Satellite

I'm just finishing up my chrysler 20' center console, same hull design with the cathedral, they run nice. Took mine out a few times last yr but the transom started cracking . It was a project boat anyway so I knew it would need the work.

On a smaller hull like yours you have the option ( I wouldn't call it luxury) of popping the cap off and doing it right. Or you could try drilling some test holes in the transom, inspect the drill chips for black mush. Mine was like soil.

If you find it mostly dry then you might try scabbing in a new peice of ply and get a few yrs more out of it. But its really best to do the whole thing, plywood is cheap and the labor is free.

I left my cap on and cut around the deck leaving a 3 inch lip around the deck.
I cut the splashwell off and chainsawed the inside of the transom out ( elec chainsaw) then poured a seacast composite core , no more wood.
Ripped out and replaced the stringers, new tank and painted the bilge w/ new bilge pumps.

I would try and get some use out of it this summer, take it easy, no wave jumping or pulling skiers with that transom. If you start seeing cracks in the splashwell its time.

The trailer looks like the axle is bit too far rearwards, you should be able to lift the hitch by hand, not easily but it should be humanly possible.
I think you'll yours is very nose heavy. Moving the axle entails pulling it out from under the boat and cutting the U clamps with a grinder, the nuts are usually rusted on by now. How did it drive, was it skittish or want to fishtail on ya?

 

[yt]

Re: '73 Chrysler Sport Satellite

Thanks for the replies!

Think I'll drill some test holes later today. From what I could tell just tapping on it from under the splashwell most of it seemed solid. Rapping on it from the rear it sounded fine from what I could tell. The section that's soft looks like it might be an added piece layered on top of the transom on the inside. A reinforcement for mounting the motor maybe? It's definitely soft in the middle between the bolts and bottom. Looks like a "T" brace setup maybe? There's also some wood that runs along the top edge and it is totally solid. Can't say if it's factory or added on.

Think I'll also see if I can't have a look under the sole somehow.



The original owner was a meticulous guy. I know the boat was always covered when not in use. I think the water damage is from lots of use as a ski boat. Wet people getting in and out over 30+ years. I remember seeing two skiiers pulled by this boat. With the 80 horse it would sure git up n' go. Hmm.. wonder if that was why there might be extra wood reinforcement? who knows..

 

[jonesg]

Re: '73 Chrysler Sport Satellite

only one sure fire to find out, drill them holes, if the wood is good fill the holes with epoxy.

Banging with a rubber mallet requires an educated ear,
mine sounded fine too.

 

[yt]

Re: '73 Chrysler Sport Satellite

deleted - photos gone

 

[jonesg]

Re: '73 Chrysler Sport Satellite

$2K to fix and they don't do a very good job, you can do it a lot better yourself, should take a few weeks of 3-4 hrs a nite.
You need some tools, grinder for sure, sawzall is nice , crowbar is handy too, chisel or two. I rent a house and do my work at the side of the house, I keep the area clean, no tossing stuff on the ground, bag everything and get rid of it immediately.

You need to check the stringers next.

 

[yt]

Re: '73 Chrysler Sport Satellite

Hmmm.. that pretty much takes all of summer. I imagine tools and materials would hit me for close to $1k when all's said and done. To do the transom I'll definitely have to pop the cap. It's also a different looking construction. There's one layer that's the whole back of the boat then two more layers in a sort of T on the inside. One rectangular piece top to bottom where the motors mounted and two wings pieces across the top. You can kind of see it in the pic.

Don't know how the neighbors in this suburb would react to nighttime grinding noise and lights. Houses are pretty close together. I'll see what I can do with the motor today and look around for something to mount it on in better shape. I like the size and setup of this one for my needs though. One thing I know about this kind of project, it always takes at least twice as long and twice as much money as you expect. Reminds me of my first car, a '64 Mustang which had rusted out floorboards lol...

 

[jonesg]

Re: '73 Chrysler Sport Satellite

Find a nice tinny instead, let someone else fool with this one.

 

[yt]

Re: '73 Chrysler Sport Satellite

Find a nice tinny instead, let someone else fool with this one.

Maybe.. but dangit now I'm kinda hooked!

 

[yt]

Re: '73 Chrysler Sport Satellite

So there's some good news and some bad news though not unexpected.

Bad news first. Managed to get a peek down under the sole. Turns out that a half a**ed job was done replacing the back 4 feet of plywood. It was just laid down, screwed to the stringers and never sealed to the sides or remaining floor. So the stringers are shot where the water got in where I could see them. From where I pulled up a little carpet the original installation wasn't super either. The plywood was tabbed to the sides but not glassed and epoxied over. Guess these little pleasure boats were never expected to last or be in use 30+ years later. So still the decision to made about all that.

On the good side the outboard motor started up on the first try. The battery was still good and only needed a charge. I used just a little extra oil in the fuel since she sat a while. A couple of the small ignition wires are in bad shape. Brittle,cracked insulation and corroded conductors. Carefully wrapped the little things in some electrical tape for the test. Ran a little rough probably due to the extra oil and I think #4 where the wires were bad was misfiring.

 

[yt]

Re: '73 Chrysler Sport Satellite

Just for kicks I has an estimate done to replace the transom, stringers and deck.. $2700

 

[ezmobee]

Re: '73 Chrysler Sport Satellite

Yeah that sounds about right. Definitely a DIY or don't do it at all kind of project.

 

[yt]

Re: '73 Chrysler Sport Satellite

Yeah that sounds about right. Definitely a DIY or don't do it at all kind of project.

Yep, it's a bit of a tough call. I'm a DIY kinda guy but my house situation is far from ideal for this job. I imagine for that money I could probably find a boat that's in pretty decent shape & pretty much ready for the water. Does that sound about right?

And if I find another boat then there's finding a home for this one first.

 

[yt]

Re: '73 Chrysler Sport Satellite

pics gone, dleted

 

[mattpyle]

Re: '73 Chrysler Sport Satellite

Yes you'll have to take the cap off, or cut the splashwell off. Mine's just like yours and I just chopped the whole splashwell off of it, and will just have to join the 2 pieces back together later when done. When you put the new transom in, you can just use full size pieces of plywood, instead of cutting it up like they originally did. Much easier and stronger that way.