Free boat - any thoughts?

[Isaacm1986]

So this boat was given to me, but since i have 3 right now anyway my wife said it had to go. So i just gave this boat to a good friend of mine and I am going to help him fix it up. it has a solid floor, solid transom, solid hull. It is going to be used on the bay a lot, and going to be used for pull a tube as well.

We were considering the idea of converting it to a I/O, how feasible is this? Also thinking about keeping it outboard, are there better motors than others for salt water? we will be looking to pick one up on craigslist.

Any thoughts and Ideas would be appreciated. here are the pics.

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Free boat - any thoughts?

Stick with the OB. Conversion is not impossible but you may loss some hair.

OB manufactures make ones for salt, but i think (I really try not to that often) as long as you wash it out when you come in, any of them would do fine. Id look for one that matches the controls you have unless you get one with them attached.

How long is it? Looks in the 16'-17' range. If so 60HP should do the trick. Id stay with a 3 cylinder to save the weight on the transum.
My 16 has a V4 85 and is a tad saggy in the britches unless on plane.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Free boat - any thoughts?

Unless you want to spend thousands of dollars and manhours on a free boat (which, btw, there is no such thing!), I'd say you should go find a trailer for it and slap an outboard on the back.

The surgery required to turn the boat into an I/O wouldn't be worth the trouble, IMO.



???

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Free boat - any thoughts?

hey it may not be mint condition but at least it's mint colored

 

[pine island fred]

Re: Free boat - any thoughts?

Like JAY said, no such thing as a free boat. Looks a bit heavy with all that glass. Agree, a 60 2 stroke should be quite adequate. Keep it simple, just do the basics that it needs and enjoy it. FRED

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Free boat - any thoughts?

i likw the looks of it, nice and deep high sides makes for a great lakes boat.

 

[45Auto]

Re: Free boat - any thoughts?

Once you get a trailer and motor for it, you'll have an old ugly boat worth maybe $1000 if you're lucky. Have your buddy look around for what else he could get for his money, you'll find that often you can get a running boat and trailer cheaper than you can find a used outboard. There's probably a reason somebody didn't want the boat and gave it to you .....

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Free boat - any thoughts?

get the guy to pay you to take it to the landfill. if you want to do it. it will be an expensive effort of love. there is no will be no return, other than pride, that you did it.

 

[mickjetblue]

Re: Free boat - any thoughts?

I has some potential, but will require substantial investment,
which could ultimately become a loss in the end.



Good luck!

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Free boat - any thoughts?

Not everyone has the budget for even $1000 boat..... I agree the i/o project is a bad idea..... kinda if you have to ask then no don't do it,, but if a person has the skill to put it together and to find probs.... a little shopping around can net a decent trailer for $100 and an ok outboard for $150-$500..... It would need to be in very good condition for any big water so I'd be cautious about this "bay" he mentions but while the boat is old it may not be THAT bad.....
On the other hand you have to really pay attention to your spending to peice together an old beater boat for less than you can buy the whole thing..... Some folks take pride in putting one together..... I have seen some builds on this very board where people have put untold amounts of money and labor into boats older and uglier than this one and gotten tons of support here doing it

I have some very fond memorys of my dad taking my sisters and me out on perry lake in kansas in an old junk 16' trihull with a 35 hp merc on it..... it couldn't plane to save it's life and it was butt ugly but hey poor or not we were out there

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Free boat - any thoughts?

I think it's a real sharp looking boat. It will surely require a rebuild of all the wooden components. I agree with everyone that you'd be crazy to try to convert it to an I/O.

 

[86 century]

Re: Free boat - any thoughts?

I like the looks of it. Most of the rebuilds on here are money pits that will never be worth what we have in them. If you or your friend like why not if you can get on the water for $1000 i say have fun. good luck

 

[Philster]

Re: Free boat - any thoughts?

If Alien boat builders landed here, they'd first ask, "Why are blue tarps so expensive?", because it's hard to comprehend how so many boat owners can't even invest in the most basic boat cover -- a simple tarp -- to cover their boats.

I just took a ride down to my beach place and there were still dozens of boats uncovered, and this is in NJ, after several snow storms (one dumped 24" of snow), a tropical storm and three Nor' Easters.

I see a cool li'l boat like the one posted and shake my head. It was left to rot from the inside out. Wow, you might think a 20' blue tarp costs around 10 grand.

 

[bassman284]

Re: Free boat - any thoughts?

I guess it depends on how much adventure you're looking for. I generally figure a free boat is worth about $1,000 - 2,000 less than you pay for it. That would just about cover a trailer and a decent outboard for this one. I have no idea but I'll guess 5-8 grand for the i/o conversion. Am I close?

 

[backwater dawg]

Re: Free boat - any thoughts?

RUNNNNNNNN----as fast as you can

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Free boat - any thoughts?

You say the floor and transom are solid...good. If you were changing / repairing the transom, switching to i/o would be worth considering, but in this case, it would be a mistake. A decent motor and trailer is going to set you back $1k to $2k as it is.

 

[Isaacm1986]

Re: Free boat - any thoughts?

Thanks everyone for the oppion's. I disagree with those of you who say to run from it or take it to the dump.

The boat is a solid boat, has good floor, good transom, solid hull, it is not worthy of the scrapyard. I will post some pics of it when it is cleaned up.

I am looking for a good deal on a outboard and trailer, In washington state (where i live) I see good galvanized trailers all the time for $300 No rust. I picked up a 70hp Volvo outboard for it today through a barter deal. The motor runs.

The bay that we will take it out in never gets rough, maybe 18" swells at the most, it is enclosed by islands and mainland.

I figure we will have it on the water for around $500-$600 bucks, which will provide some fun memories, and keep it all in a reasonable budget.

We are not going to attempt a I/O conversion, cause it will cost a lot of money.

Thanks again for all the opinions! It is why i love this site!

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Free boat - any thoughts?

feel like taking a road trip?
http://nashville.craigslist.org/boa/1535800501.html

 

[Isaacm1986]

Re: Free boat - any thoughts?

I wish i could! anyone want to pick it up for me and deliver to washington?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Free boat - any thoughts?

Sure 1 dollar a mile
How funny would it be to see people's faces if I used it as a kicker on my wellcraft?