Restoring boat costs

[salmonee]

Isn't restoring boat more expensive than buying one in descent shape? If you love working on boat, that's fine. Who goes out of their way on purpose, to buy a piece of junk just to put $ and time into it? Just seem like it would cost way more $$ than buying one in descent shape.

 

[HopeSheFloats]

Re: Restoring boat costs

IMO...
You have to love working with your hands, giving the ol noggin a few good challenges, and a desire to make your vision a reality. In the long run, you should have a much better,dependable rig for somewhere in the same ballpark figures, actually less if you consider the personal additions..ie: stronger, more rot resistant, personalized lay-out, storage amount and/or locations.

Then again, some of us don't have the extra cash in a lump sum to lay-out, and doing a resto/fixer-upper can be an easier way of eventually reaching a goal of something nice.

Then there's one or two of us{I'm sure} who luv any reason to get out and tinker with our tools making something out of nothing.

Remember the old saying as well....one man's junk is another man's treasure

 

[eaglejim]

Re: Restoring boat costs

My boat(15ft tri-hull) with trailer,60 rude,$300---- clean, new battery,deck waterpump,tune-up 6 new seats, new carpet, odds and ends $1200 3rd year on the water priceless(all work done by me)

 

[McGR]

Re: Restoring boat costs

I'm fairly certain my rig will be worth approximately twice what I have into it when it's complete. Doing this sort of project is not for everyone. At times it seems there is an element of self-masochism involved in restoration projects, but if you stick with it and do it right, it can be quite rewarding.

 

[osborn159]

Re: Restoring boat costs

my bud bought a new 16' skiff, mtr, trailer bout 15k, i have a 1978 hull 1989mtr and trlr, will put it toghether for 1/3 his cost, and be able to do all he can.
plus ill have the satisfaction mine will last longer than a new boat when im done
D

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Restoring boat costs

I'll probably have $5k in mine when it's all said an done. A new one reasonably equivalent would be over $20k. I don't have that.

 

[F14CRAZY]

Re: Restoring boat costs

I'll probably have $5k in mine when it's all said an done. A new one reasonably equivalent would be over $20k. I don't have that.

I'm in about the same spot. As long as you have the time (sometimes it feels like if I had to pay myself I'd be over $20k @ $1/hour lol)

 

[zach103]

Re: Restoring boat costs

People like restoring because it gives them a chance to change what they don't like.. Erikgreen for example is redoing his to fit his needs.. another guy wants to change his fishing boat to a family boat.... and like stated its a passion doing this and its the satisfaction at the end of a long day and looking at it come together and saying to yourself.. i made it look like that

 

[MTribe08]

Re: Restoring boat costs

Isn't restoring boat more expensive than buying one in descent shape? If you love working on boat, that's fine. Who goes out of their way on purpose, to buy a piece of junk just to put $ and time into it? Just seem like it would cost way more $$ than buying one in descent shape.

I'm sure it can be....if you pay somebody else to do the work. I can almost guarantee that the work I've done on my boat would have cost around 3-4k to pay a shop to do, maybe more considering I did some nice upgrades. I believe those will pay off in the end, should if and when I decide to sell.

When I'm done(I'll have about 6-700 into the project. And in that I upgraded to a nice captains Chair, snap in berber carpet and a Gel Coated Deck

 

[thrillhouse700]

Re: Restoring boat costs

Its fun as hell to see something come together, knowing you built it with your bare hands. Unless of course your paint job gets botched like ours

 

[sprintst]

Re: Restoring boat costs

I'm scared to total all the costs up. I looked locally at a 18.5 foot aluminum with an outboard 42,000

Even if I'm at 10k when I'm done with a rebuilt motor, leg, all new interior and paint then I'm of with that in comparison.

I would definately been willing to pay more for a restored boat from the guys in this forum knowing what went into the restore.

 

[Silverado6x6]

Re: Restoring boat costs

Well I was wondering the same thing but on a bigger scale, for the most part I really have no intention of cruising around spending $200 an hour on fuel, I'm looking for a project in my golden years before I retire, I can do absolutely any repair needed, I am a certified diesel mechanic up front and I do work recently of hull restoration, so I have my eye on these two boats, the 61' is basically a shell, its big, would make a great liveaboard vessel, but to make it seaworthy would require over $100k, the second boat the 53' is a little older, its in running shape, needs a thorough inspection and some minor repairs but is ready to move around, in bristol condition these are reliable sturdy vessels that sell well. I would buy the 61' immediately because its probably open for a lower offer, the 53' is in the water, would require insurance and a dock, the 61' is on the hard so its not requiring much in upkeep, again the 53' is almost ready to go but at a higher initial cost and an immediate attention to moorage and such, myself I would like to have the 61', sure its going to be an anchor to me financial wise for who knows how many years, but like it is its all I have looking ahead of me, I just need something for a goal as I am 53, I have been there and done that, now I just want to relax a bit but still stay busy.

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1982/Hatteras-Motoryacht-2170248/Gibsonton/FL/United-States

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1973/Hatteras-53-Motoryacht-2182835/Tampa/FL/United-States

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Restoring boat costs

I suppose it all depends...

If you were to pick up a junk boat and then paid somebody to restore it, you'd be upside down in a half a second!

I think if you are wise about spending your money, willing to work really hard, a bit of a scavenger, a cross between a redneck and a yankee, already own a bunch of tools, efficient and effective at using duct tape, good looking (or not, either way works) can sift out the great deals from the on craigslist, snipe on eBay, a carpenter/welder/marine tech/engineer/painter/plumber/tradesman (or a least a couple of those), a good husband (or at least a good liar but I wouldn't recommend that, and no, you can't be both) or have a good buddy that is all of these things, than you should be in great shape! Yah, I don't think it's for everyone.

As I see it, when I am through, I should have a boat that is every bit as good as any $8000ish used rig that is out there and I won't spend even a fraction of that. Shoot, new rigs are around the $40K mark! I am way too poor for that!

Cheers!!!

 

[proshadetree]

Re: Restoring boat costs

I like working on stuff.I have 2500 in my baylinner. I could sell it for 3 to 4 thousand. Maybe more if you found a buyer that wanted a known solid boat.
Now I have saved 500 dollars if you look at the market. But I have a tank that will take all I can trow at it. I wont go out twice only to find my transom or floor is rotten. My boat looks great in the water and waxed a few new rides last year. If you cant afford a new boat and want the reliability of one build it. Now if you want a cheap boat look on this board and find one someone has build in a reliable fashion. Wait till they find their next boat and jump on it. It will still cost more that some but you know its built right.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Restoring boat costs

Isn't restoring boat more expensive than buying one in descent shape? If you love working on boat, that's fine. Who goes out of their way on purpose, to buy a piece of junk just to put $ and time into it? Just seem like it would cost way more $$ than buying one in descent shape.

I paid $700 for a 1974 20' chrysler center console fishing boat.
$500 for a composite transom, it will never rot again.
$400 for all new ply and glassing of stringers and new/used alum fuel tank, new fuel lines all around, wiring etc.
$1500 for a 150hp outboard and $500 for a better trailer.

If you try to buy what I have for the same money I gurantee there will be problems somewhere, either stringers or transom will be wet or part rotted already.

For a 20'CC in very good condition with no water damage you can expect to pay a lot more.

When people think buying a new boat means they will not have to do any work to it, they are mistaken. And the new ones aren't built as good as the older hulls, its like cars with plastic fenders today.

In short, you can get a LOT more boat for your money if you don't mind getting your hands dirty, I really enjoy working on the boat.

Around Boston you can get project boats for free.
All day long. Which one do you want?

http://boston.craigslist.org/sob/zip/1625277383.html
http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/boa/1635005050.html
http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/boa/1631154650.html
http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/boa/1631088278.html
http://boston.craigslist.org/nwb/boa/1631722378.html

 

[osborn159]

Re: Restoring boat costs

jones, i could have stacked boats in my backyard a few years ago after our 3 hurricane year, have buddies in the transport business would take them to a surverors yard, if they were deemed totaled to the dump the went, i skavenged, parts for the rest of the year, have a 5 gallon bucket full of screws nuts and bolts another with deck hardware, also my livewell deck and console came out of one of these. if you are creative you can even avoid cl and ebay. im shoting for under 3k in mine but we know how boat budgets go.
D

 

[Silverado6x6]

Re: Restoring boat costs

I saw a free 24' cabin cruiser on Craigslist this morning, painted a horrible yellow in the Sacramento area, trailer included.

The above comment about the type of person like a McGuyver living in the Junk Yard Wars really describes me to a T, I supervise a concrete batch plant in rural redneck Alaska with nothing but bailing wire and duct tape, almost all the equipment is 60-70's vintage. Heck some is even from the 40's, but I keep the whole place running.

A small boat would be better at restoring, especially when you upgrade with composites, carbon fiber, stainless fittings, LED lights etc. But when you get to the big stuff it has to be a respected trade name, I would get laughed off a bunch of forums if I tried to restore a Searay, however if it was less than ten years old and very very big with a solid hull I might jump into it, of course then again I have been known to put GMC emblems on a Chevy....

If I were to do anything it would be restoring something that has a potential historical value, or a performance factor, I have seen these huge cigarette hulls going dirt cheap years ago, no engines and are usually drug confiscated vessels. But those as most people know burn fuel in the hundreds of dollars an hour category. But to me its just a status symbol, I'm not too interested in that.

 

[timfives]

Re: Restoring boat costs

Isn't restoring boat more expensive than buying one in descent shape? If you love working on boat, that's fine. Who goes out of their way on purpose, to buy a piece of junk just to put $ and time into it? Just seem like it would cost way more $$ than buying one in descent shape.

It is a good question, I'm asking myself that most days now that i'm knee deep into it. However i think the reality is this. Much like ez and others, my boat brand new is 40+k. A used one in good condition in 24 -27k. This hull hasn't changed. So i figure by the time i'm done i'll have about 6k total in my boat. Which will last longer (as an example: all of my wood will be epoxy treated) I'll have higher quality carpet than the garbage that comes with it. Plus i'll have it configured to my liking.


tim

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Restoring boat costs

It normally does cost more to fix one up than to buy one in working condition and when you sell it you rarely get back even close to the $$$$$ you have into it and that doesn't include the hours spent working on it.

If you look on CL you frequently see older boats that have everything rebuilt with lots of extras going for very little money. So money wise it rarely pays off.

There are a few brands and models that it can pay to restore, they may be good boats, or it may just be a perception of quality that creates the following, but the vast majority of hulls have little value after a decade or two.

After saying that, I too will pick up a boat that needs time and money to get back on the water and make it usable again, I don?t do it thinking it will be worth money though, it may just fit a need I have at the time. Some of these are given away after having not been used in years. I think I have seven boats here right now and only two have been used in the last year. I will be picking up a boat from my mom this week that will need to be given away. She lives on the water, but at 90 she said doesn?t want to go out and check crab pots anymore. A couple of years ago she gave me her chainsaw, said she was tired of burning wood.

 

[lowkee]

Re: Restoring boat costs

Isn't restoring boat more expensive than buying one in descent shape? If you love working on boat, that's fine. Who goes out of their way on purpose, to buy a piece of junk just to put $ and time into it? Just seem like it would cost way more $$ than buying one in descent shape.

That same question could be asked of any classic car, hot rod, drag car, race car, funny car, ultralight, go-kart and furniture restorer/builder and get the same answers from all of them. You can't buy exactly what you want; You have to build it. Saving a buck isn't always the reason to do a restore. My hull is no longer made, so I couldn't buy my boat new if I wanted to, at any price. When I am finished I will have the exact boat I want at a price I can afford and knowledge, experiences and satisfaction you can't buy, no matter how big the loan.