HELP! New to this site...and to boating

[wetnwild]

Hey y'all! I'm a newbie to this site and I am the new proud owner of a ski boat...I think. My friend gave it to me b/c it needs to much work. I am not sure what kind of boat it is but the outside part looks fine and the big engine will turn over but my friend said the carburator needs to be cleaned. The boat has no floor in the center, no carpet, the vinyl has dry rotted, there are no seats, and the electrical integrity is questionable.

I don't know the first thing about boats....I know I live near a lake, I like to ride, and ski and tube. WHERE DO I START? The boat was free so I'm ok with a little hard work and an investment to get it water ready. Any advice will be greatly appreciated...or even a mentor, that would be good too. I hope I am not in over my head!

 

[BigBoatinOkie]

Re: HELP! New to this site...and to boating

Welcome wetnwild! You've definately found the right site to help you on your new venture. I'm somewhat of a newbie myself, and I was in your shoes just a few months ago. There is a ton of info on this site. You can find a lot of the info you need by using the search function, but if you can't find what you're looking for you can always count on these guys to answer your questions. I'm actually in the middle of a transom replacement, deck repacement, re-upholster, and paint job and I wouldn't have even attempted these tasks without the guidence of the great guys/gals on this forum. The folks here can help you better if you can provide pictures. So if you have a digital camera, just take some pics and post them, then your questions can be answered more acurately. Good luck and I'm sure I'll see ya around.

Andrew

 

[NoKlu]

Re: HELP! New to this site...and to boating

Welcome to iboats. You should read a few of the completed projects to see the fine job you can do even as a newb with some guidance from some of the members here. It will also help you to see the magnitude of the project you might be about to start. A complete rebuild is not for the faint of heart. Depending on the condition of your boat you may well be better to forget it and just buy a decent boat and save some time and money. If I was in your shoes BEFORE I drug the boat to my driveway or garage I would POST PICS of the boat on this forum and see what some of the guys think. Get lots of pics of the interior,floor.engine and drive, and about anything that looks like it needs to be fixed. Walk around in the boat looking for soft spots in the sole [deck,floor] of the boat as well. Go down to the Non boating technical topics forum and at the top you will see a thread on how to post those pics to this thread. Be sure to describe the pics as well as it helps in some of the close ups of the interior. Once the guys here get a feel for the boat you will get one of 4 responses from the experienced members. 1 RUN DON"T WALK FROM THIS BOAT!!! The most disappointing to hear about your new free boat. Best do as they say. 2 It has some possibilities but it will be expensive and time consuming. When you are finished it won't be worth the money you just spent. Another not too good thing to hear but this is the one that separates the men from the boys. I should say iboaters from boaters. It's a passion that several guys here have. You love the boat and can't wait to see it looking all new and shinny. Got deep pockets? Don't really care about the time frame? A heated shop? A good understanding family? A backup shop to finish the work in case that understanding family leaves you and takes the garage with them? hahaha. 3 WOW great find. It'll be some work and a few bucks but your going to have a great boat and we'll have you on the water in a couple of months. 4 SONOFABIOTCH why can't I find anything like that for myself!!! The one iboaters get jealous of. Newb finds diamond with a little dust on it. Either way you go there's lots of great guys with tons of experience to help you get through it all. Don't be afraid to ask. The search button is your friend. If you don't believe scenario # 2 check out the grandaddy of the modern iboats projects, 2 1/2 years running, hull extension in progresss with pics.

 

[oops!]

Re: HELP! New to this site...and to boating

lol.....welcome to i boats !

boating is a passion...and so is fixing them...and this site will save you thousands of dollars......its boat university.....spend yout time reading.....when you think you have it down pat.......spend another 30 hours reading.....you have just cracked the tip of the iceberg !

the first thing to do.....is to get the motor and drive working properly....
i dont know where you are......but if it gets cold and icy....there is a good chance that the motor is toast.......that is the most expencive part of the boat......and its marine.....there is no cheap way out.
if the motor and drive are toast.....forget it.....just dont even try. thats 8 grand.

as far as the floor,,,,(the real name is deck) well thats just time and some wood and fiberglass....oh?....whats that you say...??? you have never worked with fiberglass before ....lol....get ready !

take pics......and we can walk you right thru this step by step...
welcome to the family....and enjoy.

cheers
oops

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: HELP! New to this site...and to boating

Welcome to iboats........... are you SURE that guy was a friend??

If so great because it is good tho have someone around to help with the project!!

 

[wetnwild]

Re: HELP! New to this site...and to boating

Welcome wetnwild! You've definately found the right site to help you on your new venture. I'm somewhat of a newbie myself, and I was in your shoes just a few months ago. There is a ton of info on this site. You can find a lot of the info you need by using the search function, but if you can't find what you're looking for you can always count on these guys to answer your questions. I'm actually in the middle of a transom replacement, deck repacement, re-upholster, and paint job and I wouldn't have even attempted these tasks without the guidence of the great guys/gals on this forum. The folks here can help you better if you can provide pictures. So if you have a digital camera, just take some pics and post them, then your questions can be answered more acurately. Good luck and I'm sure I'll see ya around.

Andrew

Thanks Andrew! Once we get the trailer fixed and get it home I'll get some pix loaded. She ain't pretty...but she was free, and to me free is beautiful!

 

[wetnwild]

Re: HELP! New to this site...and to boating

Thank you all for the welcoming! I started to reply separately, but thought that might be over kill. Like I told Andrew, I hope to get some pix up this weekend. We live in Georgia so I almost never have to worry about cold weather and ice. Sorry I called the deck a floor...get ready for more misnamed pieces (thingy, hickie, do-flotchie and such).

Can't wait to dive in head first and get my boating education! I also am eager to see what the pros think about the SS Freebie.

Thanks again y'all!
Stay tuned.....

 

[boatflipper]

Re: HELP! New to this site...and to boating

Sorry I called the deck a floor...get ready for more misnamed pieces (thingy, hickie, do-flotchie and such).

Thanks again y'all!
Stay tuned.....

Baha!
My favorite id do-flotchie

But seriously, you really have found the key to success. This forum will give you knwledge that you didn't think was possible!
As always, pics are very welcome!

Good Luck and keep us posted!

 

[BigBoatinOkie]

Re: HELP! New to this site...and to boating

how bout thang-a-ma-jigs, dillywackers, dang-thangs, and hootuses.

 

[osborn159]

Re: HELP! New to this site...and to boating

dont forget the do-das, there all over round here.

 

[drewpster]

Re: HELP! New to this site...and to boating

Check the horn oil and the blinker fluid. Make sure the canooter valve is adjusted properly.

When In doubt buy a manual,


http://www.iboats.com/Fiberglass-Boat-Repair-Manual-by-Allan-H-Vaitses-Robert-Hale/dm/*******.251836356--**********.396887598--view_id.109982

I boats has just about every engine and drive manual as well.
welcome to my madness!

 

[MyViewGS]

Re: HELP! New to this site...and to boating

Post some pics !
post some pics !
post some pics !
post some pics !
post some pics !


MyViewGS

 

[seamorewaterVIP]

Re: HELP! New to this site...and to boating

make shur the oilinator and the exahst pump work and the go to lowes and get ya a couble of board stretchers cus your gonna need them.






Man yall got me laughing with this one.




show us the pics

 

[avimgod]

Re: HELP! New to this site...and to boating

And for the love of god make sure you top off the blinker fluid in the tow vehicle BEFORE you depart on a trip to the lake... else the POPO gonna getchya...

THE PEOPLE ARE DEMANDING PICS....

 

[wetnwild]

Pictures...Finally

Pictures...Finally

Ok folks....Here is the SS Free-B in all her glory! You can see from the pics there are a couple of patched places around the top edge (don't know the technical term...I'm sure y'all will school me ) but the underside looks great from what I can see. The big ol' motor is a Mercruiser (??), I am not sure that the gas tanks are hooked up to anything, and the gear sticks wires are unhooked took I believe.

So...do I have a diamond in the rough? Or is it a nightmare?

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: HELP! New to this site...and to boating

Welcome to the madhouse..
I'd say you have a bit of both, a diamond & a nightmare..

What do you know of the motor? Looks like a 140 (4 cylinder) Mercruiser?
How about the outdrive? it has one? The do-hicky in the back of the boat, to be technical..lol

You will need a lot of $$$, but even more patience I think..
Good luck, she is a nice looking hull

 

[wetnwild]

More Pix

More Pix

Here are some more pictures of the work to be done

 

[wetnwild]

Re: HELP! New to this site...and to boating

Welcome to the madhouse..
I'd say you have a bit of both, a diamond & a nightmare..

What do you know of the motor? Looks like a 140 (4 cylinder) Mercruiser?
How about the outdrive? it has one? The do-hicky in the back of the boat, to be technical..lol

You will need a lot of $$$, but even more patience I think..
Good luck, she is a nice looking hull

Yikes!! I'm good on the patience but I was hoping to get this girl water ready in under $1k

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: HELP! New to this site...and to boating

Cool..she has a 6 banger I6...
When is the last time the motor ran?
That rusty spark plug on the thermostat housing scares me! lol

 

[MTribe08]

Re: HELP! New to this site...and to boating

Yikes!! I'm good on the patience but I was hoping to get this girl water ready in under $1k

Thats all going to depend on the condition of the motor and drive. I wouldn't count on it though.