Re: I need a windshield!
First thing is to replace the pully and cable with a new rotary cable system by Teleflex. About $130 for the helm and cable. If your motor does not have a steering tube built in, you'll need a few extra parts to complete the connection.<br /><br />Parts are still available to completely refurbish the pully system you have. But the new rotary cable systems (or rack system) are dead on accurate with no play. Really, really, really nice. And if your steering wheel has the standard 3/4" keyed tapered mount, it will fit any new steering helm.<br /><br />For seats, the Wise brand have the standard replacement lounge seats at a budget price. Around $150 a piece and it goes up and up from there. Depending on your boats looks and what it originally had, a simple wood bench seat (base and back with a cutout in the middle of the backrest for step-through access) from plywood with marine varnish and flotation cushions will look right for the 50's and early 60's boats. <br /><br />Pull the old carpet and get some indoor/outdoor from the home centers. Marine carpet is available, depends on how much use it will get and how much you want to spend.<br /><br />Most all hardware can be replaced with new. If you have some unique pieces to your boat, chrome plating will make them look like new. It is expensive, I spent $80 on two T shaped pieces of steel about 1.5" long a few years ago. Powder coating is a good choice, and cheaper than chrome. Painting is an alternative. All the white pieces on my boat are aluminum or brass and painted with spray epoxy. They have held up great to one season use in salt water.<br /><br />Look at all the posts on polishing your gel coat before painting. Makes for interesting reading, and you'll find a link to the article I wrote on polishing my boat.<br /><br />Start compiling a list of Favorites on your PC from the major parts suppliers, like iBboats, Fore and AFt, boaters world, boaters land, overtons, etc. Then you can make a list of all the stuff you want to replace and the cost.<br /><br />Set yourself a budget. My budget was $5000 for the whole project, including the boat, but $3000 of that was for new motor and trailer. <br /><br />If you can do simple wiring, it is easy to just gut the boat and make your own wire harness. It is simple, just a few running lights, horn and guages. The rest of the ignition and starting circuit is built in to newer control boxes. <br /><br />I knew exactly what my boat looked like new, but I made changes to materials (white vinyl instead of wood grain 'contact paper'), different seats (the lounge seats were not in my boat until a year or two later), I added guages and a horn that were not original. The rear cleats are after market, the front are still original. Depends on how close to a pure resoration you want. <br /><br />Man, I can talk about this stuff all day. Gotta go get some stuff done around the house. <br /><br />Post some pics and list your objectives and we can give you a better idea of what is practical or not.<br /><br />Good luck,<br />Mark
