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  1. LaqueRatt

    Old I/Os = Money Pits?

    At the risk of sounding stupid, what do you mean by composite materials? Wood AND glass I'm thinking. Are you saying 20 year and older boats are better than newer ones? I must have it backwards.
  2. LaqueRatt

    Old I/Os = Money Pits?

    I've bought and sold a lot of cars. It's pretty much the same kind of deal. Neglected cars can drain your wallet, but the rare owner who actually took care of a car is who you want to buy from. I'm pretty good at knowing what to look for in used cars, but not boats. How do you find hidden rot...
  3. LaqueRatt

    Old I/Os = Money Pits?

    I got to hand it to you guys who restore these old glass boats. I also see advantages to I/Os, especially the HP per $$$ ratio. Honestly I don't really get why larger outboard motors are so damned expensive. Also cheaper parts is a great benefit. Seems to me though these boats are almost...
  4. LaqueRatt

    88 Capri Restoration (Splashed 08/2022)

    I stopped counting after 3,000 hours on my Camaro, so I definitely get the time suck part. I don't have, or want to invest anyway, any of the requirements on your list. Mad props though for making it happen. I'm 10 years older now and would rather fish or putz around with the two boats I own...
  5. LaqueRatt

    Old I/Os = Money Pits?

    Actually a few years ago I found a low mile early model Camaro that was almost like you describe. It was in a garage, but one that was falling down and wet. Man was that a ton of work. Never again. I couldn't pass it up though when it was offered to me for free. I'm determined not to make a...
  6. LaqueRatt

    88 Capri Restoration (Splashed 08/2022)

    Thank you for your words of wisdom. Nothing like good advice from a "been there, done that" guy. I'm still flat out floored over how glass boats are constructed. Not like I ever imagined. The first pics in this thread had me wondering what the heck I was even looking at. At his point I'm...
  7. LaqueRatt

    88 Capri Restoration (Splashed 08/2022)

    Just finished reading your thread. Every bit of it. Good stuff! I've restored bikes, sleds, and cars. Never a boat though. I can lay glass, but never done anything on the scale you did. Awed by your skills and dedication. A lesser man would have given up. Got a few questions if you don't mind...
  8. LaqueRatt

    Old I/Os = Money Pits?

    Guess boats really lead a hard life when you think about it. All that bouncing around probably will eventually make any joint fail no matter what it's made out of. So many ways for moisture to sneak in. I'll bet a big outboard bouncing around and pushing on a transom might inevitably destroy...
  9. LaqueRatt

    Old I/Os = Money Pits?

    Words of wisdom! Actually I'm hoping and praying I don't end up in a project like this. My goal is to simply avoid a project, but beginning to think any glass boat over 10 years old likely is starting to deteriorate. I had no idea a fiberglass boat had so much wood in it. Doesn't anyone make a...
  10. LaqueRatt

    Deadman Switch?

    Thanks, that's quite helpful. With a couple carabiners, I can move it from boat to boat as needed. Wish could think of a similar idea for a kill switch. Guess each motor will need to have it's own.
  11. LaqueRatt

    Deadman Switch?

    Cool, thanks Airshot. That gives me some ideas. What about attaching points? Approx length? For the kill switch magneto ground, guess I'll need a kit or something? I can prob figure out how to ground the coil, but don't think have anything to use for the coil part.
  12. LaqueRatt

    Old I/Os = Money Pits?

    Started reading your thread. Think I'm hooked. Gonna need some popcorn for this......LOL So far I'm just flat out amazed how that boat is constructed. What an ugly mess. Hope this story has a happy ending!
  13. LaqueRatt

    Old I/Os = Money Pits?

    Wow, that's pretty crazy Matt! I'd have never thought a glass boat hull would deteriorate. So do I have this right, "fiberglass" boats are just wood boats with some glass slapped over it? Geez, what a crappy was to do something. Seems like it would be simpler and even cheaper just to make them...
  14. LaqueRatt

    Deadman Switch?

    Funny you mention windlass. I just googled that the day before when I saw the term in a boat ad. Never heard of them. We had cabin cruisers when I was a kid, but can't say if we had one of those or not. Maybe on the big ChrisCraft, but we didn't have that one for very long. Looks like these are...
  15. LaqueRatt

    Old I/Os = Money Pits?

    Thanks for the solid advice gentlemen. Assuming I'm talking to guys, but who knows these days. I figured decent looking boats for next to nothing would be a bad bet, but would like to know what to look for in case I run into a rare gem. Lots of farms out my way, not too rare to find old boats...
  16. LaqueRatt

    Old I/Os = Money Pits?

    Sounds simpler to get the inboard motor loose than I was thinking, but yeah, the tall cherrypicker thing is what was making me think it was a lot of messing around and maybe harder than pulling a motor out of a car. Can any old Chevy be adapted if necessary? Good running SBCs seem to be...
  17. LaqueRatt

    Old I/Os = Money Pits?

    Wow, you guys are a wealth of wisdom. So glad I found this site! I get what you I/O fans are saying about maintenance and of course, buying a brand new boat would be a whole different ballgame than picking up a $700 beater boat. I agree the glass boats are nicer looking, some are almost....sexy...
  18. LaqueRatt

    Deadman Switch?

    Lots of food for thought. Thank you all. My main motor is a 65 Fastwin 18, my spare is a 66 Sears/McCulloch 14. I suppose it would be smart to hook a kill switch up to both. Next year I plan to let the kid run the boat a little bit and learn how to shut if off if Papa goes overboard. Do I need...
  19. LaqueRatt

    Old I/Os = Money Pits?

    Just curious what you guys think. I bought two old boats this summer and have 3 motors. Heading into winter I'm seeing fairly decent looking boats for sale cheap, some are free even. Most are fiberglass and many are I/Os. Now I don't know the first thing about an I/O, but my thinking it they are...
  20. LaqueRatt

    Deadman Switch?

    First year boater here. I have old motors with no deadman switches. Is that the correct term? I see newer tiller motors have like a coiled line that I think you clip to your clothes that shuts the motor off if you take an unplanned dip into the lake. Getting to know my two new boats and motors I...
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