1968 Tom Sawyer First Boat Resto

[NickWolf86]

Ahoy All! I have recently received a free, that's right, FREE boat from my girlfriend's dad. It is a 1968 Tom Sawyer with no interior or trailer, but the flooring is pretty fair, and the engine/out drive is complete...ish. As someone who has experience with with automotive restoration/body work, and basic carpentry skills, I figured it would be no problem to fix this boat over the fall and winter. That being said, any help and/or advice would still be MUCH appreciated!

My Plan:

My plan for this boat, since there is NO interior whatsoever, is to completely re-create it with modern appeal and amenities. This is my plan, feel free to be AS CRITICAL as you want. Be harsh.

- A little color to the top, probably blue.
- Chop the bow and transom bars (not sure what these are called, the poles that are bent to the shape of the bow and transom) to give the boat a sleeker look.
- Chop the windshield down and/or angle it a little more
- Custom dash including cleaner looking Eqquis gauges.
- Push button start
- update the drive handle, and move the trim up/down to a more convenient place.
- custom console on the floor directly under the dash to accommodate a stereo head unit
- Custom seating setup, with new vinyl and carpet
- Custom engine cover (the old ones are HIDEOUS)
- Bigger carburetor, and possibly port and polished heads
- Stainless 4-blade prop for a little more go-go

That's about it off the top of my head. Of course, you always think of other things as you're working on a project.

Now, the pictures I know you're waiting for.

Thanks to everyone in advance for any support, criticism, and advice throughout this project. I will try to update as often as I can.

-Nick

 

[vegasphotoman]

Re: 1968 Tom Sawyer First Boat Resto

Hi Nick

cool deal on the freebie...did he HAVE THE TITLE? its a pain to get a title on a boat from what Ive heard

hows the floor/stringers? are they rotted or solid?

if they are rotted....I might be inclined to not work on it and walk from it...

thats is...unless you really want a project...in which case GO FOR IT

have fun and post your repairs/progress if you decide to keep her!

new interior should be easy (they sell em here on Iboats) prob set ya back about a grand mebbe less

not to be a joykill....but...before ya get too far into it ....its always nice to see where you stand (investment wise) for future expenditures
Check the engine oil and see if theres water in the oil.....(foamy white oil)

 

[Coho Ghost]

Re: 1968 Tom Sawyer First Boat Resto

Nick,

Boats the vintage of yours almost always have a rotten transom core and floor stringers. You should check out the status of those things NOW. From the inside, drill some 3/8" test holes into the transom, down low around the drain plug and on each side of the outdrive passage. DO NOT DRILL CLEAR THRU. about 3/4" is enough. If you get nice dry "woody" looking chips you are OK. If they are dark brown, pulpy, and damp, you have a problem. Also takea hole saw, about 3", and drill into the floor decking. If there is foam and it is wet, not good. If you get lucky and hit a stringer, look for the same wood as I suggested for the transom. If the stringers are rotten too, you have a major resto to do.

Luckily this forum has ALL the infor you will every need to do the job.

Hope this doesn't discourage you,
Coho Ghost

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1968 Tom Sawyer First Boat Resto

Welcome to iBoats!
Reality Check!!! Marine Engines are Expensive to work on. What Kind is it? I HIGHLY recommend you post the Make and Model on the Engine forum here on iBoats and see what the experts on here have to say about that particular one. Before you sink a nickel into the boat you should make sure your mechanicals are worthe the time, effort and costs to get in running condition. You could be looking at SEVERAL thousand dollars just to get the motor running.

Next is the Boat itself, Boats of this vintage, that have been sitting in the elements WILL have developed some serious structural issues. You must investigate the conditon of the Transom and the stringers to ensure that the structural integrity of the boat is sound.

Take a look at this guys thread on his restore of an i/o boat. You will get an idea of what all is involved in restoring a boat in need of a transom and stringer repair.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=358277

Transom and Stringers take 60 to 80 hrs of work and about $1,000.00
Interiors, unless you can sew and do it your self can run upwards of $1,500 to $2000.00

Soo... let's say you get your engine running for $1,000 and do all the rest you will have approx. $4,000.00 invested in your FREE boat. BUT...
A new boat is $20,000.00 and you will have the satisfaction of knowing that this boat will last longer than you will want to keep it.

Just want to make sure you KNOW what all is involved. It is a NICE looking boat and IF you decide to restore her, You will have all the help you need from the guys here on the forum, you CAN do the work if you have the time, motivation, tools, and BEER.

I'm just sayin...

 

[NickWolf86]

Re: 1968 Tom Sawyer First Boat Resto

Okay, so here's the low-down:

The 'glass itself is in excellent shape. The floors are fantastic, just dirty, and the stringers are preeeetty decent, but will brobably be replaced anyways. As with the floor, the transom is in okay shape, not rotted, but weathered pretty badly. The boat was purchased by my girlfriends father for the trailer 5 years ago, but before that was someone's project that they gave up on, so everything is pretty well checked out.

Although this is my first full resto, I have assisted a friend with a transom, stringer, and floor replacement on his 1970 Glastron GT 150, so rest assured I am not in over my head.

The engine is a Mercruiser 165 HP, which is a Chevrolet 250 C.I. inline 6. I have wrenched on that very engine many times in a friend's 1968 El Camino, so no worries there either! Plus, I have been a member of this forum for a few months now and have read ALMOST every thread on the Mercury I/O board.

I appreciate the encouragement, and if it weren't for this free project, boating to me would have been put off for many more years. Instead, I have become borderline obsessed with boating (ask my girlfriend) and hope one day to own a Wellcraft or Bayliner 22-25' cuddy overnighter.

Thanks again guys,
Nick

 

[andrewgroup]

My Tom Sawyer

My Tom Sawyer

Some time ago I inherited from my uncle a 1969 19' closed bow TS. I peeled the floor and replaced a few stringers. (Actually dried the old and sandwiched replacements alongside the old and covered in glass. My boat has a Mercruiser 225 and Type II 1:1.78 Outdrive. The 225 is a small block 327 Chevy, with a 4bbl carb.. The Type II 1.!.78 outdrive is a basic external transmission with 7 qts oil, no internal water pump, 19" prop, and historically known as the "Rock Crusher" in the 60's. I've heard these were popular in off shore boat racing too. It's all orginal except for carb rebuild some time back , and Bellows and u-joints too. 50mph with just me.... Makes a big hole in the water.

I removed a lot of junk wiring and interior panels and carpeted fully up the sidewalls...

With the 327 and the through the hull exhaust his name is "Can You Hear Me Now - Good!"

Enjoy the rebuild...

 

[NickWolf86]

Re: My Tom Sawyer

Re: My Tom Sawyer

Okay, so I have not gotten to get much work done on the boat in the last couple of months (mostly because I've been laid off, and the boat is 60 miles away) but I have been doing some planning, and making a few photoshop concepts of what I want her to look like when she's done. I will post thse on here for opinion/criticism in the next couple of days.

NW