1975 Rebel Bass Boat / Mercury 850

[lugnut1009]

I will have to get pictures later and post. I wanted to have this thread to keep up with the progress and possibly get some help and insight as I restore this boat to it's previous glory.

Here's the back story: This boat was my wife's uncles boat, he bought it new in 1975 in Texas where it spent most of it's life in light use and kept in a covered, lifted, boat dock/storage. He told me that the water pump went out about 8 years ago and he never fixed it because he had a pontoon boat. I got the motor running yesterday, now I have to go through replacing controls, wiring, and carpet. Pics coming.

 

[lugnut1009]

I know this forum is more about the boat, but where is a good place to buy parts for these old boats and motors? I'm having a hard time finding them, doesn't help that I didn't have boats growing up, only recently have I gotten into them.

One of the first things to do to this boat will be ripping the old red carpet out, cleaning and recovering with new carpet or vinyl. Also I will have to remove the wood pieces on the boat and sand / seal those. Only other big thing is the storage compartment doors are all fairly thin fiberglass and most of the hinges have pulled through. I am thinking I can use a flat piece of aluminum as a backing inside the fiberglass lids and re-pop rivet them to the hinges. Worth a try I guess. I really want to get the control cables off today and get those ordered. If it's not raining and I am able, I will try to take a couple pictures also and post here.

 

[sphelps]

You should be able to find your motor parts here on iboats I would think ...
Welcome aboard ! :welcome:

 

[jbcurt00]

Therd is no 1 good source for boat parts, if you need them, a lot depends on what parts you need.

There isnt a Rebel boats place to look for NOS or aftermarket parts, like there is for older cars/trucks.

Besides, many parts werent Rebel specific anyway, like bow/stern lights or deck cleats.

Welcome to boat rehab

And Merc parts can be harder to run down then Johnson/Evinrude parts, depending on what you need.

1975 Merc 850?

 

[lugnut1009]

Thanks for the reply's

Yes, I have found that it is not as easy as entering year/make/model and getting a list of parts. I did find the control cables on here though. But I want to remove my old ones first so I know I have the right ones.

 

[gm280]

Once we can see pictures, we can offer better suggestions and ideas. We love pictures on these forums.

Engine parts can be tricky. But persistence will pay off.

Mod EDIT: check your PMs gm

Since you are an iboater now, you can even get a discount on here as well.

I would also suggest you buy the factory shop manual for your engine. The manufacturer's engine specific shop manual will have everything you could even want to know about your engine. A huge source of info. JMHO

 

[lugnut1009]

Sorry for the delay on pictures. I've been getting home late and have church tonight. Maybe I can get some tomorrow evening.

 

[lugnut1009]

It's been a really long time since an update. After the last post, I ended up somewhat abandoning it for a while. It started draining the battery periodically and left me stranded on the lake the one time I took it out. Well I hopefully have my pontoon boat sold so I dug into it again and found the switch box to be in extremely bad shape. I knew it leaked this stuff out a little but it looks much worse than I though it did. The part number is 332-2986, and this is the very expensive one...

IMG_1742 by lugnut1009, on Flickr

 

[mickyryan]

i had a rebel , it was made before they went to bass boats, they were pretty big in their time as being one of the few bass boat makers and of course they made lures as well and sponsored tournaments
https://www.rebellures.com/journal/rebel-boats-and-the-first-classic

 

[mickyryan]

 

[mickyryan]

looks like the old switch box was replaced by this part maybe you can find it a lil cheaper but wow....114-2986

 

[garbageguy]

Interesting pic - assume that's the switchbox you refer to? What does the whole rig look like? Assume you're just sharing info and pics, but not looking for input.

 

[lugnut1009]

garbageguy, yes I'm just sharing, unless you have a more inexpensive place I can find that part 114-2986. I have a place to store it now so it will come out from under it's "storage tarp" soon. I'll get pics of the complete boat then, hopefully this weekend if I don't have to work.

mickeyryan, thanks for the info. My boat looks very much like the one in your pic except its narrower and doesn't have the set of seats behind the console, just one pedestal seat for the console itself.

 

[lugnut1009]

Looking again I even have that white trolling motor too that my wife's uncle gave us. It's not the one on the boat now but I have it.