1975 Searay SRV190 refurb

[Bcrowe]

Hello everyone,
My name is Brad and I am new to iboats.com as of two days ago. All I can say is what an amazingly cool group of people I have found here. You have already been extremely helpful with the engine issue I posted about yesterday. Anyhow, now that I have built up all of your egos lets get to the nitty gritty of this thread. I purchased a 1975 Searay SRV 190 with a ford 302 engine and a mercruiser 888 stern drive just the other day for 500 dollars. I dont think I did too bad as I was looking for a project boat in the first place and I love these old RAYS. This is my first experince with an I/O as the boats i grew up with were both outboards. It currently doesnt run but i think with just a little bit of tracing in the fuel system and the electrical system I will have it running in no time. I have a few questions about my boat if you would be able to help me. I plan to do at least a partial refub of this boat and will post pics of my progress. Question #1 can anyone tell me if this is the original trailer for this boat. I am the third owner of this boat. I cant see any reason the original owner would have changed it out. And the gentleman I bought it from says he didnt change trailers. I just havent ever seen a boat trailer quite like this one. Also i have a small(1.5 foot long opening in the fiberglass decking near the engine cover on the starboard side of the boat. I am curious if it would be best to patch this hole with fiberglass or would it be better, due to the fact that this boat has sat outside and uncovered for parts of the last year, to pull up most of the old decking, inspect the stringers and then replace the decking? Im sorry for being so long winded but i am extremely excited about my project. Also, does anyone know if there is anything i can do to minimize the oxidation of the gelcoat either by buffing or a commercially available solvent or something of that nature. Any how thanks in advance and I am sure I will have loads more questions in the future.

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: 1975 Searay SRV190 refurb

Hey Brad welcome to iboats . I just happened to see pretty much your boat after restoration tonight on my local craigslist . I will post a link here just in case ya want a peak into the future and what your boat might be worth when done .

http://louisville.craigslist.org/boa/1234820487.html


Rick

 

[Bcrowe]

Re: 1975 Searay SRV190 refurb

Here are a few more pics of my new toy. I hope im uploading them right?

 

[Bcrowe]

Re: 1975 Searay SRV190 refurb

Hey thanks Rick. I have been looking for pics of this style of boat in good condition so i can see what it should look like. I appreciate the link. Hey a little off topic but are you still an air medic? I work as a ground medic here in Wichita.. nice to see a fellow bro on here. thanks again

 

[Bcrowe]

Re: 1975 Searay SRV190 refurb

I started looking at my boat and noticed there is a medium sized hole in the fiberglass deck to the side of the engine cover. Would it be better to just glass it in or to pull up the whole deck and check/replace the stringers? The rest of the floor feels very firm except for a soft spot between the ski well and the engine cover. Would love the advice of somone who had pulled and replaced a deck before so I can get an idea of what I would be up against.

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: 1975 Searay SRV190 refurb

Brad I have a funny one for you ( I'm a differant kind of Airmedic ) . I own a Heating and Airconditioning company . I used to drive a retired ambulance for a service truck years ago and the guys in the supply houses started calling me the airmedic . That is also now my company name .


Rick

 

[Bcrowe]

Re: 1975 Searay SRV190 refurb

Hey thats cool. I need to call a guy like you. My ac is freezin up and i dont know squat about a/c units.

 

[sjdoo2]

Re: 1975 Searay SRV190 refurb

Hey there, Bcrowe
Im new to the forum too with my new 1975 bayliner SRV 200. It seems to me that our boats are very similar. mercruiser 888 302.
I will post some photos of mine soon<i have dial up>. I would be very interested in seeing more pics of yours.
I've only read a lot about replacing wood, because my transom is "gone". I am going to pull the motor and outboard to replace it and check the stringers in mine.

 

[Bcrowe]

Re: 1975 Searay SRV190 refurb

Hey thanks for the reply sjdoo. I havent done much with mine yet...pulled off all the teak tonight and am in the process of refinishing it...have to get rid of all the poly that the guy b4 me put on it...what a pain in the rear. I will post some before and after pics. I just wanted to start on something simple to build my confidence since i have never fixed a boat.

I think I have figured out my engine problem. I dont think it was a spark or fuel problem since it trys to run but backfires and throws a 3 foot flame out of the carberator. Im guessing the guy that put the motor in has the distributor 180 degrees out...at least im hoping its that simple.

I still need to replace about 3/4 of the deck. I do have a question as far as this is concerned. A friend scared the poo out of me the other day when i was talking about it. He told me to becareful and make sure i brace the upper part of the hull when i remove the floor becuase it will try to move inward(like its going to collapse on itself). Can anyone give me some insight into this and some advice as to the best bracing method if this is true. Im intimidated by the fiberglass work to begin with and dont wanna permanantly damage my boat.

I will post some updated pics soon.

 

[Bcrowe]

Re: 1975 Searay SRV190 refurb

I am getting ready to start my deck replacement. I have discovered that the stringers are in decent shape and will not need replaced. I do however, have a question. I am wanting to keep the Glovebox/step to the left of the drivers seat intact. The foremost soft spot in the deck is just aft of this. If I am able to get a good seam seal is there any reason I can't just cut the old deck in front of the glovebox without having to pull it and replace the portion of the deck under it? I am planning to replace the entire deck aft of here to the transom. It just seems like a real PITA to try to pull it out and then try to put it back after the deck has been pulled up and replaced. Any advice?