1985 CHAPARRAL 198 XL I/O Restore

[roscottjr]

Time frame until complete restore= Unknown at this time

This boat was given to me but needs a complete restoration. I was already considering the same boat only the one I was looking at was $250 for the hull only and still needed a new deck and everything like this one but had no engine or drive parts at all.This boat is basically complete minus the interior and a few trim parts but everything needs work, replacement, or cleaning of some kind. The engine is a no go. The engine has major freeze damage and the exhaust manifolds have some minor freeze damage but I have not checked to see if the freeze damage goes thru to the exhaust passages as well so not sure yet if these can be fixed. Apparently the previous owner attempted some sort of winterization but did not verify everything. The drain cocks on the manifolds were open so I am guessing they were blocked or got blocked while draining. The previous owner also already removed the outdrive and engine so I dont have to bother with that during the restore. When he removed the outdrive one of the bolts broke off in the gimbal. Can this be repaired and if so where can I get a new bolt? I would like to go ahead and replace them all. The outdrive appears to be in great shape, passed a pressure test, passed a vacuum test, and shifting as well as all gears feel smooth. I will verify all of this soon as I plan on installing a seal kit and waterpump anyway. The deck, stringers and transom will be replaced. I have not checked the stringers or transom yet but the deck is rotted so I will be replaceing all wood in the boat. The dash is complete with the exception of a hole on the bottom left side, I am thinking this may have been a sefety lanyard kill switch. There is an aftermarket water temp gauge mounted on the underside of the dash so Im not sure if the factory gauge quit working or why this gauge was added. There is minor hull work to be done but mostly just paint or re jel coat the hull. The only damage I can find at the moment that is more than minor is on the top side tip of the bow. There is a bimini top in the boat but I have not dug it out yet to see if it is the right one for this boat, I am assumeing it may be but I have noticed some of the poles for the bimini top are either bent or broken. Can these be replaced and if so where can I get poles to replace them with? I may not ever use the top but it would be nice to have the boat complete when I am done since I am restoring the entire boat. I have pics but need some information as to how to post them here and what size they need to be. I do not have a trailer for this boat at this time. I am sure there will be other questions about this boat but I will update as I find out more. This is the first I/O I have owned. My father used to have one when I was a kid but that was a long time ago. There are quite a few things on this boat that I am interested to find out what the are such as on the outside of the transom on either side of the outdrive and about an inch or so from the bottom there are 2 round things that kinda look like pickups for a livewell like in a bassboat but from what I understand these boats did not have livewells so I have no idea what these are. I may find out once I get the boat cleaned out.

Any information anyone has about this year and model will be greatly appreciated.

Robert

 

[erikgreen]

Re: 1985 CHAPARRAL 198 XL I/O Restore

Okay... first off, let me say you're as bad as I am with tons of text

Reading through, it sounds like you don't have an engine and your manifolds are suspect. Having the outdrive is good, but it's not a complete drive system, and frankly you can buy restorable boats with working engines and outdrives that are complete and not broken for less than it will cost you to buy a reman engine and install it in that one.

If the boat is in perfect shape and is nice looking this might be worth repairing, but if the boat needs lots of work apart from the engine, it's not worth it unless you have an emotional attachment to it (like it was your Dad's boat or something).

From the sound of things right now you have a "free" boat, but putting a replacement engine in it, fixing the bell housing bolt, repairing any rot or broken wood/fiberglass, performing routine maintenance on the thing, and basically getting it ready for a first trip on the water may cost up to several thousand dollars, and you'll still have an old boat that isn't worth what you put into it.

You can get almost any parts you need for your boat, except OEM parts that are needed to make it look "Factory". The question is, should you? You're not looking at a cheap boat, you're looking at lots of cash.

Erik

PS: The most likely cause of the freeze damage is just human error - bad procedure draining the block with some water getting left in it. The manifolds, same thing. If you get a new/repaired engine you'll want new manifolds, by the way... if they crack even a little the water ingress could ruin your new/repaired engine.

 

[roscottjr]

Re: 1985 CHAPARRAL 198 XL I/O Restore

I agree, but I left out a few key points on restoring this boat. This will be a family venture, something the whole family can do together. The kids are wanting me to hurry up with the wood repair so they can help with the engine and interior. This will be an over time project. Aside from the engine, everything will be a little here and a little there. I guess you could say we will be doing this boat the same way as our home. In the end, we will have a very nice boat, no problems or unknown issues as with a used boat, and we wont have to put out the big chunk of money up front to get a boat. We already have a 20footer with 125 Force Outboard so there is no rush in getting this one ready. This one has more room than our current boat and will handle another 3 passengers. Capacity is 9 where our other is only 6. We are a family of 6 so our current boat is an issue when friends go with us. I found a long block 350 for $1400 shipped and manifolds for $400. Im ok with those prices. Yes I agree, I will have more in this boat than it is worth, but we will also have a lot of fun, pictures, and plenty of things to talk about once it is done.

With that said, if the boat was only worth $1000 and it was going to take $10,000 or more to fix it then it would be one of two things, still at the previous owners home or cut up and burned in our boiler for heat/

 

[roscottjr]

Re: 1985 CHAPARRAL 198 XL I/O Restore

The boat:

Underside Bow:

Inside boat:

Bow damage:

Bellhousing:

Outdrive and prop:

 

[roscottjr]

Re: 1985 CHAPARRAL 198 XL I/O Restore updated with pics

Re: 1985 CHAPARRAL 198 XL I/O Restore updated with pics

Broken Bellhousing bolt (how can this be repaired and where can I get the bolts?):

Flywheel and coupler:

Engine:

Engine:

Engine:

Unknown circular objects on each side of Gimbal (what are these):

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: 1985 CHAPARRAL 198 XL I/O Restore

the unknown objects are the mercathode system

 

[roscottjr]

Re: 1985 CHAPARRAL 198 XL I/O Restore

Excellent, thanks.

Any ideas on how to repair the broken bellhousing bolt? Is that a press in type bolt or does it thread into the bellhousing? Would you happen to have a part number for the bolts, nuts, washers, or know where I may find them?

 

[oops!]

Re: 1985 CHAPARRAL 198 XL I/O Restore

hi bud....

i love the chapps.....a really classy boat.
but be advised......you have a lot of work to do.....
literally allmost every nut, bolt, and pop rivit on that hull must be reworked
estimated cost.....easy 5k more than likely 7k
we are currently doing several motor swaps with frozen blocks. and the minimum i have seen to the coustomer was 4,400 without mainfolds. (full cost returned in running condition)
that power steering cooler is more than likely toast as well.
in a good market the resale will be around 7k

the stud can be removed from the bell by using an easy out...start dumping lots of penetrating oil around the stud...and keep doing it for a week or so.

the studs them selves are avalible at any merc store....thats no biggy to get it out and replace it.

i would start by an evaluation of the motor/drive costs.....the hull will be approx 1,2-2k to repair.

if you are going to go thru with the project at that point....i would start getting all the motor parts during the hull restoration.

cheers
oops

 

[roscottjr]

Re: 1985 CHAPARRAL 198 XL I/O Restore

oops,

Now I know why everyone refers people to you..lol. Yea we have went thru everything and have figured between $3,000 and $4,000 for the restore but for a worst case scenario we were thinking $6500 to $7,000. I guess you hit that one dead on with what we were thinking. Of course this is because we will be doing all the work ourselves. At most with the engine I will get a reman longblock from Rapido for $1400 but I think I may have an engine. Yes it will be a lot of work but hey, the whole family including the wife wants to do it. Family together time. . Yes I plan on redoing everything on the boat. I would really hate to have this nice looking boat and yet the dash looks all weathered from age. Or worse, a boat that looks new with a Dash that looks 20 years old..lol

I have already started looking for all the motor parts. Some are still good such as the coupler but because the engine is out I may go ahead and replace that as well. Other than the actual engine itself, I am just making sure everything is available in some form or another before we begin. With the exception of that broken bolt everything appears to be good but I will know for sure once I get the transom parts removed.

 

[roscottjr]

Re: 1985 CHAPARRAL 198 XL I/O Restore

Ok, I have been checking around on parts to rebuild everything. I plan on replaceing all the bolts, studs, etc. for the transom unit and have run into a slight issue. I noticed the Gimbal bearing has a seal and a tolerance ring but the tolerance ring is no longer available. I have found 3 that I plan to go ahead and get if I need them. The issue is I have searched the thread on replacing the Gimbal bearing and I have not seen anyone mention this tolerance ring. Not very many mention the seal but the seal is more or less a no brainer. Is this tolerance ring required and what is it for? If it is required then I am going to go ahead and get the 3 I found but if its not required I just won't use them.

Thanks

 

[Friscoboater]

Re: 1985 CHAPARRAL 198 XL I/O Restore

Nice looking boat, but WOW!!!! It is going to need the works. Keep us updated with lots of pictures.

 

[superpop]

Re: 1985 CHAPARRAL 198 XL I/O Restore

Those two disks are dynamite mounting pads, just mount a stick of dynamite to each pad and light the fuses. Just kiddin, but you are bringing that puppy back from grim death. Chaps are awesome boats though, so once it is done you will have a keeper.

 

[roscottjr]

Re: 1985 CHAPARRAL 198 XL I/O Restore

lol at the dynamite mounting pads.

Does anyone know if these tolerance rings are required to be installed with the Gimbal bearing? I have noticed they are no longer available but have found 3, also I dont see anyone mentioning this tolerance ring in any posts about replacing the gimbal bearing. Anyone know what this ring does?

 

[roscottjr]

Re: 1985 CHAPARRAL 198 XL I/O Restore

Well I have found another issue. In order to paint the boat I will need to either remove or replace the capacity decal on the boat. Does anyone know where I might get a replacement decal?