1988 maxum ski boat project

[ugadawg187]

Okay guys so i scored this boat pretty cheap yesterday & its what i was looking for in the price range i wanted. Its a 15ft boat with a 45 hp merc that i of course later what to upgrade to a 70-85 hp outboard. As of right now i believe the carbs need to be rebuilt & it needs some new wires thanks to mercs prob with the insulation cracking on these older outboards. The good is that the motor ran as i drove it around the lake for awhile before i purchased it but the bad is a endless list seems like but ive been wanting to do another resto on a boat for awhile. The interior is shot along with the floor & when time & weather permits we'll find out how the stringers look. Transom seems to be good, no cracks or anything but im not 100% on that yet maybe one of you pro's can tell me how to check. I replaced the floor & interior in my last boat which was a 18ft GLASTRON FUTURA & i enjoyed the heck out of doing the work myself while saving money. Ive never redone stringers so that scares me but i believe i can handle the glass work with the help from the experts here . I will try & post pics every step of the way so you guys can tell me your opinions to help guide me in the right direction but also to help with the brainstorming ideas cause im not 100% on exactly how i want to replace everything. I just know i work at home depot so i have a middle class job & dont make a killing but i think this is goning to be a blast. Here are the first pics i took today while draining some water out of it. Come on with the input guys i know you all have some.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1988 maxum ski boat project

Trailer looks pretty good, you got a Mercury instead of the Force that was normally on these, and it's a cool shaped boat. Looks like the makings of a nice project to me! Good luck with it.

 

[ugadawg187]

Re: 1988 maxum ski boat project

Thx i hope all goes well with it, i mean i only gave $650 for the whole package but i think the carbs need to be rebuilt & or trigger needs to be replaced.

 

[ugadawg187]

Re: 1988 maxum ski boat project

Okay so i got around to pulling the seats out & ripping some of the floor up. I want some ideas on where to go from here cause the last boat did not have the amount foam that this thing does. The seat supports are foam with glass over it so i wanting to get that out & but 4 seat in it instead of the back to back seats. The bow is glassed wood so it all has to go so give me some ideas on how to replace the seating there cause i havent really decided & i dont want it back the way it was factory. Thats just way to much wood to rot.

 

[ugadawg187]

Re: 1988 maxum ski boat project

any ideas?

 

[lowvlot]

Re: 1988 maxum ski boat project

Looks like you are coming along on this project. It is your boat and you can make it what you want. In mine i am toying with adding some storage under my seat bases with some drawer slides for easy removal of things. Also some diamond plate accessories. You can do anything you can think of.

 

[ugadawg187]

Re: 1988 maxum ski boat project

Well i got to digging around in the bow getting the rotted wood & glass out when i realized that the bow is nothing but foam. Its simply mounds of foam that had wood over it & glassed over. I think im going to put it back that way but i have a question for you guys & that is whats a good tool for cutting/ shaving foam? I want to shave the mounds of foam down where the back to back seats where to make the floor level & one solid piece of wood. I want to go back with four jump seats.

 

[lowvlot]

Re: 1988 maxum ski boat project

On my bayliner I broke the seat bases apart witha hammer at the joints. Then with the claw side I jabbed it in the huge chunk of foam and after just a few tries the whole chunk came out. Try it you might like it.

 

[SDSeville]

Re: 1988 maxum ski boat project

You did say that you are going to do the stringers right? If so, all the foam needs to come out. You can use just about anything to do that -- claw of a hammer, pry bar, ...I even use a shovel for some of mine. If you can get it out in one piece (or large pieces) and it is dry, try an electric carving knife (like the one you use for the turkey) to shape it however you want.

Home Depot! What a great place to work for a boat restoration!! 2nd only to a marine supply store. I am at HD all the time buying something for my project.