1989 SeaRay 180 bow rider Floor issues.

[Dandezinna33]

Hey everyone!

I’m new to the forum here, seems to be a great place to get advice especially being a new boat owner. My buddy and I recently picked up this 89 searay 180 with a 135hp searay(Mercury) for $600. Boat and trailer. The entire thing isn’t in awful shape, just needs some love. I pulled the carpet out to replace it because it’s nasty and I noticed someone had done a really shotty job replacing the floor. When I walkEd in the center of the floor towards the bow I noticed the floor sqeeks and moves up and down about 1/8th if an inch. And the fiberglass repair looks awful. The plywood they put down wasn’t fit very well to the contour of the hull it seems either. There’s a 1/2 drop on each side where the plywood meets the hull. I’m not sure as to what approach to take, is it worth spending the time and ripping the entire floor out or should I just leave it? Will it post as a hazard when out on the water? Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated! I’ll post some pictures! I will take more pictures this week!

thank you!
Dan

 

[Scott Danforth]

yes, the boat is not safe as it sits. do not use it.

you bought a boat with a "deck-over" the boat version of a shady used-car place selling a rusted out POS car with duct tape and bondo covering the rusty mess and then has shiny paint.

this is usually wood plastered over the rotten deck and all the rotten stringers, foam, etc....... then carpet thrown over it and sold to the next guy

before you do anything, read link 14 in its entirety, then links 15, 18, 2, 3, 4a, and 4b https://forums.iboats.com/forum/boat...at-information

then figure out if you love your $600 boat that you will need to dump $2000-$3000 into it to restore the hull and about $2000 if the upholstery is bad, or do you want to find a different boat.

 

[Dandezinna33]

Thank you Scott for you input!! I really appreciate it! I’m super bummed thinking about it but it might just be worth cutting my loss and sell what’s good off of the boat and saving up for a nicer one in the future. I definitely have the mechanical ability and some Aviation background but I don’t think it would be worth it.

 

[chevymaher]

It is worth doing I did it. It is a nice looking boat. you are not going to find a good one for less than you put in it.

Deal is this nobody takes care of boats. They all are doing this inside. Unless you got it new and you took care of it. Your just buying something that isnt as far along as what you got for alot more money.

So go new or repair and have new. Which is better for you. Or just keep buying things that are half shot and enjoy what they got left to offer. These are the choices and it is up to you.

 

[Dandezinna33]

chevymaher thanks man! I did some more thinking last
night and I’m pretty sure I want to keep it. I’ve already put a lot of work into getting it running! How did your restoration go? Did you post pictures!? And if you mind me asking, how much did you end up spending for everything??
thanks
dan

 

[chevymaher]

Yes I posted eveything. Getting the new boat. The agony of defeat when I discovered it was trashed. Every step of the way as I fixed it. I had 2500 in glass and interior. I paid whatever rebuilding the motor with the cracked block. That thing flew ported and a cam. I got 50 once.

Then I got the new engine it blew up in 10 minutes. I got a warentee motor and it made it. Here is my drama.

It is still ongoing. I just am building boathouses and trucks to pull it now. It is a sickness LOL.

https://forums.iboats.com/forum/boa...just-acquired-a-170-horizon-assembly-required