1990 Regal 20' in need of complete upholstery/floor replacement. Where to start...

[Dave88LX]

Yes yes yes, I am also searching and reading lots on here. Just helps if I have some of my more specific questions answered. I'm sure this has been asked 1000 times.

I recently acquired my dad's ~1990 20' Regal Empress. (Need to look at the paperwork/title again). The upholstery in it is basically shot, and the floor is a bit spongy in some spots. I'm a firm believer of doing things once right, the first time // If you don't have time to do it right, how will you have time to do it again... Not looking to take shortcuts.

We had a boat when I was younger where we had to gut it to the hull, new stringers floor, foam, carpet/upholstery so I vaguely remember what a mess it was.

I know I'm going to need to gut it, from there assess the extent of the damage. New floors for sure. If the floors are out, do you basically go all the way and do the stringers too? If the floor is to the point of soft, that mean the stringers are as well?

I am a pretty skillful guy, but I haven't done anything with fiberglass. I have however rebuilt carbs, engines, heads; fine with a tape measure and a saw. Is this a project that I could handle, or would get me in over my head? What would you expect the cost based on your own research and experience, to run for the materials for doing it myself vs. having someone else replace the floor (and possibly stringers)?

Second thing is, the configuration is terrible. This "seat" needs to go, and be replaced with something. Is it generally recommended to get something that is pre-built, or, custom upholstery better/cheaper? I see the iBoat store has a ton of seats. I don't know if that's the way to go though. I am thinking that back-to-back seats will probably serve me best.

I want to do something with the back/engine cover. I like the idea of the movable rear bench area, allowing for seats or a sun deck. Would probably like to keep something similar to that, but, wouldn't mind seeing any good ideas you guys have come up with too.

I would definitely like to update the driver's area with something more updated in the way of a dash/gauges/steering wheel/throttle.

I guess I'm just kind of at a loss as to where to start and what I need to do. I'm sure reading up on some stuff here will give me some direction. Looking to see what I should expect to pay to get it re-upholstered, what to watch out for and avoid etc.



I am at work, and it won't properly let me upload the pics right now. Here are some for now, I will upload them resized later.

Original thread when I got the boat.
http://www.boated.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=125608

 

[Dave88LX]

Re: 1990 Regal 20' in need of complete upholstery/floor replacement. Where to start.

Just saw this...whoa. At some point do you ask yourself "Is it worth it?" $2-4K just to fix the floor. I don't think the boat would even be worth that much.

Already found this great thread here:
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=459302

count on 100 hours for the stringer replacement and 80 for the deck for a first timer.

cost.....2k. then go up from thare....if you use epoxy.....double it.

 

[Bondo]

Re: 1990 Regal 20' in need of complete upholstery/floor replacement. Where to start.

Just saw this...whoa. At some point do you ask yourself "Is it worth it?" $2-4K just to fix the floor. I don't think the boat would even be worth that much.

Already found this great thread here:
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=459302

Ayuh,... Welcome Aboard,... Big Boy Toys are Never Cheap....

 

[Dave88LX]

Re: 1990 Regal 20' in need of complete upholstery/floor replacement. Where to start.

I've been told repeatedly that boats are a hole in the water you just throw money into. We had one growing up, and my old roommate had one. Love them. I know they are money though.

Being that it was "free"* from my dad, I guess I have a good head start from buying an expensive boat or having one that's a complete wreck.





*Free in the initial monetary sense...nothing is ever free.

 

[Dave88LX]

Re: 1990 Regal 20' in need of complete upholstery/floor replacement. Where to start.

How are the seats they sell in the store here? If you can't say they are bad or a bad deal, I guess don't, just looking for an honest opinion on buying them vs. having them made. What brands are good/what to stay away from?

Seat-wise, I have nothing to start with.

 

[jamiemac74]

Re: 1990 Regal 20' in need of complete upholstery/floor replacement. Where to start.

How are the seats they sell in the store here? If you can't say they are bad or a bad deal, I guess don't, just looking for an honest opinion on buying them vs. having them made. What brands are good/what to stay away from?

Seat-wise, I have nothing to start with.

Wise makes some really nice boat seats....Thats just the first company that comes to mind.. I found alot of seats on Ebay...

 

[Lou C]

Re: 1990 Regal 20' in need of complete upholstery/floor replacement. Where to start.

These projects are all different and you don't know how big it's going to be, unless you get into it. Replacing seats etc gets expensive, but if you want a like new look that's the way to go. I did the same thing to my 88 Four Winns 200 a few years back. Started with having an upholstery shop re-do the bow cushions and make a bow and cockpit cover for me. Replaced the nice but tattered front buckets with pontoon seats from Overton's. Found the deck rotting in 2005, took it apart, ripped out the foam, had the stringers repaired, replaced the foam, installed a new deck from in front of the helm seats back to the engine. Then had the new deck gelcoated in non skid gel coat. Replaced the rear seat with pontoon benches matching the front seats from Overtons again. Took a while but was worth it compared to dumping this one and buying another old rotted boat. It's not just what your boat is worth that's important, it's what you would replace it with, how much would that cost. I decided that I do not want to do another restoration. The weather here does not cooperate, if you don't have a big garage that you can heat, it takes the whole summer to get it done otherwise it's too wet and cold to do glass work much of the time. So that newer boat would cost at least 15 grand. I'll run this one as long as I can...but the next one will be nearly new and cost at least 2x as much as I have in this one....

In this case you got it for free, so you are ahead of the game, just be careful with the demo work, wear protection, tyvec suit, goggles, particle respirator, etc. Fiberglass dust is toxic to your lungs, and you don't want it in your eyes either. Grinding and cutting is the worst. This is the other reason I won't do one of these again.

 

[jonesg]

Re: 1990 Regal 20' in need of complete upholstery/floor replacement. Where to start.

The hrs for demo and new stringers might be accurate but the $2K is a lot more than I spent on my 20 footer.
You don't have to look too hard to find glass supplies on craigslist.

I don't count the time because I like DIY so I have no idea how long it took, a couple of months maybe.
Also did the transom, my deck is molded glass so that was put back in again.
And consider you don't need $2K to get started if you have basic tools, grinder, sawzall etc.
Just start the demo now while its too cold for glasswork.

I used a respirator I had, glasses I wear anyway, old ski cap, mechanics old coveral and a throwaway vinyl jacket. Cost zip.
I don't go crazy with the grinding, just go over where new resin will be put , theres no sense grinding the whole innards out.
Labor is free but if you don't put it to work it costs you time.

 

[Dave88LX]

Re: 1990 Regal 20' in need of complete upholstery/floor replacement. Where to start.

I do have a majority of the demo tools I would need -- sawzall, cutoff wheel, grinder, compressor etc.

I'm on the edge right now if I want to just get it mechanically sound, and use it this year, make sure it's worth keeping, that I will use it enough and whatnot, then maybe next winter start the renovation. I am technically, by marriage, not allowed to start on any other projects until I have my wife's kitchen finished. I am about 90% complete, just need to put up the lighting/electrical.

We have a 2 year old and a ~5 month old, so time is a commodity at this point.

I too love DIY work. Just won't be able to get out to do it most nights until about 8-8:30.

Have not been to Overtons yet, I will check them out thank you.

Quick question, and I haven't searched yet, but how difficult/common is it to put some underwater lighting in the hull while the floor is out? I always thought that would be pretty neat to have.

 

[tschmidty]

Re: 1990 Regal 20' in need of complete upholstery/floor replacement. Where to start.

Sounds like a good plan (fix mechanically, then think about the rest).

If people put underwater lighting it is usually on trim tabs, or on the transom with the wires coming out of the hull above the waterline. Most of us would have an aversion to putting holes in the hull below the waterline.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: 1990 Regal 20' in need of complete upholstery/floor replacement. Where to start.

What motor is in that boat? Before you spend more than one penny IMO the powerplant is a huge deciding factor. Based on the year of that rig 89-90 if that is the 470/3.7 mercruiser I would STRONGLY re-evaluate the plans. I personally would not rehab a boat with a 470

 

[Dave88LX]

Re: 1990 Regal 20' in need of complete upholstery/floor replacement. Where to start.

It is the 3.7L Merc.

What's the deal with this engine?

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: 1990 Regal 20' in need of complete upholstery/floor replacement. Where to start.

Do an advanced search for "Mercruiser 470" and "470/3.7" and "Merc 3.7" be sure to use the quotes. It was an aluminum bloced motor with a ford 460 head and an integrated charging system. They had problems overheating, charging and leaking at the cam seals. The motor is no longer made.

A very motor with gobs of torque but a terrible reputation and horrible repair record. Sorry to be the bearer of the bad news but you would have found out anyway.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: 1990 Regal 20' in need of complete upholstery/floor replacement. Where to start.

There are 2 other little things to consider before you should think about doing a resto ( with glass and resin ) .

Your Babies..

Just too much time involved.. Just me though..

YD.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: 1990 Regal 20' in need of complete upholstery/floor replacement. Where to start.

Here is a link to a recent 470 discussion http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=374810&p=3117727#post3117727

 

[Dave88LX]

Re: 1990 Regal 20' in need of complete upholstery/floor replacement. Where to start.

Well that is a pretty compelling argument against the 470. What a shame. Free boat. (Not because it's a POS, but, loss-of-interest).

It sounds like between the floor, upholstery, and the power plant, the smartest move is to walk/run away from the boat.

I guess the part that sucks about all that is that my dad gave it to me and was excited for me to have it. I would feel bad selling/getting rid of it for that reason.

From an outside perspective I'm sure it seems ridiculous to sink any money into a boat that needs a floor/upholstery/has a crap version of an engine.

Tough to separate emotional attachment from reality sometimes...you know.

I have rebuilt car engines, head/cam swaps, complete engine swaps etc. How difficult is it to repower these things with something worthwhile? I know that starts up a slippery slope.

I hate to get the phone call of "how's the boat going?" "Sorry dad, had to junk it!"

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: 1990 Regal 20' in need of complete upholstery/floor replacement. Where to start.

Dave, there are solutions but, none are wallet friendly. If you should ever see a boat junked or cheap with a newer 3.0L or even more work a V-6 with outdrives....... sorry but there is no cheap solution

 

[Dave88LX]

Re: 1990 Regal 20' in need of complete upholstery/floor replacement. Where to start.

Guess it ain't quite as easy as the ole 305 -> 350 or the 302 -> 351 swap then. I take it they don't have the same mounts/mating?

Perhaps the best thing maybe is assess what shape it's currently in mechanically, if it'll be good enough to run for a couple years. Buy some new plywood, carpet it, screw it down on top of the old floor, and bolt some new seats down to that and call it a day.

This kind of stinks.

 

[stackz]

Re: 1990 Regal 20' in need of complete upholstery/floor replacement. Where to start.

how does the engine and outdrive run right now?

because if its actually in really decent running condition and you have sentimental value in it....just take some youtube video of it running good, and then part that thing out down to the crankshaft and block separately.

if the parts are as hard to come by as people say, then parting out a good running setup could net you a small fortune to cover the hull/interior repairs as well as get you going along quite nicely to something much more common like a 350/alpha-1 setup...or a ford setup.

 

[Dave88LX]

Re: 1990 Regal 20' in need of complete upholstery/floor replacement. Where to start.

It was a strong running engine last time we had it in the water. With that said, hopefully nothing is goobered up from sitting. I do know it needs the water pump replaced, but nothing major to my knowledge.