1991 Bayliner Capri Restore

[jdaher]

Hey everyone,

I have a 1991 Bayliner Capri, 1800 I think, not exactly sure. When pulling up the carpet, I noticed some wood was rotting at the back of the ski storage. I have no clue how to fix it or what I need to do. I had planned on doing a non skid paint and redoing the vinyl cushions. Is this going to be hard to fix? How long will it take and estimated cost...? Here are some pictures:

​

Thanks for looking!

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: HELP! 1991 Bayliner Capri Deck

Re: HELP! 1991 Bayliner Capri Deck

Just the tip of the iceburg. That bulkhead below what I think is your ski locker tells it all. Search the restore forums for info on replacing the stringers, floor, transom. Pretty much all the wood and flotation foam in your boat. Sorry.

 

[alloffroad]

Re: HELP! 1991 Bayliner Capri Deck

Re: HELP! 1991 Bayliner Capri Deck

That's a beautiful boat. That wood will definately need to come out though.

 

[GT1000000]

Re: HELP! 1991 Bayliner Capri Deck

Re: HELP! 1991 Bayliner Capri Deck

Hi and welcome jdaher,

Like Georgesalmon has stated...you are about to embark on a very demanding undertaking...

You need to sit down and start looking through the search feature of the forum and look up Bayliner, Bayliner rebuilds/ restorations, etc... and basically any other restoration on this site to see what you are about to get yourself into...

We are a great community of boat restorers who will help you through this, but first you have to decide if this is for you...

A little background...Bayliners are notorious for rotting from the inside out, but so are most boats that have not been properly cared for and stored under the stars and are more than even a few years old...that being said, your Capri looks from the pictures you posted to be a prime candidate for a full and complete gut and restore...

It ain't gonna be cheap, easy or fast...but if you decide to go for it...several things will happen...

The Iboats gang will help and cheer and guide you every step of the way...

You will end up with a boat that is better built than the factory ever could, for a lot less money than a new one would cost...

You will learn a whole new set of skills and get a pretty cool education...

And, you will end up with a truly puffed up ego if you make it to the finish line and get this boat "splashed"...

Or, if you decide this isn't your 'cup of tea'...you will run away from this boat and try to find one that doesn't need all of this for probably a lot more money...

Whatever you decide, we'll be here.

Best of Luck,
GT1M

 

[93bayliner1800]

Re: HELP! 1991 Bayliner Capri Deck

Re: HELP! 1991 Bayliner Capri Deck

There are several full rebuilds of a 91 Capri on here. I have a 93 Capri I am almost finished rebuilding. I started in Feb of this year and hope to finish in next two weeks. I would say an easy 300 hrs of time and 2,000 to 2,500 bucks. Although after doing mine....I would gladly do it again. Let me know if I can help.

 

[jdaher]

Re: HELP! 1991 Bayliner Capri Deck

Re: HELP! 1991 Bayliner Capri Deck

Thanks guys for the quick replies and good info! I've been looking through a lot of the rebuilds, but I can't seem to find any where they tell out to get the old deck out. It seems everyone starts off with "I just ripped the deck out...." Also, I don't understand why people take the top cap off? Why does that need to be done? Would I have to do that? Thanks again.

There are several full rebuilds of a 91 Capri on here. I have a 93 Capri I am almost finished rebuilding. I started in Feb of this year and hope to finish in next two weeks. I would say an easy 300 hrs of time and 2,000 to 2,500 bucks. Although after doing mine....I would gladly do it again. Let me know if I can help.

I don't mind the time. Are you talking 2000-2500 just for the deck to be fixed or is that completely finished ready to take to lake?

EDIT: BTW, I drilled a hole behind port seats and the foam is indeed waterlogged.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: HELP! 1991 Bayliner Capri Deck

Re: HELP! 1991 Bayliner Capri Deck

In order to get all the wood out of the transom and replace it you will need to either decap the boat or do some cutting of the cap. The design of your boat dictates this. The costs given should be In the Water costs. All the waterlogged foam will need to be removed so you should count on a total "Gut" job on this boat which is typical for Bayliners. The Foam will Need to be replaced as it IS structural for this boats hull.

 

[93bayliner1800]

Re: HELP! 1991 Bayliner Capri Deck

Re: HELP! 1991 Bayliner Capri Deck

Lets start with taking lots and lots of pics and measurements!!!! Print the pics off so you will have a hard copy as my hardrive crashed. Especially remember the front boxes under the seats. The top cap remocval is not to hard and you will thank yourself afterwards. It would be about impossible to rebuild transom and rear sides grinding glass with cap on. I would also build a cradle or supports off existing trailer if it is bunk style trailer....this will pay off a lot when you go to put top cap back on. As far as removing the deck. You have a 1/2 plywood deck set your skillsaw just over 1/2 inch and start cutting out middle sections. As you get closer the the hull sides and front the bottom of the hull gets closer. I would cut all the deck out within 8 inches of sides and remove the foam before I cut any closer. This will help you see how close to the hull you will be cutting. Mine had no screws but it was stuck to the foam and took some elbow grease to get out.

 

[93bayliner1800]

Re: HELP! 1991 Bayliner Capri Deck

Re: HELP! 1991 Bayliner Capri Deck

Ok...I will edit that last post on computer....do not try to post with phone! Lol

 

[jdaher]

Re: HELP! 1991 Bayliner Capri Deck

Re: HELP! 1991 Bayliner Capri Deck

Do i need to wear any protective gear other than safety googles and gloves when cutting the plywood deck out with the skillsaw? I've seen the respirators and suits a lot of people wear, but I wasn't sure if that was just for grinding or something. thanks!

 

[93bayliner1800]

Re: HELP! 1991 Bayliner Capri Deck

Re: HELP! 1991 Bayliner Capri Deck

I would...a tyvek suit at Lowes with a hood is very cheap and will keep you from itching from any fiberglass dust. I bought a full face respirator it is a sperian brand I bought from grainier....part number 5HB59. I wipe baby powder on any area that may come in contact then suit up and put on respirator.....oh and don't forget the music...ear buds keep from getting anything in your ears. Once I am done I blow off with air compressor before removing anything. In fact I keep air nozzle handy while cutting, grinding, etc to keep the front of my mask clean and keep cutting tools and grinder clean. This will keep from burning up a good grinder. Everytime I change grinding disks I clean tool.

 

[jdaher]

Re: HELP! 1991 Bayliner Capri Deck

Re: HELP! 1991 Bayliner Capri Deck

Lets start with taking lotsa and lotsI of picsa and measurements!!!! Print the picsthe off spI ypu have ato hard copycuts as mya hardrive crashed. Especially thethe front boxesthe under thethe seats. The topthe cap remocval is nptto hard andcopycuts ypu willhave thank ypurselfyou afterwards. It wpuldI be aboutHOT imppssible tp rebuild transom and rearI sides grindingand glass with capyou on. I wouldhave alsp build a cradleand or supportsI off existingI trailer if itI was aa bunk trailer....this willthe pay offoff a lotand when ypuI go tpto put topyou cap backremocval on. As farI as removing the deck. You have a 1/2 plywood deck set your skilsaw just over 1/2 inch and start cutting out middle sections. As you get closer the the hull sides and front the bottom of the hull gets closer. I would cut all the deck out within 8 inches of sides and remove the foam before I cut any closer. This will help you see how close to hull you will be cutting when you get close to the sides of hull. Mine had no screws but it was stuck to the foam and took some elbow grease to get out.

I cut out a few pieces so far. My deck is 3/4 inch instead of 1/2. There seems to be another piece of wood under the deck above the gas tank. There are also pieces of wood under the deck around the ski storage screwed in, maybe a brace or something. I'll post more pictures and info later today.

 

[jdaher]

Re: HELP! 1991 Bayliner Capri Deck

Re: HELP! 1991 Bayliner Capri Deck

Here are some pictures of what I have done so far. To me it seems only the wood directly around that back ski locker area is bad. How do I get the two seat frames up? Most of the wood I have removed has been pretty hard but a little damp at the bottom where foam was but I wouldn't say it is rotten. That one piece at the back of the ski storage is the worst. Btw, it didn't orginally look like that. I started poking it and tearing into it to see how back it was. How bad would it be if I only replaced the deck and the piece of wood at back of ski locker? Is there any way I could put off doing the whole repair for a few years?

Edit: How do I get the seat frames out?

​

 

[jdaher]

Re: HELP! 1991 Bayliner Capri Deck

Re: HELP! 1991 Bayliner Capri Deck

I cut out a few pieces so far. My deck is 3/4 inch instead of 1/2. There seems to be another piece of wood under the deck above the gas tank. There are also pieces of wood under the deck around the ski storage screwed in, maybe a brace or something. I'll post more pictures and info later today.

Sorry, it is 1/2 inch deck. However, it has a layer of what i am guessing is fiberglass on top of it. I have to cut 3/4 inch near the back to get through the deck...

 

[fngboater]

Re: HELP! 1991 Bayliner Capri Deck

Re: HELP! 1991 Bayliner Capri Deck

Here are some pictures of what I have done so far. To me it seems only the wood directly around that back ski locker area is bad. How do I get the two seat frames up? Most of the wood I have removed has been pretty hard but a little damp at the bottom where foam was but I wouldn't say it is rotten. That one piece at the back of the ski storage is the worst. Btw, it didn't orginally look like that. I started poking it and tearing into it to see how back it was. How bad would it be if I only replaced the deck and the piece of wood at back of ski locker? Is there any way I could put off doing the whole repair for a few years?

Edit: How do I get the seat frames out?

​

To get the seat bases out you have to cut them out...you can use a sawsall to cut under them or a grinder with a cut-off wheel to just cut the fiberglass where the base meets the deck/hull. You should save those bases to use as templates if you plan on rebuilding them. Make sure you take measurements and pictures of everything before ripping it all out because when it's time to start putting it all back together...(just believe it will be much easier)

 

[jdaher]

Re: HELP! 1991 Bayliner Capri Deck

Re: HELP! 1991 Bayliner Capri Deck

Is it possible the transom and stringers are okay? Most of the deck actually looks pretty good after cutting it out. It seems the foam is only moist around the back of the ski locker.

 

[jdaher]

Re: HELP! 1991 Bayliner Capri Deck

Re: HELP! 1991 Bayliner Capri Deck

Forgot to ask, do you think this boat is worth restoring? How much money is the max you would spend to restore it?

 

[93bayliner1800]

Re: 1991 Bayliner Capri Restore

Ah yes the famous question! Lol. I figured it like this...2500 bucks and I have a new hull. If I had sold my motor and my trailer I could have spent another 4500 and gotten a complete boat, but how would I know the true shape and life that hull had??? So for me I really liked the look and size of my boat so it was an easy question for me.

 

[GT1000000]

Re: HELP! 1991 Bayliner Capri Deck

Re: HELP! 1991 Bayliner Capri Deck

Forgot to ask, do you think this boat is worth restoring? How much money is the max you would spend to restore it?

Honestly, most boats are probably not worth restoring, if you can afford to buy one in pristine, turn-key condition...

However, for most of us doing this, that is not a viable alternative...

By putting a ton of our own free labor, the awesome help available here on Iboats, and some moola, we can end up with a pretty decent rig...

In the end, this will be a labor of love...

Your labor is what makes it doable...

The cost of materials varies due to location, amounts and depth of the project...

Some have done complete restorations for a few hundred dollars and others have done them for thousands...

The bottom line is this...take into account what a new boat would cost, same basic size and power...

Now take your boat, what did you pay plus maybe 2-5 thousand for a "built better than the factory could" Boat, that you know every inch of, basically brand new from the hull up, complete, maybe a lot less if you score some "bottom feeder" prices on some stuff...that is if the engine is 100% sound and you just need to spend a few bucks on it for maintenance and such...Most of the stuff you removed from the boat is re-useable and serviceable...Later on you can make upgrades, alterations or modifications as your finances allow...

So, all in all, you end up with what is basically a new hull for a minimum investment in money, you put into it what you can, when you can... although a rather huge investment of time/sweat/blood/labor...the newly gained knowledge and pride of having done it yourself...all mostly bought and paid for...for a lot less than a 300+ dollar a month payment for How Long???

The only real draw back to this is the amount of time and energy you will have to put into it...but for most of us here, that is a small price to pay for the eventual pay-back...

 

[93bayliner1800]

Re: HELP! 1991 Bayliner Capri Deck

Re: HELP! 1991 Bayliner Capri Deck

In the words of Forest Gump...."That's my boat"