1st boat 1st Resto. Need MEGA HELP!

[N_OVR_My_Head]

I am brand new to Iboats and brand new to owning a boat. I just came into what I thought was a sweet deal. Not sure now. Wanted to get some opinions. I had a friend give me a boat, trailer, and '71 125HP Johnson Outboard. Just been sitting up and he wanted it out of his yard. Problem is, I can't find the HIN anywhere on the HULL and no markings of what kind of boat I have or what year it was built. I was also wondering if I am truly in over my head or if I just need to put alot of TLC into this thing to get it water ready. Just some info, the deck and hull are solid. There is plywood over glass that is rotted. The steering console is missing (all wires are there) no seats, and theres a small hole in the very tip of the bow. Only info given to me when I got the boat is that the motor ran smooth last time it ran which was a few years ago, and by looking at it , it looks pretty clean. I have will attach some pics if anyone has any idea as to what kind of boat I have or where I can go to find out.

 

[Coors]

Re: 1st boat 1st Resto. Need MEGA HELP!

Hin should be on the starboard top of transom.

 

[TheWoodCrafter]

Re: 1st boat 1st Resto. Need MEGA HELP!

Pictures would be good.
Does your friend have any paper work for the boat? Look on it.
Where is the rotted plywood?
First thing is to get the motor running.
Do not start the motor without water running through it.
Next would be to figure out what else is rotted.
Stringers, transom, etc

 

[jcsercsa]

Re: 1st boat 1st Resto. Need MEGA HELP!

Welcome !!!!! this is the greats form out there with some of the smartest people out there , we all will help all we can !!
The numbers should be on the transom some where , mine on the starboard side [right ]
we all love to see pics so when you get a chance !! Ok just wanted to say welcome !! John

 

[oops!]

Re: 1st boat 1st Resto. Need MEGA HELP!

welcome !

ditto to all of the above.....

this is boat university.......dont worry....there is enough know how stored on these forums to build 10 of your baots......we can walk you thru anything...dont worry

 

[gcboat]

Re: 1st boat 1st Resto. Need MEGA HELP!

If the motor is a 1971 then let's assume ( hate that word ) that the boat is the same year also. That being the case then you won't have a HIN stamped into your hull. They weren't required until 1972. So, as
TheWoodCrafter mentioned start digging around for some paperwork.
Look inside the boat around the area where the controls are. Just might be a small metal tab pop riveted there. There should be some info on it. But after 36 years it's probably not very legible.
But again, look where Coor's mentioned regarding its location.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1st boat 1st Resto. Need MEGA HELP!

1st things first. get the boat registered in you name, before spending a cent. if your friend does not have title, and registration, for you to register the boat, no matter how much you spend, you can launch it. without a way to title and register, the boat is totally worthless.