Well, after reading so many of everyone else's posts and seeing the development of all the other boats, which, by the way, look great, I've decided to actually start documenting and recording my own progress. This place looks like it will be an awesome resource, and I look forward to sharing my own trial and errors with everyone.
This will be my largest project to date. I've done one other resto before, which was a 17' Invader I/O. I got that one as 3 separate items: hull, trailer, and engine. Put it together and pretty much learned as I went along. After getting her completed, a bad turn of luck (lost job, someone stole my car and my mechanic walked away after he blew the engine in my truck) I had to sell her to recoup my losses.
I'm still pretty new to the boating scene, so any and all advice will be more than welcome.
My current project is a 1971 23' Uniflite Hardtop Cruiser. She was given to me, for free, from my step father, who is a boat enthusiast, after he saw how much i was coming to enjoy them. He had a few projects laying around, and this was one of them. My taking this project on kinda put my other project on the back-burner (a 19' invader bow rider i/o).
Anyways, here are her details: twin AQ130C engines and 270 outdrives.
she is all original and has been kept out of the water when not in use. She is in remarkably good condition, as far as i can tell, for her year. I've had her about 4 months now. She sits on a twin axle, galvanized vanson trailer with surge brakes.
I wish i took more pictures of her interior before I began working on her, but I will post what I have.
She has a very sturdy, solid floor (no soft spots) and the transom is in very good condition. The bilge is exceptionally clean. Stringers all appear to be solid and rot free. If it weren't for the fact that she'd been sitting so long i think she's be water ready right now.
When i got her she had a gross 70s style/color interior, like something out of a Austin Powers film. To date, all that I have done is gut her interior (cabin) and remove all that gross colored fabric, sand down the wood, prime and paint. I have also removed the overboard head dumping system.
As far as the engine go, I have changed out all the fluids, changed all the rubber, fuel filters, etc... I have also just finished re-sealing the port outdrive and changing the u joints. I lucked out with the engines. My step father rebuilt both of them in 2004, and has only ran them 12 hrs or so since.... They run great and strong.
I still need: (i am doing all below myself)
to re-seal/service the starboard drive.
re-finish all the deck wood
re-wire the electronics at steering console, as the wiring is getting corroded
re-upholster the cabin cushions
re-fiberglass the engine cover
fiberglass-in old seacock/through-hull-fittings
fabricate/install new seats/cushions on deck; bait tanks, etc
sand, paint exterior (this should be fun) and bottom (even more fun)
In short, i need to completely go through her mechanically and cosmetically, and restore her to her original beauty...
I am trying to do everything right, without taking shortcuts... so, this is where i will need the help. I'm learning something new every time i jump in her to do something, and your guys' expertise would be greatly appreciated.
My time line on this is 18 months and my budget is 8K. I'm thinking about selling my 19' Invader to add to the capitol, but I'll play that one by ear...
Ill post some exterior pics below, and I will take more detailed pics in the next day or so....
This will be my largest project to date. I've done one other resto before, which was a 17' Invader I/O. I got that one as 3 separate items: hull, trailer, and engine. Put it together and pretty much learned as I went along. After getting her completed, a bad turn of luck (lost job, someone stole my car and my mechanic walked away after he blew the engine in my truck) I had to sell her to recoup my losses.
I'm still pretty new to the boating scene, so any and all advice will be more than welcome.
My current project is a 1971 23' Uniflite Hardtop Cruiser. She was given to me, for free, from my step father, who is a boat enthusiast, after he saw how much i was coming to enjoy them. He had a few projects laying around, and this was one of them. My taking this project on kinda put my other project on the back-burner (a 19' invader bow rider i/o).
Anyways, here are her details: twin AQ130C engines and 270 outdrives.
she is all original and has been kept out of the water when not in use. She is in remarkably good condition, as far as i can tell, for her year. I've had her about 4 months now. She sits on a twin axle, galvanized vanson trailer with surge brakes.
I wish i took more pictures of her interior before I began working on her, but I will post what I have.
She has a very sturdy, solid floor (no soft spots) and the transom is in very good condition. The bilge is exceptionally clean. Stringers all appear to be solid and rot free. If it weren't for the fact that she'd been sitting so long i think she's be water ready right now.
When i got her she had a gross 70s style/color interior, like something out of a Austin Powers film. To date, all that I have done is gut her interior (cabin) and remove all that gross colored fabric, sand down the wood, prime and paint. I have also removed the overboard head dumping system.
As far as the engine go, I have changed out all the fluids, changed all the rubber, fuel filters, etc... I have also just finished re-sealing the port outdrive and changing the u joints. I lucked out with the engines. My step father rebuilt both of them in 2004, and has only ran them 12 hrs or so since.... They run great and strong.
I still need: (i am doing all below myself)
to re-seal/service the starboard drive.
re-finish all the deck wood
re-wire the electronics at steering console, as the wiring is getting corroded
re-upholster the cabin cushions
re-fiberglass the engine cover
fiberglass-in old seacock/through-hull-fittings
fabricate/install new seats/cushions on deck; bait tanks, etc
sand, paint exterior (this should be fun) and bottom (even more fun)
In short, i need to completely go through her mechanically and cosmetically, and restore her to her original beauty...
I am trying to do everything right, without taking shortcuts... so, this is where i will need the help. I'm learning something new every time i jump in her to do something, and your guys' expertise would be greatly appreciated.
My time line on this is 18 months and my budget is 8K. I'm thinking about selling my 19' Invader to add to the capitol, but I'll play that one by ear...
Ill post some exterior pics below, and I will take more detailed pics in the next day or so....
