77 MAko 23ft

[cclements716]

The previous owner painted the tan floor (as it came from the factory) with just an average marine paint with a roller and only one coat. So as you can imagine is it coming up. What i would like to do is to sand down what he has half assed and start over. The floor does need a few patches (screw holes and what not) but is in over all good condition. I have found three options and yall give me your opinions on each and what would best suit me. I am alos going to fill all spaces in the console, re fiberglass the patches and start fresh with new gages and gps etc.

The first was to sand down the floor, interior side walls and over the rail to the rub rail and re paint with epoxy (brightside or something alike).
The second option was to sand down the walls and rail and paint with epoxy and then coat the floors with rhino skin. Much like rhino liner but smoother and easier on your feet.
The final option is to sand everything and re-gel everything to the rub rail. The floor, interior side walls, and rail.

I am sure someone on here has redone one of these boats before. I am not really looking to take the entire console out so what ever is done on the side walls is whats going to be done on the console. Here are some pictures of the boat now. As far as the front hatch i am thinking that the two sections will become one section and the hinges will stay where they are. There is some stress cracks near the nose where is looks like someone had a hard day at the dock that need to be sanded down and refinished, hence why i want to repaint all the way to the rub rail. Thoughts? Opinions? Comments? Any guidance and experience would be appreciated.

 

[Pmccraney]

Cool boat... I love center console fishing rigs. Check out mike lammert's center console thread... Just search his name and it should pop up. His resto is pretty much the gold standard on cc rigs, especially the non-skid pattern he did on his deck.. Check it out, it will give you some ideas and inspiration. Hope this helps.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: 77 MAko 23ft

Ok man, first thing is you should join Classicmako.com. There are many here that can point you in the right direction as far as what materials to use etc. but at classicmako, you will find mostly people that live, breath and sweat Classic makos.You will find people there with the exact model boat you have and probably the same year by some. You have a classic hull there but I hate to say, you need to dig into her and check for things like broken stringers, soaked/water logged foam, rotted transom etc.

These hulls were notorious for being tuff as nails and handle the seas with ease but that old of a mako, if it hasn't been done, more than likely has alot of wet foam in her. This causes all sorts of issues from rotten stringers,decks,and transoms.

Not trying to be a barrier of bad news, but the boat by appearance looks like the previous owner or owners did not take good care of her. I would not do anything to the interior decks until you know what is underneath them is solid and the transom is solid.

If you are looking for a good product to use for non skid on the decks, check out kiwigrip. Easy to apply and looks really good when accented on the boat. I prefer gelcoating on the interior and anything below the waterline for durability.

Last but not least, you will want to pull the console out anyway to remove the coffin cover to expose the fuel tank. If it hasn't been replaced, it will need to be. Good luck

 

[cclements716]

Re: 77 MAko 23ft

What happens to the tank besides fuel deposits? There is a canister fuel filter.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: 77 MAko 23ft

What happens to the tank besides fuel deposits? There is a canister fuel filter.

The original tank, I believe is aluminum. If you have water soaked foam for years, which most the old mako's do, then the tank is probably very badly pitted after so many years of the foam being up against the fuel tank. Who knows if it has been replaced or not. You will want to check it out to see if it has. good luck

 

[cclements716]

Re: 77 MAko 23ft

That makes sense. I will pull the hatch has see what it looks like. If replacement needs to occur should I go back with alum or plastic? Same size or smaller or larger?

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: 77 MAko 23ft

That makes sense. I will pull the hatch has see what it looks like. If replacement needs to occur should I go back with alum or plastic? Same size or smaller or larger?

Pulling the hatch will only be the start of it, it will if like most makos will be surrounded by foam. You will be able to tell right away probably by just looking at the foam and tank if it has been saturated. This is a doable job, but it will take some time and you should check out stringers while you are in there. To properly inspect the tank, it will need the foam removed around it, Most of the corrosion is usually towards the bottom where foam has been wet for years.

Do check out Classicmako.com. There are a huge amount of threads on this exact project and you will see by all the photos posted what exactly will need to be done and the easiest ways of tackling the job.

I would definately go back in with a aluminum tank and the same size will be your easiest route. I would not get a smaller tank. Can hurt the resale. Keep documentation and start a rebuild thread if you dig into her and many here and at classic mako can help you along.

Budd

 

[cclements716]

Re: 77 MAko 23ft

The more and more I look at the boat the more and more I think it has already been gone through. As many of you may know the makos come with a teak ring around the bottom of the console. This one dosent have one. Also they added the 40 gallon tank up front and the only way to run a fuel line would be to open it up an drill the holes and cut some of the foam out. Also when the painted the underside they also painted the entire transom. Maybe the repaired it and didn't want to take the time to paint it correctly. These are all just thoughts at the moment. That may explain why there was paint on the floor. They reported the boat in 1997. Possibly a repair then...?

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: 77 MAko 23ft

The older mako's didn't have teak under the console. Best to get with the previous owner and ask then what has been done to the boat.

 

[cclements716]

Re: 77 MAko 23ft

Chriscraft do you know what seller you got those led rgb from? They are all over ebay but i want good ones.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: 77 MAko 23ft

Chriscraft do you know what seller you got those led rgb from? They are all over ebay but i want good ones.

Got them from Rob at Xtremeled.com. I am sure you can find them cheaper but they may not be the same light output. Mine are the Rgb Lights. You can see the different colors and install on my rebuild thread if your interested in looking it over.

Have you checked out Classicmako.com yet?

 

[cclements716]

Re: 77 MAko 23ft

Yeah I really like Annie 2 and 3. I emailed the guy that rebuilt them and asked him to email me back or call me so that I could talk to him. I figure if I new advice I might as well go straight to the experts.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: 77 MAko 23ft

Yeah I really like Annie 2 and 3. I emailed the guy that rebuilt them and asked him to email me back or call me so that I could talk to him. I figure if I new advice I might as well go straight to the experts.

There are alot of rebuilds over there and many good people with good advice. Just like here but 99 percent makos. I would post up there and get to know the guys a little. They aren't as quik to respond as here but full of mako knowledge. I don't have a mako anymore, but my current boat is very similar in style and hull. i started my boating life on a 19 footer. Had a rare 15 footer also. Great respected boats. your boat is worth restoring and making your own if you plan on keeping her for a while.