'89 Bayliner Avanti restoration - where to start?

[89avanti]

Hey everyone. First post and first boat forum for me. I bought an 89 Bayliner Avanti off of a guy last week and got a steal. I have always liked the mid to late 80's style of these boats and finally found one that was in good enough shape, in my opinion, to start working on over the winter.

Where do I start? Pictures uploaded to this forum? Tearing out carpeting? Sanding down the hull? I have no idea. None.

Any assistance with where to start on this restoration project would be great. I'm hoping to restore it to new condition keeping the original look but with today's technology.

Thanks.

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: '89 Bayliner Avanti restoration - where to start?

Good place to start is with pictures and then looking for soft stuff, like the stringers and transom. I would drill a few shallow holes (3/4") deep in the lower transom and look for rot, wet, etc. If found then start tearing out the carpet and floor, if more rot found by drilling test holes in stringers then might look at taking the deck off (cap). But, PICTURES!!! first. Leave the cosmetic stuff like making the hull look pretty till last.

 

[89avanti]

Re: '89 Bayliner Avanti restoration - where to start?

Good place to start is with pictures and then looking for soft stuff, like the stringers and transom. I would drill a few shallow holes (3/4") deep in the lower transom and look for rot, wet, etc. If found then start tearing out the carpet and floor, if more rot found by drilling test holes in stringers then might look at taking the deck off (cap). But, PICTURES!!! first. Leave the cosmetic stuff like making the hull look pretty till last.

Thanks Georgesalmon for the response. I'm ignorant here so first, what is a transform and drilling holes in it makes me nervous lol. I'll get some pictures and put them up so there is a better idea of what's going on. The carpet looks old and very used. I will want to replace it too. I'm thinking the only thing on this boat that's gonna want to be saved is the hull and engine. LOL. I'm sure pictures will help with determining what else could be saved.

 

[89avanti]

Re: '89 Bayliner Avanti restoration - where to start?

It's been a few months and spring is here which means it's time to start restoring my boat. I took the pictures as was suggested. Where should I start?

Also, are there any good resources out there which will allow me to purchase parts and pieces that will either fit on this boat or are original to this boat? I'd rather replace what's on it with up-to-date technology.

Thanks.

 

[89avanti]

Re: '89 Bayliner Avanti restoration - where to start?

 

[89avanti]

'89 Avanti 170 DLI

'89 Avanti 170 DLI

I started a thread back in November when I aquired this boat for rebuild but was warned I should start a new thread since it was over 90 days old.

http://forums.iboats.com/boat-resto...er-avanti-restoration-where-start-586043.html


It's been a few months and spring is here which means it's time to start restoring my boat. I took the pictures as was suggested. Where should I start?

Also, are there any good resources out there which will allow me to purchase parts and pieces that will either fit on this boat or are original to this boat? I'd rather replace what's on it with up-to-date technology.

Thanks everyone.

 

[89avanti]

Re: '89 Avanti 170 DLI

Re: '89 Avanti 170 DLI

that's my son on the bow.

 

[zool]

Re: '89 Bayliner Avanti restoration - where to start?

The transom is the rear wall on the boat where your engine couples with your outdrive.....dont drill a test hole from the outside...look in your engine compartment for a bracket or electrical component (lowest you can find).. and just remove a screw from that, then test drill it and check the fibers that come out to see if it is rotted wood or solid.....then refill with like 3m 5200 or a resin. then rescrew original back in.

 

[havoc_squad]

Re: '89 Avanti 170 DLI

Re: '89 Avanti 170 DLI

List of priority for your restoration.

#1. Check engine and outdrive condition. Make almost 100% certain you have a good engine block with good compression and a good outdrive. Do not leave this to chance, if you can't verify this yourself, find a good marine mechanic to inspect it.

If the outdrive or the engine block is junk (cracked/warped), part out the boat or sell it for parts and walk away.

#2. If engine block and outdrive check out good, check all areas of the floor, ski locker, transom, and bilge area for any dull areas where wood be. If that model has a below deck gas tank, it would be a good idea to know its condition. Rot loves to form in poorly sealed areas near gas tank compartments.

You could follow the suggestions given on core sample(s) of the transom to check for rot.

#3. Check the deck area around the ski locker compartment VERY well for water intrusion and rot. I remember that some Avanti boats were notorious for being poorly sealed around the ski locker section of the deck.

Looks like you're in for a lot of upholstery replacement and possible redecking on that boat.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: '89 Avanti 170 DLI

Re: '89 Avanti 170 DLI

I started a thread back in November when I aquired this boat for rebuild but was warned I should start a new thread since it was over 90 days old.

Actually as the person who started that thread, you're the ONLY one that's supposed to post to it once it's 90 days old.

Unlikely that you'll find stock parts & pieces that will be a bolt on retro fit to more modern tech. What exactly were you referring to updating?

Read thru some resto threads, you'll find lots of good info. Havoc's posted a real good start.

You can not take too many pix during tear-down, nor take too many measurements. I often shoot a pix of the tape measure to help put back at a later date:

You can't post too many pix, nor ask to many questions. Dig into the boat & the forum.

 

[89avanti]

Re: '89 Avanti 170 DLI

Re: '89 Avanti 170 DLI

List of priority for your restoration.

#1. Check engine and outdrive condition. Make almost 100% certain you have a good engine block with good compression and a good outdrive. Do not leave this to chance, if you can't verify this yourself, find a good marine mechanic to inspect it.

If the outdrive or the engine block is junk (cracked/warped), part out the boat or sell it for parts and walk away.

#2. If engine block and outdrive check out good, check all areas of the floor, ski locker, transom, and bilge area for any dull areas where wood be. If that model has a below deck gas tank, it would be a good idea to know its condition. Rot loves to form in poorly sealed areas near gas tank compartments.

You could follow the suggestions given on core sample(s) of the transom to check for rot.

#3. Check the deck area around the ski locker compartment VERY well for water intrusion and rot. I remember that some Avanti boats were notorious for being poorly sealed around the ski locker section of the deck.

Looks like you're in for a lot of upholstery replacement and possible redecking on that boat.

Thank you for your reply.

I've had a small engine expert check the engine and besides a good maintenancing, spark plugs, new solenoid, etc it's good. I haven't personally started her up though.

This is going to sound ignorant but where exactly is the ski locker section?

Very anxious to get started on this. Should I tear out the carpet and get the seats out?

Thanks.

 

[89avanti]

Re: '89 Avanti 170 DLI

Re: '89 Avanti 170 DLI

Actually as the person who started that thread, you're the ONLY one that's supposed to post to it once it's 90 days old.

Unlikely that you'll find stock parts & pieces that will be a bolt on retro fit to more modern tech. What exactly were you referring to updating?

Read thru some resto threads, you'll find lots of good info. Havoc's posted a real good start.

You can not take too many pix during tear-down, nor take too many measurements. I often shoot a pix of the tape measure to help put back at a later date:

You can't post too many pix, nor ask to many questions. Dig into the boat & the forum.

Hi and thanks for the reply.

The updates I was referring to were gauges, possibly captain seats if possible or at least new seating and upholstered parts along the sides of the interior. New railing on the front, new kleets, new windows etc.

Thanks.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: '89 Avanti 170 DLI

Re: '89 Avanti 170 DLI

The internet make finding all those upgrades easy. Start looking at boats, gauges, seats & etc. Once you start to narrow down what styles & types you would like to add, start looking for where to buy them.

Shipping, particularly large items like seats, can change a low cost vendor into a high cost vendor.

Iboats has gauges, switches, seats cleats, etc.

If you want to replace the upholstered seats & bolsters in the bow, and around the interior, you'll probably be doing that yourself, or pulling it off & taking it to an upholstery shop.

Why new windows? They seem intact:

Breaking the windows down, you might find the welting keeping the glass in the frame, but may not. Carefully masking the trim & frames off you could repaint them, but re-anodizing them black may be a challenge.

PHOTO Posting Instructions

From Don's helpful how to list:

How To's and Other Great Information

Polishing the bow rail & it's clamps may keep you from buying new.

 

[89avanti]

Re: '89 Avanti 170 DLI

Re: '89 Avanti 170 DLI

Thanks JB. You guys are very helpful. I had no idea where to start and last night I took the battery out, checked it and found that it was from 4-12 so good there. I bought a nice battery charger that specifically charges marine at 2A. So that's going.

I wanted to ask more about seating. There are 6 seats in the back of the boat. Two near the engine, two in front of that which lay down and two at the controls and console. I don't like the style of these seats at all. They ride on an aluminum rail and flatten out completely for laying down on I suppose. I don't mind this idea but I'd like to put some comfortable and more modern seats in it. Do I have to stick to the originals or is there a way for me to find out what other seats will work with my floor plan and boat ... Or does it matter?

Thanks. On my way!

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: '89 Avanti 170 DLI

Re: '89 Avanti 170 DLI

this takes me back a few memories. I had an '84 Avanti 170 that I did a full resto on. split the hull, etc. I had an OMC 140 stringer in mine, so I needed to replace stringer mounts, transom, etc. as well as repair the floor where two sections of decking/sole plywood were seamed. the wood was fine, the seam just wasnt over a stringer (around the rear cooler in the floor)

I have a complete set of pictures of my tear down. if you get that far, and get stuck, let me know. if you pull the cap, there are 3 screws between the side counsels that attach the front bow area to the sole. other than that, it took me about 2 days to completely strip my boat then start to work on the rebuild.

 

[Teamster]

Re: '89 Avanti 170 DLI

Re: '89 Avanti 170 DLI

Your redoing the boat, You can use any kind of seat you want,.......

The ski locker is under the big wooden grate in the floor,...

If you can get your head in there look around under the floor for signs of water or rot,........

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: '89 Avanti 170 DLI

Re: '89 Avanti 170 DLI

I'd like to put some comfortable and more modern seats in it. Do I have to stick to the originals or is there a way for me to find out what other seats will work with my floor plan and boat ... Or does it matter?

As Teamster said, you can use any style of seat you want, you'll just need to make sure you know how tall & wide they are to make sure they FIT. Too tall & it'll feel like you're sitting ON the boat instead of IN the boat. Too wide & the space between the starboard & port seats will be narrow & less functional as you move around inside the boat.

Start here at Iboats & look at seats. There are thousands of possibilities. Some may fit better then others, and depending on how you want to use the boat, some may or may not function well for your situation & needs.

At the top of the iboat's forum webpages, there is a clickable link to the iboats store front.If you hover your mouse over Boat parts & accessories portion, it drops down a menu of options. Choose 1 that is something you want to look thru & click that option. I choose seats to get to the link I posted.

The fold out seat you mentioned earlier is a Back-to-Back Lounger. Click & go to the Back-to-back seats @iboats. Notice that along the left column of that page there are options you can choose to narrow your search. The seat base (which can be used for storage) is available from iboats w/ either an 8" base or a 10" base. Some fold out only from the rear (so when folded out they need additional room only to the rear. Others slide out and the front seat cushion slides forward a bit, and the rear slides out to the rear. You need less space to the rear of the seat, but also need some room for it to slide forward too.

Most seats are labeled for how they slide/fold out, and have dimensions on them:

Note that the seat moves forward & rearward

The seats on either side of the motor are Jump Seats.

Think of the Avanti as a blank canvas. You can tear it down & change pretty much anything you want to in or on it. You are only limited by your wallet, imagination/creativity, talent and patience. Remove the windshield & the consoles, take the cap off, and build it into a hardcore, dedicated fishing rig w/ all the bells & whistles that includes: baitwells, livewells, trolling motor, fishing rod storage, multiple pedestal seat locations, casting decks fore & aft, etc........

1st thing I'd do is get this teak ski locker cover out of the boat, and somewhere away from the rain & the snow, and laying down flat. That is a great looking locker cover & will clean up & look new with some effort:

If your vinyl is in good shape, you might consider re-using it & it's foam. Then by using the existing wood, even if soft &/or rotting, as a template, make new plywood backers for the existing vinyl. Seal the plywood and reattach the vinyl. A good scrub & wash w/ TSP (available in lots of places: HD/Lowes, Ace, Wally world, etc) and a soft bristle brush may surprise you how good the vinyl could look.

All up to you, like I said, it's virtually a blank canvas, sky's the limit for everything: seats, carpet, upholstery, navigation & electronics, gauges, engine work (or replacement), deck hardware (cleats & tie downs etc).

Just as an example, it is not unusual for someone to spend over $1K just on new seats: 2 fold out loungers, 2 jump seats. Adding pedestal fishing seats or convertible fishing/jump seats (you have separate mounts for each, you just lift the jump seat up & out of the space next to the motor, off the base, and set it on a pedestal you had stowed, which you dropped onto a base plate mounted to the deck will make the total seat cost even higher.

All that ^^^ is AFTER you've gotten into the boat & starting to look around & confirm the boats overall condition. Depending on how the condition question is answered, may help you decide what you want to do to rehab/resto-mod the boat. If it doesn't NEED a total tear down, you may not want to attempt to convert it into a fishing boat.

 

[89avanti]

Re: '89 Avanti 170 DLI

Re: '89 Avanti 170 DLI

I'm back with more questions ... the spring has given me mucho motivation to get this boat on the water so I'm full steam.

Questions.

1. I have a bunch of teak that I've taken off the boat (pictured) and I have no idea where to start with restoring it.

2. There are what appears to be a large piece of plywood that has been laid down in the middle of the boat which extends nearly the entire width and from the engine up to the windows. I took some pictures of it too. It's pictured in gray carpet over the original red carpet. I couldn't verify if the red carpeted area was rotten and someone just threw some new down over it or if it's just supposed to be that way. I also took some pictures of the sides in the back where the previous owner had put some carpeted plywood to hold in ski's or jackets I assume. It's rotted through so I'll be removing it.

3. I cannot tell which engine I have. I bought a SELCO for Stern Drive 1964-91 model Mercruiser engines. I'm having trouble determining which mine is. I want to check all of the wiring and I'd like to know what a few wires are that are just hanging around. The trim doesn't work so I assume it's one of the rusty solenoids pictured.

4. The cushion sides which wrap around the interior of the boat as well as the bottom I took out because they were severely sunbleached and cracked. They used to be red but now are nice and brown. They'll be thrown away but first, I noticed the previous owner had used some high-quality trailer park vinyl to create new patterns and upholster ... classy ... what material should I use to recreate these pieces and how would I seal it, etc. I pictured them as well.

5. In front of the engine and behind the ski locker there is a small square hole. The top is plastic covered in carpet and is destroyed so it will have to be replaced. What should I replace this piece with and what is this hole in the boat? When I look in it there are pieces of wood standing upright which look to be supporting the deck? I took a picture.

6. My trim pump? I can't tell if it's messed up or not. I guess I need to try to fix the solenoid as my friend said one will be for up and one will be for down. I have two so I assume that's a correct assumption. Neither work from what I can tell. Pictured.

7. There were a few pieces like railings and air vent covers and all that I took pictures of too which I'll want to replaced eventually. I assume I can find those on iboats or another accessory-type site. Also I wanted to know if anyone has a favorite high-tech gadget resource for boats. I wanted to check doppler and other unnecessary amenities LOL.

Thanks guys. Elbows deep.

 

[89avanti]

Re: '89 Avanti 170 DLI

Re: '89 Avanti 170 DLI

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: '89 Avanti 170 DLI

Re: '89 Avanti 170 DLI

I chemically cleaned my teak with deck wash, then I soaked it with teak oil

The plywood is not right, or original. you may have to pull the cap. The cap and bow area sits a bit proud of the soul. could be the PO did not like that and the plywood is innocuous and simply a filler piece.

Most of the 170's had the 3.0 liter engine in them post a pic

When I redid mine, the vinyl was good, the ply was bad. so I simply made new wood, using the rotting wood as a template. I also picked up new foam. I used monel staples as stainless staples will eventually rust.

that square hole is an in-floor cooler. there is a forward bulkhead, a rearward bulkhead and the two stringers on each side of teh cooler. the stringers run all the way forward. the forward bulkhead is what separates the cooler from the ski locker. the rearward bulkhead separates the cooler from the engine compartment. regarding you cover, I made a plywood cover for mine and covered in csm there should be 3 of those plastic covers on board. one under each bow seat, and the one on hinges as shown in your picture. before making covers out of ply I had played musical covers, however they all broke from the weight of people walking on them.

The horn cover is stainless, just polish it up. it is an Avanti only piece. rear bilge vents are attwoods, one facing forward, one facing aft. before any hi-tech stuff, you may want to simply get the boat on the water.