Are older boats worth all the pain u get restoing them?

[thefairlaneman]

Re: Are older boats worth all the pain u get restoing them?

It depends on several things. I know more about cars but the same logic should apply. Often a restoration is more of a hobby than just determining the doller value of the finished project. Alot of folks enjoy the restoration as much as driving the car/boat. If you can spend enough to make it like you want it and then be able later to sell it and recoup most of your money you are well ahead of the game. Dont forget the more you spend doesnt always mean you will get more later. Look at what another boat like the one you want to restore thats in great shape cost first and keep this in mine. Boats like cars have models that are good investments while other models never go up in value. Also consider the cost of tools you may need.

 

[ChrisJ]

Re: Are older boats worth all the pain u get restoing them?

I would agree with the poster above in that restoring an older boat can be just as much about the experience as it is the end result. After, people are still restoring and showing off cars that were built in the 60s. And if it transpires that they become too much trouble to deal with after all that work, well you can do a couple things...first, I guess you could try to find some other guy to take on the project, or you could think about boat donations and possibly get a nice tax write-off at the end of the year!

 

[oops!]

Re: Are older boats worth all the pain u get restoing them?

THIS IS AN OLDER POST.


however it reads as fresh as a new one......

i could have bought a new boat.....but i dont think the quatlity of build would be there....

and a new boat would look just like everyone elses......all the new wake boats look the same.....mannufacturers seem to be following a "style trend"

a buddie of mine has a new b-liner. he loves it. light, fast, and no work.... he has a warranty....

when he's out on the water and were searching for each other, he spots me in my ol searay a lot faster than i see him...!...i gotta do slo drive by's on many boats to see if its him !

beacause of the fact most new boats that i liked were 50 or 60 k.....
i decided to totally re fit mine....new everything....budget is 25k.....
i cannot include the labor in the budget. (the hours are huge)....but when i am finally finished....(and i dont think i will ever be...allways somthing more i will want to add).....
my boat will be the talk of the lake.....and i will KNOW....that it will be built strong and built right........if it does break down......i will be able to fix it right there...as i will know every system, strake and switch.

will it be worth it ??????.... that was a question i asked myself...BEFORE starting

 

[fixb52s]

Re: Are older boats worth all the pain u get restoing them?

Good post to bring back up!

As for my take: I paid $1K for my 17' I/O 86 Chris Craft. Yea, it is a project (more than I thought, but oh well) and requires the attention it is currently getting. Even if I sink another $2-3K into it, it is far less expensive than a current year 17' boat that start out around $16K. The $13K required for the new one looks much better in my bank!​

 

[Marcq]

Re: Are older boats worth all the pain u get restoing them?

THIS IS AN OLDER POST.

i could have bought a new boat.....but i dont think the quatlity of build would be there....

and a new boat would look just like everyone elses......all the new wake boats look the same.....mannufacturers seem to be following a "style trend"

when he's out on the water and were searching for each other, he spots me in my ol searay a lot faster than i see him...!...i gotta do slo drive by's on many boats to see if its him !

beacause of the fact most new boats that i liked were 50 or 60 k.....
i decided to totally re fit mine....new everything....budget is 25k.....
i cannot include the labor in the budget. (the hours are huge)....but when i am finally finished....(and i dont think i will ever be...allways somthing more i will want to add).....
my boat will be the talk of the lake.....and i will KNOW....that it will be built strong and built right........if it does break down......i will be able to fix it right there...as i will know every system, strake and switch.

will it be worth it ??????.... that was a question i asked myself...BEFORE starting

I agree about the boats today all looking the same, went to a boat show a while back and was very disappointed because of that fact , I don't like the lines of new boats today. If I ever get rich, I will built a huge garage and restore classic boats and have people drool over it

Love my 1979 Aquasport

Marc..

 

[chrisn07@sbcglobal.net]

Re: Are older boats worth all the pain u get restoing them?

I have been buying and fixing about 10-12 boats a year all older. Some are junk some are diamonds in the rough. It all depends on what you want out of the boat. Just look for a solid hull and floor unless you want to soak alot of money into it as replacing floor and form is costly and labot intensive. The issue at hand now is trying to find parts for these old beasts.

Good luck and have fun

 

[Grits]

Re: Are older boats worth all the pain u get restoring them?

Re: Are older boats worth all the pain u get restoring them?

Hello Everyone

I agree with most everything said. I think everyone that restores boats likes to make things or make things better. In my case there is a tremendous sense of self satisfaction in building things. I have restored more than just boats. I started learning machine work fifteen years ago. I backed into that from gunsmithing that I backed into from shooting. My teacher was a retired tool and die maker. His taught me to do your best to make everything perfect. If you make it perfect you do not have to worry about tolerances. One thing led an other and the next thing I knew I was restoring machine tools. I guess what I am saying my restorations are vertically integrated. It is really cool to build parts for the boat, you are restoring, with the machine tools you restored.

Many things I make I could buy for little of nothing but as Myron (my mentor) told me, "but you made it".

Some people would go buy a cooked chicken to make a chicken salad. Folks like us would start to go buy a chicken, to cook, to make the salad and end up raising the chicken. Not to mention you would have to build a chicken house, automatic feeders, and fix up a front end loader to haul off the you know what.

Long story short, what we do is FUN.

Have a great day.

Grits

FYI- To answer your question, yes.

 

[kevsuperg]

Re: Are older boats worth all the pain u get restoing them?

yep worth every scraped knuckle,i am redoing a 1977 16ft starcraft supersport.didnt know anything about boats before i started,not that i know anything now,but with the help of iboats its been a very easy,rewarding experience

 

[rdny041285]

Re: Are older boats worth all the pain u get restoing them?

im hoping it is worth it cause i just sold a 16' 1998 with 60hp motor for a 83 wellcraft 25 footer with a 93' 225 hp johnson motor and saved money by doing that...ive had some fun in the boat already but now the tilt/trim is not working correctly which for the electric savvy person it is a quick easy fix and then ill be back out on the ocean (unfortunately im horrible with electric so it is taking a while to figure it out but as of right now i am extremely happy with my purchase)

 

[lundnisswa]

Re: Are older boats worth all the pain u get restoing them?

After Chiseling on my Transom for two days, and still not done with it,
I might have to say so no.
You gotta have your heart in the right place for sure, because it certainly aint easy work.
Keep on diggin!~
SSR

 

[oops!]

Re: Are older boats worth all the pain u get restoing them?

lot more to go lund.....

but when your on the water in your boat...is when it all comes togeather....

im into mine for 100 hrs grinding alone.....

glassing is a different story.
more tonight.....but when its done.....


as said earlyer ....worth every scrapped knuckle

 

[peacekeeper6]

Re: Are older boats worth all the pain u get restoing them?

after finannly completing the totally demolishin of my boat i would say yes, until i start to put it together, then i will say no. until i drop it in the water then it will be yes again.

 

[newskipper2]

Re: Are older boats worth all the pain u get restoing them?

Just wanted to check in and say hello. I'm new to boating and have always wanted to own one. I recently picked up a 1971 Reinell 21 foot Cabin Cruiser which I plan on restoring. I am mechnically inclined and am willing to learn how to do things. If anyone has any pictures, info on this boat it would be greatly appreciated.

I have gutted the inside and had to remove some of the floor (sole) because some water was squirting through a hole in the floor. The foam was wet and the stringers are still solid. I have attached a few pics.

Thanks and keep up the good work on this site!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Are older boats worth all the pain u get restoing them?

look here: http://forums.iboats.com/Reinell also store with the bow higher than it is. the foam must have really been soak to squirt thru the deck. it was probably store with the bow low.