Big MFG Restoration

[MFG Noob]

Hello All!

I am new to the forums and generally new to the boating community all together so this will be an interesting project for sure. Here is the story, my friend and I are currently college students and unemployed for the summer. We saw a boat down the road from me that needed an overhaul and 40 dollars later, had what I believe is an 74 MFG in my driveway. Boat, motor and trailer for 40 bucks. I figured it was a decent way to waste 20 dollars

So it has been in the driveway for a few days now and the friends and family have gotten their laughs in about the boat but it is time to get down to business. My grandfather will be working on the motor so I don't have many questions about that for you boaters. I am looking for some help with the hull though. You can see the pictures of the boat. It is a "lovely" orange color with a major fiberglass patch on the bottom done last year. Once the motor is off, we will be taking the boat to the lake for the float or sink test haha. Hopefully we can pass that and move on to the restoration.

The idea: We are looking to sand down the hull and paint it flat black. That will be last and hopefully be the easy part. Flooring is where I need the most help. I would love to avoid tearing up the floor now if at all possible. How bad of an idea is it to just floor over? Planing on putting sealed plywood over it and calling it a day. We have no budget and don't want the boat til we die. Just want to have a summer of fun ha. The vinyl sides on the inside? Whats the deal with those? Should we just replace all the vinyl and let it be? All wiring will be redone at the end. Any ideas for the project and any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for the time guys and I will keep you updates as the days go.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Big MFG Restoration

Depends what you want to do with it, if you try waterskiing the transom will break off. Transom is surely rotted to pulp.
For gentle use you could throw some PT ply in for a deck and keep the lifejackets on.

I wouldn't bother sanding the hull or wasting paint.
Can't you see its an obvious chick magnet the way it is!

 

[tallcanadian]

Re: Big MFG Restoration

Well, number 1, great find for 40 bucks. 2) I love the orange. but if you must go flat black, do it. 3) If all you want to do is play around and not be serious, put some plywood in it and have fun. I do, however, think that if you want to turn a profit, sell it for a couple hundred bucks to someone who would enjoy to rebuild it. It's a great looking boat and I wish you luck with it.

 

[MFG Noob]

Re: Big MFG Restoration

I took some time today to clean out the deck and the hull. Plan on picking up some plywood to do over the deck and use it for the summer. Any chance we could fix it to use it for the summer and sell it at the end for a profit? Also, is there any way to reinforce the transom. We probably wont be painting it. Takes too much time and it is just too easy on the eyes as it is

 

[Wingedwheel]

Re: Big MFG Restoration

The problem with trying to reinforce a rotton transom is like putting a band-aid on a gunshot wound. If the wood is wet and rotted, there's not much that will help. One question, does the motor run?. If it does perhaps you can spend a little time "trading up". If the transom is solid but the floor is waterlogged, all you'll lose is speed because your hauling around a couple hundred extra pounds of water.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Big MFG Restoration

MFG made a lot of really great well designed boats. Unfortunately, that tri hull is not one of them. Those "new" designs for the 70's were some of their more poorly made boats, and that is why there are not many 70's MFG's around, but lots of 60's MFG still in use (and 70's that were the 60's models continued).

If the motor runs, or if you can get it running, save the motor, controls steering and any other hardware you can salvage off the hull, and go look for a cheap boat that is not rotting underneath you to put the motor on.

But spending one more penny on that specific boat is a waste.

JMHO.

 

[MFG Noob]

Re: Big MFG Restoration

Well sorry for the delay guys but I had a few other side projects to work on first. Now it is time for the boat, I have thought it over and cleaned it out and decided to sell the trailer and hull for sure. The motor I am still unsure about, open to anybody suggestion about what to sell and how to go about doing it.

The plan: Put about 60 or 70 bucks into the boat for a new hand winch and a light kit. Grind down any rust on the trailer and repaint it black. Also open to suggestions for a reasonable price for the two (or three if the motor goes with it).

Do most people sell the control box with the hull or with the motor if they are sold separate? The motor is still being worked on currently. I haven't put any money into the boat yet besides wood to make a motor stand (by the way, is the best design, dh4winn79!)

Open to any other ideas and suggestions so let me know what you think!

 

[Wingedwheel]

Re: Big MFG Restoration

The controls go with the motor. I'd advertise the trailer as coming with a free boat. If its rotted, its worthless.

 

[woosterken]

Re: Big MFG Restoration

HEY!! mark lol

i think your MFG is either a "71 or a "72
in "73 the bow seat went all the way around , and in "74 they did not have the orange color

check this out........ scroll down to "71 or "72

http://www.fiberglassics.com/library/MFG

woosterken

 

[wroberts840]

Re: Big MFG Restoration

Too Bad on selling it. For $500-1000 and alot of work it could be a nice boat.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Big MFG Restoration

The boat doesn't look too bad from here, the transom doesn't appear to have been molested, clear out the debri and star poking at the deck, pull out the rotted wood see what you have there, a little ambition a can of comet can make a world of difference.

 

[Fisherball]

Re: Big MFG Restoration

I'm about to gut & restring/deck/transom my '75 Gypsy. It'll be a beautiful, very functional (for fishing), just like new boat for about $1,000.00. Nicer than most anything I could buy for that. I figure it lasted 35 years, when I'm done it'll last longer than I will. I'll be posting as I slowly fix her up. I have to pay cash as I go, so with the bushwacked economy it'll take awhile.

 

[MFG Noob]

Re: Big MFG Restoration

I'm just not sure at this point if the update is worth the money. I would ideally like a boat to ski behind or tube behind. I would like to find somebody to pick it up and put that money into it and do a nice restoration. I would feel as if I wasn't doing the boat justice if I just patched it up and beat it.

I was looking at this boat and was thinking about offering 500 if the compression in the cylinders is there.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...witem=&sspagename=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_584wt_1167

Just new to the whole scene and not sure what I want to do.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Big MFG Restoration

HEY!! mark lol

i think your MFG is either a "71 or a "72
in "73 the bow seat went all the way around , and in "74 they did not have the orange color

check this out........ scroll down to "71 or "72

http://www.fiberglassics.com/library/MFG

woosterken

Sorry, Ken. No offense meant!

 

[woosterken]

Re: Big MFG Restoration

LOL no problem!!
i think you mite be right,I have not seen another like mine

woosterken

 

[Mark42]

Re: Big MFG Restoration

The whole MFG line were well designed boats. The problem came about when they stopped using fiberglass for floors and stringers and went to ply to be competitive. They also stopped using the inner and outer steel molds and compression to make the hulls, and did traditional layup. Those steel molds must have cost a fortune. Wonder what ever happened to them?

The boats with the fiberglass decks and stringers did not rot like other boats of the time, and therefore, people kept them around. And that is probably why there are so many 60's MFG's around today. The 70's and 80's suffered from stringer and deck rot that is common of wood, and were therefore often taken to the dump like so many other brands when they rotted. Which is why I think not too many 70's models are still around. Lets face it, 40 years is a long time to expect a boat to be well maintained.

 

[MFG Noob]

Re: Big MFG Restoration

Time for the first official update I guess:
Spent the past week or so looking over the boat and cleaning it out. The floors are rotted and are certainly in need of replacement. There is a picture with a square cut out of the back? I am assuming it was made by the previous owner to inspect the damage underneath. The motor was taken off the boat and the steering cable and throttle cables were taken off. Wires have been sorted through and noticed almost everything would need to be re-wired as many of them have been cut. Transom looks to be messed with a little bit and doesn't look too straight but it actually seems to have some strength left.

I haven't heard the motor run at all and haven't gotten much done because I believe the wiring harness is shot. I have no idea how to locate a new one and need some help in identifying the motor model and the proper harness. It is an old Mercury 650 for sure. Not sure on the serial number because it seems to be scratched off.

Take a look at the pictures and let me know what help you can offer as I decide what to do next. Thanks for all the help so far mates!