Bought a "new" boat!!!

[BigManDan72]

New to me at least. Its a "vintage" Wellcraft 180 Elite. Can't wait to get her in the water!



Better pics soon

 

[southkogs]

Looks nice. Congratulations ... and welcome aboard.

 

[BigManDan72]

Thanks Southkogs!! Good to be here.

 

[jrttoday]

nice! By better pics, I'm guessing you mean on the water?

 

[BigManDan72]

I wish that was the case, jrttoday, but I think the pics will have to be in my driveway. She comes to her new home today, though, so that's pretty exciting! The hull is in surprisingly good condition so there isn't a lot of work to do there and the interior is immacculate (for a used boat). The black parts of the gelcoat are just slightly cloudy. What is the best way to pretty that up? Is it as simple as a bit of wax? If so, will automotive was suffice?

 

[roffey]

The boat looks immaculate, Did you get a change to water test it and what year is it? so tell us all about it. It'd 18 feet bowrider with a Merc 3.0 alpha one? I see some nice teak accents.

 

[BigManDan72]

Yes, Roffey, the boat is in surprisingly good condition given it's age. So here are some of the details:

* 1985 Wellcraft Elite 180
* 18 foot bowrider
* 3.7 Mercruiser 4 cylinder, 4 barrel carb, 190 HP
* Merc 3.0 Alpha outdrive


Yes, I did insist on a test drive before making an offer. It ran great! I suspect the previous owner warmed it up before I arrived but I didn't think to look for water behind the lower unit (on the driveway, he had a set of "earmuffs") to know for sure. Either way, I witnessed that it ran well in the river.

We live in St. Louis and are planning to use it in the Mississippi River for local excursions and in the local lakes when we have a bit more time for travel. I LOVE Table Rock Lake but, at 4 hours away, it's going to be harder to get there with any regularity.

 

[BigManDan72]

Another thought/question: When new this boat was speed tested at 52 mph. What can I expect 30 years later? The previous owner said he was able to bet over 50 but I didn't ask 'when'. He's had it for 15 years.

 

[jrttoday]

Top speed is good for bragging rights and not much else; dependability/reliability/making it back to the dock safely is what matters. Otherwise......:grumpy:

Personally, I like McGuire's three step stuff. It's a lot of work, but pays off. The cloudy is old wax and oxidation; get some 1,000 grit wet sandpaper. Use plenty of water and rinse often; you will see that milky crap come up. DO NOT keep sanding after water gets clear - you have to use your judgement on how much to sand. I have done this successfully over the entire deck of an 18' Skeeter and more recently on my HO-made boat lol
You're boat looks great!!

 

[BigManDan72]

Wet sanding the hull gives me the creeps but I guess that's what I'll have to do. I may wait a while because it does look pretty good right now.

Silly question maybe: How deep is the colored gelcoat? I mean, is it a completely white hull with black "painted" on or is there some depth to the black layer?

 

[redneck joe]

Yes, Roffey, the boat is in surprisingly good condition given it's age. So here are some of the details:

* 1985 Wellcraft Elite 180
* 18 foot bowrider
* 3.7 Mercruiser 4 cylinder, 4 barrel carb, 190 HP
* Merc 3.0 Alpha outdrive


Yes, I did insist on a test drive before making an offer. It ran great! I suspect the previous owner warmed it up before I arrived but I didn't think to look for water behind the lower unit (on the driveway, he had a set of "earmuffs") to know for sure. Either way, I witnessed that it ran well in the river.

We live in St. Louis and are planning to use it in the Mississippi River for local excursions and in the local lakes when we have a bit more time for travel. I LOVE Table Rock Lake but, at 4 hours away, it's going to be harder to get there with any regularity.

Table Rock is nice. Next boat show up 45 minutes early.

 

[tanker1983]

Give this stuff a shot, man. No hype. Follow the directions and you will be amazed.

http://www.acrylicwerks.com/

 

[phiny1134]

Wet sanding the hull gives me the creeps but I guess that's what I'll have to do. I may wait a while because it does look pretty good right now.

I have never had to wet sand a hull to restore the shine. I suppose if it gets bad enough you might have to. But with both my black and grey 1986 Liberator and my white and teal 1994 PowerQuest I have been able to remove very heavy white oxidation with just Meguiar's oxidation remover http://www.iboats.com/Meguiar-s-reg-...-view_id.39152 and a 10 inch orbital buffer. If you are pretty liberal with the amount of product you use, and buff it back off with a wool pad while it is still just a teeny bit damp, you should see all that cloudiness disappear. The do another pass with a good wax like

http://www.iboats.com/Meguiar-s-reg-...-view_id.39156

or

http://www.iboats.com/Meguiar-s-reg-...-view_id.39154


and I think you will be very happy with the result.

 

[BigManDan72]

Thanks Phiny, for the good tips!

 

[jrttoday]

don't go crazy with it!! 1,000 grit wet paper just to get the oxidation out. Then go back w/McGuire's - there polymere will bring out the colors like magic before your eyes.

"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance -- that principle is contempt prior to investigation." --- Herbert Spencer

 

[garbageguy]

Great looking boat! I have a Wellcraft too, and we love it. Although mine is a '98, yours looks even nicer from your pics, can't wait to see more.

I'm no expert on restoring boat finish, but would side with first trying less intrusive methods (than sanding) on your finish. In general, start with least aggressive, and if that doesn't do it, ramp it up.

 

[roffey]

Yes, Roffey, the boat is in surprisingly good condition given it's age. So here are some of the details:

* 1985 Wellcraft Elite 180
* 18 foot bowrider
* 3.7 Mercruiser 4 cylinder, 4 barrel carb, 190 HP
* Merc 3.0 Alpha outdrive


Yes, I did insist on a test drive before making an offer. It ran great! I suspect the previous owner warmed it up before I arrived but I didn't think to look for water behind the lower unit (on the driveway, he had a set of "earmuffs") to know for sure. Either way, I witnessed that it ran well in the river.

We live in St. Louis and are planning to use it in the Mississippi River for local excursions and in the local lakes when we have a bit more time for travel. I LOVE Table Rock Lake but, at 4 hours away, it's going to be harder to get there with any regularity.

my last boat had the same motor, a 3.7 188 hp, (merc 488). Mine was 18 feet as well and did 54 on the GPS. I suspect your motor has a stator with a water cooled voltage regulator. Be very careful as these motors over heat easily, but are a snap to winterize.

 

[BigManDan72]

Thanks for the tip Roffey. What do I need to do in order to avoid overheating, simply not push it too hard?

 

[BigManDan72]

No Title

 

[roffey]

Thanks for the tip Roffey. What do I need to do in order to avoid overheating, simply not push it too hard?

Hard not to push it as my boat just wanted to go, 50 plus. You will need to check the coolant and the water impeller. Easer than it sounds and you should know how. There are lots of threads on how. I know of a web site the specializes in the 470/488 motor. I have manual for the motor at home as well.