Can my truck pull my boat?

[Miguel847]

Re: Can my truck pull my boat?

My first boat was the same thing you have. Chaparral 178! I replaced all the wood and foam in the boat, rebuilt the doghouse, new carpet, electronics, the whole nine. The only thing I didnt do was work on the engine. That 3.0 mercruiser is a beast. I had to set the points a few times and replace a belt, change the oil, that's it. I had it for 5 years, never changed the impeller, plugs, wires, anything. I never even winterized it! As you can tell, I also didnt know too much about boat maintenence back then.

I pulled it with a 2000 Ford Explorer Sport 4.0 V6 2WD. Of course, there are other things that will pull it better, but I think your truck will do just fine.

Enjoy the boat!!

Sounds good, thanks for the info! When you rebuilt the doghouse did you utilize the old one as a template? Or did you have a plan? Might need your advise on this one cuz I have to redo mine as well? Did ou use marine plywood? Any advise would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance!

 

[scrit9mm]

Re: Can my truck pull my boat?

I threw all the old away and started new. I built mine across the entire back, even removing the part that flips up that hides the bimini top, to allow people to lay out on it. I built it in 3 different sections allowing access to the engine and storage to either side. I used 3/4 inch marine grade plywood on the floor then fiberglassed it all, then carpeted it all. For the doghouse I also used 3/4 inch marine grade ply. I glassed the top and the bottom then carpeted it all. I also rebuilt the bow seats using the same method. I thought the 3/4 was a little overkill and would perhaps weigh the boat down too much but I never noticed any problems planing or pulling mulitiple skiiers.

 

[Miguel847]

Re: Can my truck pull my boat?

If you post the serial numbers off the upper and lower units - that will tell the year (range)

Upper unit
6920187

lower unit
6913871

 

[Miguel847]

Re: Can my truck pull my boat?

My first boat was the same thing you have. Chaparral 178! I replaced all the wood and foam in the boat, rebuilt the doghouse, new carpet, electronics, the whole nine. The only thing I didnt do was work on the engine. That 3.0 mercruiser is a beast. I had to set the points a few times and replace a belt, change the oil, that's it. I had it for 5 years, never changed the impeller, plugs, wires, anything. I never even winterized it! As you can tell, I also didnt know too much about boat maintenence back then.

I pulled it with a 2000 Ford Explorer Sport 4.0 V6 2WD. Of course, there are other things that will pull it better, but I think your truck will do just fine.

Enjoy the boat!!

Quick question, when I start to cut up the deck, how close to the sides should I cut it. I should be starting soon on it. This is going to be my winter project, how much would you say it came out to, to replace the entire deck, foam and dog house? Thanks once again for the info, greatly appreciated

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Can my truck pull my boat?

Welcome to iboats. Nice looking boat there. You will find the answer to your resto questions probably will get answered quicker if you start a thread over there. Myself I've never done a floor but from what I've read lots of people cut too deep near the sides and go through their hull. Not a biggie to fix but something nice to avoid if possible.

BTW the guy who bought my last boat and restored it did just fine replacing the floor from the front seats back. Forward of that there was no rot.