Considering a vintage boat, would like opinions please.

[Mbrgr1]

Hello, this is my first post, I accidentally poster it on the engine forum, sorry about that! Anyway

I am looking at a 1971 Mark Twain V24 with twin 165hp mercruiser straight 6cul motors and R outdrives.

It's in pretty good shape, the stringers and floor seem good, the transom is dry, but the outside transom at the bottom has a peculiar "wave" in it as seen in the pics, and I can't tell if it was that way to start, or indicates something I should worry about. It looks like the drain had been replace at some point, just nor sure about the transom. I tapped all over it and it seems sound, but I'm not a hull expert. As far as the engines and outdrives, they run well and are clean on the inside. They match the seial numbers on the build plate.

Any opinions good or bad are welcomed! Thanks, MK

 

[Mbrgr1]

more pics!

more pics!

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: Considering a vintage boat, would like opinions please.

Good lookin boat, but I am concernerd about the wave in the transom. Step up on each of the out drives and bounce up n down a little. there should be no flex.
Good Luck and WELCOME TO iboats!

 

[Mbrgr1]

Re: Considering a vintage boat, would like opinions please.

Good lookin boat, but I am concernerd about the wave in the transom. Step up on each of the out drives and bounce up n down a little. there should be no flex.
Good Luck and WELCOME TO iboats!

Thanks for the welcome, I pulled up on the outdrives, no flex, but I can go back and jump up and down if need be, I told the owner I would be interested at $2500, very nice double axle trailer with 6 new tires (two spares).

As an aside, there is no "wave" on the inside of the transom, very flat and dry. MK

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Considering a vintage boat, would like opinions please.

Motors and outdrives are good-- great! The floor is the smallest of possible problems but good to hear it is solid. There seem to be a lot of access through the floor to check the stringers, another positive. Wish I could see that transom in person and maybe I would have some hope. From the pics it looks to need replaced. Stress cracks are seen on the transom - are they found in other areas of the hull? If there is nothing more than a transom replacement it will be very worthwhile to save the boat. Even if the stringers need work, still a good project if she is in good shape overall. She is a great looking old girl.

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: Considering a vintage boat, would like opinions please.

Ask the seller about the wave. a person who has taked good care and provided good mainenance will have a ton of recipts and tell you everything he has done, how and when. Bellows were last replaced when ? impellers were replaced when ? exhaust manifolds are how old ? Are the floor , transom, and stringers original ? When was the gear oil last replaced? Crack open the bottom gear oil vent and see what drips out. Green is synthetic oil and good. Milkshake lookin oil has water in it and will need repairs.
If they have no awnsers they may not have done the work or are hiding something.
read the boat resteration threads about rotten floors, stringers, & transoms .
I hope it is all good.

 

[Mbrgr1]

Re: Considering a vintage boat, would like opinions please.

Motors and outdrives are good-- great! The floor is the smallest of possible problems but good to hear it is solid. There seem to be a lot of access through the floor to check the stringers, another positive. Wish I could see that transom in person and maybe I would have some hope. From the pics it looks to need replaced. Stress cracks are seen on the transom - are they found in other areas of the hull? If there is nothing more than a transom replacement it will be very worthwhile to save the boat. Even if the stringers need work, still a good project if she is in good shape overall. She is a great looking old girl.

Thanks for the input, it is a great looking boat, the swim platforms are rock solid, I can't figure out how if the transom had been wet, the inside is not warped, one other positive, it's been in Arizona and New Mexico all it's life, so dry is the word! :~)

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Considering a vintage boat, would like opinions please.

You said the transom is dry-- checked with a moisture meter? Boat rot generally starts at the bottom and rises as wood wicks moisture. It may take longer to effect swim platforms. AZ and NM still get a little rain and she has been in the water. If stored with the plug in it only takes a tiny entry for water to intrude. Hard to find such a deep boat today of that size. I bought a deep boat new in '93 but they are rare today until much larger than 24'.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Considering a vintage boat, would like opinions please.

That transom looks strange. I've never worked on a boat that size, but I expect that it was built in a mold, and if that's the case I can't understand why the glass on the transom seems to end before it transitions to the bottom of the hull - unless the transom were replaced from the outside (the wrong way to do it).

I don't like those stress cracks either, or the brown stain under the drain. All are indications of potential problems.

 

[matt167]

Re: Considering a vintage boat, would like opinions please.

Transom looks odd, but I don't think it has been cut out. If the 3 screws and the flange of the garboard drain sits flush where it is, than it was probably built like that. Looks like the transom ends below the drain, and the wave was engineered as a place for the transom to sit... Nice old boat. Great layout and style just not found in modern boats.

 

[Mbrgr1]

It's wet!!!!!

It's wet!!!!!

That transom looks strange. I've never worked on a boat that size, but I expect that it was built in a mold, and if that's the case I can't understand why the glass on the transom seems to end before it transitions to the bottom of the hull - unless the transom were replaced from the outside (the wrong way to do it).

I don't like those stress cracks either, or the brown stain under the drain. All are indications of potential problems.

Well, I went back today and the owner let me remove screws etc. It looks like the depth sender was at fault, screws removed and water dripped out about 20 drops then slowed, I poked around with a long drill bit and it was not mush, just wet, it looks like the "wave" is a small area of fiberglass about the size of a paddle that has bowed out away from the transom wood. I still got up on the outdrives and jumped up and down (230 lbs) and no flex. It still feels solid above the water line.

Am I looking at a complete transom replacement?? It a huge area, and such a nice old boat, I'm down to trading a 16ft trailer and $1000 for it, at some point, it becomes silly, but I realize I am taking on another man's problems. A great trailer with brand new rubber and bearing buddies all around, and an older hydraulic brake system.

Thanks for all the help. MK

 

[matt167]

Re: Considering a vintage boat, would like opinions please.

Go for it. Transom is only $500 replacement if you really needed to, but it sounds like it is still serviceable. Try to treat the wood with Ethylene glycol ( antifreeze ). It can stop rot... I'm guessing your in the range of $2k for it, and any $2k boat is going to have problems, but most $2k boats do not have twin engines and many are not that nice.

 

[Mbrgr1]

Re: Considering a vintage boat, would like opinions please.

Go for it. Transom is only $500 replacement if you really needed to, but it sounds like it is still serviceable. Try to treat the wood with Ethylene glycol ( antifreeze ). It can stop rot... I'm guessing your in the range of $2k for it, and any $2k boat is going to have problems, but most $2k boats do not have twin engines and many are not that nice.

Thanks, you're right, deal done, my $900 trailer and $1300 cash for this old beauty, now the hard work begins. I've taken on worse, so I am looking forward to this. I cant wait to have 12 cylinders and 330hp humming along the lake, she deserves another chance.

Thanks everyone for all your help, this will be interesting, I'll keep you posted. MK

 

[Taxus812]

Re: Considering a vintage boat, would like opinions please.

Looking forward to the restoration thread

 

[pckeen]

Re: Considering a vintage boat, would like opinions please.

That's one big boat - should humm along with those twin 165s. Look forward to watching this resto. thread.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Considering a vintage boat, would like opinions please.

Cool boat. Congratulations.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Considering a vintage boat, would like opinions please.

great news. I was hoping you would do it. Probably less than 15% of those asked about restoring are actually worth it, this one sure is.

 

[hnt]

Re: Considering a vintage boat, would like opinions please.

Nothing as smooth as a straight six.

Best of luck with the project.

Keep us posted