Forever young?

[rschnack]

Hellow again.<br /> I started a line similar to this that was lost in the great iboats computer disaster of 2002. My question concerns the longevity of old boats. A few years ago when I had thought there was no way I could afford a boat my wife brought home a 1969 Alumicraft Sea aira 16' fiberglass boat with 1970 85 hp Johnson (I'm going to keep her! . We have had some good times in this boat until last summer when it almost caught on fire and I discovered the transom is shot. I do like the boat and, since I read this forum almost daily, I have pretty much become convinced I should save the old boat. This forum is full of stories of people reviving boats that are in much worse condition than mine but I am still a little skepticle. It would seem that if you replace the wood that rots out of the transom, stringers and floor the boat can be returned to "like new" over and over again. Is this so? Sorry for the skepticism but I live in Michigan where most of the project cars I've seen start rusting again as soon as the restoration is finished. Ideally I would like to fix this boat and upgrade it in a few years by putting a 50 or 60 hp four stroke on it and use it for many years. Is this a realistic idea?<br /> Your opinions will be greatly appreciated.<br />Best regards,<br />RCS

 

[Solittle]

Re: Forever young?

This can be a fun, rewarding, frustrating and at times - a backbreaking project. When you get finished you can step back with a degree of pride and feeling of accomplishment and tell yourself "I did it my way."<br /><br />With some care the 85 Johnson should last many years or at least until you get bitten by the bug which nags many of us - - "If'n it were only just a little bit bigger."

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Forever young?

I think you should look at your skill levels, and how much you are willing to suffer for your dream. Also, you should remember that your time has monetary value. If you are the kind of person that truely enjoys restoring and repairing things, and are content with the blood and sweat that will be sacrificed, then go for it. If you are the kind of person that actually feels a tinge of dissapointment when your project is complete, then knock it out. However, if you are the kind of person who is just trying to save money and wants it done as soon as possible, then you may want to start putting aside some cash and get another boat. <br /><br />I am on my second boat project (as seen in "project boats"), and I have done more cars than I care to discuss, among other projects. I enjoy the process as much as the end result. Like now, I want a center console boat, but I cannot afford a new one. I have a boat that I am converting, and it needs everything done to it, but thats why I am doing it, I like the challenge, and I like to save money. You never get your money back when you go to sell, so you have to love what you do, and use the heck out of it. Good luck with it.....

 

[flashback]

Re: Forever young?

Im a bit like jason, as a matter of fact, i have found that in many cases, I get more enjoyment out of the project than I do out of the finished product, Im thinking about selling my last project, which was my scorpion 210, and getting another project boat...so to answer your question, if the boat is repairable and you like working on the boat, then go for it............

 

[jasonnb]

Re: Forever young?

I'll mirror the above few comments. If you truly enjoy working on an old boat, that in itself is worth it. I have two old boats that sometimes seem like bottomless money pits and endless hours keeping them in shape (most isn't necessary, just self imposed). I have come to the conclusion that I enjoy tinkering with these old boats as much as I enjoy using them. There's nothing quite like standing back from a job well done on one of them and having satisfaction that it was done right and I did it! Ok, so maybe I go overboard a bit....sorry........

 

[Arnold96]

Re: Forever young?

On the other hand in many places, boats not quite that old with blown engines or no engine at all can go for a song. Just check it out real well before you fall in love again.

 

[rschnack]

Re: Forever young?

Thanks for the input, but we have strayed a little from the question. I enjoy restoring things, maybe a little too much. I spent a few years as a residential contractor that specialized in restoring old homes. I really enjoyed removing rotted out or poorly built portions of the old buildings and putting them back they way they deserved. I would probably still be doing it but it was not a very profitable business and I have a family now. Because of this past life I have quite a few implements of destruction at my disposal to take a boat apart and fit the parts back together and I have enough experience with fiberglass to personally understand the importance of covering every exposed inch of skin when grinding. My hat is off to all of you who do the work yourselves. I have never understood people who won't at least try to do for themselves before hiring something done. I will almost for sure repair this old boat because I don't know if I could stand taking it to the dump. My real question is, if they are restored correctly, can you basically consider these old boats to be "like new" or does the overall structure degrade over time? If the fiberglass looks sound will it be as strong as the day it was built or does it weaken over time to the point where it is no longer rebuildable?<br />Sorry for long post .<br />Best regards, <br />RCS

 

[jasonnb]

Re: Forever young?

I believe that if you try, you can make them good as new, or in some cases, better than a new one. Many of the older boats were built with rediculously thick fiberglass. As long as the supporting structre is sound, they can be stronger than some mad ein the past few years. I don'y know about the sea aire boat you have, but I have looked at a number og '69 and '70 model starcraft aluminum boats that are still very very solid and sea worthy. <br /><br />Not speaking for the others in this thread, but the bottom line I think we are dancing around is: Can old boats be restored to excellent condition over and over- yes. Will it be the easiest route- probably not. Is it a financially sound decision- not usually, it's like many things. You do it for the love of doing it, knowing that you'll never recoup the monetary costs.<br /><br />I plan on keeping my two 1976 model boats indefinetly as each has a unique character I just don't see in new models.<br /><br />Hope this helps.

 

[Franki]

Re: Forever young?

Hi,<br /><br />I bought an old 70's half cabin years ago.. got it for 750USD for boat and trailer (no motor)<br /><br />Since then I have spend about 1500USD fixing it up, modifying it and making it one of a kind..<br /><br />I even went so far as to cut the cabin to pieces and redesigned it to be more efficient.<br /><br />Its made of really thick fibreglass and is very very solid.. <br /><br />I even cutup and redesigned the trailer to be easier to use... <br /><br />the boat looks great, and its definately one of a kind, every wire in the electrical system, the guages, the motor the cabin nearly everything has my touch on it.. and I am very proud of it...<br />(it goes like the clappers too, which doesn't hurt.) apart from the hull, it looks nothing at all like it did when it was new... alot more modern looking now.<br /><br />As for your transom, you should look into Seacast or CPES (one is to replace rotton wood, the other to strengthen it.)<br /><br />regards<br /><br />Frank

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: Forever young?

Seven grand (what I kept track of) into a eight hundred dollar boat off of e-bay and I am still buying stuff. Like said before its a love thing and definitely not a good investment. I would never trade my 1973 J Allmand for any newer boat. Best built boat I ever saw. As for its longevity. Its all on how you take care of it. If left out in the rain with no cover the restore will only last a couple years but taken care of (like mine) the sky is the limit. You will probably do some sort of rebuild every 15 years or so just to keep up with the times (like a house) but if kept dry when not in use it will be more cosmetic instead of transom and stringers.

 

[rschnack]

Re: Forever young?

Thanks for the info. I will probably keep the boat. It was well taken care of before I got it. It was always stored indoors with a cover. The problems with the transom were the result of water entering the lower outboard mounting bolts and not having a way out. I plan on sealing really well when I put it back together. There is good information in this forum on doing it right. I like the looks of the old boats better. As a friend pointed out, all the newer boats look like detergent bottles laying on their sides .<br />Best regards,<br />RCS

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Forever young?

In answer to your question, I feel you can rebuild it to better than new condition, which is what I am doing. You can build a laminated transom that is stronger than the original. If you use foam, the current foams are much more resistant to water saturation. You can build your floor structure to breath better. The sky (and bank account) are the limit, but other than pain and suffering, it is still less expensive to restore yourself than it is to buy a new boat. You always take a chance on used boats, at least when you are done, you will know for sure what condition your boat is in. How many people here can say for sure if their floor/stringers/transom is fit or dying soon? I thought my transom was okay because I did the flex test, but it is full of Carpenter Ants. You just don't know.....

 

[NathanY]

Re: Forever young?

I am of the belief that if you restore your floor and transom and take the time to do it right, it will outlast the factory one. Factory uses assembly lines, and although they have certain standard that they have to abide by, it still does not get the attention or time of 1 man restoring it. It is about the bottom dollar. If the transom goes then you buy a new boat. I had an old Skeeter Wrangler, that I replaced the floor in and transom. It was not very hard at all. I just took the shell off the boat and proceeded from there. That was 10 years ago. Still in good shape, like I did it yesturday. I think that with your experience you will not have a problem doing it and it will be better than ever.