Got offered a boat today.....For Free!!!!

[mikeandronda]

Re: Got offered a boat today.....For Free!!!!

Thnax guys.......Always good advise here. Here is my plan, get the motor running.......Get the boat safe and equiped with everything saftywise. Then worry about the cosmetics......

The boat is stained with what I assume is a mold or algee that seems to cover everything here in Florida......houses,barns,boats and signs......I think if you stnad to long here in Florida it might cover you.....Anyways it seems like its gonna be tough to get off the hull.

The products that daviscfad mentioned sounds like it may work......

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Got offered a boat today.....For Free!!!!

a good pressure washing, then a wash down with cascade with dawn dishwasher soap, disolved in a bucket, will do wonders.

 

[eaglejim]

Re: Got offered a boat today.....For Free!!!!

When I got my boat it looks like it had more mold and mildew than yours, the first thing I did was to take the pressure washer to it made a huge difference and it made me feel that I got a darn good deal(not as good as yours but close) mine was covered with leaves,small saplings,etc. good luck with yours

 

[hotmocha]

Re: Got offered a boat today.....For Free!!!!

First thing you want to check are the bellows and the bilge pump. I would hate for your next post to be "I got it going, made it look pretty but when I put it in the water it didn't float".

The bellows are located below the outdrive and made of rubber, they dry up and typically need to be replaced evry few years and I am guessing in Florida more often than other places due to the heat. I dont have stats but I can guess that bad bellows are the biggest cause for sinking boats. They are not cheap or easy to replace.

If you are handy, this looks like a great boat but knowing that BOAT stands for "Bring Out Another Thousand", IMHO and experience you are looking at spending at least $1000 to get it seaworthy and working.

You dont have to do everything at once, I would not worry about cosmetics until you make it fully fucntional, try a few times and then make a decision.

BTW, if you ever find the the hull or the boat is too much to spend on and is not worth it I wouldnt junk it. Consider parting it. The outdrive by itself, assuming it is fully functional can get you a few hundred dollars. Not to mention all the other parts that you can take out from the engine.

Good luck with it.

 

[pduquette]

Re: Got offered a boat today.....For Free!!!!

Good for you Mike!
Karma needs to make it's circle to keep on going. Give help and accept it as offered -don't forget those that helped , offer to take them out when your on the water too !
Say , since the boat is already named after a song , would Ronda hate the idea of that famous surf song being used for "your" ( as in you the couple ) new boat?

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: Got offered a boat today.....For Free!!!!

Take it for sure, start with the engine and drive. I would take advantage of your situation if possible however I think it would be in YOUR best interest to help/watch the mechanics any way you could. That way you learn a bit and they don't feel as though your just dropping it off for them to fix for you. Offer them dinner or a 12 pack or whatever you can afford it would go a long way I think. Once it is running and the drive is solid then move onto the hull, make it safe/seaworthy. Then if you are still into it (which you will be) get it spruced up and have yourself a nice little boat. I had an 83 wellcraft 196 sunhatch and I loved that boat it rode as well as any 19 footer I have ever been in. As already stated though make SURE you have all paperwork straight and in hand before you spend any money on it. If you decide you don't want it, you could make some money for your troubles just by parting it out. Probably get 50-100 for the stainless prop alone if its not beat which it doesn't appear to be. As far as the size thing you will have it down in no time its not that much different than what your used to. As always safety first....

 

[RWilson2526]

Re: Got offered a boat today.....For Free!!!!

I'm guessing it would be the Wellcraft 170 Classic. I had the 180 Classic and now have a V-20.

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[tmh]

Re: Got offered a boat today.....For Free!!!!

Read up in the repair forum about soft deck repair. it may be a bigger job than you think, but maybe you'll get off easy and be able to spot repair. You can tear the carpet out to have a better look - keep the old carpet as a pattern for cutting a new one. It's a pretty easy job actually, maybe $100 or so and you have a new, nice carpet AND you can fix the deck/stringers while it's out.

Have the mechanic check the engine mounts for rot to be sure they are solid. The Smart Tabs are probably a good idea also - someone said that already.

I'd clean it up first thing (basic power wash, not heavy duty doll up) just to get excited about how it will look when "done" - which it never will be, of course.

Also, make sure the engine is good before sinking much into it. The value of that boat is mostly the engine and drive so if they don't work it may be better to part it out and buy something that does work.

 

[daviscfad]

Re: Got offered a boat today.....For Free!!!!

Also, make sure the engine is good before sinking much into it. The value of that boat is mostly the engine and drive so if they don't work it may be better to part it out and buy something that does work.

I agree with that.. If it is bad it will end up being way more than you wanna sink into the boat unless you just love the boat and Thats the one you want..

 

[Cptkid570]

Re: Got offered a boat today.....For Free!!!!

Congratulations on the new boat... take everything step by step. You'll get swarmed with tons of information on here and you'll feel like everything has to be done right away. You'll probably want to pump the old gas out of the tank, it may be varnish right now...

That engine and outdrive should be very dependable once you get it running smooth.

How far out into the ocean are you planning on taking it? The 17.5' will be good for running around the waterways and if you stick close to the beach. I wouldn't take it too far out into the gulf or atlantic though..

You got me thinking though... if I come onto a message board and say a bunch of nice things about my wife, I wonder if she'll let me get another boat.. you had a good strategy

 

[aspeck]

Re: Got offered a boat today.....For Free!!!!

Nice boat, Mike, and definitely worth every penny you paid for it!

As for the cosmetics, get yourself a Vertiglas kit and after the fiberglas is well cleaned, use the Vertiglas. It does wonders at restoring faded fiberglas. My maroon Skeeter was a mess and I was having to buff and wax it every other week to keep the shine on her. 3 or 4 years ago I used the Vertiglas and it is still looking good.

 

[mikeandronda]

Re: Got offered a boat today.....For Free!!!!

Good to know Art, Thanks for the info