(image heavy) 1972 Penn Yan Tunnel Restoration - Fort Walton Beach, Florida

[Steve Mahler]

Re: (image heavy) 1972 Penn Yan Tunnel Restoration - Fort Walton Beach, Florida

Wow. you are ambitious, and I am the most positive person in the world, but honestly I cant imagine this getting done unless you can move the boat near your home. A boat this size and condition will need hundreds of hours, and unless you quit your job and marraige it will take 40 years. Add to that I assume you are paying storage as it sits?

No question it would be far cheaper to buy a running Tunnel and fix it up as you like it...often they float around craigslist for 3 grand. I certainly understand not wanting to shell out 3 grand at once, but you are on track to spend 100 bucks a day for infinity on this.

 

[NickyBFWB]

Re: (image heavy) 1972 Penn Yan Tunnel Restoration - Fort Walton Beach, Florida

Yeah it will be moving to the my home soon and it may or may not require a lot of work. I have accepted that fact. In reality other than fixing that spot in the transom its all redoing the interior. I figure it took it forty years of abuse to get to this point it won't be that bad as I will be stripping it done and fixing it all.

The nice thing is that the stringers are all good in it still. So I have plenty of optimism.

 

[jonesg]

Re: (image heavy) 1972 Penn Yan Tunnel Restoration - Fort Walton Beach, Florida

The transom can be fixed, it needs replacing anyway, the glasswork isn't a huge deal.
The hull shouldn't distort bad by removing the deck, if you remove the cap it will.

Engines and drives have to come out, then decide whether you can rebuild or afford new power. Thats the deal breaker for most of us.

If they are shot and you can't afford to repower its a dead duck.
No sense gutting for fun.

I think I would try saving up for repowers, it'll take you a couple of years to work through this project anyway. But I'm no mechanic, if you know your way around engines then its a whole new ballgame.

 

[NickyBFWB]

Re: (image heavy) 1972 Penn Yan Tunnel Restoration - Fort Walton Beach, Florida

Well this weekend was pretty great. I didn't have time to snap photos as I was working alone most of it.

Saturday I was out of the house by 0745 and at the boat by about 0845. The drive didn't really phase me as I have been doing similar to get to work for several months now and just used to driving a while. Still can't wait to get her home though.

Sadly when I got to the storage unit I found that my tarp had pulled off the boat and I had to run the bilge pump to empty her out AGAIN. Another reason to get her home. So while I was emptying out the interior of the boat I saw that metal rack that the previous owner used for commercial fishing was a lot of the cause of the cover coming off so I grabbed my handy sawzall and went to work cutting it off.

It is now sitting next to my boat waiting for me to chop it into little pieces and haul to the metal yard with some other junk metal parts I am digging up from in the hull.

From there I finally got sick of almost falling through the decking and just started pulling it all up. I still have some going around the side because I didn't want to start ridding it apart before I know what is behind the false wall .

After that I pulled out a couple bags of random garbage, old clothes, cigarette packs, medical prescription bottles, and other stuff the owner had. Did find a couple neat old maps of the area I am at that I will have to show you guys.

From there I called it quits for a while and it ended up being for the day.

Sunday I got out there with my brother and the truck and I began removing the interior of the cabin pulling out old seat cushions (kept a couple for molds) and I was able to get a good look at some of what I am dealing with. All in all it was heartening to see it won't be impossible to get the rest of the decking out or even that it won't be as hard as I though putting some of it back in.

I still have some cleaning and removal to work at including getting that second engine out. I still haven't fully determined if the engines are salvageable. Sadly my mechanic neighbor works for a dealership and has moved from the mentality of a working budget to the mentality of just replace it all and he seems uninterested in really looking at the engines. Now one thing I was thinking about is possibly replacing the engines with diesels. Some of the people around here have said they prefer them but I am not sure I see the worth. Any opinions?

 

[jonesg]

Re: (image heavy) 1972 Penn Yan Tunnel Restoration - Fort Walton Beach, Florida

Deisels cost a lot more.
Crate engines are the way to fly.

 

[funk6294]

Re: (image heavy) 1972 Penn Yan Tunnel Restoration - Fort Walton Beach, Florida

x2 on the crate engines... Looking at the condition of the one that you posted up, you would have just as much money into rebuilding it as purchasing a crate. I have been there done that before.... The other bonus to a crate is it comes with a warranty and it will help speed up you project, especially if you are relying on a freind to help you with it...

 

[ben2go]

Re: (image heavy) 1972 Penn Yan Tunnel Restoration - Fort Walton Beach, Florida

Diesels can be had for the cost of crate gas burners.Diesels last longer, so used ones have a lot of life left.Just have to know the seller or diesels.If you live close to the coast,you can find salvage diesels at fair prices.Comparing new to new,diesels do cost a but load more.

 

[NickyBFWB]

Re: (image heavy) 1972 Penn Yan Tunnel Restoration - Fort Walton Beach, Florida

Yeah I am figuring going with newish engines, crates most likely, will be the way to go. Would be nice to get some diesels but I can live without them as well but since I am on the Gulf Coast I might go around to some of the boat repair shops and such and see if they have some they are getting rid of or willing to sell.

I am hoping this upcoming weekend I can finish cleaning out the interior of the boat and get the other engine out so that I can jack up the boat some a have a temporary frame around it to check if I only have to replace the four tires and the rear axle.

Hopefully I will finally be bringing it home in the next month if I can get everything to work out just right. Not sure how long it will take to get a new axle for the trailer though.

 

[vegasphotoman]

Re: (image heavy) 1972 Penn Yan Tunnel Restoration - Fort Walton Beach, Florida

keep a losse eye on Craigslist for used tire/rim combos...sometimes people with extra dough buy new "cool" rims and tires for thier boat trailers and sell off thier original ones on the cheap....

heck you're gonna need a big old truck to tow that big boat home....what are ya driving these days Nicky? Mebbe a big Uhaul will tow her home....if ya dont have a big rig to do the job...

Keep on rocking and get taht puppy home ...like the other guys said the 40 mile drive is killing your schedule ROCK ON!

 

[NickyBFWB]

Re: (image heavy) 1972 Penn Yan Tunnel Restoration - Fort Walton Beach, Florida

I got a Ford F-150 XLT that I am wondering if it will move it or not. I know a couple people I work with that have bigger and will help me out moving it home when the time comes. Once I get it home I don't plan on moving again except to put it into the water and put her into her berthing.

But I will keep my eye out for what is available on craigslist and see if I can't snatch up a good set for cheap.

Nick

 

[chuck in WA]

Re: (image heavy) 1972 Penn Yan Tunnel Restoration - Fort Walton Beach, Florida

I would think an F150 should be able to pull that rig around the Florida flatlands to get you home at least. The real safety concern is, of course, stopping. You should take a VERY good look at your trailer in it's entirety before you tow (dont forget the brakes). As you know, 40 years of saltwater exposure will not have been kind. I'd suggest keeping to the backroads as well. My "new" project PY sits on a 1979 trailer (not galvanized), and I've already decided it won't leave my neighborhood without a being on a new trailer - just too much rust for me to trust it. Thankfully my boat launch is just down the street, but a new trailer will be on the horizon sometime.

I'm sure you've already found it, but there are some knowledgable guys over at www.pennyanbbs.org. It doesn't get much traffic, but a good specialized site nonetheless.

Looking forward to keeping up with your progress!

 

[NickyBFWB]

Re: (image heavy) 1972 Penn Yan Tunnel Restoration - Fort Walton Beach, Florida

I'm sure you've already found it, but there are some knowledgable guys over at www.pennyanbbs.org. It doesn't get much traffic, but a good specialized site nonetheless.

Nope I haven't. Why? Because I have applied three different times and they still have not approved my applications. Quite annoying.

As for the trailer you're correct. I am going to have to redo the axles and hook up brakes and lights. This trailer seems more like it was homemade way back when vs being bought with the boat.

 

[justicdj]

Re: (image heavy) 1972 Penn Yan Tunnel Restoration - Fort Walton Beach, Florida

Seems awfully quiet here. Have you got her home yet? Here's a pic of my '75 Penn Yan twin '26.

 

[BEARMAX]

Re: (image heavy) 1972 Penn Yan Tunnel Restoration - Fort Walton Beach, Florida

yea whats going on here ...im about to start on my 23 ft pennyan i need incuragement lol

 

[chuck in WA]

Re: (image heavy) 1972 Penn Yan Tunnel Restoration - Fort Walton Beach, Florida

Here's some encouragement ....."keep up the good work".....LOL!!! Seriously, I hope you make some quality progress soon. I had intended to get a good start on my 23' this summer, but alas house projects and work took priority. Now with the western Washigton rains coming (already here), and me with no covered work area, I fear my project will be delayed longer than I had originally hoped. Keep plugging away!

 

[NickyBFWB]

Re: (image heavy) 1972 Penn Yan Tunnel Restoration - Fort Walton Beach, Florida

I have poked and prodded her over the summer and of course when you start removing something you find more work. I have found bits more nothing major. I did manage to strip most all of the interior of the cabin and decking. That was in June / July and I haven't even been able to look crooked at it since then.

I love the look of the boat and I think she can be restored but I right now am not having the time and that is the unfortunate part. My pretty lady is sitting there just waiting for me.

 

[sasto]

Re: (image heavy) 1972 Penn Yan Tunnel Restoration - Fort Walton Beach, Florida

We recently picked up a 1974 23' with single 318.....the lady just loves it. We run 21 MPH at 3600 RPM...and run...and run. I can't get her off the thing and finish the restore. Good luck Nicky. I hope you enjoy your boat as much as we do.

 

[NickyBFWB]

Re: (image heavy) 1972 Penn Yan Tunnel Restoration - Fort Walton Beach, Florida

We recently picked up a 1974 23' with single 318.....the lady just loves it. We run 21 MPH at 3600 RPM...and run...and run. I can't get her off the thing and finish the restore. Good luck Nicky. I hope you enjoy your boat as much as we do.

Very awesome Sasto. I hope I can get mine ready to go into the water eventually.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: (image heavy) 1972 Penn Yan Tunnel Restoration - Fort Walton Beach, Florida

Good luck with it Nicky,

People need to have OCD to jump into a project like that... Get tunnel vision and all you think about is getting the boat done, every spare moment and dime is spent on the boat. Weekends, holidays get spent with the boat,,, your wife and kids forget what you look like.

Well at least that's what my wife said about me...

 

[NickyBFWB]

Re: (image heavy) 1972 Penn Yan Tunnel Restoration - Fort Walton Beach, Florida

Good luck with it Nicky,

People need to have OCD to jump into a project like that... Get tunnel vision and all you think about is getting the boat done, every spare moment and dime is spent on the boat. Weekends, holidays get spent with the boat,,, your wife and kids forget what you look like.

Well at least that's what my wife said about me...

Yeah that is the only thing really hindering me. I haven't hit that OCD phase yet because I haven't gotten it home. But then again trying to start my business and work full time and be a full time student is also time consuming so right now I have it tarped and when I need a weekend to zonk out I go and work on it and ignore the world. Being 1hr away from the house is the other nice thing because then i can ignore everyone because they can't reach me, I also turn the cell phone to vibrate and leave it where if needed I can use it but it also won't bother me if it does ring.

But a quick update is that I have stripped out a lot of the old decking, I haven't pulled it from the sides yet and I need to photo some of it because I have questions for you folks. I have also be stripping out some of the seat and such out as well. I am going to be going out this upcoming weekend I hope, need to finish a project this week first, so I should be taking a lot of photos for ya'll to look at.

Ironic this is.... I thought the transom was going to be the most challenging thing to fix... Not thinking that is the case any more.