Is this a doable project?

[John_the_fisherman]

Hello everyone! I have never owned a boat before, thus I know almost nothing about them (except what I've learned so far here).
A friend asked me to haul off a boat for him, he said the boat may or may not be any good (he didn't really care at all) and said at least the trailer is good.
This is what I found:










Now before I show more pics, I need to tell of the 500# slab that was in there , LOL. It was kinda funny, my friend and his friends are the kind of people that have more money than sense, and they do stuff like this all the time. He actually wanted to sink it, but was really not even that interested to do it, he just wanted it out of there. I got it home and inspected it and started chipping whilst I kicked things around in my mind. A backhoe would've been just right, but I managed to crack it before I got one out to the house.

...

 

[John_the_fisherman]

Re: Is this a doable project?

...con't from above:







Well, I got the slab out, onward...
The floor feels totally solid. At no time did I feel movement in the floor (and believe me when I say I tested it
That transome tho, I'm not too sure. I see a young crack forming right in the corner where the splashguard comes up, and the aluminum trim right there in the middle where the motor mounts shows signs of fatigue failure (I can tell it has moved back and forth laterally). When I grasp it and push and pull on it, it shows some movement. So I feel that it's not shot, but this is gonna be a project, and I want to do the necessary work now, and have it done right later.
I had a motivation to keep this project from the get-go, but after reading some of the great threads here has fueled that motivation.
You can see the condition of those transome cracks real good in the last pic in the first post.
Next thing I plan on doing is stripping the carpet (which seems good) and I'm going to drill out those rivets and start taking the trim apart. The material for the seats and the interior siding has no rips and is in good shape, I'm going to strip those and replace the plywood.
So, I want to know what ya'll think. Any suggestions?
Thanks, see ya 'round...

 

[luckyinkentucky]

Re: Is this a doable project?

I would rebuild it, but that's just me.

Before you decide to do it ... lay out everything that needs to be done, and figure up the cost. Also, before you buy anything for it be committed to finishing it. If not you will never get your money back out of it.

The only thing I would worry about would be the fact that concrete holds water, and if that was there too long then you may have some rot issues. I don't know for sure, but it's only speculation.

Another thing. What is the make and model of the boat? You might be able to get away with just putting a 40hp Evinrude on the back, and be ok with that.

I would do it, but that's just me. I'm currently looking for a project boat to help me make it through the winter while I'm not able to bass fish.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Is this a doable project?

heck yea thats doable, nice little comfy fishin boat, just hang a little kicker on the rear, fill those holes in the transom and if the trailer is roadworthy go put it in the water and see if its tight.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Is this a doable project?

Nice looking tri-hull. Not sure what brand it was, but you should drill an inspection hole in the floor with a 2" hole saw to see whats going on down there. Could be hollow, full of foam, full of wet foam, maybe fiberglass stringers and floor (you can only pray). And the transom probably needs a rebuild from what you say. And the gel coat is probably oxidized beyond restore (check out my signature link for a quick and easy gel coat restore). Needs a motor? How is the steering and controls? Need new ones?

You could clean it up, put in new transom, add an outboard (one of the larger expenses), shoot some paint, build some simple bench seats from cedar, and have a nice lake fishing boat. Figure on $600 to clean up and then add the price of a motor.

Could be a fun project.

 

[EricR]

Re: Is this a doable project?

Looks workable to me. I have to scan the old photos of my Glasspar when I first got it, though I had the dude that gave it to me dispose of the 70 Chrysler that was siezed up lying on it's side in water that was inside it before I came and got it.

 

[tommays]

Re: Is this a doable project?

IMHP it is already on the really hacked up side which would lead be to think there is trouble below deck

I would shop around and try to find something that has not been so abused

Tommays

 

[John_the_fisherman]

Re: Is this a doable project?

Thanks for all the great input!
Mark:I already read your thread before I even registered, and thanks b/c it's great motivation to see what you have done, and I see the picture of you wrapping the boards in fiberglass whenever I think about what I'm gonna hafta do here. Yeah, the steering controls work. There is also some kind of rig down under the splash that I would think is what I've heard called a bilge pump.?. I gotta get closer to that.

Tommays: Yep, I was just commin back to report todays findings, unfortunately not a very pretty sight...
First, here's a view of that splash. Looks like someone took a sawzall to it to install the steering lines:


I drilled out the rivets and pulled up the rug to find this


No wonder the floor felt solid to me, I was standing on a 12 or 10 ga. sheet of steel!


When I pulled that up, it was rotted fiberglass floor underneath that I pretty much just pulled up by hand. Looks like rotted 3/8 plywood on the floor, down inside is about 3" of water :doh:


I pretty much have my heart set on completing this project by now, no matter how long it takes. The only question will be money, I will drop it like a hot potato if I think it's gonna drag me in.
O yeah, those things down there, those are stringers? They need to be replaced to.
O, and I forgot to get the s/n info, but for now, all I know is it's a tidecraft. There's an aluminum tag back there, but it's pretty dented, I need to look around at the stamps/tags and collect some info.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Is this a doable project?

Yep, those things are stringers. They look to be a great design, all encased in glass, except that they have pockets holding water. Could it be that drain holes are clogged? Do the stringers seem solid, ie lots of glass built up, or just a skim coat over rotten wood? Drill a hole to inspect the inside. They may be hollow or foam filled or over wood. To save time and money, if they are solid and thick glass, even if wet wood or foam inside, you can leave them alone (in my opinion) and just put down a new floor. Its the glass/resin that gives the strength, and the little bit of water that might be inside probably won't hut much.

So pull out all lthe floor, drain all the water, scrub the hull clean and check out the stringers and transom in detail.

The splashwell can be fixed with some plywood patch pannels epoxied on from the back side, then grind a featherd edge and glass over the gap.

 

[John_the_fisherman]

Re: Is this a doable project?

Thanks again. The stringers are wood inside (which is wet )
I removed the aluminum trim along the top of the load bearing transom to have a look. There is a crack along the top of the fiberglass, which I stuck a screwdriver in to pry and have a look. Wet rotted plywood is what I saw.
Also, down there where the stringers are, the hull of the boat feels pretty flexible. should it be completely rigid?
What do ya'll think I should consider doing to get this transom up to par?
Also, I know nothing about fiberglass (I've always avoided it like the plague), where do I buy the fiberglass and resin I see ya'll using?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Is this a doable project?

if it's wet there is rot, do it right if at all. it's can be a good safe boat, better than new. before spending a cents get the title to it. or what ever your state requires.

 

[tmh]

Re: Is this a doable project?

Well, that's a wreck of a boat, that's for sure. If it had sentimental value (been in the family or whatever) then MAYBE I'd have a go at it.....but a piece of junk taken from a friends yard.....? You're looking at a TON of work, some significant $$$, THEN, when you're all done you have a boat worth 1/2 of what you sepnt on it. Yeah, it CAn be a very solid boat when done, but I'd look for a less-ruined one and pay $1000 for it.

You can always sell parts from it on eBay to make a few $$ towards buying another one.

Just my opinion though, many here have done total re-builds like that as a hobby and enjoyed it. So it's more "would you do the work for free" type decision, cause that's what your time is worth on one of these.

 

[John_the_fisherman]

Re: Is this a doable project?

Sound advice from people who have been where I'm at. Thank you.
I'm starting to feel the same way.
I think this shall be a turning point for me and abandon this project.
I will follow through with this thread though, I started it to help anyone that may come searching for information as I did.