Is this boat worth restoring

[hometech210]

Greetings to everyone! New to the site and it appears to be a great place to spend some time. Ive read some post about the 65 hp. Evenrude and i like what i read. I have a 17' boat that i think is a 1970 Cobia with a hide away area up front v- hull. Really a good looking boat that brings alot of admiring comments. Out board is a 65 hp Evinrude from same year with push button select drive. It's in real need of new floor and floor supports. Hull looks ok shape, needing washing and polishing. Hasn"t ran in water for at least 4 to 5 years. Ignition box was changed to 12 vlt. car coil. My question is, is this boat a desireable vessel and worth restoring? What about the engine? Engine will run if cleaned and given some TLC. Hate to junk it. Wife is hard on me to get rid of it. To her it's an eye sore in back yard. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks All!

 

[mkast]

Re: Is this boat worth restoring

Wife being happy is one thing, I heard she caught you breathing again.
Replacing the floor is not that tough, IF, you do, I would recommend marine grade plywood.
Is it worth it? Do you plan to keep it?

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Is this boat worth restoring

A 30 year old boat with bad deck and stringers ( probably a full resto .. but dont know until I can google map it and zoom in enough to look at your boat .. whats your address again ? oh..you could always just post some pics ).

Not worth the time or $ . This is based on the information given so far.

YD.

 

[emoney]

Re: Is this boat worth restoring

....plus just adding in the "wife says (get it out)", and I think you've answered your own question.

Boats are restored out of love for the boat. Not because "its worth it", because none of them are ever "worth it". If momma ain't happy, nobody's happy. Part the thing out and sell the remnants on Ebay, take your newfound fortune and buy a fishing boat!

 

[mike64]

Re: Is this boat worth restoring

Whether it's worth it to restore the boat, as has been said, is really whether it's worth it to you. If you can't get the wife on board with a resto, that's going to be tough going. I've been there, my wife also is not too crazy about the time and $$ I spend on boats, so good luck on that front.

As for the motor, I can speak on that somewhat. I've had a '71 60hp Johnson and I currently have a '72 65hp Evinrude. OBs of that era (I think it was 69-73) are hydroelectric shift. If you've been reading posts on the motor you probably know some of this, but parts for the electric shift components of the lower unit are no longer available new. For this reason as well as others some may tell you that motor's not worth keeping.

I can say that I've had some maintenance issues with my '72 Evinrude, but on the whole it's been a great motor. I had water coming into my Lu oil, which I believe was caused by a groove in the driveshaft where it met the seal. So I found a used Lu online for $200, which has been working great, and now I have the solenoids and other working parts from the old Lu if I need them. My point in telling you that is, it's still possible and not too $$ to find used parts and keep that motor running if you choose to. It's a good workhorse motor. My '72 motor started right up on the first turn of the key this season when I summerized it.

If you do decide to keep the motor, you'll want to get the service manual for it. You can order a reprint at www.outboardbooks.com, or check eBay for a used one. You'll want to replace any jury-rigged car parts with the real thing.

 

[mike64]

Re: Is this boat worth restoring

Oh yeah, also forgot to mention when you replace the Lower unit oil, you need to use a special kind called "type C" or "Premium". It still seems to be pretty available in boating stores, but it's getting harder to find all the time, so call stores ahead or order it online if you need to.

 

[coostv]

Re: Is this boat worth restoring

Pictures tell a thousand words, or some such saying like that...

I have a 22 year old Baretta, I like the boat a lot and will over time spend more on it than it is worth. I would say right now I am at the break even point, but I would like to do the interior next..

Bear in mind that any money spent on the boat will probably never be recouped at the time of sale. If you really like the boat I say do it, projects are fun to have and rewarding when completed. If it were me, I would focus on making the engine run first and go from there. Once you have a good running engine it is a catalyst for the rest of the project. If it is going to take a bunch of money to make it run reliably again you may want to part it out. At a minimum you will have $500ish into replacing the deck and stringers if you go with poly resin. Your transom is probably shot as well, add $100 bill.

Type C lower unit lube should be found at any good marine service center. Call 1st as mentioned by Mike. Parts are getting scarce and expensive for the old electric shift engines, but they are nice when running and performing well. I had a '65 Johnson 40hp, great engine. I spent $400 on parts for the lower unit when it would no longer hold forward under throttle. I was able to do the work myself so that saved me a bunch.

YMMV,

 

[hometech210]

Re: Is this boat worth restoring

Hey guys thanks for the quick response on the 67 cobia. My apologies for stating the wrong year a 70. Yeah, I here everyone loud and clear about materiel cost n the wife. It's all good though. I've played possom long enough I think to make it a go with her if decide to rebuild the cobia. She actually wanted me to build her a small sail boat since i'm into woodwork. I'm posting pictures of the cobia later today for all to see and inspect. Thanks again guys!!

 

[hometech210]

Re: Is this boat worth restoring

Hey guys heres some pictures for viewing

 

[jherlyn]

Re: Is this boat worth restoring

The real trick is getting her past that point of "it's an eye sore" to "look at our awesome unique boat"

Me I just got done restoring a Chrysler tri-hull with a 75 hustler on it. It took two years. Wife finally got on board about a year and a half in.

But everybody'll know which boat is mine!! prrreettyyy

 

[hometech210]

Re: Is this boat worth restoring

I don't think it will be a problem with the restoration. Never rebuilt a boat before but I'm willing to tackle it. I saw another thread where JD mentioned pulling off the top on his 67 cobia like mine. Any one have experience with this kind of boat? Just want to get plenty of info before final decision. Appreciate all inputs by everyone. Hey jherlyn can you post a picture of you'r redo. May help with my decision. Tks!

 

[hometech210]

Re: Is this boat worth restoring

Hey Mercruiser are you refering to the use of a $20.00 automotive ignition coil oppose to the $300 omc power pack? I here you loud n clear!
The suggestion was given by some one in the boat rebuilding and salvaging for 40 years. This guy new most engines if not all like the back and front of his hand. He buys, salvages and restores complete boats. I'm not saying he knows it all but by the looks of his constant clientele at his business asking him for parts and advice from A to Z, it seemed safe to go with it. Boat fired right up and ran good!!! All are looking to save $$ if we can. Thanks for the warning much appreciated.

 

[emoney]

Re: Is this boat worth restoring

I had an outboard that the previous owner put automotive coils in. It ran fine........for 3 or 4 times......then, not so much. I'll never go that route again and you can't find another person any more frugal than me when it comes to anything; let along boats. I can assure you it cost me more than the extra few hundred bucks that he saved.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Is this boat worth restoring

If that was your typical closed bow runabout coupled with that electric shift outboard I'd say dump it. However, that's a pretty darn cool old cuddy cabin there that I would certainly enjoy seeing fixed up and kept out of the landfill.

 

[hometech210]

Re: Is this boat worth restoring

hey guys still got the cobia. working on other things right now. I'll be getting back to her have'nt decided her out come. just built me a little piroque to fish the area ponds and creeks for sunfish and spotted bass. It's extremely hot in texas right now for outside work. 105 dgrs. last week

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Is this boat worth restoring

I agree with ez - that's a great looking boat. Good luck making your decision. You know - part of the issue might be she's just tired of looking at a worn out boat that never gets better. My advice - buy a big cover or tarp to throw over it so she's not always looking at bits and pieces, exposed engines, etc. Sure - a lump ain't pretty but it's a least a bit less junky looking. Now get at 'er! We want to see it in the water!

I will echo the advise of others. Don't be doing this for the investment potential cuz there ain't none. You've heard the sayings, right. Break Out Another Thousand, Hole in the Water into which you throw money, etc, etc.

Restore it because it means something to you and - hopefully in time - your family as well. Myself I'm trying to restore a little Merc outboard and will probably spend as much on it as I would on just looking around for another running motor. Thing is, this one was given to me by my dad when I was 10 and I plan on giving it to my son when he's 10 next year. That kind of worth you just can't find in any profit and loss argument.