(MFG) First time boat owner, lots of questions, and tons of pictures.

[Steven S.]

Hi all. First post here, total newbie to the boating world, and I'm just trying to do some research. I've been lurking around for the last couple of hours, and I'm amazed at the amount of information here, especially on the older boats.

Well, let me tell you guys a little about what brings me here. About a month or so ago, my friend bought a 25' pontoon boat. Well, a few weeks ago, we took it out on the maiden voyage after we got it reliable. Now, in order to go to the ramp we launched from, we had to pass his grandmother's house. As we did, I noticed an old red and white boat sitting in the back yard. The conversation went kind of like this:

"So what's up with the boat in your grandma's back yard?"

"It's mine. Why? You want it? It's yours."

"Do what?"

"It's yours. I don't want it. I've got the title at the house, I'll give it to you when we get back."

"Umm... I don't really have anywhere to put it."

"Oh well... find somewhere."

"Ok... where do you suggest? I don't have room at my house for anything else."

"I don't know... it's your boat. Find a place. Just leave it there until you find somewhere. Either way, you're now a boat owner. Congrats."

Well.... he wasn't kidding. I stopped by his house after work yesterday and got the title. Then we rode over and looked at it. It's in better shape than I thought it would be. I guess for free, it's worth tinkering with, but I'm pretty sure I don't want to dump tons of money into this thing.


Here's some pics (sorry they're not great... all I had was my cell phone):

 

[Steven S.]

Re: (MFG) First time boat owner, pictures and questions inside.

Re: (MFG) First time boat owner, pictures and questions inside.

So from the information on the title it's a 1965 MFG. However, from the research I've done, it looks more like a 1966 MFG Erie Custom. It's got the 120HP MerCruiser I/O setup, which I've got receipts from a complete rebuild in the early '90s. However, it's been sitting for a few years, the last registration sticker I could find was 1999.

I guess I've got a few questions for the pros here.

First off, what do you think?

Second, do you think a budget resto would be possible? A little back story on that... I lost my job last July, and finally found another one in January. But I'm making just a little more than half of what I was making. So yes, finances are a little tight, but I'm willing to sacrifice a the little bit of fun that I can afford to put some work into this thing.

Third, if it's worth doing anything with, what are some things to keep an eye on, check out, watch out for, etc?

Thanks guys!

 

[keepNitreel]

Re: (MFG) First time boat owner, pictures and questions inside.

Re: (MFG) First time boat owner, pictures and questions inside.

From the looks of her she doesn't look like she was coverd, check the floor, stringers and transom for rot. Most likey this boat will need the works. I think it's a nice looking boat that will look sweet once it's done. I see a few thousand dollars in this restore.

 

[christopher77]

Re: (MFG) First time boat owner, pictures and questions inside.

Re: (MFG) First time boat owner, pictures and questions inside.

the first thing to do is assess the condition of the hull and transom, if you have a solod transom and the floors/hull are ok then you can move to the engine/outdrive assembly.

a hull like that basically has no value,the trailer may bring 100-300 depending on condition,the engine/outdrive would be worth maybe 750 or so if its sound.

so examine your hull closely, if its no good or not worth fixing try to get the engine/outdrive running anyway if you can get those working you could sell them and move up a bit,while learning about boats (cheap education) good luck.

btw, a boat in that condition should be considered a low buck project, do not spend a ton of money on her.

 

[Steven S.]

Re: (MFG) First time boat owner, pictures and questions inside.

Re: (MFG) First time boat owner, pictures and questions inside.

From the looks of her she doesn't look like she was coverd, check the floor, stringers and transom for rot. Most likey this boat will need the works. I think it's a nice looking boat that will look sweet once it's done. I see a few thousand dollars in this restore.

No, hasn't been covered. And it's sitting under a tree, so the leaves have clogged the drain holes, and there's a good 4-5 inches of standing water from about mid way to the back.

The only reason I'm even considering tinkering with this is because the price was right. However, if it's going to be a few thousand, I'll have to put it on the back burner until I save up some money. The labor doesn't bother me, as I've been playing with wrenches for as long as I can remember, I know more about cars than any non-professional mechanic should know, and I've worked with fiberglass before.

So mechanically, it's not above my skill level. I know that for a fact. Of course, there's parts and peices that will be new to me. I've never taken a boat apart, so aside from the actual engine, the entire drivetrain is foreign to me. But I'm also one of those guys who can take a few peices off and go, "OH.... so that's how it works!".

I also work at a paint and auto body supply store, we're a PPG Platinum Distributor, so I have access to anything and everything I could need to refinish that aspect of it. We even have a full spray booth set up in one end of our warehouse that I have full access to if I wanted to paint. So I'm mainly concerned about the mechanical aspect of the drivetrain, and the structural condition of the hull itself.

the first thing to do is assess the condition of the hull and transom, if you have a solod transom and the floors/hull are ok then you can move to the engine/outdrive assembly.

a hull like that basically has no value,the trailer may bring 100-300 depending on condition,the engine/outdrive would be worth maybe 750 or so if its sound.

so examine your hull closely, if its no good or not worth fixing try to get the engine/outdrive running anyway if you can get those working you could sell them and move up a bit,while learning about boats (cheap education) good luck.

btw, a boat in that condition should be considered a low buck project, do not spend a ton of money on her.

Exactly what I want to do, keep it low-buck. If it's not rotten, water logged, and the engine isn't trashed, I have no problem just throwing a cheap interior in, getting the motor reliable, and doing a quick polish job, and going fishing.

Maybe someone could tell me what the best way is to check the hull, floor, and transom is for rotting?

Also, why can't I find much info on this particular model? I see a lot of people on the internet with older MFG boats, but nobody with this particular one.

 

[decksitter]

Re: (MFG) First time boat owner, pictures and questions inside.

Re: (MFG) First time boat owner, pictures and questions inside.

There are a couple of ways to check the floor and the stringers below and also the foam, if it has any. You can drill small 1/8 inch holes in different parts of the floor and cut a straight piece off a coat hanger and stick it in the holes. You can tell if there is wet foam in there based on the sound it will make. You may also come up with moisture on the end of the coat hanger. You can also cut out a small piece of fiberglass from the floor and see what is below with a flashlight. I recently purchased an older fiberglass boat and walked all over the floor looking for soft spots. I weigh 230, ok maybe 240 and I could not feel any give. If there are soft spots on the floor and your foot can really feel the movement then you know you have a problem and you will need to pull the floor up. There are lots of threads on what to do and how to evaluate what you have.

I don't know what the best way is in checking the hull but I am sure someone with more experience can give you some ideas.

Good Luck!

 

[woosterken]

Re: (MFG) First time boat owner, pictures and questions inside.

Re: (MFG) First time boat owner, pictures and questions inside.

check this out........www.fiberglassics.com/mfg there are brochures listed by years there.
and at the bottom of the main forum list here is boats by manufactor us MFGers are there.
but if it can be done then this resto section is the place to be,there is about a MILLION years expeirence here,for the asking!!!
woosterken

 

[Steven S.]

Re: (MFG) First time boat owner, pictures and questions inside.

Re: (MFG) First time boat owner, pictures and questions inside.

There are a couple of ways to check the floor and the stringers below and also the foam, if it has any. You can drill small 1/8 inch holes in different parts of the floor and cut a straight piece off a coat hanger and stick it in the holes. You can tell if there is wet foam in there based on the sound it will make. You may also come up with moisture on the end of the coat hanger. You can also cut out a small piece of fiberglass from the floor and see what is below with a flashlight. I recently purchased an older fiberglass boat and walked all over the floor looking for soft spots. I weigh 230, ok maybe 240 and I could not feel any give. If there are soft spots on the floor and your foot can really feel the movement then you know you have a problem and you will need to pull the floor up. There are lots of threads on what to do and how to evaluate what you have.

I don't know what the best way is in checking the hull but I am sure someone with more experience can give you some ideas.

Good Luck!

Sweet... I can handle that. Well, I'm 6'2" about 375lbs (I'm one of the rare few that carry it well... I look about 100lbs lighter than I am), so I figure once I get inside (after I get the water out), I should be able to find out pretty quick if the floor is soft or not.

check this out........www.fiberglassics.com/mfg there are brochures listed by years there.
and at the bottom of the main forum list here is boats by manufactor us MFGers are there.
but if it can be done then this resto section is the place to be,there is about a MILLION years expeirence here,for the asking!!!
woosterken

I had no idea about the MFG section. I guess you'll be seing me there too. As a matter of fact, if any mods want to move this thread to there (if they feel it's a more appropriate section for it), by all means do so. Might get some more traffic too.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: (MFG) First time boat owner, pictures and questions inside.

Re: (MFG) First time boat owner, pictures and questions inside.

Welcome to iboats Steve..

Welp.. I have to say..what a junker you just got..I mean..(cough) just gimme a call and dump that baby on my lawn and rid yourself a Nice boat

Nice boat m8.. I want more pics ... !! I personally like those old style fiberglass wood planked look.

Now that you wont gimme your boat..lets get on with it shall we ..

Clean your boat.. inside and out..get everything outa there that isnt tied down ( and some things that wont take much ). Including that rubber float ring you have in there..wont work very well if someone really needs a ring

Inspect what you can on the outside glass for any repairs/cracks/damage ( you prob wont find much..your rub rail insert looks clean ).

Degrease the bilge..clean clean as you can..

Do an oil/filter and gear lube change. ( do not fire it up before you do this ). you will see anything wrong when draining..

ramp it in the water on the trailer..let sit for about 3 beers ( approx. 30 min ). look for water in the bilge.. if none..fire it up. Im sure your impeller needs replacing..possibly your boots as well.. just check to make sure your not over heating at idle.

check those out and get back to us ..

YD.

 

[F14CRAZY]

Re: (MFG) First time boat owner, pictures and questions inside.

Re: (MFG) First time boat owner, pictures and questions inside.

I'm afraid that with standing water in it and sitting outside for a few years that the stringers and transom will be rotten, but hey, take some core samples and you might get lucky.

HOPEFULLY the engine isn't seized up

 

[scrmnegl]

Re: (MFG) First time boat owner, pictures and questions inside.

Re: (MFG) First time boat owner, pictures and questions inside.

It looks like it will definitely take some time and money to bring that back to the shape of a semi-new boat. If you aren't looking for anything that will really hit your wallet, I would suggest throwing it up on ebay. You should be able to get $1000 for it at least. Just take an hour or two and clean it up and drain it out. Let it sit out in the sun to dry out as well.

Have fun,
Chris

 

[Steven S.]

Re: (MFG) First time boat owner, pictures and questions inside.

Re: (MFG) First time boat owner, pictures and questions inside.

Yacht Dr. - I can tell you're no rookie at this stuff. Unfortunately, I am, but luckily it looks like I'm in the right place. And I'll be storing this thing at a friend of mine's house, and I'm keeping the key so he doesn't get any bright ideas about starting it before I get into the motor.

He tends to have a hair trigger about things, and I've tried many times to explain to him that some things take time and they're worth the wait. It took me and my dad almost 8 years to finish his 1929 Ford Model A street rod, and it was worth every minute. I guess once you do something like that, you really understand how much easier it goes if you just take your time. He doesn't have that experience unfortunately, so maybe he'll learn with this one.

To everyone else, thanks for all the advice. I'm open to any and all suggestions right now, as I'm still in the learning phase of this project. I'd love to have it out by the end of this season, but I'm not looking to rush anything, as I'm not a fan of being stranded in the water.

I'm hoping to go get some cleaning done on it Sunday. I'm in a friend of mine's wedding, so the next 2 days are booked solid between work, rehearsal, dinner, wedding, and reception.

However, I'll be taking my digital camera to get some high res pics of the condition of it, so I'll have some more for everyone to look at. I'm sure if you're like any other forum, everyone loves pictures.

I'll probably just update this thread as I go along, unless you think I should start one in the MFG section.

 

[keepNitreel]

Re: (MFG) First time boat owner, pictures and questions inside.

Re: (MFG) First time boat owner, pictures and questions inside.

If your in no rush & would like to see this particular boat looking good again (I would) then restore it little by little so the money is spread out over time. Check Craigs List & Ebay for deals on parts, I found good deals on Teleflex steering & motor controls from them and saved a couple of hundred to use for other items needed.

YOU WILL ENJOY THIS BOAT, IT'S A GREAT LOOKING CLASSIC

 

[redfury]

Re: (MFG) First time boat owner, pictures and questions inside.

Re: (MFG) First time boat owner, pictures and questions inside.

Good looking boat Big Steve . If you've looked at the pictures in my links, you might have an idea of the shape of my boat in comparison to yours, and what it's been taking to get it fixed up. Money is an issue, it always is when restoring an old boat. The price is right initially, and spirals out of control easily after that. The fact that you have a potentially good drivetrain puts you lightyears ahead of me. I paid 300 for mine with no motor or trailer. I've had my boat for about 3 years and this is all the further I've gotten. You can pull on your resources, and since you work paint, you will have to rub some elbows with your bosses...I'm sure they can put you into contact with people that can hook you up with some of your supplies...

and if you look hard enough, you can always find deals on stuff. Certain things you'll just have to pay for at a store, like resin. But you can get lucky with Fiberglass, like I did. I still have to buy some different types of glass, but this huge roll I scored is going to be great for general glassing duty. Low budget boats are the best boats....rat rodding ( low budget, non trailer queens ) are becoming a new trend in the auto world , we can do the same with our boats. You can't put a price on your own craftsmanship.

 

[Mark42]

Re: (MFG) First time boat owner, pictures and questions inside.

Re: (MFG) First time boat owner, pictures and questions inside.

Its an MFG. Don't just start tearing into the deck and stringers assuming they are wood and rotten. Many MFG's from that era had SOLID FIBERGLASS DECK AND STRINGERS. Don't just cut it out. Thats probalby why it is sitting un covered. They don't rot (except the transom is still wood). So check it out careful before you make a mistake and ruin a good fiberglass deck.

 

[Steven S.]

Re: (MFG) First time boat owner, pictures and questions inside.

Re: (MFG) First time boat owner, pictures and questions inside.

Its an MFG. Don't just start tearing into the deck and stringers assuming they are wood and rotten. Many MFG's from that era had SOLID FIBERGLASS DECK AND STRINGERS. Don't just cut it out. Thats probalby why it is sitting un covered. They don't rot (except the transom is still wood). So check it out careful before you make a mistake and ruin a good fiberglass deck.

Thanks for the advice Mark. I love your MFG, btw. They're such good looking boats, and judging by your video, they seem pretty sporty too.

About the solid fiberglass thing, I had heard that somewhere before, but I'm not sure how to go about checking for solid glass stringers. I know it's a newbie thing, but that's why I'm here. Do I just drill a small hole and look for wood to come out? Then seal it back? Where's the best place to check? I'd assume in the back around the motor somewhere, right?

Believe me, the last thing I want to do is make more work for myself. And if I luck out and it's fully glassed, you have no idea how happy I'll be. And if the transom is in good shape, it's even better news. I've given myself until July 4th, 2010 to complete this project. Hopefully by then I'll have my boat tied up with my friends, some ladies on the engine cover/sun deck I'm planning, and I'll be kicked back enjoying some fireworks.

I wouldn't be offended at all if you just flat out tell me how you'd tackle this project. Believe me, I'll take any an all input from anyone who's been there before, because I haven't. A friend and I have built a Honda Civic Hatchback that runs low 9's in the 1/4 mile @ over 170mph, but I've never EVER messed around with a boat.

Ridden in plenty, driven a few, that's it. So even if you yell at me, I'll still take it as constructive advice.

 

[Mark42]

Re: (MFG) First time boat owner, pictures and questions inside.

Re: (MFG) First time boat owner, pictures and questions inside.

Thanks, I really like driving the MFG. Kind of like a sports car, not fast, but handles like a go-kart.

I looked at the photos you posted closely. The motor cover and lid are solid fiberglass!!! Too cool. And it still has the OEM steering wheel. Nice touch (sand and repaint). And all those gauges! The windshield is glass with lower opening vents, that is a rare item! Same with the side consols and ski racks on the sides. Looks like most of the hardware is still there, so clean up what you can and just replace what is too far gone.

I also noticed a little round top "bulk head" down under the bow deck where you feet go. That is a good clue it has the fiberglass deck and stringers. Pull up the carpet where you can and look at the deck. If it looks like plywood, then it probably is. The fiberglass decks were molded, so they have a non-slip pattern molded in. It also does not sound like wood when tapped on with screwdriver handle. It may flex under weight a little, but this is normal. Look in the motor compartment and see what you can see around the engine mounts and such.

If you can't determine that the deck is fiberglass by looking, then drill a small hole somewhere in the back. It should be about 3/8" thick. If the deck is glass, then the stringers are glass too. They look like corrugated cardboard core with foam between the W shapes. Even if the foam is wet, I would just leave it unless the floor and stringers are broken and need repair.

Not all MFG's had glass decks and stringers. If I remember right, the early 60's models had them, and then by the 70's they changed.

Remember that even if the deck and stringers are fiberglass, the transom is still wood and rots like any other 50 year old neglected boat.

BTW, it may still have the original wire cable steering (drum behind wheel and wires run to the back). This should be replaced with a newer rotary or rack steering system for safety's sake, and it will perform so much better than the old cable steering. The old wheel should fit a new system as long as it had the standard tapered shaft.

Nice find. Worth the resto effort because so much original stuff is still there. Just toss the seats, the spare tire, and all the other stuff inside.

 

[erikgreen]

Re: (MFG) First time boat owner, pictures and questions inside.

Re: (MFG) First time boat owner, pictures and questions inside.

Well, my 2 cents worth is that this boat has some potential.

Looking at it, I can't tell (no one else can either) what its real condition is. As you've already been told, you need to dig in and do some testing. Assume nothing at this point... whether it's been kept in a barn, under a tree, or anywhere else that's not in the middle of an open field will affect its condition much more than the original build quality.

It's good that it seems to have a mercruiser pre-alpha drive system installed... that drive is probably about 20 years newer than the boat, and you can still get plenty of parts for it easily. See if the engine turns with a wrench, then check the starter, and do a compression test if you can. If it won't turn or the starter won't work, pull a head and post some pictures.

If the engine's not totally siezed and rusted solid (it looks from the outside like it might be ok, for what that's worth) then it's repairable, or replaceable with a similar engine. Worst case on the outdrive you'd have water in the gear case, but if you don't at most you'd end up replacing some gaskets there. Bearings in the transom, replace the rubber bellows there too. Cheap, but takes some work and a couple special tools or good substitutes.

The good thing is that the boat is an older one.. built well, with simple controls and interior. The hull looks to be in decent shape, no telling on the stringers or deck yet of course. I like the lapstrake look, it tells you that the boat is a certain age and has a certain quality. Probably worth a restore, it's past the point it's an old boat and gone into "vintage" although it's not original.

Bottom line, proceed with caution.. untill you test drill and pull some things apart, no one knows what shape it's in. It may well be a cheap restore, or a money pit. So far I see nothing that's a show-stopper.

That bow light is just cool... reminds me of the one on my turbocraft.

Erik

 

[jonesg]

Re: (MFG) First time boat owner, pictures and questions inside.

Re: (MFG) First time boat owner, pictures and questions inside.

If it was mine ( I had an MFG very similar to that) I'd go out and drill a hole in the lower transom and inspect the drill chips, if water starts pouring out the hole its shot.

If the engine is still good I'd do the transom and stringers.

If the engine is shot I'd consider transom , stringers and convert to outboard.
Maybe $1200 tops with a decent used outboard, mine had a johnson 75hoss.

 

[erikgreen]

Re: (MFG) First time boat owner, pictures and questions inside.

Re: (MFG) First time boat owner, pictures and questions inside.

Actually, I think a replacement engine of that type would be much cheaper than a similar HP outboard.

I guess the question is what's wrong or right with that boat?

Erik