My first boat, family restoration project, and motivational thread.

[RockyCapone]

My family has tossed around the idea of buying a bought for a long time. The final trigger pull was finding this website with all the info in it.
We searched Craigslist and found a 1989 Bayliner 19ft with a 125 outboard. The entire interior is Arizona powder and flat out nasty, floor is slighlty soft in one spot, and as for the electronics.... it runs. The owner said it wasn't a gem but the engine was rebuilt 2 years ago and said we could go to the lake for a test drive, that went good so I paid the man and we brought it home.
The boat came with lots of extras that I needed like engine repair manual, life jackets, toys, and other little crap that'll nickle and dime you to death.
The reason I'm posting this is just for motivational purposes for myself and to try and share what I can with others who might have been in the "same boat" as me.
I've never done a build before on the internet so this will also be a learn as you go type thing.
My main goal is to build a nice boat for my family that we can enjoy, it won't be a max dollar build with crazy money laid out. The way I see it, is, it's my first boat and like a first house you learn as you go.
I guess first thing to do is post pictures of what we bought, so I'll make up a photbucket account and get the ball rolling.
Thanks to everyone before me on this website for giving us the goods we needed to get boating.

 

[RockyCapone]

Re: My first boat, family restoration project, and motivational thread.

We started disassemble last night, but earlier in the day me and the wifey went and bought some materials to recover and figured out what carpeting we were going with. For the interior we chose a light gray, a red for accent, and possibly a darker gray for wilting still unsure of that color. Carpet will be a simple dark gray to replace all the blue and hopefully hide dirt the best.

 

[RockyCapone]

Re: My first boat, family restoration project, and motivational thread.

Picture of the boat, I was so happy it fit in the garage, peace and quite and out of the sun.

 

[infideltarget]

Re: My first boat, family restoration project, and motivational thread.

Welcome and congrats!

Please be sure to read the threads on stringer and transom checking if you havent already. I know the feeling with the family project thing. That is exactly what our current boat and travel trailer both are. And both are almost completed, and will be ready for this summer use...so hang in there...the end result will be well worth it!

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: My first boat, family restoration project, and motivational thread.

Wecome to Iboats Rocky ..

Cool boat..looks like a mini Arriva .

First off is to start poking around your stringers/bulkheads and Transom..

OH..dont bust one of those windshields while swinging tools around..they will set you back some cash flow ..

Good luck m8

YD.

 

[wa_ssv197]

Re: My first boat, family restoration project, and motivational thread.

That's a Bayliner Cobra, good luck on the rebuild!

 

[burninman]

Re: My first boat, family restoration project, and motivational thread.

Picture of the boat, I was so happy it fit in the garage, peace and quite and out of the sun.

how many times did you have to yell at the kids "WHAT DOES 'A LITTLE MORE' MEAN?!?!?"

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: My first boat, family restoration project, and motivational thread.

"Arizona powder", is that a new kinda pastel shade?
Good luck with the rebuild.

 

[rickryder]

Re: My first boat, family restoration project, and motivational thread.

Welcome Aboard! Good luck with your new ride

 

[oops!]

Re: My first boat, family restoration project, and motivational thread.

welcome aboard !

iboats is the place for you ! and we welcome your thread !

i sence that like most new boat owners......you may have just a little more work than the interior and re finishing the wood.

search core sample....
and read the safety basics of grinding and glassing in the sticky on the top of this forum.

the more you read here.....the more you will learn. this is boat university..

cheers
oops

 

[RockyCapone]

Re: My first boat, family restoration project, and motivational thread.

OOPS! I checked it out and to my unexperienced eye all looks ok, I say that with my fingers crossed, all that I see is where the hole is in the floor, drain and storage area, the one edge is slightly soft, I know what needs to be done to make it perfect but what I'm going to do is secure a 5/8 outboard over it, blend it in, reseal everything in site, and then recarpet it. Not perfect I know but it will be plenty good for numerous years.
Earlier me and the misses went to Lowes and bought an Hitachi air stapler and like someone else mentioned, I forgot who, I bought an edge for drywall for my next upcoming pieces. I did take a left side panel apart and I see exactly how to use this, but I'll get to that later.
I've never played with an air stapler before so yes it took my a few minutes to figure out how to put the staples in, yea im a dork I know, but moving on I figured out real quick a stapler can not be used with 150psi, I blew right thru my test boards even with adjustments. So I dialed the air down to 65-70 and still right thru but not as bad, then I noticed it has a tip for delicate items, first pull perfect.
Tonight I started on my first vinyl work, very, very, intimidating. But I took one step at a time, and disassembled my powdered vinyl with many pictures so I could duplicate what the original builder did and thought a lot before I did anything. I don't know all the correct names for the sides of the boat so I'll just continue on in my "street" language for now. BTW I'm reusing all my old wood, trying not to on the foam. The old wood is excellent for watching old staple holes and what-not.
The piece I started on just to see if I could do anything right was the V section directly in front of the engine. It has 3 layers and I learned a lot from matching up the old to the new and once you get into it, it's not to bad but you have to think. I'm posting some before and after pics. Even if its not totally perfect it's light years ahead of the "powder." I readded a before picture.

 

[infideltarget]

Re: My first boat, family restoration project, and motivational thread.

Looks like you are doing a great job! I have recovered numerous 4-wheeler, PWC, and riding mower seats so I know what you are saying about it being intimidating at first. There are videos-o-plenty on youtube about this stuff and how to tuck and bend.

Man...I really hope your wood is good under the deck. I have seen more than one mention of Bayliners having a soft spot right at the edge of the ski locker. Something about they didnt seal the edges of the plywood at the cutout. If you are re-carpeting anyway, it might be worth the peace of mind to pull out a small section of the deck and double check before you put all that nice new upholstery in. A rotten boat can be very unsafe. Just sayin. Keep up the good work tho. Looking good!