My first boat (free)

[bluej511]

Just joined the forum and this is my first post lol.

Alright well my co-worker had a boat and trailer sitting in his neighbors proprety and needed to get rid of it.So with the help from a friend we drove down and got the boat and trailer. Boat looks like a 67 Larson from looking at other Larson pics and comes with a 1977 Johnson 85.

I should have some pics later on but the boat has been winterized and has been sitting for a while, hull looks very decent, has no windshield or seats. Has a steering wheel,throttle, and gauges.

Anyone have any idea how much i could be looking at spending and whats the minimum i could spend? I will be doing all the work myself and engine work shouldnt be a problem since im a mechanic.

 

[Mark42]

Re: My first boat (free)

Welcome to iboats bluej511.

Best thing to do is list all the parts you want to add/replace or repair. Then price them out in the iboats Marine Store.

Engine rebuild kits come in various configurations, from just piston/ring kits to complete kits with bearings, seals, gaskets etc. Those kits run from a couple of hundred up to $800 depending on engine configuration.

But before you jump in, you have to determine the state of the engine first. Pick up a manual and test it out.

There is no rule of thumb for boat restore costs, but figure it's going to cost a few thousand, and the nicer it looks and the more gadgers and features you add, the more it will cost.

Post some pics.

Good luck and keep posting.

Mark

 

[bluej511]

Re: My first boat (free)

Alright here are the pics let me know what you think. Me and my buddy are gonna work on it and try a budget of maximum 1500$ together.Let me know if its possible and if anyone knows how to remove that rotted wood on the side and replace it. My co-worker is also gonna look for the key and i wonder if anyone knows how i can start it (to see how it runs) without the key.

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[bluej511]

Re: My first boat (free)

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[tashasdaddy]

Re: My first boat (free)

look on the surface surrounding the key, there should be a number. you can go to a johnson/evinrude dealer and get a new one. looks like you're in for a floor and transom replacement. it's a Larson All American, and there are a couple of people on the forum that are doing the same thing you are with All Americans.

FREE--there is nothing free about a boat (Break Out Another Thousand)

 

[bluej511]

Re: My first boat (free)

ok whats wrong with the floor and transom? I figured out what the transom is, back piece behind the motor, it doesnt appear to be cracked or softened though so idk. By floor do you mean sanding down,repaint then recarpet or tear it down?

And how can i replace those 2 wooden pieces on the sides?

How much would the transom and floor cost just around if im doing all the labor?

If anyone is near by and wants to come look at it and help me out feel free

 

[Always Broke]

Re: My first boat (free)

Nice boat! Start with the basics, structure. You can make it look pretty inexpensively but if you want it to be safe and last start looking for soft spots in the floor and on the transom even if you have to drill a few small test holes and patch them back in. The aluminum plate I see holding the motor on is not a good sign. It looks like someone was using the boat for a swimming pool, if that water was below the deck too your chances of having good wood under there are slim. Always expect the worst because if you have luck like mine that’s what your going to run into. You’d be very fortunate to find pieces that match your boat, most of the time I end up making my own. I rebuild a boat to my liking, making it original is just to much of a job and expensive for me to enjoy. I don’t know how much money you’d save repairing your boat over buying a boat water ready if any. I like to think of fixing boats as a hobby. Unless you run into a boat that is really in demand there’s little chance of making money if you add up your labor and materials with a boat in poor shape. Start reading through the forum, there’s a wealth of knowledge here that will help you. By the time you get done with your boat you’ll be on here answering questions.

 

[bluej511]

Re: My first boat (free)

haha yea i do think im gonna leave the outside the way it is and probably just do a transom and floor and leave the outside the way it is.The boat has been sitting outside for at least a year. Anyone have idea on where i could start before winter starts? The only option i have is to tarp it up during winter so hopefully that should be alright.

Is there an easy way to do the transom? Is there anything else besides wood i can use? And if there isnt how long will the wood last and how long can i make it last? i plan on using this for a while and my first idea is to put a nice railing start at the tip of the boat and going to the sides. Any idea where i can get a windshield?

 

[Mark42]

Re: My first boat (free)

First I would check out the motor. Stick it in a trashcan full of water and do compression check, if the compression is even across all cylinders, then try to start it up. Make sure you have the right fuel mix, etc. Don't rev it up much, and don't even crank it without it being in water or on a set of muffs.

BTW, that trailer looks to be in very good condition.

If the motor checks out good, then consider keeping the motor and trailer, drop the boat at the dump and use your 1500 to buy a boat in solid condition, add the motor and trailer and you are good to go.

Sorry to say, that boat is not a good project if you don't have money to spend. (transom looks rotted and sagging under the motor weight. If transom is rotten, often the stringers are rotted too. That means a complete gutting and rebuild from the stringers on up.) And $1500 is not going to go too far.

There are lots of boats that are cheap with no motor or trailer.

 

[i386]

Re: My first boat (free)

I really like the lines of that boat. I hope somebody restores it. Good luck.

 

[bluej511]

Re: My first boat (free)

well labor isnt the problem money is but i guess i could spend money on it over time, anyone know what i can rest the motor on? He said last time he started the motor it ran so who knows how long ago that was lol.

Trailer is a 97 bought in 99 and wasnt used much since he lives right on a lake.

 

[bluej511]

Re: My first boat (free)

btw whats a stringer? and how much would a complete inexpensive restore cost on one of these?

 

[Bondo]

Re: My first boat (free)

Stringers are the pieces of Wood(Usually) that run the length of the hull, Under the Floor,........
They Strengthen the hull,+ give you the Flatness to screw the Floor too.......

I'd Think that you'll be needing 3 or 4 sheets of Plywood,.... Several Gallons of Epoxy or Polyester Resin,.... Several yards of Cloth, Matting,+ Roving Fiberglass materials,....
Along with a 4, 1/2" Angle Grinder,.. Saws, Sander,+ paper, Rollers,+ Brushes for the Resins,..
Along with abunch of other Stuff that'll be apparent later.......

Ohhh,...... And Probably a Couple Hundred Hours of your Time..............

Good Luck.......

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: My first boat (free)

those are good boats, this one has been neglected. as mentioned the transon looks like it is starting to bow from the weight of the motor. you probably have wet foam under the floor, which add great weight to the boat. i like to use a 2 " hole saw and cut several inspection holes in the floor, then take a piece of 3/4' pvc pipe, with teeth cut i the end. with this i take out a core of the foam. if it's wet the floor comes out. if not the disc go back in the hole and the floor patched. on the transom you can use a 3/8" drill bit, set the depth so you don't go all the way thru, drill a couple of test holes, if it's wet you replace the transom. a boat left sitting usually has three reasons, the owners health, or they found it unsafe, or the engine died, and the didn't want to fix it.

 

[Plainsman]

Re: My first boat (free)

Don't give up! Take Tahsasdaddy's advice and investigate first before you call it quits.

You can make an outboard motot stand. Here are a couple of places to look:

http://www.outboardstands.com/

http://daveosborne.com/dave/plans/showplan.php?i=44

http://www.instructables.com/id/ELON78Z8ZJEP306GTH/

 

[bluej511]

Re: My first boat (free)

seems like its gonna take a lot of money which is something i dont have at the moment but i guess little by little i can fix her up. I saw someones post here about re-doing the floor completly, im pretty sure id be able to redo the floor but idk about the transom, even if its not wet under the floor id like to replace it anyways

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: My first boat (free)

so far we know you have a good free trailer. we don't know if the engine is any good or the boat. with out doing some testing, of the motor and the boat, were just guessing. worry about the basics right now. don't worry about the cosmetics, windshield or seats, you can always fish sitting on a bucket. it won't matter, get it to be good basic hull and motor. then you can add the lipstick and eyeliner.

 

[bluej511]

Re: My first boat (free)

Well i was talking to my co-worker and he said its been winterized and what not, so when i start it should run alright and im gonna try that today.

Lets hope the engine runs and runs good and strong, what step should i do next fix the floor? or the transom? even if both arent needed im gonna do it anyways.

#1 You think its possible to take the engine off with 2 people?
#2 If i have to cut the fiberglass to do the rear transom how would i fiberglass it back up?
#3 How do i replace the side wood and under the floor wood and is there anyway to keep it from rotting out?

Hopefully this doesnt cost more then 3grand and ill be happy, ill do it slowly but surely and i wouldnt wanna junk a classic thats just not right. Seems like my first step will be to try and get her running then i will try to fix the floor then transom.Ill take a lot of detailed pics today, seems like someone already tried to fix the rear.

 

[bluej511]

Re: My first boat (free)

Updates.Got into the wood and theres water inside? no clue
Also can anyone tell me what this lump looking thing is towards the stern?

Now where do i start?

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: My first boat (free)

BTW, that trailer looks to be in very good condition.

If the motor checks out good, then consider keeping the motor and trailer, drop the boat at the dump and use your 1500 to buy a boat in solid condition, add the motor and trailer and you are good to go.

Having looked at the pictures, this is my suggestion.

The floor looks completely toast.

See if you can get the motor running (likley) and find a 16 foot aluminum to hang it on.