Need Information on Invader Boat

[kmclemore]

I have just purchased a 19-foot 1988 Invader for use at our lake house on upper Lake Champlain. I think it may be a V198 model, although it came with absolutely no paperwork other than a title and a foreign-language manual for the motor (yeah, that's not much help!). It has a Volvo Penta A131D motor and a Volvo 275 outdrive. It's in pretty good shape, having been mostly garaged by all the previous owners... the sole is solid, original upholstery has very little fading, cracking or physical damage, and it runs reasonably well. It does need a carburetor rebuild (accelerator pump diaphragm seems to be bad - sputters on initial rev-up) and a rebuild or replacement of the seawater pump (leaking), but is otherwise not in need of any obvious repairs. I've restored and maintained other sailboats, some with outboards, but a pure I/O power boat is new to me.

I have a couple of questions that I'm hoping you all can maybe help with...

• First, are there any ways to identify the actual model of this boat? I've searched online for data and photos, but there's not much that clearly identifies models. Any Invader experts in the house?
• Second, are there any online sources for brochures, information, owner's manuals or workshop manuals for these boats? I didn't find much except parts manuals for the Penta. I did find (and ordered) a Seloc workshop manual for the Penta, but I'd really like to find an original operator's manual and some brochures about the boat showing what it looked like originally.
• Third, I'm not sure if I want to just enjoy the boat as-is, or if I want to spend the time and money to restore this boat to its original glory. That question hinges on how much the boat is really worth. Are these boats now considered 'classics' which might be appreciating in value? Most of the ones I found online were, sadly, in a really poor state of repair. So... I'd appreciate your wisdom... is this worth restoring?
• Finally, there are decals on the console which show buoys, lights, etc. - I know they're hokey, but if I do restore the boat I'd like to replaced these faded decals to preserve the originality. Is there any source for such things?

I'd be grateful for any help or advice you all can provide. Thanks!

-Kevin

(Pictures of my 'new' boat are below)

 

[southkogs]

Welcome aboard & very nice lookin' boat Kevin!

First, are there any ways to identify the actual model of this boat? I've searched online for data and photos, but there's not much that clearly identifies models. Any Invader experts in the house?

Is there no capacity plate on the boat? Usually near the helm or back by the engine bay there should be a tag of sorts and typically it's got the model number on it.

Second, are there any online sources for brochures, information, owner's manuals or workshop manuals for these boats? I didn't find much except parts manuals for the Penta. I did find (and ordered) a Seloc workshop manual for the Penta, but I'd really like to find an original operator's manual and some brochures about the boat showing what it looked like originally.

Take a look HERE and HERE and see if there's any help. Not sure there will be, but it's a starting place. The original manual for the boat is probably pretty worthless as they weren't ANYTHING like a manual for a car. The bulk of the information you'll need is with your drive.

That question hinges on how much the boat is really worth. Are these boats now considered 'classics' which might be appreciating in value?

Worth = what you paid for it, minus how long you own it and use it, plus how well you take care of it. Outside of a few particular boats, and some of the older wooden stuff, "vintage" boats are just old boats and nobody really cares much about 'em except us boating weirdos. It's not like owning a classic car where the value goes up or anything ... just enjoy it as you like and make it as nice as you want it. You'll not get back out what you invest into it aside from memories and enjoying just being out.

Finally, there are decals on the console which show buoys, lights, etc. - I know they're hokey, but if I do restore the boat I'd like to replaced these faded decals to preserve the originality. Is there any source for such things?

Not sure on that one particularly. There's always a way to replace stuff like that, but I don't know if there's anything pre-made that you can just purchase. Can you post pictures of what you mean?

 

[Bob_VT]

Greetings from VT Yes, the Invader's were popular in 88-90 here in VT. Woodards Marine on Lake Bomoseen sold MANY of them.

Have it checked out very carefully. The construction was a tiny bit better then Bayliner of that era but really not much better. That one looks fantastic. They were fast (light weight) hulls........ not too many around since they fell apart as they got older if they were not maintained.

 

[Scott Danforth]

If you want to make a small fortune restoring boats for a living, start with a large fortune. As kogs said, old boats are just old boats and are not like collector cars.

 

[Grub54891]

Get a good pic of the decal,with a tape measure held up by it,take it to a vinyl/print shop and have them make one.

 

[kmclemore]

Thanks, Kogs and Bob - very helpful. Yeah, I was most worried about the wood parts so I probed pretty hard with a screwdriver trying to find rot, but I couldn't find any at all. Even has the original carpet, and although it's faded it's still pretty nice. On the engine there's a fair bit of rusty parts and some alloy corrosion, but it runs nicely and has good compression. I've already started taking things off and putting them through my bead blaster in preparation for repainting them with corrosion-resistant paint. I need to rebuild the Solex carburetor and a kit is on the way to do that. I've machined new bearings for the seawater pump and sourced the proper rear seal - the impeller itself appears to be new so I'll leave that in for now.

I'll look for the capacity plate - frankly I hadn't noted one before, but I'll head over to my storage garage to look.

I see the one link you sent me goes to the history of "G W Invader" - I didn't think that these 1980's/1990's Invader boats (made in Texas) were the same as the GW boats... are they?

As far as the 'worth' question, I wasn't looking to make money off the boat at all, but as with anything there's a tradeoff. I'm very experienced with restoring antique cars (I have a small collection of British cars) and I know that some cars are worth investing in, not because you're going to *make* money, but because you at least have some hope of eventually selling it for reasonable money so you won't entirely lose your shirt (i.e. [selling price] approximately equals = [invested money + enjoyment during ownership]). Other cars simply aren't worth spending a penny on because absolutely nobody wants them - there's no market, and the only possible reason would be to please yourself because you happen to like that car. I thought that perhaps it might be the same with boats - some are worth investing in because you won't lose everything you invest, whereas others are ugly ducklings that nobody's ever gonna want and you're on the hook for the everything.


Oh, and Bob, our summer cottage is on Lake Champlain at Point Au Fer, NY, just across the pond from you. Perhaps we'll see each other!

And Kogs, my family is all from TN - near Jackson in Gibson County and thereabouts. There's even a town there named after my family.

 

[southkogs]

...I thought that perhaps it might be the same with boats - some are worth investing in because you won't lose everything you invest ...

^^^ = The old wooden classics like Chris Craft, Century, etc. that I generally can't even afford in their project condition ...

... whereas others are ugly ducklings that nobody's ever gonna want and you're on the hook for the everything ...

^^^ = most boats in general.

... my family is all from TN - near Jackson in Gibson County and thereabouts. There's even a town there named after my family.

Cool! I'm actually a transplant from Michigan (where there are a couple towns named after my family). Been down here 17 years and they're finally starting to consider me a "local." I love it here. I've been to Jackson and Waverly a few times. Really have only been to Memphis twice since I've been here. I typically head East if not here in Middle Tennessee.

 

[kmclemore]

The coincidences abound, Kogs... my wife is from Ka'zoo and she's a UM grad.

Thanks for the input, guys!

Just got my carburetor kit today, so I think I know what I'll be doing with my Saturday.......

 

[southkogs]

The coincidences abound, Kogs... my wife is from Ka'zoo and she's a UM grad.

... too much more and we're gonna' wind up related

I grew up in Detroit; wife's family is mostly in DeWitt/Lansing. Otherwise, start in Lansing and drive up to 2 hours in any direction and pull over ... I'm likely related to someone within a few miles.

Have a good time with the boat.