New Boat Owner with a couple questions.

[BoatWeazsel]

Hello all, I'm new here on Iboats.com just saying hello and had a few questions. My friends and I just purchased our first boat and are having a blast working on it. We generally got a good deal, boat, motor, trailer and fishfinder for about $500. It's a 1979 17' Marquis Riviera BR with an '89 Evinrude 50. Needs a few things but not too bad. I already ordered the starboard side stabilizer plate for the Evinrude and some new marine grade carpet from cabelas. We also built new platforms for the seats seeing as the original wasn't in the best shape. We are pretty much converting the bowrider into a fishing boat. For three addicted fisherman this is the best way for us onto the water until we muster up enough for a real boat.

Ok, on with the question. Where can I get these parts in the first two pictures? Can i use ones from a different boat? We're trying to keep this very low cost.

The other pictures are of the boat. I've been researching alot but any comments or warnings to avoid any pitfalls you may see are GREATLY appreciated. Thanks guys.

This is after we took out the seats and the carpet.

 

[salty87]

Re: New Boat Owner with a couple questions.

upholstery. auto shops should be cheaper than marine...take everything off the boat yourself and bring to them kinda thing. or, buy a used sewing machine and learn how to do it. chances of the seats from another boat fitting are pretty slim.

if your pieces aren't falling apart or rotting, maybe you could just recover them as is. there's a company that makes seat covers out of towel material, to protect new seats. same sort of idea might work for covering your old seats. would have to be diy though. cheap means you need to get creative.

nice looking boat. is the trailer a little small?

 

[BoatWeazsel]

Re: New Boat Owner with a couple questions.

Thanks for the quick reply... what are you saying take the foam out of the existing ones and make new ones? or have someone copy the exact same design? They are kind of falling apart and rotting... the bowcushions aren't the WORST but i would like to replace them. The picture with the black arrows is what I'm really trying to replace. They are shott I'm debating on taking the whole thing off and making a template for a whole new one. How hard do you think it will be? I have no vinyl experience whatsoever but I do have 3 brains and tons of motivation!

I think the last owner didn't pull/secure the boat on the trailer right... it seems to fit just right. You don't think so??

 

[mddubya]

Re: New Boat Owner with a couple questions.

Here is a link to another thread on here. It doesn't look that hard to redo them yourself following these instructions. I have a couple of items on my boat I'll be trying this on myself.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=347724

While you have the carpeting out, check the flooring and stringers also.

Great looking boat for the price BTW!

 

[BoatWeazsel]

Re: New Boat Owner with a couple questions.

I'll check out that link, thanks alot!

Here's a few more pictures, tell me what you think! I'm proud of her

Going to get the bottom soda blasted and leave it bare. We trailer it so my buddy said it was ok.

Is there a project thread on here I can post my progress?

 

[BoatWeazsel]

Re: New Boat Owner with a couple questions.

Here is a link to another thread on here. It doesn't look that hard to redo them yourself following these instructions. I have a couple of items on my boat I'll be trying this on myself.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=347724

While you have the carpeting out, check the flooring and stringers also.

Great looking boat for the price BTW!

The floor is actually pretty solid, there is one part of the floor that is a little soft because they made a repair. I don't know why though, my guess is the gas tank was taken out because we have an auxillary one right now.

Here's a pic of the patch, it's on the top of the pic.

EDIT: and thank you very much for the link mddubya, I think what I have to do is make new ones for me to be happy. It's a cheap boat I know but it's MY cheap boat and I want it to be nice.

 

[mddubya]

Re: New Boat Owner with a couple questions.

Looks like a solid boat, I'd buy some Comet cleaner and some Scotch Brite pads, scrub her down real good to clean off the oxidation, the wax her up real good with a buffer and some Marine wax.

As far as the bottom goes, I'm not so sure about leaving it bare. If it were me, I'd definitely want it either painted or re-gelcoated.

 

[BoatWeazsel]

Re: New Boat Owner with a couple questions.

Looks like a solid boat, I'd buy some Comet cleaner and some Scotch Brite pads, scrub her down real good to clean off the oxidation, the wax her up real good with a buffer and some Marine wax.

As far as the bottom goes, I'm not so sure about leaving it bare. If it were me, I'd definitely want it either painted or re-gelcoated.

NOOO of course we'll re-gelcoated I just meant we don't want it painted.

My friend detailed boats on the side since he was a kid and he did ours two days ago. I'll have much more pics as the boat transforms from a caterpillar to a butterfly haha. Our plans for her maiden voyage is one week from today. Columbus Day. It's very symbolic.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: New Boat Owner with a couple questions.

Since it's a $500 boat, for guys fishing, and a 'starter' I'd focus on the mechanics and design and forget cosmetics. Think about yuor equipment, too, such as fish coolers, live well, anchor, etc.
For example:
Leave the bottom alone. Who cares--the fish looking up as you haul them in?
Take out all bad cushions and upholstery and discard. You don't need padding.
For the bow seat area, depending what's under there already: marine grade plywood with a sturdy vinyl cover stapled on. No paddnig. This gives you a fishnig platform to stand on. Forget the bass seats up there. Add removable bow cushions later if you decide to take chicks out instead of fishing.

Same with the sides: if you need to replace the walls around the side compartments, marine plywood either well painted or varnished (preferred) or covered with vinyl. You don't need to keep your lures and sinkers in a padded compartment.
INstall vertical rod holders along one side after you remove the padding.
Install rod holders in the rear for trolling. They are handy to have even when anchored or drifting. Get a couple of clamp-ons for the bow rail.
Pedestal seats for driver and passenger, not the fold-down seats. Purchase from boat junk yard.
Remove the flop-over center windshield (but keep it). It only gets in the way.

Go to a marina and walk around, noting the way fishnig boats are set up.

Bottom line: which would you rather be cranking: a sewing machine or a fishing reel? Time's a'wasting!