Prospective boat needing repair

[Mowens]

I sold my bass boat for a larger family boat. I found this 98 Sonessta 232. It has some damage on the back corner. I was just wanting to ask before I purchased it if anyone had persperctive on cost, difficulty, value of repair. Thanks guys!

 

[racerone]

You would be shocked at the labour cost at a shop.-------Studying some books and some practice work with resin , cloth , epoxy and you can do this yourself.--------If you want it fixed at a shop with a ----" can't see where it was damaged job " you might be out $10,000+----It appears to all be above the water line so that makes a difference too.

 

[Mowens]

You would be shocked at the labour cost at a shop.-------Studying some books and some practice work with resin / cloth epoxy and you can do this yourself.--------If you want it fixed at a shop with a ----" can't see where it was damaged job " you might be out $10,000+

Absolutely would be an at home repair.

I did some basic glass repairs before nothing like this though.
Anything specific to check when I go look about this glass damage? I assume wet edge water etc.

 

[racerone]

Removing stuff on the inside may need to be done.------Repair / re-enforce .----Then slap as much as you need on the outside and blend it in.-------Cover the blemishes with your favorite color of paint or decals or a vinyl wrap with ladies in small bikinis.---Then enjoy.

 

[Mowens]

Thanks!

So sounds like a doable repair.

Can I use like a expanding foam to back it?

I would assume thickened resin to fill the cracks and 1708 for any structure.

My wife would love bikini model wrap lol


Racerone- thanks for all the advice and help!

 

[Scott Danforth]

no, the expanding foam wont cut it

you will need to remove the damaged glass, move the cap back into shape, then reinforce the area and use multiple layers of 1708. after that, you will need to fair, then re-finish with either paint or gel.

if that is the only damage, you are looking at about $300-$500 in materials, incidentals, etc. if you do it yourself

however by the amount of damage, I would also look at the areas within the bilge and expect to find a few other items. the boat looks like its been damaged for some time

 

[Mowens]

Thanks! That's the info I really wanted to hear.

He "claims" it was in a building when the damage happened and has been since.

Thanks I will give it a solid once over everywhere.

 

[AShipShow]

Not sure what kind of deal your getting on this boat, but with the age, its also got potential for lots of other future problems like rotted transom/stringers/deck...

You will want to knock around with a hammer on all the structures, especially down low on the transom and stringers. You can't always tell if something is rotted by knocking, but I doubt the guy will let you drill holes in the transom...

Just be aware that with its age, it may last you 20 more years with no problems, or it might start falling apart next year... All depends on how the boat was stored and cared for in its 22 years on this earth.

 

[Mowens]

Not sure what kind of deal your getting on this boat, but with the age, its also got potential for lots of other future problems like rotted transom/stringers/deck...

You will want to knock around with a hammer on all the structures, especially down low on the transom and stringers. You can't always tell if something is rotted by knocking, but I doubt the guy will let you drill holes in the transom...

Just be aware that with its age, it may last you 20 more years with no problems, or it might start falling apart next year... All depends on how the boat was stored and cared for in its 22 years on this earth.

Thanks! I had planned to tap around on it and make sure as best I can.

 

[Mowens]

So went and got up close and checked it. Banged all over inside every hatch all over the hull and transom area. Everything seemed solid and dry.

One big bonus was that with the engine hatch open I could see the back of all the damage. I can unbolt the freshwater tank and get to all of it.

The negative was that he couldn't start it dead battery. And he removed the outdrive because the gimble was damaged.

So now my question is if I go back Saturday anything else I should look for? He says he will be able to start it Sat. Anything I should check on the outdrive while its off? I looked at engine and area outdrive connected to and the outdrive itself, I didn't see any corrosion. But the prop has a bent blade. I hand spun it and it was smooth so I hope that means the shafts are good.

I saw the gimble it was broken like the cast body section of it.

Lastly he is asking 2500 for it. Obviously I will offer less. But if the motor is good I'm guessing he isn't to far off the mark.

 

[achris]

Spinning the prop just turns the propshaft, nothing else. A bent blade could indicate impact, so I would be leery of that drive. It may not have suffer any internal damage, it may have a sheared driveshaft, or cracked gears. Without a strip down and the gears being magna-fluxed, you just don't know.

If you want to check that everything is turning correctly, put it in gear (turn the shift shaft so it points straight ahead), then turn the input yoke the same way as the engine would turn it, the prop should then turn forward. It should be quite tight, you're also turning the water pump impeller in a dry housing. Select reverse (turn the shift shaft the other way), and keep turning the input yoke the same way, the prop should turn in reverse.

Chris.....

 

[racerone]

$1000 tops.-----It is possible that a good drive was sold / exchanged for the drive that is there now.

 

[Mowens]

$1000 tops.-----It is possible that a good drive was sold / exchanged for the drive that is there now.

I was planning 1500 but I'll start at 1 assuming the engine runs.