Rebuilding Cost Estimate

[thull]

I have a 14.5' 1971 CrewsCraft tri-hull that was given to me. It is almost 5' wide. The trailer is rusted through, the bow and stern lights, steering wheel, and motor controls were all stripped. The floor is soft and needs replaced. The upholstery all needs replacing, the gelcoat has lots of cracks and "pores" in it. The trailer is not salvageable and I don't have the boat title. What's good about the boat is the hull, windshield, railings, transom (as far as I can tell anyway) are in good shape and all the upholstery is there for making patterns. Anybody have a rough estimate of what the materials (wood, fiberglass, resin, gelcoat, paint, upholstery fabric) would cost for a rebuild project like this? I'm thinking I'm probably better off passing it along to someone else and finding one in better shape, probably for less than the materials to redo this boat. Anyone done something like this that can confirm if I'm close to being correct on that? Here are some pics. Thanks for any help.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Rebuilding Cost Estimate

No Title, Big Issue. That has to be first. No Motor Big issue That's #2. No Trailer That's #3. Conservative Guess-ti-mate on Restoration Costs and time... 200 hours $3,000 dollars. Lots of examples here on the forum. Do a search for tri hull restorations.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Rebuilding Cost Estimate

Yeah, that one's pretty much a basket case since the trailer is bad and it needs a motor. It's also pretty small.

Be careful buying old fiberglass boats, the greater majority of them are rotten and need a full restoration. But it'll be worth the resto if the trailer is good and it has a decent running motor.

 

[thull]

Re: Rebuilding Cost Estimate

$1500 is what I was thinking it would cost ro rebuild (not including a trailer). I forgot to mention I have a 1971 40hp 'Rude that needs a few things (fuel pump, some rewiring, and basic tune-up expendables), but has good compression and would be fine on this boat. No hull ID numbers (they didn't start requiring here until 1972-73) so tag office says they'll make up an ID number for me and I'll be good to go. Don't like the time or money estimate though. Seen some pretty nice older but still sea-worthy looking boats on Craigs for 2/3 that much.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Rebuilding Cost Estimate

You could do it for $1500 since the boat is small and would require less material, or I should say you could get it on the water for that much probably. I'm just talking about new transom, stringers, deck, and foam... maybe paint or upholstery. But you don't have to do everything at once and you can work on it as you get the money. No having the initial purchase price is a good sized plus.

Like I said earlier, those boats you see on Craigslist will need many of the same repairs. We see the people that buy those boats come through here all the time with rotten transoms, decks, and stringers.

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: Rebuilding Cost Estimate

800 in fiberglass
100 in wood
120 foam
100 in tools
150 in ppe and disposables
60 in extra timber to support while rebuilding
600 trailer that's 400 trailer and 200 extra for tires and bearings
120 wiring including pumps but not including gauges
50 odd parts for fuel, hoses, clamps
100 plus in gas running to the store
200 tune up parts for motor
80 battery
120 steering cables
100 used remote


That's just to get the hull into a usable shape. Then interior/exterior is 150 usable to 1500 trailer queen depending on what you like.


no title ...... then it costs $60 to dispose of the hull as its not worth starting. Better to buy a $500 boat with a good trailer, some type of motor and a clean title as that will save a bunch of money and head aches

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Rebuilding Cost Estimate

OK, Now you've got a way to get a Title, and you've got a motor but it needs some work. You still need a trailer sooo... Now you can prolly get her on the water for $2K but...It's still gunna take a LOT of work but she'll be as good or better than she was when she left the factory back in 71'. You won't find another boat for 2 grand that can say that!!! Now all you gotta do is decide. If you go spend 2K on another boat there's no guarantee she won't have the same issues and require another 2k in repairs.

 

[Landof9000lakes]

Re: Rebuilding Cost Estimate

Not all states require a title so that isn't the deal breaker.

The deal breaker is that the boat is only a shell of a hull and one that is a bit small. I've seen boats like that be given away for free just for hauling them off someones property. I wouldn't pay anything for it.

 

[bakerjw]

Re: Rebuilding Cost Estimate

Since it is a smaller boat, you can redo the stringers, bulkheads and transom for the $1500 range if you don't get too carried away. That would get you a very solid boat. More solid than when it came from the factory. You can even work on the incidentals over time to spread out the cost.

The incidentals will add up too. Steering cable, pumps, lights, etc... Been there, done that.

The one problem that I have at buying a different boat is that it will likely have many of the same issues that you are now dealing with. Many pristine looking craft have rot monsters lurking under the deck. You have a free boat to hack on. My preliminary advice is to pop the cap and rip out the floor to see how much material will be involved. That will give the experts on here an idea of how much material will be required. WOG is very good at estimating quantities of materials and there is an unending stream of support from the members here.

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: Rebuilding Cost Estimate

Since it is a smaller boat, you can redo the stringers, bulkheads and transom for the $1500 range if you don't get too carried away. That would get you a very solid boat. More solid than when it came from the factory. You can even work on the incidentals over time to spread out the cost.

The incidentals will add up too. Steering cable, pumps, lights, etc... Been there, done that.

The one problem that I have at buying a different boat is that it will likely have many of the same issues that you are now dealing with. Many pristine looking craft have rot monsters lurking under the deck. You have a free boat to hack on. My preliminary advice is to pop the cap and rip out the floor to see how much material will be involved. That will give the experts on here an idea of how much material will be required. WOG is very good at estimating quantities of materials and there is an unending stream of support from the members here.

The op is central Florida which means for the cost of a trailer he can buy a whole boat including trailer and a engine that may or may not run. This will get him a free steering set up and a shifter and some parts that can be sold. Then one boat hull goes to the dump. Craigslist is full of dirt cheap boats that need stringers, transom and floor's replaced so the op has options. If he wants to rebuild a boat he should make sure its the size and style he likes before starting. I rebuild a bassboat then found I wanted a flats boat :facepalm:

 

[thull]

Re: Rebuilding Cost Estimate

GPP has a good idea...for close to what I'd end up spending on a trailer ($200-$400), used steering ($50-100???), used shift & throttle controls ($50-$100???), lights & other incidentals, & all the running around, I could pick up a whole boat, trailer, & motor, that is likely newer, titled, bigger, nicer color, & in better condition. It may still in fact need a floor too, but I'd be starting off with slightly less work to do, & I might at least a few seasons out of it before the overhaul is necessary. Are these good examples of what you're talking about GPP?

15' Cobia Bowrider
BOAT FOR SALE 19' LARSON
85 Bayliner with 85hp outboard

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: Rebuilding Cost Estimate

GPP has a good idea...for close to what I'd end up spending on a trailer ($200-$400), used steering ($50-100???), used shift & throttle controls ($50-$100???), lights & other incidentals, & all the running around, I could pick up a whole boat, trailer, & motor, that is likely newer, titled, bigger, nicer color, & in better condition. It may still in fact need a floor too, but I'd be starting off with slightly less work to do, & I might at least a few seasons out of it before the overhaul is necessary. Are these good examples of what you're talking about GPP?

15' Cobia Bowrider
BOAT FOR SALE 19' LARSON
85 Bayliner with 85hp outboard

yes that's the idea but remember at that price do not expect to get a few years before a overhaul. Hang around the rebuild section and read other peoples posts and learn as much as possible about how the hulls are put together so you will have a idea of what to look for in a boat before you rush out to buy one. The more you learn the more chance you have of finding that cheap 2 year boat rather than a sink on the first time out lemon

 

[thull]

Re: Rebuilding Cost Estimate

I'm not in love with the layout and look of this tri-hull either. I think if I'm gonna have to rebuild one, it will be a lot more "fun" if I really like the boat. Looking for a bow rider with a hull design like the one below, or any of those in the post above. Would these be called "V-hulls???" I've heard tri-hulls make for a comfortable ride, but if that's true why are most of them for sale from the 1970s, and most of the newer used boats some other style??? Incidentally, I have a little jonboat that's almost ready for the water, so I'll use that for fishing and cruising little rivers. This project would be for a boat our family of four could cruise, tube, ski, and enjoy a comfortable day out in.

Cobia 16ft boat Johnson 140hp with 50 lb of thrust electric motor

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Rebuilding Cost Estimate

To me, this^^^ is a much better deal.

 

[thull]

Re: Rebuilding Cost Estimate

Wonder why no seating area up front on that last one. Seems like a bunch of wasted space up there.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Rebuilding Cost Estimate

It's called a RunAbout. Closed Bow. If you want upfront seating then Check the 85 Bayliner with the New transom. Beware though and really investigate what a NEW transom means and check the deck, Motor etc.

 

[thull]

Re: Rebuilding Cost Estimate

Thanks all for the help. This is all a real eye-opener on rebuild costs. Thanks again.