Replacing Transom, engine stringer and floor... what about engine?

[neurotox]

OK, so I bought a 1987 19' cuddy cabin with Merc 5.0 I/O for 4400 including the trailer. After one season, I noticed a 1 sq foot soft spot in the floor. So I took it to a repair shop, that wanted $1500 to replace the floor. They cut the floor out, and discovered one of the engine stringers and the transom was bad. I've seen it, its definitely the case (whether they were shafting me with the $1500 to get me in there is a whole other story). So I'm left with a boat with no floor, rotten engine stringer and transom, and $300 of labor (to get the floor out).

I can get probably $1500 out of the engine, lower unit and trailer. Or I can pay $3000 (estimate) to replace the floor, stringer and transom. So is it worth it? or do I walk away. I think its worth it, but if someone disagrees speak up (the rest of the boat is in great shape cosmetically, better than when I bought it, I'm thinking I can resell after the repairs for 6000 if I wanted to)

Anyways, they're going to have the engine out, and lower unit, so I think now is the time to replace any common parts that go. For instance, I'm planning on replacing the trim sender and limit, since that's already broken. Anything else? Gimbal bearing and bellows are about 2 - 3 years old.

Here's my thought process, lets say HYPOTHETICALLY the oil pump is on the bottom of the engine, and only costs $50 to replace, but if it went with the engine in the boat I'd have to pull the engine and cost me $800. See my what I'm getting at? So are there any common parts that are known to fail that I should replace?

 

[199q]

Re: Replacing Transom, engine stringer and floor... what about engine?

I am not sure as to which parts typically go out, however I do know that with a Service manual, and a decent set of feeler gauges and a pair of calipers you can check the tolerances on pretty much every part, and the service manual will tell you what the tolerance range is, and you can easily determine the status of the part. Also on older boats, cleaning out oil sludge in the pan is important, and I would recommend at least cleaning out the oil pump.

good luck! others will much more knowledge than I can chime in here! You certainly came to the right place!

 

[lowkee]

Re: Replacing Transom, engine stringer and floor... what about engine?

First off, congrats on becoming a boat owner. A few things to point out in order to give you an honest estimate on the repairs and after repair costs...

I can pay $3000 (estimate) to replace the floor, stringer and transom

It costs slightly less than $3,000 to do it yourself, so I'm guessing either A: they are skipping crutial steps or B: that is a base quote and they will upsell all of the steps/products required to do it correctly.

1987 19' cuddy cabin with Merc 5.0 I/O
...
I'm thinking I can resell after the repairs for $6,000

Think again. Very few '87 boats will be worth anything more than $2000-2500 ready-to-use. Sorry you paid so much for yours. Luckily there is a silver lining.. you are here now and you won't be overcharged for a rotting boat again. Seriously, though, for the amount you have invested, you can try to save some money and do the work yourself, or if you plan to keep the boat over the long term, the money you spend to get it working may be worth it over the next 5-10 years.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Replacing Transom, engine stringer and floor... what about engine?

1987 19' cuddy cabin with Merc 5.0 I/O for 4400
Or I can pay $3000 (estimate) to replace the floor, stringer and transom. So is it worth it?
I'm thinking I can resell after the repairs for 6000 if I wanted to)

Ayuh,... If you were doing all of this Yourself,... I'd say maybe so...
But,...
Paying(Labor, + materials) to have it done,.... You've already Lost money that'll Never be back...
It's Upside-Down,+ it'll only get Worse...

 

[neurotox]

Re: Replacing Transom, engine stringer and floor... what about engine?

K.... Aside from the oil pan, anything else?

I know that I can't get more than 1500 for it in its current state (the engine, lower unit, and trailer). So 3000 gets me a $4500 boat again. That's assuming the price doesn't creep more. So I'm definitely leaning towards doing it. If I sell it for 1500 and take the 3000 and buy another boat, I'm getting a 4500 boat with a 20 year old transom and floor again.... As much as I hate throwing 3000 into it, I don't have a clue about fiberglass so I have no chance at doing a quality job myself. I'd consider learning by replacing a chunk of the floor. But this is too much for a noob at fiberglassing I feel.

 

[toocanshan]

Re: Replacing Transom, engine stringer and floor... what about engine?

i did not know anything about fiber-glassing either!!! but how much are you going to learn on a 2 ft. sq. of the floor, fix the boat yourself and use your extra money to buy something for your lady so you can use the boat in the future. "the person that never made a mistake never tried anything" you are here and people here will walk you threw this process every step of the way...what else are we going to do??? TOOCAN

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Replacing Transom, engine stringer and floor... what about engine?

Neuro...

If you are any type of handy guy, you can do it yourself. It will take longer, but you will save a great deal of labor $$s. Take a look at a couple of the Resoration threads, especially the "Hull Extension in Progress" Thread by Oops!!. He is very detailed in what he does and documents it well on the thread. Fiberglass work is not hard, and neither is transom replacement, just time consuming, detailed and dirty work.

I disagree with lowkee that the boat ready for the water is only worth $2500. To me it depends on the condition of the boat. There are alot of people that will pay $5-6K for an older boat, especially one that has been rebuilt, because they cannot afford a new one. They may not can get a loan for them due to bank values, but they are still worth it to the right people...

Bring the boat home, do the work yourself and save money. Also, do all that Little extra that are easier to do with the boat apart.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Replacing Transom, engine stringer and floor... what about engine?

I agree that you are probably better off fixing this one then trying to find a different one in the same price range. You have a very large chance of ending up with a different rotted boat. I also agree that $3000 seems too low a price for it be fixed completely and properly. I'd want a very detailed estimate for exactly what they plan on doing for you for that price and I'd definitely check in on it periodically when they were working on it to make sure it was done right. We had at a member on here who paid for a similar job only to find they had pretty much not sealed anything so he was left with a repair that would probably rot out again in a few years. Even if you don't plan on doing the work yourself I'd do some reading of the glass boat rebuild projects on here just to see what a proper job entails.

Projects by bigredinohio, drewpster, lowkee, chrishayes and others are excellent reference tools for this.

 

[tinkeringwackyone]

Re: Replacing Transom, engine stringer and floor... what about engine?

I agree with the guys above, we all have been in your boots at one time or another and have asked the same questions. If you are not in a big hurry, and are slightly handy with tools, you too can have a boat that is "new" for around 2500 or so, depending on how deep the problems are. There isn't a single guy here not willing to add his 2 cents worth to your project. Just remember, it's fiberglass, if it doesn't look right, bring out the grinder and start again. I currently am in the same situation, just not doing much as I have had back surgury 3 weeks ago and its driving me nuts not getting to work on it. These guys can keep you motivated even when you don't feel like it. Good Luck. Tinker

 

[neurotox]

Re: Replacing Transom, engine stringer and floor... what about engine?

I'm going to grad school right now, I don't really have the time to fix it or an indoor heated garage. (The wakeboard season in NY is only a couple months and I don't want to lose two of them re-doing the boat).

I asked around the area marinas and this guy is very reputable.... I can plan on stopping in once... What should I look for?

 

[toocanshan]

Re: Replacing Transom, engine stringer and floor... what about engine?

un-fiberglassed wood, that is something that you never want to see!!! unless it is simply not fiberglassed yet this is what will rot out first. if i were you i would tell them that you want to see the rotted stringers and transom as well. and this way you can assure that the bad ones are no longer on\in the boat, they would have had to be replaced. keep us posted on what your doing and how it turns out. best of luck...TOOCAN

 

[neurotox]

Re: Replacing Transom, engine stringer and floor... what about engine?

Thanks for the advice guys! Sorry.... Just have more confidence in my mechanic skills than my carpentry skills....

I looked at the boat...... One of the two engine stringers is totally rotted out... Was able to push my finger right into the transom in multiple spots.... Should be getting the boat back in three weeks.

I took the interior and carpet out myself. That will have to go back in when I get it back... I don't HAVE to put the old carpet back in, but its in decent shape, and it came out 97% in one piece. But the new floor won't be gel-coated or anything. Any suggestions for re-covering the floor? I know most guys on here are anti carpet due to moisture...

Any other suggestions?

 

[jonesg]

Re: Replacing Transom, engine stringer and floor... what about engine?

But the new floor won't be gel-coated or anything. Any suggestions for re-covering the floor? I know most guys on here are anti carpet due to moisture...

If they replace the deck, are they glassing it ?
If not you will have to do it yourself.

You can roll a couple of coats of interdeck non slip paint on in no time and forget carpet rot problems. Rugs just don't belong, maybe in the cabin.

I would say for $3K it will not be done right no matter what their reputation is, its not possible. You can get a slap job for that money and people who don't know about boat building will say its great.

Ask them if they will be sealing the underside of the deck.