restoring Carvers or any other fiberglass boat

[renken runner]

If I were able to purchase a late 70's, very early 80's Carver that was in rough condition but basically all there, would that be a good investment? Also, if I did buy this Carver where does a person go for help on how to restore these kinds of boats? Where are the resources? I don't suppose there are any "This Old Boat" shows or magazines. How about price, where does someone go for how much to pay and what to deduct based on condition?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: restoring Carvers or any other fiberglass boat

i've been doing this for years, as i retire early in life. basically i have never made enough on a restore, to pay myself for my time. it is an obsession and a labor of love, to take a wrinkle old hag, and with some tlc, elbow grease, sweat, swearing, lots of money. a beautiful show girl appears. or alteast something that you can look at in the morning. good investment, if you are looking for a boat to restore and keep, Yes. to resell NO.

 

[renken runner]

Re: restoring Carvers or any other fiberglass boat

Good advice, I was planning to keep her but how or where does someone find out about all the things that needs done for a boat like that? Carver boats seem to be ones that poeple restore. I saw a 1977 Carver that was beautifully restored. How does someone learn how to do that and not mess it up? Where are all the "how-to-do-it" materials or videos or whatever? There are thousands of books on restoring cars and houses. I must just be looking in the wrong place?

 

[mtnrat]

Re: restoring Carvers or any other fiberglass boat

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=183109&highlight=motor+mounts
This thread has an excellent carver restoration documented.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: restoring Carvers or any other fiberglass boat

i've been doing this for years, as i retire early in life. basically i have never made enough on a restore, to pay myself for my time. it is an obsession and a labor of love, to take a wrinkle old hag, and with some tlc, elbow grease, sweat, swearing, lots of money. a beautiful show girl appears. or alteast something that you can look at in the morning. good investment, if you are looking for a boat to restore and keep, Yes. to resell NO.

That's just about dead spot on...

 

[iwombat]

Re: restoring Carvers or any other fiberglass boat

Investment boat is an oxymoron. Get it to enjoy it, that's where the value is.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: restoring Carvers or any other fiberglass boat

there are hundreds of post just on this forum, do some searching, and a lot of reading. you will have to learn the correct way to use the tools, like to get dirty, and listen to the Bitching, when you come in the house dirty as heck. best thing to do is keep a change of clothes in the garage of basement. and air compressor and battery powered tools are a must have. i even have 2 battery powered chainsaws for cutting out foam.

 

[erikgreen]

Re: restoring Carvers or any other fiberglass boat

But not battery powered grinders. You need at least one, preferably two 4 1/2 inch disc grinders, 110 volt. Get some of the 3M sandblaster type flap discs for them, 36 or so grit, to use for removing any old glass, putty, or anything else that needs to come out. Also get one of those flexible fiber disks for cutting out larger pieces of glass.

Also get safety glasses, ear plugs, dust masks (I use a VOC mask for everything).

The electric chainsaws are really, really helpful.

Erik