SeaRay project getting interesting

[MichiBoater]

Newbie here...
I just picked up a '75 SeaRay SRV 180 with a Merc 850. Admittedly got the boat on the trailer for a couple hundred but may be that I didn't get a great deal. The seats and carpet were destroyed from squirrels living in it. I thought I was OK for cleaning and recarpeting till I found out the foam is waterlogged under the glass floor. I have the Runabout Renovation book and he makes it sound sort of easy or at least reasonable possible to replace what needs to be replaced.
I did start the motor easily with earmuffs on it but haven't tried it in the water. The seller said the engine has been rebuilt and has low hours on it. I just fogged it for the winter for now. The hull shows no stress cracks, no spider cracks, nothing but some oxidation which comes out easily with polish in several spots I have tried.
Trying to figure out if it's worth it to tear out the floor and rebuild necessary wood, pour new foam, and rebuild the floor prior to new carpet and new seats.
I'm interested in any opinions, experience, etc. regarding how long all this takes, how much work it really is, how worth it that it may be to do it, etc.
I've read a lot on iboats and it's good to know that there is a forum for people out there who love these creatures!
Bob

 

[MichiBoater]

Re: SeaRay project getting interesting

Looked at it closer today. The foam is soaked but all of the plywood I can get to seems perfectly fine. Is there a chance that they actually coated the wood in epoxy or something? Maybe I just soaked the foam when I was feverishly power washing the boat the day I brought it home and so there really isn't any rot. I guess I won't know until I tear the floor out.
Changed the lower unit oil today. There was no water and all of the gear lube was a dark yellow color. When I ran it with earmuffs last week it didn't want to make any sort of exit stream from the hole... maybe just impeller? I hope this whole thing doesn't end up being a lemon.
Bob

 

[ezmobee]

Re: SeaRay project getting interesting

Those old SeaRays are very stout boats with nice lines. They are worth rebuilding. However, it is a big job and you really need to love the boat to go through with it. There's also a good chance you won't get back out what you put into it if you go to sell it. Are you sure you'll be happy with a closed bow? I had one and was constantly wanting a bowrider.

If you decide to rebuild it, you'll find plenty of encouragement and information here.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: SeaRay project getting interesting

Okay we have a few separate issues here. The outboard questions should be posted in the mercury section. If you are lacking water flow from the tell tale the line may be blocked ir the impellar is shot. Do not run it again until that issue is cleared up.

Soaked foam needs to be replaced. Older foam aged and starts to absorb water....... it will not dry out. How were you able to access the foam??

 

[MichiBoater]

Re: SeaRay project getting interesting

I pulled the seats and carpet. There was a 1" diameter hole under each seat. I stuck an 18" piece of 5/8" copper pipe down and pulled out a sample in each hole. The port side foam seemed totally dry. The starboard side was totally wet - even saw water coming back out of the hole at me when I first pushed the pipe piece into the top of the foam.

Other items of interest: There was a rubber stopper type of plug about 1" diameter and 2" long that was in a hole in the bottom of the ski well. I got it out and there is water under it.

I looked very closely at the transom and it shows no signs of bowing out or in, and it, as everything else, seems to have quite intact plywood.

I suppose an approach to whether the foam is truly soaked through would be to make other 1" holes in the floor and test it by pulling out a "core sample" with my piece of pipe. If the only wet place is near holes that were existing, open holes when I was power washing, maybe the foam is fine.

I still cannot find any rotten wood anywhere on this boat.

Bob

 

[jonesg]

Re: SeaRay project getting interesting

Thats because you aren't experienced to see rot,
I can see the signs in the pics, the transom is shot.

If there was water under the deck the stringers are shot.
Even if you can't find rot they are saturated, thats shot.
Deck is shot.
Seats are obviously gone, its a gut job.
Its perfectly normal on a 35 yr old boat.

No amount of banging on the transom with a deadblow will tell you anything.
Remove a mounting screw on the outside of the transom, down at the bottom, run a drill bit into the hole and watch for water.

 

[MichiBoater]

Re: SeaRay project - should I be doing this?

Re: SeaRay project - should I be doing this?

Wow this whole thing is sounding pretty discouraging. I'll try to find the water in the transom. I'm not afraid to replace it. My challenge with that is mostly related to having a not-so-tall garage. It will probably have to wait until spring to get the boat outside to get the deck off to rebuild the transom.
I'm curious what cues you saw in the photo to say the transom is definitely shot.
Still, I'm figuring it's mostly elbow grease to get this thing back in shape. I'm sort of estimating plywood, stainless screws, fiberglass cloth and epoxy, carpet, two new back-to-back seats, a few yards of vinyl to replace interior surface vinyl and other odds and ends still coming up short of $1,000. So, for $1200 or so I'll have a nice ride, right? I already have the wood on hand to do any necessary stringers.
It seems like there are a lot of people gutting and restoring these boats out there. My impression is that Sea Ray is a good name and with the solid hull it is a worthwhile project.
I have gutted and renovated a 100 year old house, rebuilt floors, built walls, rewired, plumbed, ceramic tiled, and know it always gets more complicated, costs more, and takes longer than originally planned.
I have also done a milder version of this restoration on a similar old boat in the past (carpet, re-cover seats, and polish) and flipped it, making a quick grand.
Not that I want to flip this boat for $$$ necessarily. It seems like it would be fun to use with my family.
I'm tuned in and listening to everyone's thoughts on this whole thing.
Bob

 

[Josh P]

Re: SeaRay project getting interesting

I just bought a 73 searay srv 190 with a 120 hp outboard on a trailer. My interior was in better shape not perfect (still threw it away) and my stringers and transom were rotted. Im in the rebuild stage right now its not hard just take you time and read opps hull extension thread and drewpster tri hull restore they both got me going. Good luck

 

[MichiBoater]

Re: SeaRay project getting interesting

Thanks for the encouragement!

I have an outboard mechanic coming in a couple days to evaluate the motor to be sure I'm not going to be wasting my time with the boat and needing a motor all along or something.

If he gives me a thumbs up then I'm all in and start tearing up the boat!

Loads of fun!

Bob

 

[Josh P]

Re: SeaRay project getting interesting

Thanks for the encouragement!

I have an outboard mechanic coming in a couple days to evaluate the motor to be sure I'm not going to be wasting my time with the boat and needing a motor all along or something.

If he gives me a thumbs up then I'm all in and start tearing up the boat!

Loads of fun!

Bob

yup thats the first thing i did when i got it home, put the lower end in a tub and hit the key second try fired right up after sitting for 3+ yrs, oh of course added fresh fuel. (didnt prime it enough first time) so now its on a stand and in restore mode. still trying to figure out what paint to use on the bottom since it's trailered. Ill soon post a rebuild thread with a lot of pics.(they love pics here)

 

[MichiBoater]

Re: SeaRay project getting interesting

When I spoke with the mechanic, he told me anything under 100 compression is grounds for junking the engine. He also said another big red flag would be water in the lower unit. Then I remembered that I had a compression tester in a box in the garage from a long ago project. Hooked it up and hit the key on the 3 of 4 cylinders I could get to easily. They were each at 125. That is encouraging, plus I changed the lower unit oil over the weekend and it was fine - no water seen. I'll still have the guy come and give the thing and overview and try to diagnose the reason it didn't "make water" with earmuffs on when I ran and fogged it last week. Hopefully an occluded line or perhaps crummy impeller. I also tracked down the shop the previous owner used to work on the motor and they tell me they did a tune up, "gear job" and water pump replacement 2 years ago. The thing clearly hasn't run much in the last two years judging by the volume of squirrel nest, nuts, leaves, and debris (3 hefty bags full) that I found in the boat under the seats etc.
I'm getting fired up now! It seems like the biggest decision to make is the type of flotation to put under my new floor. Leaning toward blue 2" Lowes board at the moment.
Oh yeah, winter is coming. No heat in the garage. Hmmmmmm...