Sell or Restore

[GCartwright]

I've had the boat for three years now, got a decent price as the previous owner was straight-up about the stringers needing to be replaced shortly. It's a 17.5' 1991 Vangaurd Baretta with a 130 hp yamaha. From what I can tell this boat has not been made in quite a few years and is only mentioned a few times on this forum. I'm at the point where I need to decide if this boat is right for me and do a restoration or if I should look for something bigger. I have access to both fresh water lakes and ocean waters within a short distance. I've had the boat in both just like the previous owner. In salt water I only travel in somewhat protected inlets and never go out into "open water" due to the size of the boat and I'd be ok with that limitation .
If I do the restore and plan on keeping it, it requires new stringers and possibly transom, bimini top, and new travel covers, trailer brakes and perhaps a trailer paint job. The upholstery was re-done before I bought it and the motor is in excellent shape.
I'm looking for advise as I'm fairly new to boating.

 

[SDSeville]

Depends on how much you really like the boat and how solid the motor actually is. If you do it all yourself, you will spend about $3k+ just on tools and materials. With the help of the guys in the restoration forum, you will have a hull that is probably better than new and will last for years and years to come. Could be worth it, but that is up to you. Another route -- If your motor is in good shape, you may be able to find a decent deal on a good hull with a bad motor and skip all the work.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

IF you absolutely love the boat and can't go through life knowing that you didn't save it, and IF you're very handy and enjoy swimming in fiberglass dust then repair it. Otherwise sell it as a project and find a different boat in good shape, or else find a decent boat that needs an engine. Also, you'll quite likely not recoup the money you put into a rebuild unless you got the boat for next to nothing.

If you decide to go ahead and repair it you'll find that the work isn't rocket science, but you still need to do it with an eye toward doing top notch work. (For some stupid reason I enjoy this type of project and I'm nearing completion on my 3rd rebuild. Right now I say NEVER AGAIN!!, but I said that after the first and after the second as well).

 

[southkogs]

I would agree. It's probably more work and money than it sounds like on the front end. Unless you're really attached to it, and desire that kind of project I'd move on to the next boat.

You may want to consider keeping the good pieces and disposing the rest. You may be able to part out the interior, sell the trailer and the outboard and make a nice chunk for the next boat.

 

[GCartwright]

Thanks for the replies and suggestions, I had a nice day on the water yesterday with friends and family and I think I'm going to do a restoration on it this winter. If I put $3000 into it I will have a total investment of $5500 and own a nice solid boat for hopefully many more years. Yes I would like bigger but I'm willing to accept the limitations of this current one. Not sure where the pictures went

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

.... I think I'm going to do a restoration on it this winter.....

Great!!!

As far as getting it done over the winter, well...... they ALWAYS take longer than you think it should.

 

[Stumpalump]

The problem is not ripping up the floor and stringers the problem is reading all the threads by what appears to be professional boat builders. It's just a plywood floor supported by some 1x6 boards. Rip it out, replace or sister in some new wood stringers, use bolts, screws or whatever and slop a few pieces of glass mat over it. Use as much as your old floor as a pattern and screw it down to the fresh wood. Slop a few more glass mats around the edges and hide the mess with carpet. Done after some spare time after work and a few weekends. Don't let these gorgeousness restorations fool you into thinking you can't replace a few stringers and a plywood floor. I've done it. It's not that hard and you don't need a full boat restoration to fix a saggy floor. It ain't rocket science.

 

[kjsAZ]

For the floor that might work but if the transom is rotten he better fixes it right. Nothing worse then watching the outboard sink into the water forever in the middle of the lake or out in the ocean........

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

The problem is not ripping up the floor and stringers the problem is reading all the threads by what appears to be professional boat builders. It's just a plywood floor supported by some 1x6 boards. Rip it out, replace or sister in some new wood stringers, use bolts, screws or whatever and slop a few pieces of glass mat over it. Use as much as your old floor as a pattern and screw it down to the fresh wood. Slop a few more glass mats around the edges and hide the mess with carpet. Done after some spare time after work and a few weekends. Don't let these gorgeousness restorations fool you into thinking you can't replace a few stringers and a plywood floor. I've done it. It's not that hard and you don't need a full boat restoration to fix a saggy floor. It ain't rocket science.

If you do it that way you'll be guaranteed to be redoing it in a year or two. And if you have a soggy deck you're nearly guaranteed to have other issues. If you're gonna do something then I can't for the world imagine why you'd want to do a half a#@@ed job, not to mention the fact that you're dealing with structural components.

 

[Cptkid570]

I like the thought of finding a newer boat that needs a motor.. maybe like 1' bigger. That said, don't undersell your 17.5" boat. It is easy to trailer, good on gas, and can still take on waves if a storm kicks up.

 

[GCartwright]

I have every intention of doing a proper restoration starting in the fall. I will also keep my eyes out for a slightly larger boat needing a motor in the mean time. Winter temperatures around here are 40 F with constant rain, and this would be at least an outside demolition phase with protection from the rain. May have to shift it indoors when it comes time to fiberglass but that would be an added expense of renting a garage otherwise it may be late
spring before its warm enough to fiberglass