lester
Petty Officer 3rd Class
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2008
- Messages
- 92
So here is the deal. I bought a 1986 16' Sunbird bowrider package for the trailer that it sat upon and thought about restoring the boat as well. The floor is solid everywhere that I could check with my mallot/feet/hands (haven't taken the floor up to check the stringers though) and the hull is in great shape(only needs a little cosmetic work). The only major repair I know of is the transom was cracked when the owner hit an underwater object with the lower unit of the outboard. He already removed most of the wood and prepped it for the most part to be fixed with Seacast. I honestly have no need for a bowrider, but was looking at the lines on the boat and thinking it would make a great skiff. I was thinking about taking a sawall to the gunwales, taking about 6" or so off the gunwales, removing the seats and the console and adjacent unit, taking off the windshield, and installing a casting platform over the open bow, and repairing the transom to just use a tiller motor I have. I have never done a restoration before, but am willing to learn and have afternoons and weekends to commit to it as well. Let me say I would more be doing this restoration to make a practical fishing skiff that would be used on the local lake and river and my focus would be on practicality instead of aesthetic pleasure. The other option is posting the boat on craigs for $50-$100 and just getting it rid of it and using the trailer my other boat. I am posting a few photos so I can get some advice. How hard would it be to cut down the gunwales and patch them back up at the cut? Is this even possible or should I just get rid of it and just enjoy using my current boat? Thanks.
