Time and investment - 1975 18' SS

[ezmobee]

Re: Time and investment - 1975 18' SS

I probably have 200-300 hours into mine ......but that's why we do this right?....cheaper than bail money or a mistress

That is something I won't do again. Did it once, never again. A quick repaint maybe but a total wire wheel and refit? Forget it. At $1500 for a new one, my time is more valuable.

 

[MichaelP]

Re: Time and investment - 1975 18' SS

I think 5K is on the high end of the spectrum. It depends on what you start with and what you want to end up with. The length of the project depends on how much time you can devote. Some have done a resto in a few weeks with around 1K invested.

Sometimes I catch people just staring at my 16SS. I still catch myself too. Priceless!

 

[bunker108]

Re: Time and investment - 1975 18' SS

I have a 1973 18' SS. I purchased it for $1700. I have close to $3500 in to it total now. Everyone is right...it is all about what you start with and what you want as a finished product. My boat was for the most part water ready and I planned on using it as is. But a good friend of mine and lifelong boater, convinved me to invest some time and money into it and get it how I wanted it before using it. His reason was that with not much (time or money) invested, you are only one bad day away from scrapping the entire project. It makes sense now as I would need a year of bad days to scrap my project.

So what do you get for $3500? A boat and trailer that still needs work, that I can enjoy for now, and finish the other little things as I go. Keep in mind to, I am on the extreme high side for paint. We used high dollar paint which ate up a large part of my budget. I still need to paint the topside and splashwell too, but that is just prep and paint, I have more paint.

New on the Boat:
Two tone single stage PPG paint
Sunbrella Bimini Top
2 new marine Batteries and boxes
2 new 6 gallon gas tanks
Bilge Pump and float switch

New on the 1150 Mercury:
Impeller and pump housing
Rectifier

New on the trailer:
Wiring harness and submersible lights
Fenders
Wheel bearings and seal
Bunk brackets and carpeted bunks
1 keel roller
Hull stop
Winch strap

but like Michael said...this is priceless!

 

[phdfishhead]

Re: Time and investment - 1975 18' SS

His reason was that with not much (time or money) invested, you are only one bad day away from scrapping the entire project.

bunker...your boat is absolutely beautiful.

Could you elaborate a bit more on the above comment? Do you mean that something would happen to the hull such that it was not repairable? Like what? Transom so bad that using it it would damage the hull beyond repair?

 

[bunker108]

Re: Time and investment - 1975 18' SS

No he was not talking about things beyond repair...exactly the opposite. We talked about things that come up that will make you question if this is still a project you want to continue with. The deeper you get into a project, the more it will take to seperate you from it. A bad day could be a breakdown on the water or set back during a repair. That one bad day could end your project. But with some time invested, and results starting to show, that same breakdown or set back just become part of the process instead of the end of it...

I think he was trying to make sure that the project I had in front of me would get done before the excitement of having a "new" project wore off and the boat turned into another unfinished project on craigslist. Look at how many boat projects are for sale that were never finished. That was his point. If you read my thread I had one of those moments after I thought I cooked my motor. It looks easy on the computer, I can assure it is work. But it turns out that this is the kind of work I really enjoy. Taking the family on the water for outing number two this weekend.

Does that make any sense?

So you are risking very little at $500, and I say take the shot.

 

[phdfishhead]

Re: Time and investment - 1975 18' SS

Thanks bunker...Yes, read your thread awhile ago and I now know exactly what you mean.

I have the boat spoken for but I am exploring some other options before I finalize the deal.

 

[heyyou325]

Re: Time and investment - 1975 18' SS

When you restore a boat, you take pride in it. You know it a lot better than if you just go buy one and put it straight on the water. Where all the weak spots are, what to look for for future problems. etc. There are a lot of directions on here for redoing your decking, or transom. MichaelP can probably supply the transom caps to you for a good price. Less than $100, I forget exactly, and he does good work. pm him. You can find other parts here, or find them used. I'm hoping to take a trip today for spare parts. Blown engine, with a lot of good parts, recent rebuild on outdrive, trailer for 21 foot boat with electric brakes, wake board tower, could be converted for pole holders, front railing, lights,seats, but not sure what kind or the shape. all for $350 OBO. I found it on CL, it's a glasser so I won't mind dismantling it, plus I know a guy looking for a bare hull, maybe. You might invest a lot of time, but you will have what you want and in good shape. And know what you have.

 

[MichaelP]

Re: Time and investment - 1975 18' SS

^^^^X2 Then you have us to help along the way.

Oh shucks there heyyou. Good luck with that glasser!

 

[phdfishhead]

Re: Time and investment - 1975 18' SS

The biggest issue I'm currently dealing with on this rig...is the title and registration.

The person who currently has this in his possession is not the current title and registration holder, and he has no idea who technically owns it.

He got it from his so called "brother in law" who had a stroke. I'm not even sure that there is a formal relationship between the two. His wife's sister said that he could have it. Supposedly, his bro in law never titled or registered it...just packed it away. Now he is trying to sell it. Messy, to say the least. I can envision this turning out to be a a long, drug out issue...and actually paying for the boat twice before being able to get it on the water, if its not resolved upfront. Maybe I should be paying someone else for the boat instead of the current holder?

He keeps threatening to sell the boat as scrap...but from my experience, salvage yards require titles for such things before they'll take em. I guess if it falls through the cracks, then so be it. If its supposed to be, it'll be. There will be others.

On the other hand, I could prolly take the motor off of it and get my $500 back (or more), even if the real owner wants something for the boat. But, that doesn't feel quite right either...Though I'm gonna go through the motions, I'm feeling that I'm gonna have to pass on this deal.

 

[Bwana Don]

Re: Time and investment - 1975 18' SS

The biggest issue I'm currently dealing with on this rig...is the title and registration.

The person who currently has this in his possession is not the current title and registration holder, and he has no idea who technically owns it.

I did the same thing. I bought a boat from a deceased guy's daughter. He bought it but never registered it. To make matters worse it was an I/O which in Michigan requires a title. It took me months, never again. No title or registration no deal.

I hope it works out for you.

 

[coolbikeguy]

Re: Time and investment - 1975 18' SS

I DID PASS on another 18' SS for $400 but that's cuz it had an incomplete Chrysler on the back of it, a weird non-original windshield and was sitting on a strange homemade trailer.

sounds like you passed up on a real " GEM " ..... you knuckle head ...

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Time and investment - 1975 18' SS

sounds like you passed up on a real " GEM " ..... you knuckle head ...

No offense intended toward those with less-discerning taste :

 

[phdfishhead]

Re: Time and investment - 1975 18' SS

cbg...ever finish er?

 

[phdfishhead]

Re: Time and investment - 1975 18' SS

So, here it is...

http://appleton.craigslist.org/boa/2560985006.html

Can have er for $400. No title but I know who its titled to.

I'm thinkin I don't have time to resto her...though I'd like to.

She's goin to be chopped up and recycled by the end of the week.

Kinda hate to see that...

Still thinkin...

 

[phdfishhead]

Re: Time and investment - 1975 18' SS

Sure am back and forth on this deal...someone needs to tip me over the edge one way or the other soon.....(tonight or tomorrow).

I tracked down the titled owner...lives out of an RV. WI summer and TX winter.

Everything appears on the up and up. He sold it 20 yrs ago. It sat in a field ever since.

He's willin to work with me on the title issues, but it may take some time...which is ok since I got some work to do on it!

FYI...my brother wants to sell me his 2002 18ft Lund with downriggers, 130hp honda, 15hp honda, gps, fish finder, radio, etc etc etc for $10K...

Both?

I'd love this boat like a child...I do know that.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Time and investment - 1975 18' SS

That the same motor used in James Bond movie and the boat jump. That should help you decide Also, the power tilt N trim unit on that motor is worth $400 on ebay BY ITSELF.

 

[64osby]

Re: Time and investment - 1975 18' SS

Sure am back and forth on this deal...someone needs to tip me over the edge one way or the other soon.....(tonight or tomorrow).

I tracked down the titled owner...lives out of an RV. WI summer and TX winter.

Everything appears on the up and up. He sold it 20 yrs ago. It sat in a field ever since.

He's willin to work with me on the title issues, but it may take some time...which is ok since I got some work to do on it!

FYI...my brother wants to sell me his 2002 18ft Lund with downriggers, 130hp honda, 15hp honda, gps, fish finder, radio, etc etc etc for $10K...

Both?

I'd love this boat like a child...I do know that.

Based on what you say above, I'd say buy it and go for it. Your not going to loose any money on it and you could / would be able to "relive" your youth and get new joy when you finish her. And yes if your budget allows buy the other and enjoy the water now and still rebuild the SS.

 

[phdfishhead]

Re: Time and investment - 1975 18' SS

That the same motor used in James Bond movie and the boat jump. That should help you decide Also, the power tilt N trim unit on that motor is worth $400 on ebay BY ITSELF.

EZ...have you actually seen them sell for that, or just that folks are asking that much for them?

I'm wondering what it may take to get the TNT to operate...

I doubt if someone would pay $400 for a non functional TnT.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Time and investment - 1975 18' SS

I tried for YEARS to acquire a pre-'78 TnT unit for my '73 Johnson. They absolutely sell for that. Even a non-working unit, if complete will sell for hundreds. There are guys that rebuild them if you should find it doesn't work.

 

[64osby]

Re: Time and investment - 1975 18' SS

phd - There are two styles of pumps for that unit a Prestolite and a Calco. Prestolite is the more desirable, it's hard to tell from the CL pics but it appears to be a Calco.

The Prestolite looks like this.


The Calco looks like this.

I have a Calco unit that I picked up I don't have it in use but it does work. There is some good information on the site, you will find it if you search Calco.

I still think the boat is a great deal.