to restore or not

[turkeyhunter]

is there a point where its best to give up and not try to restore a boat. I have one that I would like to try, but im afraid I will get in over my head. its a 18ft bass boat. been setting outside for years.

 

[zool]

Re: to restore or not

Checking out the engine would be the best place to start, if compression is good, and its intact...the rest isnt too expensive, mosly time and effort. The motor is the single most costly expense.

 

[Okieboatguy]

Re: to restore or not

Also don't forget to look at the expense compared to value of the boat. Don't go and spend 3K on a boat worth 2K. However, as Zool stated, start with the motor, if it is good, look at the trailer, and all the other individual parts. You can look at what the total price of the boat would be if you scrapped it, compared to what it would cost to fix it, and what it would cost to just sell it for scrap. If you decide to rebuild and you get in over your head, then you may not have lost anything if you were going to scrap it and sell off the good parts. And lastly, What about finding a different boat that just needs your parts.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: to restore or not

Alot of people here will disagree with me, but it is best if you can find a well maintained boat that you can spend money on cosmetically instead of rebuilding an entire boat. Like many here, I enjoy the rebuild threads to, but scratch my head sometimes when I see someone putting time and substantial money into a boat that may not be worth it in the end.

When it comes down to it, it is a personal choice on what is right for you. The building process can be very enjoyable but it can be expensive if it becomes a complete rebuild and very time consuming and addictive!. My thread is bases on a refurb instead of a rebuild and I can tell you I have over 12 grand invested just on a refurb and making her my own. If I would have had to tear it down completely I could have easily added a couple years and 5 or 6 more thousand to the above number.I got lucky, found a solid boat. But part of my decision was based on the fact that this boat would be used by me for probably the next 10 to 15 years atleast.

Again its a personal choice and like said, the motor is a good place to start considering it can be one of your most expensive expenses. But depending on what you have planned, being its a bass boat, your fishing electronics after all the restore is done could cost you as much as the boat if you want good stuff.

Being that you are talking about a 18 foot boat, it would probably be a good size to start with, but make the decision first on wether or not the boat is what you truly want before throwing money at her and how long you plan to keep it.. Check her over good and make a list of what you think needs to be done to get her to the restore state you want her to be at and the cost based on that list. This will help you decide wether it is the right boat or not.Dig deep into her so you can limit the surprises down the road. .02 Goodluck

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: to restore or not

I try to look at the worst case scenario. For this boat lets say you spent $6,000 dollars and 200 hours of your time restoring her. If you did that and she was put back to almost factory new condition and would last you for 10+ years would it be WORTH it??? Thats the facts of the matter. I submit that you can't buy a boat anywhere in Known GREAT Condition for that price, but if you put in the time, effort and money you can have a boat like that. If the motor is a runner and only requires a tune up and normal maintenance then I'd submit that barring any major structural damage any boat of this size and vintage can be brought back to life for No More than 6K and prolly less. It's up to you.

 

[Slacker411]

Re: to restore or not

Do you have any pics of this boat?

 

[ilovevintage81]

Re: to restore or not

One problem you might have is electric thats a problem i had with one airator gages all wiring sucks on them bass boats and if you try to rewire yourself it sucks nothing working but the egnition i had a bass boat never did get the wiring fixed but it still would cruise though thats the only thing about the bass boats if they have been sitting water getting in everything freezing like one guy said better to get one maintained cause a 1000 here thousand there adds up and if you take to shop it will be a thousand they make sure of that cause theres always sonething else to do but 18 ft bass boat is a nice size boat put you a 150 on there and do a little at a time find discount iteams for inside boat you could do for under a thousand your self as long as you have goodmotor

 

[gm280]

Re: to restore or not

Refurbishing anything including a boat has to be a personal issue. If you hate doing the actual work to get it finished, then don't even start. Because it is a nasty, dirty, dusty, noisy, sweaty, itchy job that just isn't for everybody. BUT, if you do manage to work through all those things, you will be greatly rewarded with a rock solid boat that YOU know was done correctly and to your satisfaction. AND it will last as long or even longer (in most cases) than the original manufacture assembled it... You can also redo some things that you want on your boat that no boat manufacture makes. You can customize most anything you want to do to YOUR boat... So it isn’t for the faint at heart but is a great project for those certain people... I like it myself...

 

[Bomber Goober]

Re: to restore or not

Refurbishing anything including a boat has to be a personal issue. If you hate doing the actual work to get it finished, then don't even start. Because it is a nasty, dirty, dusty, noisy, sweaty, itchy job that just isn't for everybody. BUT, if you do manage to work through all those things, you will be greatly rewarded with a rock solid boat that YOU know was done correctly and to your satisfaction. AND it will last as long or even longer (in most cases) than the original manufacture assembled it... You can also redo some things that you want on your boat that no boat manufacture makes. You can customize most anything you want to do to YOUR boat... So it isn?t for the faint at heart but is a great project for those certain people... I like it myself...

^you forgot bloody. my .02 worth. I'm about $1500 into my complete rebuild of a 14' bass boat. Still about $2-300 and 50+ hrs. away from having a boat that will float. Then I still need a trolling motor and fish finder.So its a $4k boat. After I'm all said and done I will have a really awesome solid boat that I can fish for years. Will it ever be worth what I put into it? No. But it is a style of boat that I love and can be happy having for years.So that is enough for me. If I didn't like the style of boat I would of never spent the money/time to do this.

 

[jk33]

Re: to restore or not

I am with gm and Wood on this one. I feel that it has less to do with the boat and more to do with the boater. I am currently working on an old trihull that most would have sent to the dump. The fact is I enjoy what I have built so far and with each task I complete, the excitement only builds. I grew up with an old tri hull and wanted one of my own. It may not be for everyone but it is definately for me.

 

[coolbri70]

Re: to restore or not

better off if you can find a boat you like in good order, then enjoy it. I fixed my boat for 2 reasons, 1st, I had little money to invest, at once, I can get small things little by little over time, but if I try to save for a nice boat, the wife will complain that I spent too much, she would want to buy jewelry. 2nd the style boat I wanted, is old and hard to find in good shape. make sure to get the type of boat you want, it will be your boat, may as well put your effort into what you like

 

[mwe-maxxowner]

Re: to restore or not

I am of the opinion that, if you are on a budget, the only way to know you have a great one is to buy one cheap in need of rehab, or already have one needing some love, and redo it yourself. I'm looking at around 1500$ in rebuilding supplies, not counting trimmings like hydroturf and such I have in mind. Then you will know the boat inside and out. You will know where every stringer is, and exactly what is below. You will also not be afraid to modify and cut as you see fit in the future. Heck, you built half the thing!

I also don't necessarily agree its senseless to have 5000$ in a boat you couldn't get but 3500$ for IF you think it will suit your situation and you'll keep it for a while. You'll get your money out of it in trouble free use and peace of mind, in my opinion of course .

As mentioned already though, only you can decide if its worth it.

You just can't mind putting in some blood sweat and tears and have her out of commission for a while. This is speculation, as I'm not done yet, but I imagine it will be worth every penny and every ounce of energy I have put into my boat when I get to hook a board up behind her .

A member on here likes to.poke fun at me because I bought 2 rotten boats in a row. The first one had a very obviously gone floor, but I can fix that right? Did get a black Max 150 out of it tho. Then I decided to spend a little more and get another boat instead of restoring the first. Got the same exact boat only I/o and witb a wake tower. Well that's the one I am rebuilding.

See its difficult to tell sometimes if its rotting. No one is going to let you drill holes in tbeir boat. Someone put a floor in in mine a few years ago it looks like over wet foam and bad stringers. I stomped all around and bounced on the outdrive. As far as I'm concerned that test is useless. They glassed the floor in, but poorly.

So unless you spend quite a bit on much newer, you might just get another headache.

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: to restore or not

i have rebuilt a bassboat so heres some things to think about.

do you want it to look like a new boat? if you ans yes then quit now as the chances of a boat thats fadded being restored to look like new is slim unless you completely re-gel or paint it (body wrap is a option)

Is there any cracks in the hull glass like a transom where the engine has punched into the glass? if so thats harder to fix

carpets, seats, etc are expensive but you get to choose your own style.

does the engine run? The engine is the expensive part

Now the odd part if she is real rotten then it will be easier to fix then if its just starting to rot. The cap is stuck to the transom so rotten wood is easier to deal with then fighting a good transom joint.

Before you start go to basspro and sit in a new tinny then decied if you want to spend 3k on yours or if the tinny with a new 4 stroke motor, new trailer, is what you realy want.
I would rebuild another but thats because i enjoy the rebuild i would not start another with the idea that it was a way to get cheaper boat.