WELLCRAFT 232 eclipse repower and restoration!!!

[betayv]

I bough this boat 4 days ago for 500$ no outdrive, motor is shot, not trailer but the boat is solid like a rock so I decide to start a project. here we go...

outdrive is deadddd

previus owner leaves all the engine parts in the boat for months all rusty

more dirt and rusttt

 

[betayv]

Re: WELLCRAFT 232 eclipse repower and restoration!!!

front part of the boat and dashboard

we start taking the seats out and cleaning the floor, the panels everythinggg

 

[betayv]

Re: WELLCRAFT 232 eclipse repower and restoration!!!

here is how looks after cleaning

front part of the boat getting ready to fix the ulpostery

clean we need something to remove the rest of rust any suggestion

more cleaning

all engine is ready to came out

I will post more we need something to take out the rest of the rust any suggestions thanks.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: WELLCRAFT 232 eclipse repower and restoration!!!

The boat's looking great. Is everything looking good structurally with it? If so you definitely got a great deal. What are your repower ideas? For the rust my only suggestion would be CLR but I'm sure you already tried that.

 

[betayv]

Re: WELLCRAFT 232 eclipse repower and restoration!!!

hi there is great I inspected everything yesterday and is like I said solid like a rock, the old engine is a 5.0 mercruiser I have one already so Im going to go with the same 5.0 the outdrive is a alpha one gen II I have that coming with the tramson assembly, and I didnt try CLR what is that thanks.

 

[mzonko]

Re: WELLCRAFT 232 eclipse repower and restoration!!!

try rust out or x-14 really good stuff x-14 very strong though so dilute withh water also works well on algae

 

[ondarvr]

Re: WELLCRAFT 232 eclipse repower and restoration!!!

Oxalic acid typically does a good job of removing rust stains from gel coat.

 

[jdlough]

Re: WELLCRAFT 232 eclipse repower and restoration!!!

Whink Rust Stain remover works great. It doesn't remove heavy rust like CLR does, but I know it works great on rust stains on porcelain toilets and fiberglass shower floors.

It comes in a brown bottle and you can usually find it in grocery stores in the cleaning aisle.

Here's its website:
http://www.whink.com/products.php?cPath=28&osCsid=3flk4i9jv61c0afc7s0pqa1mj1

(BTW, CLR stands for Calcium, Lime, Rust. It's another brand of rust and hard water remover. I haven't had much luck completely removing rust stains with it)

And DON'T use CLR on stainless steel. It will stain it!

 

[rs1lollie]

Re: WELLCRAFT 232 eclipse repower and restoration!!!

I have used Iron Out to remove rust stains on concrete, works awesome you can see the rust disappear.

 

[jdlough]

Re: WELLCRAFT 232 eclipse repower and restoration!!!

Yeah, I forgot about Iron Out.

It's a powder that's activated when mixed with water. Be careful with it - don't get it on you and don't breath the fumes. Wet the rusty area, sprinkle some of the powder on it, then scrub it a bit with a long handled brush just to mix it and spread it around. Let it sit for a while. Rinse.

It works great on really serious rust. You may need to let it sit for 30 minutes for really dark stains, or use it twice on some spots, but it WILL work, and is a lot cheaper than the Whink, for the amount you get.

It also worked great and didn't hurt my fiberglass shower floors.

Walmart and Home Depot carry it. It looks like this:
http://www.summitbrands.com/brands/IronOut.aspx

That is a great looking boat. I like that port side walk thru. What's a "starboard side cabin"? Is there storage under there, a porta potty, or what?

More pics, please!

Jim

 

[betayv]

Re: WELLCRAFT 232 eclipse repower and restoration!!!

hello thanks for the reply behind the dashboard have a small cabin slept two good storage area under there too, looking forward to remove the old motor this week and the broken transon assembly, the bilge area looks good but I want to paint the bilge what kind of paint should I used thanks and I will put more pics.

 

[jdlough]

Re: WELLCRAFT 232 eclipse repower and restoration!!!

I have NO experience with bilge painting, but to me it doesn't seem like a good idea.

First, Who cares? It's the bilge, it's not supposed to look nice, and nobody will see it anyway!

Second, for ANY paint to stick well, the area must be totally clean. Not easy in a bilge. If you're just talking about the area around the motor, clean the area with heavy duty stuff, like acetone or LiquidSandpaper. Don't get either stuff on vinyl or any other plastic things. They both melt plastics. If you clean it good enough, you may find that the original gray bilge gel coat is good enough.

Third, no matter what you do, the bilge will always be at least damp. Eventually the new paint will flake off, maybe clogging your bilge pump, drain plug, or just making a mess.

I suppose some epoxy paints might do (Home Depot and others sell epoxy paints for appliances like stoves and refrigerators) - and not be affected by damp or water - but I don't really see the benefits of painting the bilge. Maybe colored gel-coat if you really insist on the idea.

If you really want to paint the bilge, I would check out concrete floor primer. I used that before I painted my basement floors. It's expensive, and smells nasty. But, supposedly paint sticks to it even in wet, damp areas.

Again, I have NO experience with bilge painting. I just know that I'd never do it. I hate doing wrong work that just causes more, nastier work later. Striping bad-idea paint out of a bilge sounds like a job that would suck. So just take my advice as things to consider, and not based on real knowledge of your situation.

 

[Miranda]

Re: WELLCRAFT 232 eclipse repower and restoration!!!

Nice score on the welcraft!!!!!!!!!!!

what year is it??????

I used Rustoleum oil based Aluminum in color, makes it nice and bright, but could flake off I suppose later on and clog the bilge pump...Glad I checked out this thread, all of my boats will now get GEL COATED in the bilge!!!!!!!!
:redface: thanks for the comments on how paint would peel...
helped me think of Gel..
White colored GEl COAT would work phenomonally if you want pristine, I like a clean bilge myself....that way you can see oil leaks and such....
found it for $47 per gallon online is cheapest...get the kind that has the wax added so it hardens properly....(gel needs NO AIR to harden) then ya scrub off the wax residue once it is hard. Quarts of PolyGard gel coat run $22 for white quart, can use it for patches on that wellcraft too (in case ya got a few scrapes) but you also need the wax additive $7 for 4 oz

Iboats has evercoat brand gel coat it is $20 per pint on Iboats.... still need the mold release agent to harden it too
Here it is on Iboats --> http://www.iboats.com/Gel_Kote_Whit...4218261--**********.031661985--view_id.163456

or for larger amounts.......
TRY HERE
http://stores.infinityfrp.com/Categories.bok

Item 1440: Gel Coat - ( White ) - No Wax - 1 Quart
1 Quart - Pure White Gel Coat. Correct amount of Hardener included. Does not contain wax. Item 1440
PRICE: $21.52

Item 1965: Wax ( 4 ounce ) Wax Additive 4 ounce - Wax Surfacing agent for polyester resins and gel coats. Makes the surfaces tack free for easier sanding. Item: 1965
PRICE: $6.98

 

[betayv]

Re: WELLCRAFT 232 eclipse repower and restoration!!!

well I found a complete outdrive and the transom assembly with lines and cilinders for 1000$ great deal and the outdrive is from a newer boat like the one need it alpha one generation II, saturday we will pull the old engine and transom to get ready for new.

 

[Cptkid570]

Re: WELLCRAFT 232 eclipse repower and restoration!!!

i love that style boat. Looked for one myself when looking for my project. You can also try muriatic acid on the rust..it's inexpensive and available at most any hardware store. I agree on not painting the bilge. You have a lot of ohter items on your plate, just clean the bilge real well, it might shine up beter than you think.

Have you don't anymore research in what it will take to make your Gen I engine mount up to a Gen II outdrive?

 

[Cptkid570]

Re: WELLCRAFT 232 eclipse repower and restoration!!!

Another suggestion - when you take out your old engine, save as many little parts as you can and throw them in a box and store them somewhere.. you never know when you may need something

 

[Miranda]

Re: WELLCRAFT 232 eclipse repower and restoration!!!

That is gonna be a steal of a boat when you're done, post more pics of that new drive and removing the old etc.......... as soon as you can!

Ive seen some rust and stain removers on Iboats and other websites....
What is wrong with the engine that came with it? other than it was dissassmbled.......are there visual cracks in it, hole in block, scored cylinders?
for the age of that boat I would assume the engine should be in great shape....looks like a newer type boat....whats the engine size anyways?

Have you got a line on a trailer.?...sounded like the boat didnt come with one from your description....

Vegasphotoman

 

[betayv]

Re: WELLCRAFT 232 eclipse repower and restoration!!!

well yes I make some research to fit the old engine on this one but really I have to wait until old engine is out of the boat to start checking the coupling, flywheel and some other stuff, the previus owner put a new engine back on march paid 4000$ for it I saw the bill, first trip out the water passage hose was kinked and the motor overheat, they took everything apart the block looks right I didnt try tu turn the engine but saturday as soon is out we going to check to rebuild this engine on the future, we dont want to do it now for two reasons TIME AND MONEY, so we will put my other engine on it, the size of the motor is a 305 mercruiser old engine and new engine have the same size.

 

[Cptkid570]

Re: WELLCRAFT 232 eclipse repower and restoration!!!

Does the old engine still have the flywheel and coupler? If so, you can just take them off of the old engine and put them on the new engine maybe??

If you are in the Miami area, you can buy a rebuilt engine from Rapido Marine probably cheaper than you can have yours rebuilt. Either way, you'd probably want to upgrade to a 350 chevy if you were to buy another engine for it.

 

[vegasphotoman]

Re: WELLCRAFT 232 eclipse repower and restoration!!!

Any new updates? Did you get the used drive or are you going with the SEIII drive system?
might be nice to have that shiney new drive in there.....

you going to re upholster it yourself or sub it out?

I think you said it DIDNT come with a trailer...do you have that situated yet?

Looking good SUSCRIBED to thread