73 Dolphin
Petty Officer 1st Class
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2008
- Messages
- 306
So i went and bought a 1973 Dolphin Bow rider. The price was right as it has a running 125 Force and a twin Axel aluminum ez-loader trailer in great shape with good tires and no rot. And as i new nothing about boats - it was perfect! The guy who sold it to me kept saying " it is what it is" which should have put me off,but......
This isn't one of those little bow riders they make these days that you can lean you elbow on deck when it's on the trailer. This one has a deep hull. It's about four feet at the deepest from bottom to top of the hull.
The transom has been re-done, but there is a spring board effect in the middle of the deck. Literally dead center.Spongy is the word that gets used alot in the forum.
The question is, if I pull up the deck, what am i likely to find? ( other than rotten stringers and a sinking feeling? )A few people have told be that there is unlikely to be foam down there ( given the age) Seems like there would be.
Also if it is rotten and needs replacing, can it be done on the trailer or by removing the deck does it take some rigidity away that might cause a problem while fixing it on the trailer?
The deck is fiberglassed over ply and original.
The rest of the deck seems solid. no soft spots around the edges. When i tap the stringers at the rear near the bilge it's a good solid sound.
The bench seats are old kitchen cabinets (fiberglassed)that were screwed through the deck - the screws have come loose and over time it looks like water got in there and lifted the glass from the ply.
Thanks in advance.
This isn't one of those little bow riders they make these days that you can lean you elbow on deck when it's on the trailer. This one has a deep hull. It's about four feet at the deepest from bottom to top of the hull.
The transom has been re-done, but there is a spring board effect in the middle of the deck. Literally dead center.Spongy is the word that gets used alot in the forum.
The question is, if I pull up the deck, what am i likely to find? ( other than rotten stringers and a sinking feeling? )A few people have told be that there is unlikely to be foam down there ( given the age) Seems like there would be.
Also if it is rotten and needs replacing, can it be done on the trailer or by removing the deck does it take some rigidity away that might cause a problem while fixing it on the trailer?
The deck is fiberglassed over ply and original.
The rest of the deck seems solid. no soft spots around the edges. When i tap the stringers at the rear near the bilge it's a good solid sound.
The bench seats are old kitchen cabinets (fiberglassed)that were screwed through the deck - the screws have come loose and over time it looks like water got in there and lifted the glass from the ply.
Thanks in advance.
