When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

[Bcrowe]

Re: When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

I am new to the Restoration aspect of boating myself. I havent gotten nearly as deep into my boat as i know is necessary. Some would say quit now before you open up a can of worms you cant put the lid back onto. But I am a prideful man and want to be able to go to the lake and have the owners of the new boats go "wow what a great boat it looks great". I do agree with all of you on two points. There are some wonderful people here with great advice, so I have no concerns going forward. I know help will be there when I realize I dont know that the heck im doing. The second point is our group therapy is like letting the insane run the asylm. Happy boating everyone!!!
Brad

 

[Les Robb]

Re: When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

A small twin head soft & hard plastic or urethane hammer can give you worlds of information about your deck and transom. After a little tapping, you'll be able to tell the soft rotten areas from the solid. At least you'll have a better idea of what your looking at.

Safe boating ya'll

 

[divimon2000]

Re: When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

Never stop! When you finish you'll have something no one else has.

 

[boatboy999]

Re: When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

I bought a 1990 Sea Ray 170 in 2000 with 'a couple of softspots and a bit of upholstery needed' It sat in the garage (that never had a car in it) for five years before I got into the repair (Honeydo priorities in the way). 'Repair' ended up as a total restoration back to a bare glass hull, stringers and transom out included... I got no help with the project, and the thing that kept me going to the end (when I was losing hope a little) was a comment by my wife to a friend "Oh that thing will never get finished, it's just a never ending project".... I was so incensed that there was no way I would let it go!. 18 months stripping it down, 18 months re-building to original design but much higher spec... this is it's second season now, I don't think I could ever sell it, too much time and money invested in it; remember... anything you buy secondhand, no matter how pretty... if it's not new, you never know what you are getting. I was lucky; good glass, engine and outdrive (the expensive stuff) mainly good. I found good replacement parts for everything mechanical (thank the gods for ebay) and only had to subcontract some upholstery that needed work ... but I did have to replace every scrap of wood!!!. I made endless dimensioned sketches and took many pictures (for reference) of everything before I tore it all out (and took a lot of pics during the rebuild too) and I now have a first boat that I am really proud of. It was all worth it in the end, but I put a lot of money into good materials (marine ply, epoxy resin etc), put a bucket load of time in and ignored a lot of other things that needed doing for the restoration period (Honeydo's on hold!). But it did stop the sly comments dead on completion. It's all mine and I don't owe a penny on it and it gets great compliments!!. Take your time and enjoy the ride. This was a first time for me, I learned everything during 'the journey'. No regrets!!!!.

 

[MERIT6419]

Re: When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

I have to say I have never completely restored a boat I had a 89 sunbird cc that I had to rebuild the engine and replace the lower unit and recarpet and reupholster all the seats when it was done my wife complained that it would be nicer to have a open bow so I sold it no big deal and I felt pretty confident about working on boats at that point that was my fifth boat next I bought 84 rinker open bow that just would not run right I replaced the carb and that helped then the points and that helped and then the coil and that helped then I noticed water in the fuel filter so I took care of that but it still never ran right so i sold it on a side note the day of the sale i found a vacuum line on the carb that was cracked and replaced it and it ran great. Then I bought a 86 century 2000 17.5 feet with a 350 chevy motor ran great replaced seats replaced floor replaced gauges that is when the wife said well it is to fast and just did not like it for some reason or another Well now I have a 1990 searay 180 I love the boat I have had it for two years and it has not seen water yet lol It is mechanicly sound at least that is what I was told I tore out the seats could not stand the back to back put in buckets and change the back to have a sundeck and a bench seat replaced the radio and have plans to replace the gauges when funds permit I seem to have this illness that makes me sell a boat once its finished lose a bunch of money and start over on the next one. Maybe just maybe there is no point to reach of enough is enough and call it quits I will always miss my cuddy cabin but I love working on boats about as much as playing around on them There comes a point when working on every boat when you stop maybe itching from fiberglass or covered in glue from carpet and sit back and just look at it and know this is my work I think the new boats are nice but there is just something about doing the work youself even if your not a pro it yous.


http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=327998

 

[huntxtrm]

Re: When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

If your going to win, giving up is forbidden! Unless you run out of money, then save up and hit it again! Or if you lose interest, then I recon it just wasn't worth it to begin with.

 

[singinout]

Re: When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

Id say when you realize that there is no gud way to fix what you have. Like say the hull has a zillion cracks in it and will never be right no matter what you do.

My project aint done yet but I like to think that us guys that restore/rebuild a boat end up with a personal piece of property. Anyone can buy a boat. It takes special people to restore/rebuild a boat. And when you redo and make it just lik YOU want it, you have something no one else can argue with that just "bought" their boat. It's a statement of accomplishment, a piece of property with sentimental value, and the journey there was a learning experience.

Gud luck to all you guyz with projects! Keep your heads up, hang in there, and see ya on the water!!

 

[ruckerra]

Re: When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

I never give up on anything... Retired Army, it's genetic!!!

I'm restoring a '62 Starcraft, first boat I've ever owned. Parts are hard to locate,expensive and try finding a plank of wood 14 inches wide... I bought this little boat for $350, trailer, 55 hp motor w/ parts motor. It's called a hobby, and it releaves stress

 

[bryanwess2000]

Re: When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

I think your 3rd voting option is going to be true in almost any restore. I
just finished most of my hull painting and feel the rest sould be fairly easy
except the vinyl. I expect to have around $3000-3500 in my boat which would
probably sell for 2000-2500. But I'm not selling it until I find a 18'-22' tinny
with a hull thats in great shape with original paint ( 2-5 years)

 

[sprintst]

Re: When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

The trick is to have fun doing the restore and not turn it into a full time job. I've crossed that line a couple of times already and paid the price in my bones. The next while I'll try to have a bit more fun in the process.

I'm also not putting anything at risk financially to get the boat done so no stress there either...but my wife calls the boat the money pit. Costs will always pop up depending on how crazy you want to get.

I've wasted more time fixing old cars that I just beat into the ground. In the end with the boat I'll have something unique and fun to drive.

Two years from now I'll have forgotten all the swearing and will be more into the enjoying phase.

 

[sschefer]

Re: When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

I think your 3rd voting option is going to be true in almost any restore. I
just finished most of my hull painting and feel the rest sould be fairly easy
except the vinyl. I expect to have around $3000-3500 in my boat which would
probably sell for 2000-2500. But I'm not selling it until I find a 18'-22' tinny
with a hull thats in great shape with original paint ( 2-5 years)

I bought my boat and motor for 2500.00 I put 7 to 8 grand into it and ended up with a 1991 boat that appraised at 12,500.00 and insured for 15,000.00. I had to fight and show a lot of proof but I finally got it.

Could I resell it for that? Not likely and certainly not on eBay or Craigslist but I've had inquiries from folks at the lake that make me think that a person that owns a boat already can see the added value in my boat.

Knowing that the added value was my blood, sweat and tears is what makes it all worth it.

 

[sprintst]

Re: When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

I'd definately rather buy a boat from a guy where I can see all the over and above work, and pay more for it, than a blind purchase and have to take someones word for the shape of the boat.

 

[sprintst]

Re: When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

I'd buy a boat from this guy...

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=362980

Thanks to Vegas for pointing this one out... I need to stop complaining and dig deeper

 

[BobsGlasstream]

Re: When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

Hello folks.
Thier are a lot of great answers listed here. For me the only answers that are considered are, 1. before you start. 2. never.
I think that if you are rebuilding for a profit you are doing it for the wrong reasons.
I want to give my boat a new life, perhaps better then the first. My boat when I'm finished will probably outlive me. If it does then my kids will be able to enjoy it too.
You really need to enjoy what you are doing too, as I do.
Rule #1 have fun.
Rule #2 see rule #1.
Do what you can when you can.
So have fun
Bob

 

[mikastorm]

Re: When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

All replies are very good.
This is my third rebuild and must say tougher, only because I,m older
now. I,m sure the Larson was the hardest but being younge made it much easier. My feel of accomplishment has not changed. Each piece I get done makes for wanting more. Hope to get it in a friends garage with heat and work on it this winter after deer season. I will not quit till I,m done or dead.
I see visions of me trolling the local lake every day, enjoying retirement.lol

 

[thrillhouse700]

Re: When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

Goonies never say die............

 

[joza]

Re: When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

Restoring boats is dumb.

Throwing out statements like this is dumb. If everyone took this stand, nothing would ever get done. This person probably lives in a 50's rambler that has the original appliances with the original carpet. It's not being updated because it's dumb.

You do it because you enjoy it and to say it's dumb is completely infantile.

 

[bryanwess2000]

Re: When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

I bought my boat and motor for 2500.00 I put 7 to 8 grand into it and ended up with a 1991 boat that appraised at 12,500.00 and insured for 15,000.00. I had to fight and show a lot of proof but I finally got it.

Could I resell it for that? Not likely and certainly not on eBay or Craigslist but I've had inquiries from folks at the lake that make me think that a person that owns a boat already can see the added value in my boat.

Knowing that the added value was my blood, sweat and tears is what makes it all worth it.

Your boat is a beautiful example of a restoration and is an inspiration to many here but does that appraisal include the yammy 150 or 115 etec or your original motor? I'm just stating that in most cases your going to put more
money in than you can get out. Of course there is the pride of owning something you restored and knowing your boat inside and out. Its hard to put a price on peace of mind. I think many of us restorers are going to be the sellers that expect more than the market will bear when we sell our pride and joy that we worked so hard on. It's going to be a cold splash of reality when
we receive offers for far less than our perceived value on our boats. I think people should know this probability before taking on such a time and money
consuming task. If all you want is a good stable boating platform do yourself a favor and save more money and just buy a boat thats in good condition.
Don't kid yourself into thinking your going to save money buying a beater and fixing it up. I knew this going in, but I wanted a boat that would be in like new condition when I was finished and accept the loss of time and money.
It's still better than buying new and facing depreciation.

 

[sschefer]

Re: When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

Thank you for the compliments, the appraisal was done with the Mariner 100 on it. Seems a boat without an engine isn't worth squat but if you put a new engine on it, it doesn't increase the value by the cost of the engine. I was told you can insure the engines separately but instead I put the E-Tec on the North River, I'm selling the Mariner and I put the V-6 Merc on my project boat. Which, by the way, will never be done.. Because... that's what floats my boat

Somebody said boat restoration was dumb and to that poster I say: There's a heck of a lot of really smart people that have spent their lives looking for Noah's Ark just so they can restore it.. Go figure Most real men and women that want to own boats figure out how to do it which means they're pretty smart. If restoration is the way to spread out the cost without paying for it twice through some rip off finance company, then that's a pretty smart thing.

 

[Sir_BlueWaters]

Re: When do you know its time to give up on a project boat?

My way of seeing is: "you dont stress about a restoration, you go to work on it to stress. Anything you do takes lots of money now days and if you're spending on something you love, then you good.