Worthwhile Project for a Newbie?

[1970SearayTwinIO]

Hello,

I just joined the forum and figured I would post a thread. I've been searching for info/pics/restoration stories that involve the same boat I just recently acquired in a home purchase. It is a 1970 Searay 240 SRV with twin 165 Mercruisers. As you can see from the pictures, it has been stored "inside" for what I've been told close to 30 years.

It is on cribbing which leads me to my first question:

Any advice on how to get it off the cribs and out of the garage? (8 ft Ceilings) I nee to store it out of the garage to make room.

Second question:

Is this a boat that would be worth restoring?

Any info, comments, advice would be much apprieciated!

 

[RandyJ]

Re: Worthwhile Project for a Newbie?

Big question is "how much restoration is needed/wanted"? How's the interior/upholstery?
From what little I can tell of the pictures it may just need dusting off, maybe clean carburetors and you may have some electrical switches & connections that have a little corrosion that needs attention. IMO, well worth the little restoration needed. That looks like a very expensive boat to me. There is a thread on here about bringing out old motors that you may benefit from. I'd read up on cranking a motor the first time after a long storage before I even hooked up a battery. As for how to get it out of the garage... I'm sure it is a very rudimentary and simple process but then I've never had to handle a boat of that size before so let one of those experienced in this answer that question. For me, I'd be finding pipes and all kinds of things to roll it out on. Getting it out is no problem... getting it out without tearing up something may be...

 

[1970SearayTwinIO]

Re: Worthwhile Project for a Newbie?

Thanks Randy,

I plan on posting some more pictures of the interior and how it is cribbed.

 

[springer59]

Re: Worthwhile Project for a Newbie?

Welcome to iboats, you will find a very helpful group here.We need more pics & info,(i'm new also so i figured i'd say what I already now is coming. HA HA).Do even like boats,are you near any water,what do think about owning a boat? Good luck,MORE pics,info ect,please.

 

[ingalp01]

Re: Worthwhile Project for a Newbie?

Yes, you can get it off of the cribbing... First question... Do you have a trailer? I removed what I figure to be a 6000 to 7500 lbs. boat off of my trailer and propped it up on "Cribbing" using a hydraulic bottle jack, some logs, landscape timbers and 2 x 4's. Jacking, bracing, and inching the trailer forward, then supporting, moving my bracing and doing it again. You can do the reverse to put it on the trailer. If you Google "How do I remove a boat from a trailer" you'll get all the info you need. (Just go slow, take your time, be precise and very, very careful!) You can look at my restoration thread, the link is in my signature, and you can see my boat up on the cribbing. It's been up there for several months, and I've been in and out of the boat, pulled the engine, and I've been under it, you name it. Its very secure.

It looks like you've got a great hull and an awesome boat to start with. If it's been under cover for that many years, you may just have to replace some seals, replace all the fluids, some hoses, etc.. and clean it up, check the electrical, so on and so forth, but I doubt you'll be in for a full on resto.

Good Luck...

 

[1970SearayTwinIO]

Re: Worthwhile Project for a Newbie?

Thanks Springer,

I plan on putting a bunch of pics on here so I can gauge whether I want to restore it or sell it as is. The boat came with the purchase of our lake home here on Rainy Lake so I would love to have a boat, especially somthing unique like this one. I can't seem to find anything on this model with the twin Mercs other than the note in the original brochure that twin installs are an option... Maybe this is a rare boat?

- Travis

 

[1970SearayTwinIO]

Re: Worthwhile Project for a Newbie?

Thanks Phil,

I have a trailer, but it needs work and I don't think it is the proper trailer for the boat... :S Seems heavy enough but the cradle is alot shallower than the hull of the boat. Maybe I'll just wait for a couple feet of snow and "slide" it out of the garage. lol J/K Thanks again for the advice... I will keep this updated on the progress.

- Travis

 

[Alwhite00]

Re: Worthwhile Project for a Newbie?

If you live on a lake, Maybe you could borrow or rent one to get it out of there. Looks like a nice boat - Any idea why it was put into storage?

LK

 

[zopperman]

Re: Worthwhile Project for a Newbie?

You need a good trailer and a strong winch. Winch the trailer under it using the back crossmember to knock out the cribbing. That's how I got my boat onto the trailer off blocks... multiple times... Seems to work for me. I also use a floor jack to prop up the bow behind the front cribbing so that the trailer can easily push it out of the way so it's no longer taking the weight of the boat. Then the rollers take it and you can roll the boat on...

 

[1970SearayTwinIO]

Re: Worthwhile Project for a Newbie?

Does anyone have any idea how much this boat would weigh?

- Travis

 

[1970SearayTwinIO]

Re: Worthwhile Project for a Newbie?

Anybody know how common this boat is? Especially considering the twin engine configuration?

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Worthwhile Project for a Newbie?

There won't be many '70 Searays still on the water, and with a 24' boat, very few with twins. Searays are still made and are now part of Brunswick Corp. Searays had a good reputation for quality. It is very fortunate you have Mercruiser outdrives rather than some others that are no longer made. Parts are readily available. What motor are you running? Clean her up, and send more pics. We'll let you know then what to check to determine how to check for rot. Your trailer will need tandem axles due to the weight. If it has them and is long enough, it should be OK.
Can you boat from Rainy lake through the Rainy river out to Lake Superior?

 

[Coho Ghost]

Re: Worthwhile Project for a Newbie?

70 SR,

On the motor issue. I would completely clean/remove any old fuel from the fuel tanks before trying to start the engines. The tank (or tanks) may actually need replacing as well as all fuel lines. You have a lot of issues there that need to be resolved. That boat could be a real gem or a $5000.00+ restoration. The big plus going for it is the indoor storage for a long time - great for the hull and its internal structure, not so great for the engines.

Just my thoughts,



Coho Ghost

 

[1970SearayTwinIO]

Re: Worthwhile Project for a Newbie?

Got it out of the garage. Got a trailer for next weekend.

 

[Alwhite00]

Re: Worthwhile Project for a Newbie?

Cool looking boat, Can't wait to see it cleaned up. Did you build the sled to get it out? Good idea. What's the inside look like?

LK

 

[xanthras]

Re: Worthwhile Project for a Newbie?

That thing looks freaking awesome! You gotta keep it!

 

[Burglary5%]

Re: Worthwhile Project for a Newbie?

That boat is awesome you deffinately need to keep it!!! Pull the tarps off and lets have a look inside.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Worthwhile Project for a Newbie?

If you have the money and the time, that would be one nice craft to restore. Twin Inboards will be a bit expensive to operate with todays fuel prices but, she will be an "Eye Catcher" on the water when restored to her previous self. Hope you can see your way clear to get this one done. I will be watching this one for sure.

 

[allCAD]

Re: Worthwhile Project for a Newbie?

Man, thats a beauty. Great lines for sure, I really hope you're able to get it on the water without too much frustration or swipes of the plastic rectangles.

When I bought my house, the garage had a snowblower that was way beyond repair (fun bit of trash to get rid of...) and a wood buring stove that I was able to keep using with a new pipe. I think your deal was much better...

Rainy Lake... apparantly thats where this pike was caught? Story goes that he caught about a 34" pike and it was attacked by this monster, as seen in this photo dragging them both in. I can attest to how stupid pike are, and their inability to let things go they bite into - I think the shape of their teeth act like barbs.

I love pike fishing and keep these shots because they are so wierd, but I thought pike this big only existed in EU...

 

[oops!]

Re: Worthwhile Project for a Newbie?

i would be all over that boat like white on rice.....

classic ray with twin merc 6 bangers ??? score !

you are in canada, so we dont have the title issues that the states have.

and you live on a lake......

this is a no brainer to me.....(that is ...if you have the time , money, and want a boat)

the link in my sig was a 69 srv 190....its now 25 feet.......the inner stringer design is/ will be almost identical as yours.

questions....just ask bud

cheers
oops