Hi all!
I guess I'm the latest victim of a nice looking "soft boat". I don't have much boat experience but pretty handy. I restore classic mini coopers and build cafe bikes, so I said what the heck. I bought this nice looking Caravelle. I went around it, didn?t see any water damage looked dirty but straight. It was priced right so I thought...needed an engine, but ready to go. So I grab a nice 05' mpi 5.0 for it and send it to the local shop for a quick install. I was being lazy working a lot of OT so I said what the heck let the experts drop it in so the wife and kids can hit the water. Then I get the call saying we need to talk....so I'm like what?s wrong? He goes on and informs me it has some soft spots that need to be looked at. So here starts the fun. He said the mounts had some soft spots which I didn?t see. He's like I have a shop down the street that can pop some new ones in....again...what the heck let them pop some new ones in and lets roll. The next guy calls...So I'm like- okay here we go! It need both motor mounts and the stringers are soft. So they start check them and they continue forward trying to find good wood...I know everyone here is getting a tickle now. Yes they go all the way up to the seats and the deck is shot too. Ha-ha! This must be a joke right....he did say that the transom was okay but since the rest need to be changed ...do it all! Me not knowing what kind of effort it is to change all the listed issues I asked how much? He said 3600?.I coughed and said how much? 3600?Wow! The whole time -the wife is sitting there asking did we buy lemon? Me being the proud guy said no baby! Now I have too much in it to dump it but don?t want to drop 3600 in a boat that?s worth 6000 to 8000 at best. And I can't let the wife know I was dooped!!
So here I am?.been doing a lot of reading and watching vids?very informative stuff on this site. You guys have done a great job for the DIY guys I do have a few questions to start?. Since the boat is mostly gutted by the shop and the wood trashed how should I do the engine mounts? It there a preferred design? And I don?t have the stringers as well? I guess use the pink foam and carve away to make a template? Where is the best place to get the fiberglass supplies? I'll start posting some pics when I drag my lovely boat home...
Thanks
Deniz
I guess I'm the latest victim of a nice looking "soft boat". I don't have much boat experience but pretty handy. I restore classic mini coopers and build cafe bikes, so I said what the heck. I bought this nice looking Caravelle. I went around it, didn?t see any water damage looked dirty but straight. It was priced right so I thought...needed an engine, but ready to go. So I grab a nice 05' mpi 5.0 for it and send it to the local shop for a quick install. I was being lazy working a lot of OT so I said what the heck let the experts drop it in so the wife and kids can hit the water. Then I get the call saying we need to talk....so I'm like what?s wrong? He goes on and informs me it has some soft spots that need to be looked at. So here starts the fun. He said the mounts had some soft spots which I didn?t see. He's like I have a shop down the street that can pop some new ones in....again...what the heck let them pop some new ones in and lets roll. The next guy calls...So I'm like- okay here we go! It need both motor mounts and the stringers are soft. So they start check them and they continue forward trying to find good wood...I know everyone here is getting a tickle now. Yes they go all the way up to the seats and the deck is shot too. Ha-ha! This must be a joke right....he did say that the transom was okay but since the rest need to be changed ...do it all! Me not knowing what kind of effort it is to change all the listed issues I asked how much? He said 3600?.I coughed and said how much? 3600?Wow! The whole time -the wife is sitting there asking did we buy lemon? Me being the proud guy said no baby! Now I have too much in it to dump it but don?t want to drop 3600 in a boat that?s worth 6000 to 8000 at best. And I can't let the wife know I was dooped!!
So here I am?.been doing a lot of reading and watching vids?very informative stuff on this site. You guys have done a great job for the DIY guys I do have a few questions to start?. Since the boat is mostly gutted by the shop and the wood trashed how should I do the engine mounts? It there a preferred design? And I don?t have the stringers as well? I guess use the pink foam and carve away to make a template? Where is the best place to get the fiberglass supplies? I'll start posting some pics when I drag my lovely boat home...
Thanks
Deniz
