Deck Rebuild Questions

thedinz

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jun 29, 2014
Messages
151
I need the experts opinion.

I hired a mobile marine mechanic to come replace my floor, including any rotted wood below (if applicable). In other words if it needs replacing, replace it. All seats and vinyl are good, seat boxes, not so much. I have done research here and a few other places and if doing it yourself i have had people say it should cost anywhere between 3-5K.

So this looks at my boat, feels around and decides it will cost $3200. This isnt chump change by any means but under the "high end" of what it could cost so im happy. I make sure to say, how do you know it wont be more after u take things apart and see what its like under neath. He says "nope, this will cover it" (hmmm).

So 2 weeks go by and he has not shown up, he answers my calls though but re schedules and never shows up. I have his address on the invoice and i gave a down payment via check so its track-able. As far as that goes im ok, im actually not worried about this guy not coming through, im worried about him band-aiding my boat. So i call him today with these concerns and he says don't worry, ill be there Tuesday (we shall see, but if not, i will get my money back). This isn't a bash this guy thread but i feel its relevant. Today, i also got curious and had to see for myself how bad things were, i'm a noobie but ive done research about interiors stringers and all that.

Let me also add i put i enough into this boat last year engine/mechanical wise that it is VERY worth me doing the rest because it will last me years when done. Also just as a side note she was in the water last year, this is a usable boat that im just trying to "keep up on".

I didint go to crazy but the center floor piece was separate, so i removed the screws and pulled it up, looks like the gas tank is here. I cant see down to the stringers but i can see enough to see the wood around the tank needs to be replaced as well. The left and right sides of my floor dont feel wet or saggy at all but at the very least like i said, im being pre-emptive, but yes, this middle piece was soggy........Hey look at that boat guy just called me as i was typing this. He says while he cant know for sure, he thinks my stringers will be fine, because of 2 factors, the type of boat, sea ray seville (he says he is familiar with them) and because the family member i bought it off of took care of it. The decks go first, and he says he is in face planning on replacing all the wood (everything except the stringers) He says if the stringers need to be replaced i should pull this engine and put it into another boat. How does that sit with you guys? Dont we buy these old boats because restoring them is cheaper. We are finally getting to the meat of my question. With all the seats and vinyl being good, lets say for shits and giggles i do have to replace the stringers, what do you guys for see the estimated cost of such a project being and is it worth it? I'm leaning toward yes due to the threads i have read, it seems a restore is still cheaper then a new boat......

There is a second question, if he is right and the hull/stringers are fine (he says they are built better then the deck) what then would the cost of replacing the rest be?

One last thing we discussed putting in like 2 captains chairs instead of the back to back seats eliminating having to re build those boxes so probably gonna cut costs there.

Like i said i didnt go crazy but i wanted a little looksie, so please see attached photos to help you with your answers. Let me sum up...

  1. Cost with stringer work
  2. cost without stringer work
  3. What do you guys think about what this guy is saying to me?

Thanks so much i advanced

https://www.flickr.com/photos/thedinz/14579400464/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/thedinz/14601302603/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/thedinz/14558133026/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/thedinz/14558133376/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/thedinz/14558133796/in/photostream/
 

Woodonglass

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 29, 2009
Messages
25,928
There's absolutely NO WAY he can know the condition of the Stringers without core sampling them to determine if they are sound. Transom and motor mounts too! If everything needs replaced, and I highyly suspect they will, then to pay someone to do it all you should be ready to pay the $5K number. I'd also Highly advise you to "Babysit" him and make sure he does quality work, using quality materials, and quality techniques.
 

thedinz

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jun 29, 2014
Messages
151
There's absolutely NO WAY he can know the condition of the Stringers without core sampling them to determine if they are sound. Transom and motor mounts too! If everything needs replaced, and I highyly suspect they will, then to pay someone to do it all you should be ready to pay the $5K number. I'd also Highly advise you to "Babysit" him and make sure he does quality work, using quality materials, and quality techniques.


Yeah i will be watching him, we are going over it together this week, im on vacation so ill be here. I had the motor out last year and the outdrive off so the transom and motor mounts are ok.
 

thedinz

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jun 29, 2014
Messages
151
What Year and MFG is this Boat?


1987 searay.

When this guy tears is apart this week and if the stringers are in need of repair, like you suspect they will then ill probably attempt to do it myself by bribing friends and doing alot of research here. and yes i do have a strange attachment to the boat and am interested in keeping it.
 

Woodonglass

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 29, 2009
Messages
25,928
Do you know her total History? How she's been maintained? Exposure to the elements? 27 year old boats that have been exposed to the elements usually have bad stringers and bulkheads.
 

thedinz

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jun 29, 2014
Messages
151
Do you know her total History? How she's been maintained? Exposure to the elements? 27 year old boats that have been exposed to the elements usually have bad stringers and bulkheads.


Thank you for staying with me so far, we are past assumptions.

We tore into it today, yup bad stringers, draining fuel tank tonight and removing it tomorrow then really going to start gutting it. We really want to avoid pulling the motor, it was out last year for work and put back in, if anything the best looking part of this deck is the engine compartment and i know when replacing stringers the engine almost always has to come out, but.........i dont know lets just hope i get a bone thrown my way.

Someone was in here before and band-aided it. As you can see from some of this newer wood.

Latest batch of pics.

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?res...2&authkey=!ALVoCS99l2nYWgg&ithint=folder,.jpg
 

Woodonglass

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 29, 2009
Messages
25,928
Well make sure and core sample the transom too!!! That's critical. If it's soft and wet then it's gotta be fixed.
 

thedinz

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jun 29, 2014
Messages
151
Well make sure and core sample the transom too!!! That's critical. If it's soft and wet then it's gotta be fixed.


Thank i will, im thinking its ok because the motor was out last year and the outdrive was off the boat, rebuilt almost all of it, bellows, etc etc, and it was put back together, but ill get a sample while im at it. Thanks so far!
 
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