Should I attempt this rebuild?

Been lurking for a while, but first time poster. After seeing all the amazing rebuilds/restores done on this site I've been really wanting to give it a try. A bit about me. I'm a complete amateur to this type of work. I've had a boat for years so am quite familiar with boats but have never tried any major body work. I'm a computer programmer so no practical experience there, but did grow up on a farm in Iowa (where of course you do everything yourself from construction to basic mechanics). Other side of the family owned a construction business and worked with them lot growing up. I am pretty handy (just finished a complete bathroom remodel where we completely gutted and redid everything and I did it all except plumbing and electrical), but have never dealt with fiberglass before.

OK, enough background and onto the real point of this post I have the chance to pick up an old 18 foot Boston Whaler and trailer for $250-$350 but it is obviously in really rough shape. Here it is:
Profile view from a distance:

View from the front (old tri-hull):

View of interior over the transom:

View of the bow:


Nothing THAT scary yet. Next post has pics that worry me more.

Re: Should I attempt this rebuild?

Transom is a bit scary to me (couldn't get view of transom from the inside because of the boat liner):


Damaged back corner:


And by far the scariest, the badly damaged front corner (seems actual structural damage):


If I were to do this, I'd planned to remove the cap and convert to a center console. Looking at the posts it seems such a project would be challenging obviously, but also very rewarding. A few thousand could easily be budgeted for the project (there is a fair bit of leaway here if needed) not counting engine, but just feel this may be biting off a bit more than I can chew if that front corner is as bad as I'm afraid it is.

Any expert thoughts? Maybe it doesn't seem to bad to you guys? Maybe I should run away from this boat as fast as I can?

Any thoughts would be MUCH appreciated!

Re: Should I attempt this rebuild?

Are you sure that is a Boston Whaler? It looks close, but not exactly.

If it is not a BW, then probably not worth it.

The boat is in really tough shape.

Re: Should I attempt this rebuild?

tpenfield said:

Are you sure that is a Boston Whaler?

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Actually no. It is advertised as an 18 ft Boston Whaler, but they couldn't tell me the year or model. I've spent some time looking online and see some Whalers and as you say found some that look pretty similar, but nothing quite looks like a match. So it certainly may not be.

Re: Should I attempt this rebuild?

Yup, take a close look at some whalers and you will see the difference in the hull design and detail lines. You can also check the hull ID prefix and match it to Boston Whaler's designated prefix.

Re: Should I attempt this rebuild?

Yeah, Not sure that is a whaler. Atleast not like any that I have seen. Never mind the brand, imo, Run Forest Run! This boat is to far gone, trailer is,well idk what it is!lol In all seriousness, if you have a few grand to spend, that is not going to be enough to get this boat restored. Find a better boat, there are plenty out there.

If your looking for a center console, I would look for a center console, not a trihull to convert into one. Just better projects out there imo. Also wouldn't give him more than a $100 bucks for that boat, hell I might charge him to tow it off.

Re: Should I attempt this rebuild?

I also don't think that's a whaler, because it looks like the cap can come off at the rub-rail and I'm pretty sure most if not all whalers have the single, composite piece filled with foam... See the "Sea Squirt" Thread that has been on the front page of the dry-dock for the past few days for a more in-depth discussion of this hull type.

And, I agree, I'd be very afraid of that boat... CC254 knows a lot about center console fishing rigs, and is pretty darn handy in his own right, so I would heed his advice... It won't take long at all with a little searching on CL to find one that will not need quite so much body work.

Re: Should I attempt this rebuild?

OK, thanks for the advise guys. I'm running! My wife loves you guys for getting me away from this boat!

Good news is I already have a boat I really love (though not a good fishing boat, its a 26 foot trailer/sailer). Just after years behind a computer really looking for a project to build something with my hands and after looking through all of the boat rebuilds here, they really seem a fulfilling and fun project. I'll keep looking for a bit more manageable project boat

Thanks again for the feedback! Cannot believe how fast it was!

Re: Should I attempt this rebuild?

I fixed up an old whaler my boat nut buddy hauled out of a land fill that wasn't as bad as that one. The whole time I thought to myself :
why in the hell dos Gerry want to spend all this money on this boat - he couln't help his self. It was great experience for me though!

Re: Should I attempt this rebuild?

I'm looking for a cheap project boat also and I can tell you after looking at those photos, I'm not sure I'd take it even if the guy would pay me 250.00 to haul it off. The cap edge alone is a major project and with it looking like that...what's the rest of the guts look like? :facepalm:

Re: Should I attempt this rebuild?

R Socey said:

I fixed up an old whaler my boat nut buddy hauled out of a land fill that wasn't as bad as that one.

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Yeah, I was wondering why the pics they posted in the advert were taken from so far away. Once I got there I guess why it was My naivety combined with excitement about a possible project left me hoping it wasn't as bad as it seemed, but obviously not the case:facepalm:

Re: Should I attempt this rebuild?

Good decision to run away- If it were a whaler (it's not), it MIGHT be worthwhile, but as it is, it's going to need a LOT of work, and a LOT of money... They're going to have to pay someone to haul that one off!!

The trailer sailer sounds interesting- a 26 footer is a BIG project!

-Andrew

Re: Should I attempt this rebuild?

andgott said:

The trailer sailer sounds interesting- a 26 footer is a BIG project!-Andrew

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Luckily that one isn't a project I've had that for 5 years and has been running like a dream and no work was required to be done by me was in great condition when I got it (though of course had to tinker a bit and change the rigging a bit to make it a bit easier to sail single handed, etc).

This is my "good" boat. Now just looking for a "bad" boat to take out my aggression on

Re: Should I attempt this rebuild?

That sure ain't Iowa!! I was raised in SW Iowa, South of Council Bluffs in a small town and I know I never saw water like that.

Great looking boat!

Re: Should I attempt this rebuild?

MacGregor 26X ? interesting concept in a sailboat. Can also be a motor boat when you need to get somewhere quicker.

I had a Catalina 22 prior to getting a power boat.

Re: Should I attempt this rebuild?

River_Lizard said:

That sure ain't Iowa!!

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Yeah, not quite Iowa any more Moved to the Cayman Islands about 10 years ago. Water is a bit clearer and warmer

Re: Should I attempt this rebuild?

tpenfield said:

MacGregor 26X ? interesting concept in a sailboat. Can also be a motor boat when you need to get somewhere quicker.

I had a Catalina 22 prior to getting a power boat.

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Wow very close! It is a MacGregor 26M. Interesting is a good word for it. If all boats are a compromise the MacGregor is the very definition of that By no means a great sail boat and by no means a great power boat, but overall a great fit for most of our usage. Can get about 15knts WOT and water ballast dumped and can sail good enough for me with the dagger board down. Only issue for me is far from a good fishing boat.

Re: Should I attempt this rebuild?

Oh- A MacGregor... I've sailed/motored one of those before. Like you said, a pretty decent mix of sail and power. Not a good enough sailboat for a hardcore sailor, and not a good enough power boat to satisfy a hardcore powerboater, but enough of both to satisfy someone who wants both, and can't afford two boats!

Re: Should I attempt this rebuild?

andgott said:

Oh- A MacGregor... I've sailed/motored one of those before. Like you said, a pretty decent mix of sail and power. Not a good enough sailboat for a hardcore sailor, and not a good enough power boat to satisfy a hardcore powerboater, but enough of both to satisfy someone who wants both, and can't afford two boats!

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Yep, hit the nail on the head with that description. At the time we purchased it, I wanted a sailboat but the boss wanted something with a shallow enough draft to get close to Rum point which at low tide can be just 2 feet. The MacGregor let me do some sailing, but pull up the dagger board and has a draft of 1 foot (or can even beach it). So I was able to convince her to get a sailboat

Re: Should I attempt this rebuild?

Okay, the fact that you live here and can afford this:

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Completely re-affirms our opinion that you should run like gump from this:

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Yeah, you are blessed, my friend, and you definitely need a more "sea-worthy" fishing rig given where you will be using it...

Keep looking the right boat will come along...