:facepalm:
So I have decided to take the plunge and work on a boat restoration. I found the boat at my favorite lake's parking lot and it was there over a year. I gave $200 for the boat and motor. I have done a bit or research and found two other TC 160's on the forums and I am excited to get started.
My boat building experience started when I built my 13 foot kayak from scratch with only a set of printed plans and I am happy how it turned out. Not only did I learn about boat building but I learned about glassing. So ... on to my current project.
From the research I have done on this forum, there are two gentlemen whom have restored their boats and I want to borrow some ideas from them for my restoration:
drewpster
http://forums.iboats.com/boat-restoration-building-hull-repair/my-tri-hull-transom-replacement-w-pics-287390.html
Titan Tea
http://forums.iboats.com/boat-restoration-building-hull-repair/thundercraft-160-rebuild-done-catching-fish-w-pics-391695.html
So here is how it looked in the parking lot ...
Here is my wish list of what I want to do at the moment:
Trailer - It is too short for my boat so I will have to get one sized correctly. The good news is I can reuse the trailer to haul my kayaks and free up my utility trailer for other things - like hauling hay for my horses.
Motor - I was told all the motor needed was a starter and the person I bought it from threw that in. So, I am hoping that is all it will need to get it running.
Boat - Obviously it needs cleaning up. But here is my "short" list:
1. Replace the floor. It is a bit soft in places and that means it needs to be replaced.
2. I want to make it cleaner so some of the extra's like the panel on the sides are going to go away.
3. Rig this for fishing. So I will add a live well, keep the front section for the grand kids but rig a removable fishing platform up front. I like the option of having the seats removable in the back for a second fishing deck so I am going to do that too.
4. Seats - I am going to put in new swivel seats. I like being able to turn around rather than the bench type seats.
6. Lights - In drewpster's build, he used LED lights under the edges for night fishing. I like that and will be doing that too.
7. Trolling motor - I want to put my trolling motor up front rather than in back but I need to put it in out of the way. Not sure how that would work. I will figure that out as I go along.
That's it for now ... I welcome any suggestions as I get going on this project and will post photos as it goes.
Barry Bowden
So I have decided to take the plunge and work on a boat restoration. I found the boat at my favorite lake's parking lot and it was there over a year. I gave $200 for the boat and motor. I have done a bit or research and found two other TC 160's on the forums and I am excited to get started.
My boat building experience started when I built my 13 foot kayak from scratch with only a set of printed plans and I am happy how it turned out. Not only did I learn about boat building but I learned about glassing. So ... on to my current project.
From the research I have done on this forum, there are two gentlemen whom have restored their boats and I want to borrow some ideas from them for my restoration:
drewpster
http://forums.iboats.com/boat-restoration-building-hull-repair/my-tri-hull-transom-replacement-w-pics-287390.html
Titan Tea
http://forums.iboats.com/boat-restoration-building-hull-repair/thundercraft-160-rebuild-done-catching-fish-w-pics-391695.html
So here is how it looked in the parking lot ...
Here is my wish list of what I want to do at the moment:
Trailer - It is too short for my boat so I will have to get one sized correctly. The good news is I can reuse the trailer to haul my kayaks and free up my utility trailer for other things - like hauling hay for my horses.
Motor - I was told all the motor needed was a starter and the person I bought it from threw that in. So, I am hoping that is all it will need to get it running.
Boat - Obviously it needs cleaning up. But here is my "short" list:
1. Replace the floor. It is a bit soft in places and that means it needs to be replaced.
2. I want to make it cleaner so some of the extra's like the panel on the sides are going to go away.
3. Rig this for fishing. So I will add a live well, keep the front section for the grand kids but rig a removable fishing platform up front. I like the option of having the seats removable in the back for a second fishing deck so I am going to do that too.
4. Seats - I am going to put in new swivel seats. I like being able to turn around rather than the bench type seats.
6. Lights - In drewpster's build, he used LED lights under the edges for night fishing. I like that and will be doing that too.
7. Trolling motor - I want to put my trolling motor up front rather than in back but I need to put it in out of the way. Not sure how that would work. I will figure that out as I go along.
That's it for now ... I welcome any suggestions as I get going on this project and will post photos as it goes.
Barry Bowden
