The good news is we are home and safe. All new lights and trailer wiring in WalMart parking lot, qlong with pulling packing and greasing bearing and hubs, and $178 worth of new tires. End good news.
She needs a new deck no way around it. It has rotted from the bottom up. The original vinyl floor is in great shape but as soon as i stepped in her I heard the dreaded crunch of rotten decking. Sad really so much potential.
I am 50/50 restore or sending her down the road. Its a hard call because there is so much original left on the boat, and I really really dig that. VERY few modications I would like to do to it. But just the paint work alone has me intimidated on this one. Its in very very poor condition. Paint is going to run me at least $350. I would deck it using my standard 5/8 that I have used on my two others. I would spar not epoxy this one. I have 1.5 gallons unopened spar on hand more than enough to do it with. I still have a crap ton of stainless screws and fasteners. I have an entire box of rivets and an air riveter. I have a brand new dual purpose battery, already on hand. I have a gas tank and hose but need fittings.
The side bolsters are rock solid, the console fronts are solid and the vinyl looks new, the bow seat bases are solid with the original snap in cushions. Which are in good shape. The original back to back seats are solid. I hate them but I can't see doing anything to this boat other than a 95% factory original resto. Original steering is good original electrical is neat and tidy with no birds nest. I even have the factory original bimini top. There are a ton of positives to this boat.
In the hull trailer and gas, I have $624 in it. I MAY be able to get $450 back out of it. Minimizing my loss and moving on with life. Or the goal would be to do it as minimally intrusive as possible. I am REALLY digging the original vinatage look.
I think I can actually get templates out of the flooring one HUGE bonus I have never had before.
A few questions if the mob is still around. Does anyone remember if a 16ss transom is one or 2 pieces of 3/4.
The factory vinyl floor is separating from the original ply does anyone think it might be able to be saved and reused. I would hate to rustoleum and sand this floor or put carpet in it. I would LOVE to keep the original look and that would mean saving the 70's blue vinyl floor.
The only changes I would want to make would be to get rid of the cheesy vinyl wood grain on the seat bases and bolsters and bow support.
