Hey there folks,
New to the forum (Name is John, Howdy!) and ready to dive in head first on my third boat project. First one was a 93 Mac 19 power sailor that we took to local lakes (yes we have lakes in Arizona) and also down to the sea of cortez. Got rid of it cause the wife would crap bricks every time it keeled over to far. second was a 92 sea swirl with a 4.3 V6. Didn't really enjoy it. Lake only boat and really not worth fishing out of and no place to sleep for weekend trips. I have just picked up a 1972 Formula 233 that I have had my eye on for a few months. Went down and took a look at it this past weekend and dropped a small deposit for the guy to hold it. Will be picking it up this coming week after I make room here at the house. As I said the boat is a 1972 with all the parts there. Has a 302 with a 888. The interior is pretty rough but the previous owner pulled it out of the water a couple of years ago, pulled the motor and drive (was running and working at the time) pulled the gas tank (he bought a new 80 gallon aluminum) and replaced the stringers. Also, he has pretty much gutted the entire interior. (he has everything) The exterior appears to be pretty solid. Did the hammer thing for about an hour. Transom is solid other than a little flake around the key hole about a 1/4" deep. Top side is pretty chalky but also seems pretty solid. Keep in mind this is an arizona boat so things tend to stay pretty dry here. Either way I know that I'm in for a ton of work and late hours. Im no stranger to the work thats coming my way and the wife is on board for the project. (she is a trooper with this stuff and I couldn't ask for a better helper) I might ad that one of the attractions to this boat is the hull. Good on the lakes and great in the ocean. Also, its a 1972 and so am I. (couple old dogs working together) We plan to use the boat for weekending at the lake with some fishing involved and taking it to both San Diego and San Carlos, Mexico for fishing and diving a couple times a year. So there it is! Looking for all the ideas and knowledge you can throw at me. I will post pics as soon as I can and will also post pics as I move along on the project. Wife loves the documentation process of all the projects I do so Im sure there will be plenty to look at. Planning on this one to be a keeper so I want to get it all done right the first time if you know what I mean. Idea is to bring everything up to date. New wiring, gauges, electronics(nothing over the top but whats needed will be added) controls, steering, lighting and so on. Also what to make the cabin as comfy as possible for weekending.(will be a little tighter than our big toy hauler we take to the dunes, lol) but made out just fine in the little Mac 19 cabin. so come guys and start tossing out some ideas. Im not Captain Money Banks but I have some extra here and there I can toss at the project and the wife and set a budget of around $15,000.00 or so to do it.
New to the forum (Name is John, Howdy!) and ready to dive in head first on my third boat project. First one was a 93 Mac 19 power sailor that we took to local lakes (yes we have lakes in Arizona) and also down to the sea of cortez. Got rid of it cause the wife would crap bricks every time it keeled over to far. second was a 92 sea swirl with a 4.3 V6. Didn't really enjoy it. Lake only boat and really not worth fishing out of and no place to sleep for weekend trips. I have just picked up a 1972 Formula 233 that I have had my eye on for a few months. Went down and took a look at it this past weekend and dropped a small deposit for the guy to hold it. Will be picking it up this coming week after I make room here at the house. As I said the boat is a 1972 with all the parts there. Has a 302 with a 888. The interior is pretty rough but the previous owner pulled it out of the water a couple of years ago, pulled the motor and drive (was running and working at the time) pulled the gas tank (he bought a new 80 gallon aluminum) and replaced the stringers. Also, he has pretty much gutted the entire interior. (he has everything) The exterior appears to be pretty solid. Did the hammer thing for about an hour. Transom is solid other than a little flake around the key hole about a 1/4" deep. Top side is pretty chalky but also seems pretty solid. Keep in mind this is an arizona boat so things tend to stay pretty dry here. Either way I know that I'm in for a ton of work and late hours. Im no stranger to the work thats coming my way and the wife is on board for the project. (she is a trooper with this stuff and I couldn't ask for a better helper) I might ad that one of the attractions to this boat is the hull. Good on the lakes and great in the ocean. Also, its a 1972 and so am I. (couple old dogs working together) We plan to use the boat for weekending at the lake with some fishing involved and taking it to both San Diego and San Carlos, Mexico for fishing and diving a couple times a year. So there it is! Looking for all the ideas and knowledge you can throw at me. I will post pics as soon as I can and will also post pics as I move along on the project. Wife loves the documentation process of all the projects I do so Im sure there will be plenty to look at. Planning on this one to be a keeper so I want to get it all done right the first time if you know what I mean. Idea is to bring everything up to date. New wiring, gauges, electronics(nothing over the top but whats needed will be added) controls, steering, lighting and so on. Also what to make the cabin as comfy as possible for weekending.(will be a little tighter than our big toy hauler we take to the dunes, lol) but made out just fine in the little Mac 19 cabin. so come guys and start tossing out some ideas. Im not Captain Money Banks but I have some extra here and there I can toss at the project and the wife and set a budget of around $15,000.00 or so to do it.
