1981 Tidecraft Spitfire V15 bass boat restore

[Kerb]

On Friday I purchased a 1981 Tidecraft Spitfire V15 with trailer and a 1978 Mercury 800 for $900. The motor runs but needs attention. The transom is wasted as well as most of the other wood structure. On Sunday I began tearing into the boat by stripping the interior, un-securing the motor, and partially lifted the top half. I am waiting for a cherry picker to remove the motor and completly remove the top half.

I plan to do a complete restore and will post my progress with many questions in this thread. Here are two pics of it before hauling it home.

 

[jcsercsa]

Re: 1981 Tidecraft Spitfire V15 bass boat restore

Welcome !!!! What a good find !! motor alone is worth that !! keep them pics comming !!! John

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1981 Tidecraft Spitfire V15 bass boat restore

Nice find and well worth the price. I'd love to have something like that myself for fishing. There are a number of fantastic fishing boat restos going on here or have been completed. Good luck with your project.

 

[rburns]

Re: 1981 Tidecraft Spitfire V15 bass boat restore

We're in the same boat! this is what the top looks like without the bottom. as with yours mine is all rotted wood i started it so im goin to finish it we spent all day cutting out wood

 

[poohbear2170]

Re: 1981 Tidecraft Spitfire V15 bass boat restore

Man i just got me an 1985 spitfire also has a rotten transom not to mention the floor, stringers and even the bulkheads i pulled the top cap off to revile the mess of rotten wood today and slowly ripping out the wood but when it finished it will be like a new boat just in an old shell i bought this boat for 175.00 for the boat 1985 suzuki 75hp and the trailer not bad motor just got overheated and blew the head gasket oh well not bad deal though

 

[daleacoleman]

Re: 1981 Tidecraft Spitfire V15 bass boat restore

Hello,
I have just bought my first boat, its a 1980 Tidecraft v15 spitfire w/74 Johnson 70. The runs but bogged down at wot. Ran some sea foam through it and it is better but not what I think it should be. Has trolling motor and HB FF. Came with trailer and pulls good. paid $900 so I don't think I did to bad.
I have seen on here about rotten wood. How do you check?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1981 Tidecraft Spitfire V15 bass boat restore

Please start your own thread dale. This one is quite old.