Hello Everyone,
This weekend I started what everyone has assured me is going to be a long, painful, expensive process.
I am looking for opinions!
I got this boat last year from a friend who's Father passed and he made me a great deal on it. This is our first boat and we took it out a dozen or so times and had a blast each time. This confirmed for us that we would indeed like to have a boat and will get some use out of it. We are an active young family of 5 and it seems to fit well.
Last time out I noticed that the transom was actually flexing upon acceleration so we spent the day at the beach and the patriot is officially out of commission. I started into the floor assuming the stringers are bad as well and that is confirmed. With that said, it needs new stringers, new floor and a new transom.
I suppose one of my options would be to just take everything off the boat and cut up the hull and look for a new one in better shape. Problem with this is that I will have a lot more cost in a newer used hull (that might also need repair) than I might repairing the patriot. I considered a smaller aluminum boat but that will likely not have enough space/comfort for all five of us. The main thing that might save the patriot is that it is the right type of boat for us. It holds all of us comfortably and can still get up to 25 mph or so which is enough to have a little fun. Buying a newer boat of this type is out of the question financially and I don't want someone else's problem in a cheap used setup.
In favor of repairing would be the fact that I have about $1500 in the entire set up to include the motor, trolling motor, batteries, new wiring, new bimini, new cover, stereo system, lighting, trailer and support equipment. The motor is in like new shape, the steering and controls are all good and the hull itself has no apparent damage. If I were to spend $1k repairing the hull and transom i'd have a boat that I know is in sound condition for $2,500. So then the question becomes whether or not I can find something better for $2,500 if I were to just sell it all and start over.
I will be doing the repair myself if it makes sense to do so. Must also mention that I am looking for a project and not afraid of this type of challenge so it has some hobby value as well. I have a garage full of tools and equipment as well.
So based on your first hand experience should I start the repair or go ahead and scrap it now?
This weekend I started what everyone has assured me is going to be a long, painful, expensive process.
I am looking for opinions!
I got this boat last year from a friend who's Father passed and he made me a great deal on it. This is our first boat and we took it out a dozen or so times and had a blast each time. This confirmed for us that we would indeed like to have a boat and will get some use out of it. We are an active young family of 5 and it seems to fit well.
Last time out I noticed that the transom was actually flexing upon acceleration so we spent the day at the beach and the patriot is officially out of commission. I started into the floor assuming the stringers are bad as well and that is confirmed. With that said, it needs new stringers, new floor and a new transom.
I suppose one of my options would be to just take everything off the boat and cut up the hull and look for a new one in better shape. Problem with this is that I will have a lot more cost in a newer used hull (that might also need repair) than I might repairing the patriot. I considered a smaller aluminum boat but that will likely not have enough space/comfort for all five of us. The main thing that might save the patriot is that it is the right type of boat for us. It holds all of us comfortably and can still get up to 25 mph or so which is enough to have a little fun. Buying a newer boat of this type is out of the question financially and I don't want someone else's problem in a cheap used setup.
In favor of repairing would be the fact that I have about $1500 in the entire set up to include the motor, trolling motor, batteries, new wiring, new bimini, new cover, stereo system, lighting, trailer and support equipment. The motor is in like new shape, the steering and controls are all good and the hull itself has no apparent damage. If I were to spend $1k repairing the hull and transom i'd have a boat that I know is in sound condition for $2,500. So then the question becomes whether or not I can find something better for $2,500 if I were to just sell it all and start over.
I will be doing the repair myself if it makes sense to do so. Must also mention that I am looking for a project and not afraid of this type of challenge so it has some hobby value as well. I have a garage full of tools and equipment as well.
So based on your first hand experience should I start the repair or go ahead and scrap it now?