1988 searay Seville cuddy cabin. Is it a good boat?

[Nick2020]

Recently purchased a 88 searay Seville 4.3. I was wondering if they were good boats. I have heard a lot about the late 80s searays being poorly made and having wood rot problems. Can someone tell me how solid these boats are.

 

[tpenfield]

These boats were fine when they left the factory 34 years ago. The boat has a wood structure as you mention. Many boats of that era do. 34 years is about 2X the boat's design life, and many boats will have rot issues even after 25 years.

So, you tell us - how solid is your 34 year old boat? Have you looked around in the structure for signs of trouble?

Wouldn't this have been a better question to ask before purchasing? Your boat could be fine . . or not.

 

[Scott Danforth]

As stated by Ted, the SeaRay was a perfectly fine boat back in 1987 or 1988 when it left the factory. if i twas stored outside and neglected, the transom and stringers may be fully rotted away.

if it was stored in-doors, wiped down with ever use it may be perfect.

all that matters is condition, condition, condition and its past maintenance and care.

since you already bought the boat, suggest you do some test drills.

 

[Nick2020]

It seems to be pretty solid.i went around the whole boat with a hammer and there are a couple small soft spots but the main one was in back where batteries were. it was completely rotton and one motor mount was rotton. Other than that it is solid and transom seems solid.

 

[Scott Danforth]

It seems to be pretty solid.i went around the whole boat with a hammer and there are a couple small soft spots but the main one was in back where batteries were. it was completely rotton and one motor mount was rotton. Other than that it is solid and transom seems solid.

you can beat on a rotten transom with a hammer, and only well after the wood rotted to dust will you hear a hollow sound. Tapping means nothing

only sure fire way is test drills.

however since you found soft spots, most likely on the floor along with the rotten motor mount. the stringers and transom rotted years before the floor and motor mount.

you have a project on your hand.

suggest you start here https://forums.iboats.com/threads/how-tos-and-other-great-information.283508/

and read the threads in links 14, 15, 18, 2, 3, 4a, and 4b in their entirety. watch every video in link 14. you will need the information to rebuild your boat.

 

[briangcc]

Whether its a project you want to keep/take on OR look to offload is your call.

Should you follow through on bringing back the boat, there are countless others that have started in the resto forum with "It has just one soft spot on the floor" which turned into a full on demo/rebuild. The folks are happy to help should you take it on.

 

[Sprig]

The boat is 34 years old, repeat 34 years old. I assume it was inexpensive to purchase but it will end up being a very expensive to restore. I hope you have the knowledge, skills and expertise to do the work your self. Also hope you have the hundreds of hours of time to invest in the project.

 

[tpenfield]

If I were me, I'd drill some test holes as recommended and see if you can ID were the moisture/rot is and isn't. You know that one motor mount and battery tray area needs to be fixed. But while you've 'got the hood up' you may as well address any other areas that need fixing.

 

[Nick2020]

This sucks I drilled small holes at bottom of transom and it went straight through and I pulled out brown wood on drill bit. The top half is good but not bottom half.

 

[Nick2020]

After inspecting everything the back of boat is flawless with not one crack in fiberglass. Out drive is solid it does not move at all and bolts are tight. Only the bottom quarter of transom is showing signs of rotton wood. I am thinking about just running it the way it is for awhile, it seems to be early in the rotting process.

 

[JASinIL2006]

If the bottom of the transom and a motor mount are rotted, it’s time to repair the boat. It may not be safe to operate and the likelihood of causing further damage is greater. Sorry, I know that sucks. I was there myself.

 

[roscoe]

If it was cheap enough, run it till it sinks, wear a life jacket, say a prayer, Make all passengers sign a waiver, carry lots of liability insurance, and go have fun. It may last a few months or 5 years. Then junk it and move on.
JMW2Cents

 

[tpenfield]

With one engine mount rotted, who’s job will it be to hold the engine down when you use the boat? Additionally, you couldn’t take the boat out solo.

 

[tpenfield]

Also, did you check the bulkhead that is in front of the engine? Also the stringers in an area close to the hull bottom further away from the engine mounts?

Boats tend to rot from the keel upward, because that is where water settles in a boat hull. So, in addition to the transom, there are bulkheads that can start to rot. Lag bolt engine mounts are another source of rot, which sounds like your situation.

 

[Scott Danforth]

After inspecting everything the back of boat is flawless with not one crack in fiberglass. Out drive is solid it does not move at all and bolts are tight. Only the bottom quarter of transom is showing signs of rotton wood. I am thinking about just running it the way it is for awhile, it seems to be early in the rotting process.

you are in the denial phase of the 12 step restoration program:

denial
anger
acceptance
resolve
purchase tools
purchase ppe
pull the boat apart
grind fiberglass
fit new wood
lay fiberglass
putt boat back together

suggest you also read this in addition to the restoration stickies

Perspective of Fiberglass Boat design life

Having been a member on this wonderful forum for a few years, I thought I would share some perspectives Design Life..... that magic duration of time that your product is designed to survive until being replaced. Lawn and Garden equipment has a design life of about 7 years for the average...

forums.iboats.com

 

[briangcc]

Half rotten transom. Rotten floor. Rotten motor mount. How about the stringers as I didn't see you tested them? FWIW...I wager you already know what you're going to find.

I wouldn't operate the boat as it sits. It'd be the equivalent of moving a baby grand piano onto a termite infested floor.

It's a potential danger to you, your passengers, and your fellow boaters around you.

 

[nola mike]

If you don't want to restore it (and no way in hell I'd do it at this point in my life--partial resto was plenty for me), your best bet is to part it out. If you paid a couple of grand for the boat, you should be able to break even at least. Still work though. Regardless of your choice the next step is to pull the motor. Oh, also--your alignment is almost certainly off, so in addition to being unsafe, you have the chance of blowing your coupler out at any time, leaving you very stranded.

 

[Nick2020]

I guess I will do it. Alot of work has already been done since the engine and out drive are out already.

 

[Nick2020]

I cut a small square in transom and of course the wood falls out by just poking it.

 

[tpenfield]

Well, it is good that you are looking into it. The challenge will be to figure out where the bad of it ends and the good begins. Then you can plan how much demolition is needed . . . if you decide to fix it.