Am I just nuts???????

[ScottinAZ]

First things first, I have a boat. I like said boat, but I need a "project" going to keep me out of the funny farm.... I am currently having impure thoughts when searching Marketplace looking at boats.... I have found what could be a "project" or it could be "parts" for my current boat. It is a 1970's vintage Starcraft Trihull. Merc I/O setup (same as my current boat). appears to be a "deckover" job, so if deemed "salvageable" would very likely need floor/stringers/transom job. That would be my fourth journey down the fiberglass dust rabbit hole. Of course, there is no interior, so that would have to be made/sourced should I decide to "restore" the boat.

thoughts are, for the price ($350), as long as it has an engine that rotates, and the drive isnt full of water, I cannot "lose" money on the deal, as they would be direct replacement parts for my current boat..... What I dont know is what condition the remainder of the hull is in, but again, I have done it before. If I redo the boat it would be for the express purpose of selling at the beginning of the season to finance another project (even if I break even, thats considered a "win" as it kept me busy during the winter....).

How good are the old fiberglass "Starcraft" boats (thats what its advertised as, I have not confirmed HIN to be sure)? Were they decent hulls, or mostly like everyone else in that timeframe and just thrown together? I know the Starcraft aluminum boats are pretty highly regarded around here. I also know that tri-hulls are not nearly as desireable as a v-hull design. How worthless are they? Is there a tri-hull following out there I dont know about?

 

[mr 88]

Waste of time and money . No following and if you restored it the ROI is in the red , big time . Like maybe you might get a grand for it when your done .after investing thousands in materials and not counting the hours you put into it . That's my opinion.

 

[tpenfield]

As stated, not sure you could actually restore & flip the boat for a profit that would fund the next adventure down the rabbit hole. But, You've done a few restorations, so you are in a good place to judge.

Assume that you are going to fully gut the boat, so how it was originally built does not matter.

 

[ScottinAZ]

As stated, not sure you could actually restore & flip the boat for a profit that would fund the next adventure down the rabbit hole. But, You've done a few restorations, so you are in a good place to judge.

Assume that you are going to fully gut the boat, so how it was originally built does not matter.

the boat is likely a gut job. as stated, it appears to be a deck-over refloor. Truly mostly interested in it as a cheap source of increasingly rare parts for my other boat, so thats the way it may go. It all depends on what the hull looks like if/when I pull the trigger on it. My first boat was a tri-hull, and ironically it was also my first jaunt into redoing stringers, deck and transom..... learned a lot, and as stated have done a few since then, including the current boat. I dont expect much (if any) ROI, as stated, its a time sink for me, so considered "therapy"...... Yeah, I am one of the crazy buggers who thinks fiberglass dust and resin is theraputic..... but, that said, I need the right candidate for getting a redo. There are a couple other hulls on Marketplace right now as well, in the same condition, but are a v-hull design. May take a better look at them and see if they may be a better candidate, either for parts, or if they arent "too far gone" a redo. Hey, whatcha expect for $500 in the boating world.....

 

[nola mike]

Hey, whatcha expect for $500 in the boating world.....

...$5k worth of resto.
If you feel like a project, buy something newer and transplant that into your current hull.

 

[aspeck]

First off, yes, you are probably nuts, but then aren't all of us that love boating?

Secondly, there is a loyal following for tri-hull boats. Check out this group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1859821714346036

Third, that is an old boat and even restored it isn't going to bring lot of money. You will have to determine when you see the boat how much it will really need and how much you want to restore that particular boat.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[Scott06]

Yes you are nuts I wouldn't invest the time in this boat. Unless you love it or have some sentimental attachment to it I cant see it be worth the effort.

 

[ScottinAZ]

...$5k worth of resto.
If you feel like a project, buy something newer and transplant that into your current hull.

I dont disagree that its not a cheap endeavor to redo a boat, but 5k seems a bit extreme as a DIY. I dont have 5k in any two of my boats I have done......

a quick search on US Composites nets about $500 in supplies to do a decent job of decking a boat (not superb, but at least as good, if not better than OEM) 10 gal polyester, 4 gal cabosil (may need more, depends on how you like to butter your joints), 10 yards each on 1708 and 3/4oz mat.

this should be more than enough for the average 15-17' hull that I normally do. last one I did, my current boat I am about 3 gallons of resin into, but the stringers and transom were miraculously still good...... that isnt the normal situation, I well know. My first boat was about 6 gallons of resin for the full job.

Plywood is cheap, at about 30 a sheet for 1/2" 5 ply, 3/4 about the same for a transom.

buy the hull right, and be frugal, but not stingy with the supplies and you are less than a grand into a "as new" bare hull just needing an interior.....

Figure mechanicals at another $750 or so (bellows, shift cable and impeller) if the basics are good.

carpet can be had for under a hundo for enough to do 2 boats, and low end but decent seats are 2 for $150 at Walmart. Its not gonna win any awards, but its also likely an old hull that most folks wouldnt look twice at, but will get a family of 4 on the water for under $2500 and last another decade or more.

this isnt to say that I will or will not do a certain hull.... just a rundown on what I usually spend (no time of course) on a rebuild that I am fully happy with taking my family on the lake with. Others may see that as nuts, but it is what it is... you dont NEED a 25K+ brand spankin new boat to enjoy the water.

 

[ScottinAZ]

Yes you are nuts I wouldn't invest the time in this boat. Unless you love it or have some sentimental attachment to it I cant see it be worth the effort.

No attachment to this (or any other hull) honestly, its more to keep me from boredom.... its a passtime that can be done for relatively little money (per payday) and net something of (limited) value to somebody. I gotta have something to tinker with, and I dont believe many hobbies out there, especially when boating or in automobiles that nets a profit when done, just a good sense of accomplishment, and good memories (once the itch from the fiberglass wears off at least)

 

[Scott Danforth]

Secondly, there is a loyal following for tri-hull boats.

There are people that also like Ford Pintos and AMC Pacers, those people have a straight jacket

Tri-hull boats have 1 pro, and about 5000000000 entries in the con category

 

[KJM]

FB marketplace is a dangerous place! I know the feeling of wanting another project too! Now that I have the boat I did to where I wanted, I'm beginning to find myself thinking I want something new and browsing marketplace more and more. Maybe we are all a little nuts?

 

[airshot]

Why ??? Much better off finding a tinnie to restore !!

 

[nola mike]

No attachment to this (or any other hull) honestly, its more to keep me from boredom.... its a passtime that can be done for relatively little money (per payday) and net something of (limited) value to somebody. I gotta have something to tinker with, and I dont believe many hobbies out there, especially when boating or in automobiles that nets a profit when done, just a good sense of accomplishment, and good memories (once the itch from the fiberglass wears off at least)

Cool, if you just want a way to waste some time then go for it. Flipping a boat for no profit that I have no intention of using doesn't make sense to me, but it's not my time. I've got a list of time-wasting projects to last me another 20 years. If I was going to do all the work though, might as well start with something decent to begin with. Plenty of rotted out V6/V8 alpha/bravos out there, some with decent interiors, some with decent motors, all nearly or actually free.

 

[Scott06]

No attachment to this (or any other hull) honestly, its more to keep me from boredom.... its a passtime that can be done for relatively little money (per payday) and net something of (limited) value to somebody. I gotta have something to tinker with, and I dont believe many hobbies out there, especially when boating or in automobiles that nets a profit when done, just a good sense of accomplishment, and good memories (once the itch from the fiberglass wears off at least)

Then may be worth doing it. I also collect old cars and love to work on my daily drivers ( which have a lot of miles). I might suggest and old tin starcraft vs trihull as they are relatively indestructible.

Might be better channeled into older cars, like things that will be classics in 10 years. I have a 65 GTO that I have been working on since I was 17 ... so much the same way as you I enjoy the project. I wish I had bought and stashed some 80's cars when I was younger. I see this avenue is a better justification of expenditures vs boats as if you need to sell there is more residual value for the work

 

[ScottinAZ]

Then may be worth doing it. I also collect old cars and love to work on my daily drivers ( which have a lot of miles). I might suggest and old tin starcraft vs trihull as they are relatively indestructible.

Might be better channeled into older cars, like things that will be classics in 10 years. I have a 65 GTO that I have been working on since I was 17 ... so much the same way as you I enjoy the project. I wish I had bought and stashed some 80's cars when I was younger. I see this avenue is a better justification of expenditures vs boats as if you need to sell there is more residual value for the work

the ultimate goal is to get a "project car".... however the price goes up exponentially when you start working on cars...... boats are still relatively "cheap" as far as fiberglass goes. Get into an engine, and the stuff hits the fan fast. Boats also seem to be a faster turnaround than a "car".... Besides I can do fiberglass, sheetmetal is another story....
Would love an older 70's jet boat, but most I see here need an interior and an engine, and the hull is pretty roached. Go up a little, and you start getting decent boats, that need just a little to get them where they need to be, say in the 2-5k range. Tinnys here are non-existent. Havent seen one that isnt just a 12' johnboat, and that isnt what I want..... different locations, different markets....

 

[ScottinAZ]

well, the consensus is, I am probably nuts....

Next question though, Tri-hulls obviously are an "acquired taste"..... 120-130 hp mercs are a dime a dozen as well.... what about boats with a factory V-8? inherently more "desireable" or does it depend on the hull MFG as well..... There is a 18-19' v-hull Mel-Hart Baretta with the 260 Merc 350 setup in it on marketplace as well.... this would be a decent step up from the current boat, which is a 15' v-hull with a 120 Merc in it. (classic case of two-foot-itis....)

As above, I know that the guts of the hull will likely need to be redone, but again, that isnt an issue..... I seem to like the smell of polyester resin in the morning.... smells like VICTORY!!!!!!

when it comes to potential candidates, OMC and VP are out automatically.... I have a FULL set of manuals already for Mercruiser, and I am familiar with how they work. I also have most of the common special tools to service them. I really dont want to go down the obsolete/unobtanium route with either VP or (especially) OMC. Same with engines, I prefer a Chevy based engine, as they were the most common, and therefore easiest to get parts for. I can work on nearly anything, but ever since COVID, parts availability and timelines have been all jacked up. I prefer to give myself a fighting chance at getting the parts needed.....