Good day everyone,
I have a Bayliner trophy, 2002WA (cuddly cabin, 22', 175 Mercury Optimax outboard, trailered, not moored/docked, roughly 20 day fishing trips per year etc). Please keep the following in mind while reading my post: I have moderate to severe back pain caused by service related injuries (Afghanistan). I bought the boat, my first boat, for 15 000$. Ive been thinking of selling it and just buying something else (a little bigger, etc... Like a Striper 2901WA). What has been holding me back is my uncertain future, given my injuries and eventual medical release from the forces. I'm not poor, but I'm not rich, and my future is up in the air. Consider if you believe the cost of what I describe below will be too great in terms of material, time/ability when compared with the boat. I don't think having someone else do the work is an option due to the significant hourly cost.
When I bought the boat in 2011, the inspector told me I only had about 5 years until I had to re-do the transom (which he derived from the humidity test he did with a gun). How do I now verify this without having to pay him another 500$ for an inspection? Cracks have begun to occur in the plastic capping over top of the edges (on the edge that the main outboard sits, it is called off with plastic; this plastics hard clearly broke in the past and been caulked over, but new large cracks / fissures are starting to form which worry me as they are surely in contact with water from waves when they hit me from behind) Is there a way I can tell if it's still "safe"?'
I was also told that their were "bubbles" forming on the underside, that would need to be drilled, dried, and filled.
Also, I have several problems I need to work on, first, I have chips about dime to quarter size on some of my flooring, I'm wondering if it isn't time to re-do the flooring? Is it feasible to spray something like rhino liner and be done with it?
The u-bolt used to winch the boat to the trailer is... Not ripping out, but definitely needs some work (if only to re-seal around where is has pulled/worked a bit. Same thing for another U bolt on the transom that supports the weight of the kicker when trailering.
The carpet on the trailer skids need to be re-done.
I believe the anti-fouling may need to be re-done, how do I tell?
The "sealing agent" (black tar / putty type agent) used to keep the windshield in place (I imagine) has begun flaking off increasingly. Windows still seem to be sufficiently secure, but it worries me... Concern?
The carpetting just under the window, on top of the "console" for lack of better terms, has "burnt" with son exposure and is dryer and falling apart. I now have big burn holes in the carpet. I need to replace this, are their different options for material, or should I use carpet again? Do I have to remove the windshield to do a good job? Ref windshield point, 2 birds with 1 stone?
I want to replace my stock seating with something comfy to sit in all day, for someone with back problems, suggestions?
I would like to make my bimini bigger in front and back to give me more sun protection. Actually, I would love to buy or build a hardtop to replace it all together.
I want to install more rod holders. Can I simply drill them in, wherever (within reason)?
I would like to increase my storage options for rods, etc, within the cuddy (install rod holders on roof of cuddy, so I can not sleep and keep gear secure). Same Q as above, can I simply drill wherever?
I would like to turn one of the integrate fish boxes into an insulated cooler... Feasible? The other I would like to turn into a real fish box/live well for the catch... But this probably means installing a pump, insulation, a seal? Maybe replacing the lift off panels with ones that flip up with a compressed air cylinder to hold them up and a proper seal around the edges...?
I would like a "project boat," and this could be it. I could buy another, and restore this one slowly... But I do not own any indoor storage big enough... And it's worth mentioning that I have very bad allergic reactions to some glue... So I would have to be very careful (I developed it while making button snowboards in my youth, so I have some exp with fibreglass... But I can barely remember those days). Given this, I have been thinking it may be worth trying to restor an aluminum bass type boat to component my current / future dual purpose cruiser/fishing boat.
Any opinion / advice welcome. Thanks for taking the time, I apologize in advance for all the typos there must be... I'm posting this from my phone in bed while trying to find sleep.
Thanks again.
I have a Bayliner trophy, 2002WA (cuddly cabin, 22', 175 Mercury Optimax outboard, trailered, not moored/docked, roughly 20 day fishing trips per year etc). Please keep the following in mind while reading my post: I have moderate to severe back pain caused by service related injuries (Afghanistan). I bought the boat, my first boat, for 15 000$. Ive been thinking of selling it and just buying something else (a little bigger, etc... Like a Striper 2901WA). What has been holding me back is my uncertain future, given my injuries and eventual medical release from the forces. I'm not poor, but I'm not rich, and my future is up in the air. Consider if you believe the cost of what I describe below will be too great in terms of material, time/ability when compared with the boat. I don't think having someone else do the work is an option due to the significant hourly cost.
When I bought the boat in 2011, the inspector told me I only had about 5 years until I had to re-do the transom (which he derived from the humidity test he did with a gun). How do I now verify this without having to pay him another 500$ for an inspection? Cracks have begun to occur in the plastic capping over top of the edges (on the edge that the main outboard sits, it is called off with plastic; this plastics hard clearly broke in the past and been caulked over, but new large cracks / fissures are starting to form which worry me as they are surely in contact with water from waves when they hit me from behind) Is there a way I can tell if it's still "safe"?'
I was also told that their were "bubbles" forming on the underside, that would need to be drilled, dried, and filled.
Also, I have several problems I need to work on, first, I have chips about dime to quarter size on some of my flooring, I'm wondering if it isn't time to re-do the flooring? Is it feasible to spray something like rhino liner and be done with it?
The u-bolt used to winch the boat to the trailer is... Not ripping out, but definitely needs some work (if only to re-seal around where is has pulled/worked a bit. Same thing for another U bolt on the transom that supports the weight of the kicker when trailering.
The carpet on the trailer skids need to be re-done.
I believe the anti-fouling may need to be re-done, how do I tell?
The "sealing agent" (black tar / putty type agent) used to keep the windshield in place (I imagine) has begun flaking off increasingly. Windows still seem to be sufficiently secure, but it worries me... Concern?
The carpetting just under the window, on top of the "console" for lack of better terms, has "burnt" with son exposure and is dryer and falling apart. I now have big burn holes in the carpet. I need to replace this, are their different options for material, or should I use carpet again? Do I have to remove the windshield to do a good job? Ref windshield point, 2 birds with 1 stone?
I want to replace my stock seating with something comfy to sit in all day, for someone with back problems, suggestions?
I would like to make my bimini bigger in front and back to give me more sun protection. Actually, I would love to buy or build a hardtop to replace it all together.
I want to install more rod holders. Can I simply drill them in, wherever (within reason)?
I would like to increase my storage options for rods, etc, within the cuddy (install rod holders on roof of cuddy, so I can not sleep and keep gear secure). Same Q as above, can I simply drill wherever?
I would like to turn one of the integrate fish boxes into an insulated cooler... Feasible? The other I would like to turn into a real fish box/live well for the catch... But this probably means installing a pump, insulation, a seal? Maybe replacing the lift off panels with ones that flip up with a compressed air cylinder to hold them up and a proper seal around the edges...?
I would like a "project boat," and this could be it. I could buy another, and restore this one slowly... But I do not own any indoor storage big enough... And it's worth mentioning that I have very bad allergic reactions to some glue... So I would have to be very careful (I developed it while making button snowboards in my youth, so I have some exp with fibreglass... But I can barely remember those days). Given this, I have been thinking it may be worth trying to restor an aluminum bass type boat to component my current / future dual purpose cruiser/fishing boat.
Any opinion / advice welcome. Thanks for taking the time, I apologize in advance for all the typos there must be... I'm posting this from my phone in bed while trying to find sleep.
Thanks again.
