Boat weight

fullchoke

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Oct 10, 2021
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Hello, I bought an old boat probably made in the late 70's. It's a 16' Fiberform. It looks exactly like a bowrider that they made except the windshield is positioned forward so it isn't a bowrider. It probably has a name of it's own, but I have a very limited knowledge of boats, and could only find a picture of the Bowrider. It doesn't have any seats, but the 2.5 OMC 4cyl engine is in it, without the cover. No outdrive. I'm thinking that most boats of this vintage would be wet under the floor. The floor is very solid, but it is cold here, and it could be just frozen.
What ballpark weight should I expect the boat to be, when I run it across the scales on it's EZ Loader trailer (single wheel, 2000 lb load capacity)? This weight would be without taking the tongue weight into consideration.
Or what would the boat weigh by itself with the motor, and no trailer?
Thanks, appreciate the help!
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
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I would not even consider buying the boat unless you want a really expensive project.

OMC has not been in business for decades, and the hull will need restoration before it can be used.

that boat will cost you more than $8000+ and 2 years + of your time to get to a point to be safe and usable.

$3000 for hull restoration
$2000 for interior and misc bits
$3000 for a used motor and drive
 

fullchoke

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Oct 10, 2021
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7
I bought the boat(unseen) online in an auction. I got it cheap. I originally bid on it for the trailer, but the 120 OMC engine is complete, and turns over. I'm trying to figure out if the boat itself is worth saving. From the outside the boat looks pretty good.
Thanks for the cost estimates, but I would find the parts I need on a budget. I may consider buying another boat for the parts if this one is still good. That is why I'm interested in the weight. If it's badly waterlogged, it goes to the landfill, or I dig a hole for it.
 

JASinIL2006

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Feb 10, 2012
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5,673
Personally, I cannot imagine putting the time or money into a 1970s boat with a long-obsolete and incomplete drive train. Rebuilding and maintaining an old boat is hard enough, without have to deal with a motor/outdrive from a company that's been out of business for 20+ years.
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
Staff member
Joined
Jul 23, 2011
Messages
49,542
I bought the boat(unseen) online in an auction. I got it cheap. I originally bid on it for the trailer, but the 120 OMC engine is complete, and turns over. I'm trying to figure out if the boat itself is worth saving. From the outside the boat looks pretty good.
Thanks for the cost estimates, but I would find the parts I need on a budget. I may consider buying another boat for the parts if this one is still good. That is why I'm interested in the weight. If it's badly waterlogged, it goes to the landfill, or I dig a hole for it.
I would plan on digging a hole and turning it into a koi pond with the motor in it.

the 153 cubic inch 120hp motor is nothing special or desirable and the 1991 and later 3.0 (181 cubic inch) motors are dirt cheap and 100000% better

the boat isnt worth it.

the boat probably weighted 1700# or more originally. my guess is the foam is water-logged and youre close to 2100# now. add the weight of the trailer and your towed weight is probably 2600#
 

fullchoke

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Oct 10, 2021
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I would plan on digging a hole and turning it into a koi pond with the motor in it.

the 153 cubic inch 120hp motor is nothing special or desirable and the 1991 and later 3.0 (181 cubic inch) motors are dirt cheap and 100000% better

the boat isnt worth it.

the boat probably weighted 1700# or more originally. my guess is the foam is water-logged and youre close to 2100# now. add the weight of the trailer and your towed weight is probably 2600#
I ran the trailer, and boat with the motor still in it over a truck scale, and it came to 2850. That was weighing the tires, so tongue weight (unknown), which is considerable with the trailer wheels so far back is to be added. If your guess is fairly close, it looks to certainly be waterlogged. I'll know for sure when I crush it with an excavator.
 

fullchoke

Cadet
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Oct 10, 2021
Messages
7
I forgot to say I won't be digging a hole for the motor. It was used in quite a few other applications. The same carb on the OMC 120 sold on Ebay for $359 recently. Other parts like the manifolds, heat exchanger, air cleaner, mounts etc could be sold too. Probably runs as it has low hours on it. It's not all negative!
 
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