Discarded and unused boats everywhere!

[ParallaxBill]

Hi folks, during this seasons travels to my hunting land I have started noticing more discarded, abandoned or unused boats almost everywhere I look. It seems that 1 in 10 homes have one or more sitting behind their houses or in run down barns or garages.

It seems to me that anyone seeking a project boat (at least in my area) would have many opportunitys to pick up an ultra cheap or even free boat if they were just to stop and ask. Some of the boats I have noticed are relatively big names in the boating industry as well as a few that I personally have never heard of.

Do any of you stop and ask about such boats as potential project boats for restoration? I'm soon to be bringing home a 16' tri-hull Thundercraft to work on this winter and if I get it running before summer I may use it and start restoring my 73 Glassmaster Tarpon during the spring and summer. It seems, at least to me, that if one is willing and able to do the work there are many boats available for the choosing for the right person to aquire.

Your thoughts?

Thanks,

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Discarded and unused boats everywhere!

i've gotten luck a couple of times like that. this was a free one, the plug had been left in, and water got above the carb. it ended up being far from free

 

[AlanR]

Re: Discarded and unused boats everywhere!

I kno what ur trying to say like im terriable for this..I got at least 11 boats on my property some where ( i got 100 + acres) usaly there there because there not running or rotten to hell and for the price you can get for them its not really worth selling So i just use em for parts or if im board and need something to do haul em out and try and restore em. I kno i have an old 14 ft run about sitting behinde my largest barn with a 75 Johnson Electric shift. Like who the hell would want that? Its siezed transom is rotten and theres hardley any floor. I dont have anything in to this boat and theres no reason for me to sell it for $30 for scrap and have to pay to dump the boat you kno.. So it sits there

 

[ParallaxBill]

Re: Discarded and unused boats everywhere!

What I am saying should not be misread as a put down for the owners of all those derelict boats. What I am saying is that there are salvageable boats out there possibly for the asking by folks that have an interest in them if the owners are willing to let them go.

No one needs to explain to me or anyone why they have boats that aren't being used or taken care of. I could care less as it is none of my business.

I'm just saying that there are plenty of boats out there that could and should be reborn if someone has the interest and means.

 

[AlanR]

Re: Discarded and unused boats everywhere!

Im just saying the mahjority are parked for a problem (seized motor , rotten, blown motor) Alot of people just dont have the money to dump into there 15+ year old boat or couldnt care less. If you see a boat behinde some ones house you gotta learn the whole story.. maybe its seized solid cause it sunk in salt water while it was running you never kno. Might look good but you might end up spending alot of money on it. There comes a point where it could be alot more money to try to repair it then it would be to buy another one. Im not try to discurage any one im just tryen to say thats why alot of the boats are unused and discareded

 

[Mark42]

Re: Discarded and unused boats everywhere!

What AlenR is saying is true. Almost all the boats you see sitting outside uncovered are considered junk.

BUT - - if you are looking for a free hull, and just want to gut the boat and rebuild from scratch, lots of those boats still have good hulls and fit the bill.

As the price of new boats (and "classic" boats) continue to rise, you will see more of those old junkers being restored and put back into service.

 

[ParallaxBill]

Re: Discarded and unused boats everywhere!

"BUT - - if you are looking for a free hull, and just want to gut the boat and rebuild from scratch, lots of those boats still have good hulls and fit the bill.

As the price of new boats (and "classic" boats) continue to rise, you will see more of those old junkers being restored and put back into service. "

That's my point and my reason for posting.

 

[CalicoKid]

Re: Discarded and unused boats everywhere!

Yep, I got my first boat for 100 bucks by stopping and asking. I was surprised when the guy went into the garage to get the 10hp motor! The boat was solid, motor ran good but trailer was a junker, made it home is all. A little work and a used trailer later and I was fishing in classic style for well under 500 bones. Never hurts to ask.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Discarded and unused boats everywhere!

I don't think anyone is expecting to find a water-ready boat tucked out on someone's back forty. Most of us would expect there to be an issue (or ten) with one of these boats. What Bill is noting is that those of us looking for a project should have no problem finding one if we look around a bit.

Personally, if I am redoing a project boat from the keel up, it will be as good, or better than it ever was new. In my mind, I would classify it as a new boat, too. So, when I'm done, I'll have maybe $2000-$3000 invested into my 18-foot Starcraft, including a motor acquisition and rebuild, and it will be as new as it can be. Try finding an new 18-foot runabout for that price range... And, yes, I've put a lot of my time into it, but that time would otherwise be spent doing less productive things, I'm sure...
- Scott

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Discarded and unused boats everywhere!

I see a fair amount of boats festering on peoples property. I have stopped and asked, and have had everything from "You can have it if you haul it" to "You can have it for only $1500" and its a piece of shyte. Some people suddenly think they can make a buck off the poor shlub who clearly wants it so bad that he stopped to ask.

My first boat was a barn festerer, with 15 years of leaves in it and a Homelite 55 that had not ran since the late 80s. I had it running and the boat in the water for not a lot of loot....

 

[Outboard]

Re: Discarded and unused boats everywhere!

I just finished a project which saved my marriage. I had an old Boston Whaler sitting around, I knew it was going to be good for a project but just couldn't get to it. Duck season was coming and my boys wanted me to buy a Jon boat. I bid on many on ebay but to my good fortune, somebody was always willing to pay more. (ebay) is a good place to sell but I have my doubts about any "deals". Anyway, I sanded out bad spots, epoxied down torn glass, I built plywood sidedecks a good foredeck and aft deck, threw on an outboard and we have a super Duck boat, Oh, I forgot to say that I epoxied down a coat of Camo Cloth and the duck don't even see us as we lay at the side of the sawgrass. I think it would be fun to build maybe 6 a year custom, put a price on them for guys who really want a cool boat and don't have time or desire for a project. My wife wanted the old junk boat gone from the garden and now it is done.

 

[Outboard]

Re: Discarded and unused boats everywhere!

Here is my attempt to save an old disgarded boat in the back yard being kept for the rainy day project, I got my rainy day and my wife was happy to get it out of the yard and on the water where a boat belongs.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Discarded and unused boats everywhere!

My next project will most likely be finding a 17 to 19 foot cuddy, gut it, "raise the roof" and turn it into a pocket cruiser.

Seeing as I can't find what I want new in a small package (like they used to make in the 60's and 70's) I'll have to resort to building it from a salvageable (and hopefully free or low buck) hull. That free hull will probably end up costing $10,000 to $15,000 once it hits the water. And using only a modest outboard able to push the boat 30-35 mph.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Discarded and unused boats everywhere!

Mark, I see hardtop Fiberforms and Olympics that would be suitable for what you want up here on occasion, usually in the 20-24 foot range. I did find one 18 footer that was pretty cool, and I could have purchased it cheap, but it was not what I was looking for at the time. I still have futile hopes of finding a Starcraft or whatever aluminum hull in the 18 foot range, and do a rebuild with windshields like on Hewescrafts so I can build it into a hardcore multispecies fishing rig. I am realizing I am going to have to push some coin to achieve this, and may just buy a new boat. I can get a 17.6 foot Duckworth that would fit the bill for about $16,000, and I might do that in a few years if the right hull does not come along.

 

[bassboy1]

Re: Discarded and unused boats everywhere!

I still have futile hopes of finding a Starcraft or whatever aluminum hull in the 18 foot range,

Aw, you just missed out. About 2 weeks ago there was an 85 starcraft 18 footer on ebay. Deck was all rotted out and had some unusual "redneck" fixes but the hull was in great shape. Sold for between 500 and 600 bucks with a galvanized trailer that was in good condition and a merc 75 that needed a lower unit.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Discarded and unused boats everywhere!

Yeah, and it was probably in New Jersey or Florida. The cost in gas alone would break me to go that far. I have been hoping to stay within a days drive, maybe Seattle at the farthest.

 

[govols019]

Re: Discarded and unused boats everywhere!

I saw one today that I want if I can get it for free. Working for UPS you never know what you might run up on.

 

[govols019]

Re: Discarded and unused boats everywhere!

My bad. http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o84/govols019/1208061336800600.jpg

 

[BLLDOGG]

Re: Discarded and unused boats everywhere!

link no good.


I thought of something today....

I was at the storage unit and noticed a boat that had been there unmoved for years. registration is about 3yrs old.

I bet if you could get inside the places or just look around your own, write down the registration numbers and get the persons info, you could ask them if they want to have it taken off their hands for a low price since they never use it.

I don't know relly too much about boats other than common since and what i have learned reading on here but what I saw today was a boat called Hollywood...something.. with an everude and it seemed in ok shape. It was fiberglass hull but the wood was finished. don't know about the floor since i didn't get in the boat but it makes you wonder.d

 

[ParallaxBill]

Re: Discarded and unused boats everywhere!

Couldn't get the link to work.

BTW, I go by an old farm on my way to work and have noticed that there are at least 7 big boats parked around the back. Some look like 30+ foot cruisers down to maybe 20 footers.

I wonder what they owner would say if I asked if I could just go look at them. I'm sure they are all pretty much shot and out of my $$ range for restoration but I'm still curious.