First Time Boat Owners, Need All The Help We Can Get!!

[youngcoupleoldsouls]

Hi everyone,

We are a couple in our early 30's and just bought our first boat, a Montgomery Ward Sea King. We were told that it floats great and the engine runs, there are no holes or cracks in the fiberglass bottom. We are willing to put a lot of work into it, as we are in love with the idea of buying our first boat and bringing it back to life. We are pretty handy, but don't know much about where to start and what to look for...we need help form the wiser and more seasoned sailors out there. Does anyone know anything about the year or make of the boat and motor? Steps we should take/things we need to look for? Thank you!!

 

[redneck joe]

Re: First Time Boat Owners, Need All The Help We Can Get!!

Welcome to iboats,


the boat will have a number on the transom back by the engine. the last two numbers are your year.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: First Time Boat Owners, Need All The Help We Can Get!!

Yes, Welcome.

Lots of information here to read through and ask questions as you go. If the boat is early 1970's or before, it would not have the "HIN" formatted number and may just have a manufacturer's serial number. If you can find a serial number tag of some sort, t may actually indicate who made the boat, since Montgomery Ward is a department store of the past.

Back in the day, department stores seem to sell just about everything, versus what they do today.

I guess the first thing would be to see what works and what doesn't, and determine the condition of the structure that supports the hull. Then you will know better what is ahead of you in terms of having a nice working boat.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: First Time Boat Owners, Need All The Help We Can Get!!

I guess the first thing would be to see what works and what doesn't, and determine the condition of the structure that supports the hull. Then you will know better what is ahead of you in terms of having a nice working boat.

Yep ^^^

Based on the Montgomery Ward SeaKing tag, I suspect it won't have a HIN on the transom.

Since you don't know the year, I also suspect it didn't come w/ title or registration paperwork. Depending on what state you live in, no title/reg paperwork means it'll be a long road to getting it titled/registered. Getting that in order would be paramount, and step 1. If you can't get legal proof you own it, you don't want to do anything to it except as a learning exercise in how to inspect & dismantle a boat for repair.

So, where are ya, and what are your states rules for boats, trailers & outboard motors. Some states title & register them separate from the boat.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: First Time Boat Owners, Need All The Help We Can Get!!

If you can find the Model/Serial#'s on the Motor that might give you a clue as to the age of the boat since I'd bet the motor is the same year as the boat. I'm guessin 66-67'. I love the ORANGE!!! Some wet sanding and Polishing MIGHT bring back some shine but maybe not!!! Overall the Gelcoat looks to be in pretty good condition. Are there soft spots in the floor? Have you checked the transom yet? Done a compression check on the motor?

 

[youngcoupleoldsouls]

Re: First Time Boat Owners, Need All The Help We Can Get!!

Welcome to iboats,


the boat will have a number on the transom back by the engine. the last two numbers are your year.

Hi Redneck Joe! We didn't find a number on the boat, but we took the lid off the engine and found this:



Thank you for your comments and help!

 

[youngcoupleoldsouls]

Re: First Time Boat Owners, Need All The Help We Can Get!!

Yes, Welcome.

Lots of information here to read through and ask questions as you go. If the boat is early 1970's or before, it would not have the "HIN" formatted number and may just have a manufacturer's serial number. If you can find a serial number tag of some sort, t may actually indicate who made the boat, since Montgomery Ward is a department store of the past.

Back in the day, department stores seem to sell just about everything, versus what they do today.

I guess the first thing would be to see what works and what doesn't, and determine the condition of the structure that supports the hull. Then you will know better what is ahead of you in terms of having a nice working boat.

Hi tpenfield!

we found a serial number in the motor (reply to redneck joe's post) we do have one spot that rises an eyebrow as far as 'potential soft spots' go. Kat (wife) says "how do we know for sure it's a soft spot? Craw (husband) says " "
Here is a video/picture of the situation:

IMG_3713.mp4 Video by kfrstern | Photobucket

 

[youngcoupleoldsouls]

Re: First Time Boat Owners, Need All The Help We Can Get!!

Hi tpenfield!

we found a serial number in the motor (reply to redneck joe's post) we do have one spot that rises an eyebrow as far as 'potential soft spots' go. Kat (wife) says "how do we know for sure it's a soft spot? Craw (husband) says " "
Here is a video/picture of the situation:

IMG_3713.mp4 Video by kfrstern | Photobucket

Craw: the hull seems strong to me (no rotting) there is a little flexible spot towards the back/middle of the boat but nothing to worry about.

 

[youngcoupleoldsouls]

Re: First Time Boat Owners, Need All The Help We Can Get!!

If you can find the Model/Serial#'s on the Motor that might give you a clue as to the age of the boat since I'd bet the motor is the same year as the boat. I'm guessin 66-67'. I love the ORANGE!!! Some wet sanding and Polishing MIGHT bring back some shine but maybe not!!! Overall the Gelcoat looks to be in pretty good condition. Are there soft spots in the floor? Have you checked the transom yet? Done a compression check on the motor?

Hi Woodonglass,

We love the orange too! We are trying to get some shine back, will post pictures when we are done. We posted a video to an earlier post about soft spots, what are your thoughts??

Thanks!

 

[youngcoupleoldsouls]

Re: First Time Boat Owners, Need All The Help We Can Get!!

Yep ^^^

Based on the Montgomery Ward SeaKing tag, I suspect it won't have a HIN on the transom.

Since you don't know the year, I also suspect it didn't come w/ title or registration paperwork. Depending on what state you live in, no title/reg paperwork means it'll be a long road to getting it titled/registered. Getting that in order would be paramount, and step 1. If you can't get legal proof you own it, you don't want to do anything to it except as a learning exercise in how to inspect & dismantle a boat for repair.

So, where are ya, and what are your states rules for boats, trailers & outboard motors. Some states title & register them separate from the boat.

Hi jbcurt00,

Thank you for the response, we do have title for the boat and trailer. Heading to the DMV soon to get it transferred. We are in California, the previous owner was able to register it as a new boat.

Thanks!

 

[jigngrub]

Re: First Time Boat Owners, Need All The Help We Can Get!!

Your best help will be to educate yourselves by reading the different fiberglass boat restorations in this forum, I'm not trying to be short with y'all... it's really just the best thing you can do, and then ask questions as they arise.

Given the age and outward appearance of that boat it really shouldn't be considered anything other than a project boat with plans of time, work, and money fixing it up to make it safe and seaworthy.

Even just a single soft spot in the deck can be a red flag as to what lies below... and what lies below will probably be water damage and rot. This member thought he just had a little soft spot to repair on his deck and he would be good to go:
http://forums.iboats.com/boat-restoration-building-hull-repair/first-attempt-boat-repair-579280.html
... it didn't work out that way.

I'm not trying to be a downer or rain on your parade, but there are some things you need to know so you can enjoy your boat safely. Your boat is a cool little classic and it would be very sweet out on the water in a seaworthy condition.

The best thing about fixing up an old boat is that you get a like new boat for a very small fraction of the cost of a brand new one when you're finished.

EDIT:

Here's another resto thread that may help you understand the safety aspects of what I'm trying to explain.
http://forums.iboats.com/boat-resto...ir/16-fiberglass-tri-hull-rebuild-624747.html
Note the first pic in post #2 and read the story... this is something you don't want to happen to you!

 

[youngcoupleoldsouls]

No Title

Re: First Time Boat Owners, Need All The Help We Can Get!!

I'm not trying to be a downer or rain on your parade, but there are some things you need to know so you can enjoy your boat safely. Your boat is a cool little classic and it would be very sweet out on the water in a seaworthy condition.

The best thing about fixing up an old boat is that you get a like new boat for a very small fraction of the cost of a brand new one when you're finished.

Ok everybody, here is a list of things that happened to us since the forum was down for repairs:

1. Be happy and sit on our boat in the driveway drinking margaritas thinking about how great it will be to get it on the lake.
2. Read posts about soft spots, get sad.
3. Go to local boat store ask for help and advice, have some guy behind the counter be a **** and tell us that no one fixes boats, we should buy a new one.
4. Continue being sad, start to be angry at ourselves for buying a dumb boat.
5. Look at links provide, see rotten transom and stringer horror stories, get really sad.
6. Look at more link and videos of fixing boats, realize it has a lot to do with epoxy and resin, which Kat uses all the time for her art
7. Think maybe we can do this, get a little more happy
8. Watch more videos, go buy an electric saw
9. Start taking off electrical stuff and motor, spend 3 hours taking out 4 rotten screws, get sad again
10. Finally work our way through rotten screws, get happy again
11. Motor won't budge, get sad again
12. Neighbor helps with magical bolt loosening liquid, motor comes off, get happy again
13. Take off top
14. Break through floor
15. Gag at the smell of old water and foam that can only be described as rotten whale blubber
16. Chisel out whale blubber
17. Continue cutting hole out of floor
(Pictures Provided)

Ok so now we are working on getting the last bit of the floor out, then we will take out the transom and stringers. We took measurements of everything. Our plan is to finish cleaning out the boat, fill in any cracks or holes, cut, coat, and glue in the new transom and stringers, fiberglass over that...

For these next few steps does anyone have any words of wisdom, opinions about supplies, etc? Are we missing any steps?

Good call on encouraging us to dig everything out, the foam was full of water and the wood was not completely rotten but well on it's way. There was a big soft spot under the open bow, which was hidden underneath the fiberglass top. As soon as we pulled the top off and walked around, we stepped right through the hole in the hidden soft spot. Thank you so much for all of your help so far, we are so excited and empowered about our boat project.

 

[JASinIL2006]

You seem to have a pretty realistic attitude about it, which really helps. For me, just about the worst part was what you list above... the whole sinking feeling part as you find out the little gem you bought has a dark side... after you get past that, it's mostly just a lot of work. (Don't get me wrong, grinding old fiberglass out of the boat STINKS, but the discovery of the problems is really awful.)

I enjoyed learning so much about my boat. After restoring it, I know my boat is well-constructed and I understand how it works much better than if I had bought a turn-key boat. I'm a little poorer, but definitely much better educated now about my boat. I hope you get that out of the project, in addition to gaining a nice, fun boat so you can enjoy those drinks out on the water.

I'll be tagging along to see how it goes and to offer encouragement if needed!

Jim

 

[GT1000000]

Howdy and welcome to the wonderful, wacky, weird world of boat restoration...
This is a project we grudgingly undertake once we realize and accept the condition of our boats...
All those wonderful dreams of zipping along the water with the wind and the sea blowing across our smiling faces, the relaxing times just floating, bobbing and enjoying those ice cold beverages, the occasional dropping of a line in the hopes of landing the BIG one...
Yeah, they are gonna have to wait, but on the bright side, they will be there waiting for us when we are done with the task at hand...and as the commercial says, the rewards will be priceless...
It is a long and sometimes quite frustrating, uphill battle to get our water toy back to better than new working order, but with true grit and determination, a bunch of sweat equity, a fair outlay of cash and the amazing resource available here on Iboats.com...you will be enjoying the fruits of your labor in short order...
Not only will you have learned new skills, you will have a boat that costs a measly fraction of what a new one would cost, probably be much better built, have zero payments due on it and will have the self satisfaction and deep down, feel good pride of knowing that you have accomplished something that few in this world ever would or could...
So with all that being said, the advice you have received so far is absolutely right on...
Be sure to get plenty of pics for us to peruse and keep us enthralled with your progress...
Be sure to ask any and all questions you need answered...
And, most of all, Have Fun and Best of Luck!
GT1M

 

[jigngrub]

Ok everybody, here is a list of things that happened to us since the forum was down for repairs:

1. Be happy and sit on our boat in the driveway drinking margaritas thinking about how great it will be to get it on the lake.
2. Read posts about soft spots, get sad.
3. Go to local boat store ask for help and advice, have some guy behind the counter be a **** and tell us that no one fixes boats, we should buy a new one.
4. Continue being sad, start to be angry at ourselves for buying a dumb boat.
5. Look at links provide, see rotten transom and stringer horror stories, get really sad.
6. Look at more link and videos of fixing boats, realize it has a lot to do with epoxy and resin, which Kat uses all the time for her art
7. Think maybe we can do this, get a little more happy
8. Watch more videos, go buy an electric saw
9. Start taking off electrical stuff and motor, spend 3 hours taking out 4 rotten screws, get sad again
10. Finally work our way through rotten screws, get happy again
11. Motor won't budge, get sad again
12. Neighbor helps with magical bolt loosening liquid, motor comes off, get happy again
13. Take off top
14. Break through floor
15. Gag at the smell of old water and foam that can only be described as rotten whale blubber
16. Chisel out whale blubber
17. Continue cutting hole out of floor
(Pictures Provided)

Ok so now we are working on getting the last bit of the floor out, then we will take out the transom and stringers. We took measurements of everything. Our plan is to finish cleaning out the boat, fill in any cracks or holes, cut, coat, and glue in the new transom and stringers, fiberglass over that...

For these next few steps does anyone have any words of wisdom, opinions about supplies, etc? Are we missing any steps?

Good call on encouraging us to dig everything out, the foam was full of water and the wood was not completely rotten but well on it's way. There was a big soft spot under the open bow, which was hidden underneath the fiberglass top. As soon as we pulled the top off and walked around, we stepped right through the hole in the hidden soft spot. Thank you so much for all of your help so far, we are so excited and empowered about our boat project.

This was the most entertaining post I've read on the internet all week!:lol: ... and I did LOL about the guy in item #3, someone needs to give him a swift kick in the yarbles and direct him to this forum.

Sorry I had to be the bearer of ill tidings in my first post to this thread, but I thought you should know what you're getting into.

If Kat likes to "create" with epoxies and resins, she'll have an absolute field day with your boat. The demolition of the rotten smelly whale blubber and wood and the grinding is the worst part of a fiberglass resto. The new construction/building is the fun and rewarding part.

If you take on this project as a couple it'll take about half the time of a solo worker restoration. You also have the advantage of being a young couple, most of us are middle aged to crotchety old farts and we also have a mother with children doing her own solo restoration:
http://forums.iboats.com/forum/boat...ing-and-hull-repair/638522-14-larivee-restore

How about that whale blubber eh?! It's amazing how the 3 simple ingredients of urethane foam, water, and wood can ferment into such a noxious and foul smell. From now on you'll never look at an older fiberglass boat the same way you did when you bought your boat... from now on when you see an old neglected 'fglass boat you'll automatically think "What a rotten old POS that thing is!".

I'm looking forward to following along with this restoration if you care to document it on this forum, please keep us updated with progress and pics!

 

[kcassells]

Ok everybody, here is a list of things that happened to us since the forum was down for repairs:
1. Be happy and sit on our boat in the driveway drinking margaritas thinking about how great it will be to get it on the lake.
2. Read posts about soft spots, get sad.
3. Go to local boat store ask for help and advice, have some guy behind the counter be a **** and tell us that no one fixes boats, we should buy a new one.
4. Continue being sad, start to be angry at ourselves for buying a dumb boat.
5. Look at links provide, see rotten transom and stringer horror stories, get really sad.
6. Look at more link and videos of fixing boats, realize it has a lot to do with epoxy and resin, which Kat uses all the time for her art
7. Think maybe we can do this, get a little more happy
8. Watch more videos, go buy an electric saw
9. Start taking off electrical stuff and motor, spend 3 hours taking out 4 rotten screws, get sad again
10. Finally work our way through rotten screws, get happy again
11. Motor won't budge, get sad again
12. Neighbor helps with magical bolt loosening liquid, motor comes off, get happy again
13. Take off top14. Break through floor
15. Gag at the smell of old water and foam that can only be described as rotten whale blubber
16. Chisel out whale blubber17. Continue cutting hole out of floor
(Pictures Provided)
Ok so now we are working on getting the last bit of the floor out, then we will take out the transom and stringers. We took measurements of everything. Our plan is to finish cleaning out the boat, fill in any cracks or holes, cut, coat, and glue in the new transom and stringers, fiberglass over that...
For these next few steps does anyone have any words of wisdom, opinions about supplies, etc? Are we missing any steps?
Good call on encouraging us to dig everything out, the foam was full of water and the wood was not completely rotten but well on it's way. There was a big soft spot under the open bow, which was hidden underneath the fiberglass top. As soon as we pulled the top off and walked around, we stepped right through the hole in the hidden soft spot. Thank you so much for all of your help so far, we are so excited and empowered about our boat project.

Guys... Great Attitude as the others have said. You really have a a bunch of great Coaches here for your support. There are no dumb questions cause alot of us are total newbees like myself. If I didn't have this site to research, skim, study, scan I would have been lost on my project.
Welscome Aboard! And after reading your dual interests with all the hard work and Love you put into Her, you two will really appreciate what you built. In the end you will Own Her, She Owns You Now!

Ask away....btw, your post list is Most Excellent! LoL

 

[kcassells]

Well even with all the problems with the site at the moment....it's time for you guys to get back in. I was lurking around and did not see any more posts.
How's it going? Hopefully the site will re-structure.
Pics, Pics, Pics!!!

 

[kcassells]

Well even with all the problems with the site at the moment....it's time for you guys to get back in. I was lurking around and did not see any more posts.
How's it going? Hopefully the site will re-structure.
Pics, Pics, Pics!!! more pics

 

[jigngrub]

I was also wondering how this project was panning out?

 

[youngcoupleoldsouls]

Hi everyone! Sorry we took so long to check back in with you. The forum was giving us so much trouble we went on strike for a while. So here's the skinny on the boat:

1. We got the last bit of the floor out and took the grinder to the inside. Once we got it as smooth as a baby's bottom, we saw the few places where we had knicked the bottom while cutting out the floor. We cussed ourselves, but the cuts were thin and not too big. So we used Bondo from the inside, flipped the boat and fiberglassed them from the outside with West Systems Epoxy.

2. While the hull was flipped we fixed all the other scrapes and knicks that were already on the boat with fiberglass and West System. Then we sanded down the whole thing so that the repairs were smooth.

3. We waited up until the last minute to take out the transom because we had heard that there was danger of the fiberglass warping and thought that it was our best bet of keeping it in shape. In a valiant effort that left Kat swooning, Craw was able to get the transom out in one piece that could be used as a pattern for the new wood. Kat chiseled out the rest of the wood stuck to the boat, we took the grinder to the inside one last time.

4. We painted the hull of the boat with an Interlux primer that is nothing short of some sort of magic paint that makes fiberglass stronger, run faster, and fly higher. Then we applied West Systems anti fouling bottom paint. We decided to paint the boat black... (begin the background music of the Rolling Stones Paint It Black : "I have a red boat and I want to paint it black...)

5. In between coats of paint on the hull of the boat we took all the dried and rotting wood braces off the cap and replaced them with new wood that we covered in resin. Then we touched up all the cuts and bruises on the cap with fiberglass and West Systems epoxy, sanded, and painted the cap.

6. In between the coats of paint on the cap that were in-between the coats of paint that were on the hull, we sanded down the rusty trailer, painted the trailer, replaced the carpeted bunkers, cleaned the bearings and repacked them with marine grade grease, and installed new lights.

7. The hull is painted and back on the trailer. We have the transom and stringers cut out and will fit them in tomorrow to make any necessary changes. Then we will resin them and get them in.

8. Today we went to the DMV and got new titles and registrations for everything so that we are officially too legit to quit.

9. We have come full circle and are drinking margaritas, looking at our boat, and stoked to soon be on the water. Our goal is to have it done by the 15th which will make the entire project from purchase to finish 2 months.

10. We are still on a semi strike from the picture loader of the forum since it is ridiculous and makes Kat want to throw the lap top into the wall. But we promise as soon as the project is done we will post a link to an epic video of the whole process, complete with every classic rock tune we can think of with the word black in it. (we are taking requests for soundtrack songs now).

11. We have yet to tackle the motor. The guy we bought it from told us that the motor runs, we just need to clean the carburetor and replace the impeller...we shall see.

Thanks again for all your support and help along the way!
Craw and Kat