help! My new(old )boat is rotted

[searay1989]

I bougt a 1989 searay br16 about a month ago. I started reading this forum after I bought the boat. I wish I would have read this valuable information before I wasted $4800 hard saved money. The motor and outdrive are in good shape (3.0L alpha 1) I started pulling carpet back and noticed some rot in some area's. Now I am finding that the floor and both stringers are rotted, probably from the front to the back of the boat. The previous owner had the boat for one year, he had bought it from a marina. I called them befor I bought the boat and they said befor they sold it, they had gone though the whole boat and it was in "great shape". I was foolish enough to take their word and bought it without a survey. Does anyone have advice about what I should do. I got an estimate for repair of $3500. Is this worth fixing. The boat is extremly clean on the outside and the interior looks brand new. Should i just sell it for whatever I can get. I know I can't sell it without telling whoever buys it. Any advice would be helpful. Does searay do reapairs at the factory. One other thing, should the stingers have been painted, forward of the gas tank, they were just glassed over. Someon told me that when you glass over wood, there need to be paint or gelcoat to keep water out. Thanks

 

[Solittle]

Re: help! My new(old )boat is rotted

Searay - Sounds like you got a project for yourself this winter. It will take some time and some money (nowhere near $3,500.00) but there is nothing technically difficult about doing it yourself. Go to the red Search function at the top of the page and enter "wood rot" and other like search arguements and read what other folks have encountered.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: help! My new(old )boat is rotted

Don't despair...go the library or bookstore and get the book "Runabout Renovation" by Jim Anderson. Covers what you need to do step by step. Won't cost anywhere near $3,500. Just take your time and think it out...this is your chance to customize the boat the way you want. Post pictures here when you are done, and keep coming back to post. You've got lots of friends here.

 

[sea wolf]

Re: help! My new(old )boat is rotted

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: help! My new(old )boat is rotted

Seawolf, I think he bought it from a person that had bought about a year or so ago from this marina.

 

[lakerunner]

Re: help! My new(old )boat is rotted

Look in the project boats and backyard boat building forum for some ideas and information on fiberglass repair.<br /><br />The fun part of boating starts now. Its always good to know what truly makes your boat a boat and not a reef.

 

[searay1989]

Re: help! My new(old )boat is rotted

How can I tell if my transom is ok? Also, how long can I run the boat for. How fast does rot spead. Can this project wait until spring, becasue I have nowhere to work on it over the winter?

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: help! My new(old )boat is rotted

this article was posted by JollyRogerX.<br />worth reading IMHO.<br /> http://boatbuilding.com/content/rot.html

 

[tjthorson]

Re: help! My new(old )boat is rotted

I would NOT run the boat in this condition. Get the floor ripped up and and all the rotted parts exposed to get them drying now.<br /><br />Depending on your location, wet wood can freeze during winter and expand, cracking fiberglass in the process.<br /><br />If it was my boat, I would get it all dried out. Get some fans going and space heaters if possible (watch for fumes from the fuel tank!)<br /><br />Once dry, I would attack the stringers with this stuff:<br /><br /> http://www.rotdoctor.com/ <br /><br />Then once the stringers are solid again, lay down new treated marine plywood flooring. New carpet and you should be all set for next year....<br /><br />Good luck!