Hull Condition/Repair Question (Photos)

[short1]

Hi everyone, i'm new to the boating hobby and am looking for my first boat. I think i've found a nice trihull BUT there are scrapes/gouges on the hulls. Also further back on the hull it has slight bumps, they're barely there, no cracking or chipping around them. The first pic is of the center hull, it's a long scrape but still hard/solid. The second pic is of one of the outer hulls(both are about the same) it's about a 2" scrape, but it's deep, soft to the touch. I'm thinking maybe it's from trying to drive it onto the trailer? It's 35yrs old so i don't expect it to be perfect but is this enough to sink the deal? The rest of the boat looks to be in great condition. Is there anything else i should be concerned about? After searching the forum and doing some reading i think i'm more worried about what I can't see now lol. I want to make an offer but worried how big of a job is this going to be. What would you guess it would run to have a shop do it? Or is this something I can handle myself? Thanks for any input!

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: Hull Condition/Repair Question (Photos)

Hey Short1

If you check out my Imperial thread located by my signature, you will find my entire boat was rotted out due to such a keel condition. Unless you want to restore this boat I would look at another option.

Good luck!

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: Hull Condition/Repair Question (Photos)

Almost forgot!

Welcome to iboats!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[oops!]

Re: Hull Condition/Repair Question (Photos)

hi...welcome to iboats... im a little concerned about the bumps you mentioned....

some bumps in the gellcoat can be a major repair....that is defenitly a deal sinker.

however.....there are other things to look for other than gellcoat rpeair...you need to look for a garage kept boat...

if there is any softness in the floor....it could mean major issues.

 

[short1]

Re: Hull Condition/Repair Question (Photos)

Thanks for the replies! Wow bear, just wow, I cant believe a boat that nice had those issues. Thanks oops for the tips and insight on the bumps. Ive got to say im a little apprehensive about even buying a boat now after seeing the horror stories on this board! Lol Everything in my price range is around the same age, and this one is by far the nicest one ive looked at. A little disheartening to say the least:-S

 

[short1]

Re: Hull Condition/Repair Question (Photos)

xxx

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Hull Condition/Repair Question (Photos)

Slight bumps mean nothing.. until you re-repair it ..

Your two pics Looks good..but there is so much more to buying a good looker VS. a Hammered out.

Nobody here can tell what your getting into with those pics. .. Just not enough info.

It could be a diamond in the rough..or a pearl thats lost its luster kinda thing.

You need to investigate the rest of the story.

YD.

 

[short1]

Re: Hull Condition/Repair Question (Photos)

What causes the bumps anyway? To be honest I have no idea what to look for or what questions to ask when looking at a boat. I read something that said to check for bumps/blisters but didnt really explain why or get into specifics. Had I not seen that I probably would have made an offer right there, but I dont want To jump into anything without having some understanding of it first. Unfortunately I dont know anyone that knows anything about boats that can help me look and the local sporting goods/boats shop have no interest of giving advice unless im buying from them:-/ This boat is almost an hour away so I cant really just scoot over to take another look, I have more pics of the boat if that would help lol.

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: Hull Condition/Repair Question (Photos)

Yacht Dr. is correct, you really can't say the same type of damage on this boat would cause total rot as in my case. But I do know that if that keel damage is into the glass, and if it's below the waterline for many outings/years, water will start to migrate into the stringers and sub structure. If it was me I'd investigate it further, and keep my eyes open for an alternate boat. It very well could be a great boat!

Good luck!

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Hull Condition/Repair Question (Photos)

Yes .. If you have more pics please post them.

Im gonna assume that the slight bumps on the hull are slight blisters ( no cracking or opening up is a good sign for that age of boat ).

There are lots of boats with small blisters.. no biggie.

Read my last post.. Its just too hard to say over a few pics and a basic discription as to whether a boat is a good deal or not.

As far as I can tell you seem to have a fair hull and those other two repairs are ez.

Post up them pics and we can go from there

YD.

 

[short1]

Re: Hull Condition/Repair Question (Photos)

The black circles in the first pic is the areas i'm concerned about, the area circled in green is knicked but still hard, so i guess that's just a gel coat chip? The other side is the same. I don't know what you can know from the rest of these pics but i'll share them anyway, enjoy!

 

[short1]

Re: Hull Condition/Repair Question (Photos)

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Hull Condition/Repair Question (Photos)

Its hard to tell on that first pic on what your describing.. too far away even with zooming in on the pic I cannot see much. Do you have a better closeup pic of that area?

Looks cosmetic to me..but depending on your fears that assessment could change ..

Good looking boat IMHO.

Nice lines.

YD.

 

[short1]

Re: Hull Condition/Repair Question (Photos)

The second pic in my first post is a closeup of the other side, the damage is almost identical. It is a good looking boat, I almost feel drawn to it(sounds stupid i know). I just don't want to get in over my head. I'm tempted to throw him a lowball offer, but then again, I think I might give up looking for a boat for now, I've got the idea in my head now that any boat I look at is going to need a complete restoration. Thats something I don't have the time or room to undertake. A week ago I figured if a boat ran and didn't have a big hole in the side it was good to go lol Ignorance is bliss right?

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Hull Condition/Repair Question (Photos)

A week ago I figured if a boat ran and didn't have a big hole in the side it was good to go lol Ignorance is bliss right?

That may or may not be the case .. dunno .. Diamond in the Rough ..

You just never know. Now a days you could pic up something good to go on the cheap for a number of reasons.

They're not all full restos.

Good luck on your hunt.

YD.