Is Hull fixable

[Btsbrcn]

Hello, I’m thinking of purchasing a 98 Fisher Hawk 170FS deal is great other than a couple hull cracks. What do you think it would cost to repair if it is possible to repair.

 

[jimmbo]

Welcome to iboats
It looks like the Hull is definitely distorted. What does the Damage look like on the Inside of the Hull? By a Real Deal, I assume you are being paid to take it off the current Owner's hands.
Myself, I would be running away from that one, but it is your money and Time. Just remember, you will likely be sinking a fair bit of money to get it fixed correctly, and even then it is 24 yr old boat, and it's worth will be less than what it cost to repair

 

[Lou C]

Run like hell from that one unless you want a real headache!

 

[Scott Danforth]

is it fixable - with about 500-1000 hours of work, and flipping the boat over to do it. maybe.

for a hull to get that damaged, the structure is rotten and the boat was beached alot.

Im with Lou..... RUN

 

[Scott Danforth]

What do you think it would cost to repair if it is possible to repair.

if you are doing the work yourself. assume $5k

if you are paying for someone to fix the boat for you. assume $15k

 

[JASinIL2006]

Run, Forrest, run!

 

[SavinRaven]

Nothing a little JB weld cant fix. then just buff it right out.

 

[racerone]

It is junk as mentioned.

 

[briangcc]

That's aluminum from what I'm seeing. In the one pic you can see the weld marks from the interior supports.

But that boat's beat to high heck. I'm not sure I'd be willing to take that on. IF I did, it'd be a full gut job to see what it looks like inside. Then patches, either welded or riveted to plug those holes.

 

[JimS123]

If the boat were free I would have a local welder put patches over the holes to be sure it didn't leak. Then I would put on a 9.9 and use it as a canal boat for fishing. In other words, I would never try to plane it.

 

[jimmbo]

Looks like the Nays are Unanimous so far, assuming post #7 was Sarcasm

 

[SavinRaven]

#7 is serious if it's free or close to it and trailer and engine work... jb weld and see if it sinks...? Why not?

 

[SavinRaven]

These guys have no clue what a boat costs right now. If you can get it under 1k and it runs put the engine through a series of tests. High low rpms then take it. Patch it and see how she does. I wouldn't take it to far from home. Look at my 2500$ boat buy I just did.

 

[Scott Danforth]

These guys have no clue what a boat costs right now.

Im in the boat industry. I know exactly what boats cost. I would still not touch the boat based on the pictures.

 

[southkogs]

I concur: run. It'll be worth the wait.

 

[racerone]

During a local sailboat race 5 or 6 boats suddenly changed course.----I saw first hand that there was a 20' powerboat sinking.------Folks were lucky that experienced people were right there to help them.------I would not risk going out onto big water with that boat.----It was either poorly designed / built or totally ruined with rough use !!

 

[Grub54891]

If that's the only damage. There may be more that you can't see. run.

 

[roscoe]

I had the same hull, only 16'9".
Brunswick bought the original Fisher line and name, and slapped it on a boat they were already making, Spectrum. They started making them in the early 90's, I had a 1995 model. I believe it was Brunswicks first venture into a welded hull.

Hated it. Very thin hull skin.
Hull was all dented up around the supports just from running in moderate 1' waves.
Very stern heavy.
Tried lots of tricks, props, trim, engine height, nothing helped the constant porpoising.
And due to having no external strakes or ribs, the hull would slide in turns, and track poorly.
Glad its gone.

To bad they didn't leave the original Fisher line alone. It was a premium boat that was all aluminum, wood free, back in the 80's.