My Restoration Before & After Pics

[crshresq911]

Hey, look at this boat I got for FREE! Figured the price was right, had been sitting outside uncovered for about 6 years. It's a 1981 Invader. This is the first boat I've ever owned. My knowledge of boats pretty much consists of the fact that they're supposed to float!

This is one of my boys, ready to get working on it. Notice all the stuff growing on it, was sitting under a tree.

Yep, they're pretty much gone!!

Look at all the junk that came with it. Wonder where the seats went. Also notice the floor rot around the compartment hole.

She's all stripped down, ready to get to work on.

The floor has been removed, my wife is scraping out the old water logged foam. I'm drinkin a beer & takin pics!!

Continued post below (reached my pic max)

 

[crshresq911]

Re: My Restoration Before & After Pics

Here's my continuation....

All the foams out, the stringers were pretty much gone! so I replaced them with the same material & wrapped them in fiberglass!

This is the new floor, I used outdoor rated 1/2" plywood, & ran 2 coats of resin on the underside before installing. This shows one layer of glass mat laid down ready for resin. Did a total of 2 layers of glass.

Here she is today, turns out she's not white & red, she's beige & orange! Lots of rubbing was required to get the lustre back.

Repainted the outboard, it actually started right up when I decided it would be a good idea to see if it even ran about half way through the project.

Look at those seats! Nice and cozy, my wife did a great job and even got a new sewing machine out of the deal. Got the vinyl from ebay! Saved a ton for marine grade.

here's the overall boat, I got the carpet from Lowes, it's actually OMC boat carpet, redid the the side panels and the rear seats. Got the back to back seats that fold down from Academy Sports!

so that's been my project, I have a little over $1000 into it so far. Just waiting to get my outboard tuned up before takin it to the lake.

I'm lucky that my wife is very much into the mechanics of things and loves to take on projects with me. It's not the '65 mustang she wanted but I'm sure we'll have just as much fun with this.

Everyone here has had more input than they know, I've been on here everyday reading about how to do my restoration, how to check for other problems and such. If it wasn't for y'all I wouldn't have gained the knowledge to get this thing done.

 

[crshresq911]

Re: My Restoration Before & After Pics

And yes, I did replace the foam, again saved about $60 by getting it from ebay, very cool stuff!!

 

[reka12]

Re: My Restoration Before & After Pics

Nice Job! You all should have a great time this summer! Mike

 

[SuzukiChopper]

Re: My Restoration Before & After Pics

NICE! Very nice job on that. Doubt you could buy one looking like that for $1000.

 

[Mark42]

Re: My Restoration Before & After Pics

Really great work! How does she perform out on the water?

 

[mtnrat]

Re: My Restoration Before & After Pics

Right on. Looks great.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: My Restoration Before & After Pics

Nice job! Great before and after shots. The Invader was sold here locally here in the 80's. I had seen a few that would develope cracks in the hull almost 2 feet long. Just keep an eye on the bottom and check it once in a while.

 

[brodie6]

Re: My Restoration Before & After Pics

Great job. Thanks for posting the pics they look great too.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: My Restoration Before & After Pics

great job, that's a great Family boat, teach the kids to ski, then let them wakeboard and tube, there is no chalange in tubeing. here's a couple of good links.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=169555

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=138594

 

[i386]

Re: My Restoration Before & After Pics

Great Job!

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: My Restoration Before & After Pics

nice job ......

 

[sourbsted]

Re: My Restoration Before & After Pics

very good job..That seat retriming come out all good.. That look on your wifes face..(are you going to help me or what) lol

 

[JMO]

Re: My Restoration Before & After Pics

very nice very nice

 

[NW Redneck]

Re: My Restoration Before & After Pics

Verry nice job and an even better price! All that and a wife that likes to get her hands dirty too! It must be uncomfortable sitting with those horseshoes up yer ....... uh..... I mean you're a lucky guy! Great pics!

 

[Scuda11]

Re: My Restoration Before & After Pics

Well done! Thanks for posting the pics. And I agree, I think that from the time I started having eng problems 3 years ago, up to when I redid the deck and now redoing the topdeck on my boat that IBOATS has been HUGE!! Not just from posting, but from reading.

Posts like yours really help, great job.