New to me 85 Mach 1

[1Forrest1!]

Hey guys, I was just given an old boat. From what I can piece together, it's an 85 Mach 1 with a 3.0 Mercury. I'm not sure how long ot has been sitting, but I do know that the entire interior needs replaced. I got a set of muffs to try to start the motor later today. The hull looks to be in good shape, no cracks anywhere that I can see. Also the floor seems to be fairly solid (I got in it and walked around, and I'm a fairly big guy, didn't really feel any soft spots). I will know more once I get the old carpet ripped up. 

First item will be to make sure the motor isn't locked up or anything, if it is, I have a friend with a few 3.0s sitting around, so I can probably pick one up for cheap. Then I'll move onto starting on interior stuff. I know it's quite a project for sure, even been watching videos on how to replace entire floor and stingers, and this old boat might not even be worth dumping the money in.

Also, I haven't been able to find much info on Mach 1s, I know they aren't around anymore, but that's about it. I'm sure I'll have a ton of questions, and any advice is welcomed, for sure. I'll try to get some pictures posted up later today, after I get a better look at it.

 

[Woodonglass]

Make sure you can get a title and registration before doing much work.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Free boats are the most expensive boats in the world

Before do any work, make sure its titled and registered in your name

Also, if the interior is trashed, most likely the structure is rotten as well

 

[1Forrest1!]

The boat came from my dad, he ran it for a few years, then started his own dump truck business, and didn't have time to go out anymore, so he parked it. He's already looking for the title for it, but said he'd just get a new one if he can't find it. 

One question I forgot to ask before, is it possible to replace one of the side windows with Lexan? The left side window got busted from a rock while being mowed around a while back, and I have a sheet of lexan left over from a drag car we built. Didn't know if I could jist use that, or have a piece of glass cut for it, if the boat isn't too far gone.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Lexan would work, but it is not UV stable. I would use acrylic

Did your dad store the boat in a garage, or was it shoved in a field and left to rot.

Boats that sit open to the elements rot from the inside out. As you stated the interior needs to be replaced.

I would make some test drills into the transom and stringers. If the wood shavings come out clean, dry, and light colored, then fill the holes with epoxy and keep going

If the wood shavings come out dark, wet, etc, your looking at a complete hull gut and restoration

 

[1Forrest1!]

It was a mixture of in and out storage. Would an old Mach 1 be worth restoring? I don't mind the work, as I like to learn new stuff, and I do have a little experience in working with fiberglass (one Chevelle my father in law and I worked on had a one piece fiberglass dog house on it, and the owner was a fan of tapping the wall at 130mph+) Also, I have no plans of this thing seeing water until some time next year at the earliest.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Its only worth about $1000 maybe $3000 to the right person. It will have the most value to you for sentimental reasons

It will cost you at least $5000 to restore it. $2k for hull, $2k for interior, and $1k for misc. Add to that if you need motor work

 

[ondarvr]

Like this one? Not worth much, and this one is over priced.

https://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/boa/d/mach/6198968914.html