Our new boat project for 2014

[bigheaded5]

Re: Our new boat project for 2014

I ordered my new seats today I can match the colors to the sample swatches I have and order the rest of the vinyl for the front cushins and side panels. Progress

 

[bigheaded5]

Re: Our new boat project for 2014

I received my seats. They are awesome quality and perfect for the boat. I was able to match the sampled of vinyl to them and will order the vinyl for the front cushions, side panels and rear jump seat cushions. We have a cold snap and its in the 20's here//// waiting for spring to really get started!

I want to say about AMAZON and its pricing. I first say these seats for $159..I pushed off buying them and when I went back they were $319. I watched them every day and they dropped an average of $2-$3 a day and I grabbed them at $165 each and they went up the next day again! Free shipping made it a no brainier to order fom them, just had to wait it out.

 

[Damifudo]

Re: Our new boat project for 2014

I will be following this threat for sure. manatee are great boats. Mine is a 1976 and restored. I just ordered seats today for mine. What size boxes did you get? The Manatee has such tall free board that the boxes are always taller than available. My seat boxes are 17 inches tall. 7 inches taller than standard so I able to reuse my standard box and just ordered new seat tops. My tops only were 279 but I had to get them custom colors.

Good luck with the project. Drop a 150 Hp engine you will be glad you did and will be very happy with the power. Mine was rated 145 Max. I never found a 145 HP outboard.

 

[bigheaded5]

Re: Our new boat project for 2014

I am still shopping for a motor. I was looking for closer to a 115, a 150 would give a nice PUNCH but im not in a race and want to use as little gas as possible. The seats do come with a 10" base, with the high sides I plan to make new bases, you are saying 17"......I have to get the floor into the boat and decide then. 17" sounds right.
Ed

 

[Damifudo]

Re: Our new boat project for 2014

If you going to install a floor you could build a box as a riser and use the seats you have. Thats what I would do if I was doing it over again. Its nice to be able to use a standard seat. You can also buy just the seat tops. Make sure that transom is 100 percent sound you dont want to hang a more powerful motor on a weak transom.

 

[bigheaded5]

Re: Our new boat project for 2014

Yes, transom is rock solid. As for a box under the seat base, im doing all this work on the restore I think it would look cleaner to make a 17" base, cover it in matching vinyl and call it good. My last boat had a box under the seat and although it was well made I hated the look. It LOOKED like a quick fix rather than a thought out plan.

 

[john cole]

Re: Our new boat project for 2014

LOL Its always that way....as soon as you get rid of something, you need what you sold lol Its ok, I did pretty well on the selling of parts and to be honest, as good as Yamaha motors may be, I hate having to carry metric tools lol And I have more experience with Evenrude motors....stick with what you know I always say

I will post pictures as we go. I have my eye on a set of seats from Amazon....they were $159 a set when I first saw them 2 months ago but have been over $250 since!!!! Im hoping they will drop back down after christmas. I also got vinyl samples to match the colors for the side board pads and cushions for the bow and stern seats/// It will be my first time sewing with a machine.

have no worries on the sewing machine, just take some extra material and practice a bit with it, another thing DO NOT USE A SHARPIE to mark out the pattern on the back side it will bleed thru :facepalm:

 

[bigheaded5]

Re: Our new boat project for 2014

Thanks. I have already started "practicing" and have made endless usless items out of the practice vinyl lol youtube has an endless number of how to sewing videos by upollsteres with a lot of tips. I also have taylors chalk to mark it up.....thank you all for the input...keep it coming!
Ed

 

[b.gagnon]

Re: Our new boat project for 2014

I grew up fishing on a 1979 cuddy version of that boat! We beat the hell out of it for 20+ yrs in the ocean....
Get as much power as you can, we had 2 diff Merc (tower of power) 115hp over the years and it was a bit under powered when loaded with gear and more than two adults.. It was a wet ride and had a vey narrow beam.... I ended up giving it away when it needed it's 3rd motor and the transom was getting soft. I will always love that boat but would never get another one! They were bare bones boats with no storage....

 

[Damifudo]

Re: Our new boat project for 2014

Whats the latest on the boat? Checking in to see if there is any new progress? Are you going to paint her when your completed? How is the floor going? Keep us informed we are along for the ride and if there is any advice I can give as a fellow Manatee owner let me know

 

[bigheaded5]

Re: Our new boat project for 2014

Thanks for asking.....the temp here is still 35*....hard NY winter and I dont have the luxury of a heated work space. When spring come into full swing (72*), Ill be getting the wood, glass cloth and resin and be putting in the floor. Still searching for a motor, Just tracked down the owner of a boat grave yard with 20+ boats!!!! He will be back in town later this week and Ill hopefully grab an Evenrude 115 for it. I found a 150 EV but I think its too much motor for this boat, apparently its rated for a 120.

I have the seats but as someone suggested, Ill be making new 17" bases for them and replacing the stock 10".... Once the floor is in, Ill order the vinyl to make the front and rear cushions, and the side panels. I decided to go with carpet for the sides and front 3/4 of the boat and rubber flooring for the rear 1/4 to be fishing friendly. Then its rewiring, stereo, LED lighting and I need to locate a Bimini top for it. Im painting the top deck white...the glass seems to be coming through, leaves your arms itchy if you lean on it so i want to seal that up AND make it look crisp white again.

I will update this thread along with progress and pictures.

Ed

 

[Damifudo]

Re: Our new boat project for 2014

I have a Johnny 150 HP it is great on my 18 foot Manatee. I use to have a 115 Merc Tower of Power and It worked well too. I dont think you can go wrong either way. Good luck

 

[Edward1]

Re: Our new boat project for 2014

Oh wow, that looks like it has a lot of potential. Very basic - for now, of course. *Sigh* If money wasn't an object, I'd be damn happy to take the opportunity to fix up something like that. Fishing, relaxing. A beer cooler, a comfortable deck chair... Good luck with it!

 

[bigheaded5]

Re: Our new boat project for 2014

Well Ed, I have done a couple of restores which were a lot more involved than this boat will be. I have gone through everything top to bottom, I went high on the estimates to. I already have brand new seats at $300 and not including the motor, but knowing me I will find one for $300if not less.....materials, radio, batt, pump, glass, and paint wont run more than $1,000.
Labor is 100% LOVE. Plus restoring it is a family project so I get to bond even more with my 17 year olds doing it....priceless!

I always hear people say B.O.A.T stands for Break Out Another Thousand, but maybe because its BRAND NEW when im done, all I have ever done aftetward is wash it and general maintenance. ......maybe the boat gods look kindly on me lol
Ed

 

[bigheaded5]

Re: Our new boat project for 2014

We are excited.....the weather looks like its broke.... Should be close to 70* this coming weekend so Ill be prepping for the new floor to go in. I will measure for the carpet, rubber flooring and the vinyl for the cushions and side panels.

Looking for opinions::: We have decided to go for carpet on the front 3/4 of the floor and the rubber matting for the rear 1/4 to be fishing friendly. Its a multi use boat, family fun, tubing and fishing. Any opinions?

Rubber flooring Non Skid Gray Button Runner Mat 41 Inches by the Running Foot

Carpet Marine Carpet 8 1/2 Foot by the Running Yard (3 ft x 8 1/2 ft)

 

[Damifudo]

Re: Our new boat project for 2014

I am getting ready to re carpet my own boat and use the carpet to cover the seat boxes so it all matches. When I measured my boat I have 12 feet of exposed floor from bow to stern. Aprox 5 feet wide. I went to home depot and there outdoor carpet which I used before with great success is very cheap. It will cost about 60 dollars to cover everything in my boat. seats and floor. FYI . I am not sure there is much difference between marine carpet and outdoor carpet. If you can find the color you want at the big box store that will save you money.

 

[bigheaded5]

Re: Our new boat project for 2014

I will say, I used the Home Depot carpet on our first restore.....We used it all season and it looked good and ran I think $14 a yard? We did a lot of fishing on the boat and sliding coolers around on it so the carpet started to PILL up by the end of the first season. I want this restore to last, so Im spending a little more on Marine carpet and rubber flooring for the stern 1/3. The home Depot carpet did look good though and was easy to cut and work into the curves.

 

[Teamster]

Re: Our new boat project for 2014

Just be sure that your outdoor carpet is open loop,....

Otherwise it will be a hook catching nightmare,........

 

[bigheaded5]

I got the floor cut and screwed in, nice tight fit. I glassed the floor to the sides around the outer edges of the floor. I used 1.50 oz x 8" chop strand for this and tried a economy resin from a local pro supplier. $28 a gallon with plenty of hardner...$10 a gallon cheaper than the marine supply. I got nervous when I first used it because it did not set nearly as quickly as the stuff i had last season from the local marine supply. That stuff KICKED in 20 min where this stuff takes 2 hours to start kicking!

Is this normal? I called the supplier and he said use i teaspoon hardner to a quart of resin and it SHOULD take a couple hours to KICK..... i like the extra time, no joke but am I just used to CRAP that sets way too fast>

 

[Woodonglass]

What kind of resin is it? Does it have wax in it? What's the MFG recommended mix ratio?