Project boat- need opinions...

[1moproject]

I bought this Bayliner Capri basically for the trailer it's sitting on, but when I got it home I started thinking about what it could be... my first thought was rip out the rest of the interior and make it into a quasi- center console, but after standing in it I realized it would probably be tippy. Then I measured it stem to stern and came up with 13', even though it is titled as a 15 footer. I think they must be counting the swim platform. Anyhow, the motor is a Force 50 which won't start- previous owner says it's not getting spark, I haven't had a chance to check it. Seems to have strong compression though, so if I can get it running I'm up for suggestions on what to do with the boat. If I can't get it running I'm thinking about ripping the interior completely out, stripping off as much weight as possible, taking the cap off the boat (above the rubrail) and just making it into a utility skiff and adding my 9.9 outboard.

The beauty of this boat is that it's small enough to fit in my garage, even on the trailer, so it would give me something to do this winter. I've done fiberglass repairs before, but nothing major, so I thought I could pick up some experience on this before tackling something bigger.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Project boat- need opinions...

yo can cut out the interior of the cap but leave the gunnels, there will not be any stiffness in the sides is you take it off at the rubrail.

 

[1moproject]

Re: Project boat- need opinions...

I thought about that. Was thinking I'd leave part & glass in some pt plywood for more support. I may build in a small side console or leave what's there for remote controls & steering if the motor runs ok. If not I'll yank it all out to lighten her up for the 9.9.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Project boat- need opinions...

If you need the gunwales stiffened up, simply get two strips of 1x2 and sandwich the gunwale lip between them, full length of each side. Run SST bolts every 6-inches or so, countersinking the outside heads. It'll make the boat much stiffer, give you something to mount cleats, seat mounts, etc. to, and gives you a bit of a buffer against docks, seawalls, etc.
- Scott

 

[1moproject]

Re: Project boat- need opinions...

I just went out and tried starting the motor- it's definitely not getting spark, and a closer look at the coils reveals both are cracked. I pulled out some more rotten interior, as well as the ridiculous bass boat-esque windshields. So far I haven't found one thing on this boat that was through- bolted or backed in any way. Scary...

 

[jddenham]

Re: Project boat- need opinions...

If you need the gunwales stiffened up, simply get two strips of 1x2 and sandwich the gunwale lip between them, full length of each side. Run SST bolts every 6-inches or so, countersinking the outside heads. It'll make the boat much stiffer, give you something to mount cleats, seat mounts, etc. to, and gives you a bit of a buffer against docks, seawalls, etc.
- Scott

That sounds like a good idea!

What if it was taken a step further and glassed over so it could be finished and painted - wouldn't that work and look nice?

 

[Mark42]

Re: Project boat- need opinions...

That looks to be an 80's model Capri? Do you know the year? If its anything like my 1985 16' (which is actually about 15' 6" without the swim platform) it has a neat stepped V hull. What Bayliner did was use the two inner most steps to integrate the two stringers into. Then the deck rests on those two stringers, and butts into the sides of the next two outter most steps. The outter most steps form the second two stringers, effectivelly making solid fiberglass stringers on the outter edge. The inner two stringers are probably completely encapsulated in fiberglass and gel coat (mine are). This makes a nice solid hull with little weight. They probably could not get away with this design in larger boats, but in the under 17' boats, it makes a rigid hull and floor in a small package.

You can make a nice fishing boat out of it by removing the deck plywood (if its rotted), install a new thicker deck, and put post mounted seats. In front, put a full width plywood deck across the seats and that should serve as a nice casting platform as well as tie the two sides of the boat together making it more rigid.

Those bass-boat style windshields are actually kind of neat (even if cheap-o), never saw that before on a bow rider. Maybe remove one and leave one at the helm? Completely removing the passenger side dash would make a wider opening to the casting platform. I think the aft facing flat faces of the seat bases are doing double duty as bulk heads. So I would leave them intact.

In my Capri, all cleats, rubrails, bow and transom eyes, and the swim platform are through bolted and sealed with some white stuff that looks like 3m 4200. But all the interior padding and controls are surface mounted.

Neat little boat, has a lot of possabilities as a project.

BTW, that stepped V hull really handles nice, cuts the water like a knife and doesn't slide out in tight turns.