Project Boat

[Straight Clowning]

I have a 1987 Sea Ray 210 that is in Pristine Condition with a functioning Mercury 170hp 3.7Liter V-6. I have the ability to choose any Power Plant Gas or Diesel inboard or Outboard and there will be a Very Serious Electric trolling motor involved in this build and should be considered part of the planning. I'm not limited to any Monetary concerns so what should I do. Here's my basic Parameters that I need to fill. I'm more concerned with the running cost and zero or close to zero Maintenance be required other than normal Engine Service. I don't necessarily need to get places very quickly but maybe sustained 30mph at the absolute least cost. I will very rarely have more than a 2 person load with a 65qt Bait Tank and 50 Gallons of Fuel

 

[racerone]

How do you know that the structure ( transom and stringers ) are in good condition ?

 

[JimS123]

I have a 1987 Sea Ray 210 that is in Pristine Condition with a functioning Mercury 170hp 3.7Liter V-6. I have the ability to choose any Power Plant Gas or Diesel inboard or Outboard and there will be a Very Serious Electric trolling motor involved in this build and should be considered part of the planning. I'm not limited to any Monetary concerns so what should I do. Here's my basic Parameters that I need to fill. I'm more concerned with the running cost and zero or close to zero Maintenance be required other than normal Engine Service. I don't necessarily need to get places very quickly but maybe sustained 30mph at the absolute least cost. I will very rarely have more than a 2 person load with a 65qt Bait Tank and 50 Gallons of Fuel

An electric trolling motor is easily adapted with the right bracket and some ingenuity. I take it that your boat is a cuddy though, so a bow mounted troller isn't going to be ideal to use. A transom mount electric is almost worthless (been there, done that).

Regarding the other issues, with no cost constraints I'd rip out that old 3.7 liter and rebuild the back of the boat to allow a bracket to hold a brand new 200 HP 4-stroke outboard. Now, you got the best in fuel economy and maintenance that's next to nothing.

The problem with that concept is the cost to do all that. Fist of all, the expense won't offset the cost to run the boat now. Plus, a 35 year old boat isn't worth a lot, so the expense will greatly outweigh the resale value.

When you said "pristine", that says it all. The only logical step is to keep what you have. If the stringers turn out to be bad, maybe a new boat is the best alternative.

 

[Scott Danforth]

The age of the boat and the current powerplant put the boat at a disadvantage.

The boat will have rot. So assume $3-5k to bring the hull and upholstery back to shape.

And assume $2k for a used different motor/drive.

If the intent is fishing, I would start with an aluminum dual console vs the SeaRay bowrider

That aluminum boat will be almost a ton (yes, 2000#) lighter and consume less fuel to maintain plane

 

[JimS123]

And assume $2k for a used different motor/drive.

If it's "pristine" and "functioning", why would it need a new motor

 

[Scott Danforth]

If it's "pristine" and "functioning", why would it need a new motor

If it was pristine and running, the OP wouldn't be looking to swap to a diesel or outboard

 

[briangcc]

Money no object you say? OK...

Option 1: Ever see the John Cusack movie One Crazy Summer?

Option 2: Sell the pristine antique boat and buy the fishing rig you want.


BTW: Boats are not known for mpg, they are known for spg....smiles per gallon.

 

[Straight Clowning]

An electric trolling motor is easily adapted with the right bracket and some ingenuity. I take it that your boat is a cuddy though, so a bow mounted troller isn't going to be ideal to use. A transom mount electric is almost worthless (been there, done that).

Regarding the other issues, with no cost constraints I'd rip out that old 3.7 liter and rebuild the back of the boat to allow a bracket to hold a brand new 200 HP 4-stroke outboard. Now, you got the best in fuel economy and maintenance that's next to nothing.

The problem with that concept is the cost to do all that. Fist of all, the expense won't offset the cost to run the boat now. Plus, a 35 year old boat isn't worth a lot, so the expense will greatly outweigh the resale value.

When you said "pristine", that says it all. The only logical step is to keep what you have. If the stringers turn out to be bad, maybe a new boat is the best alternative.

Basically you

 

[Straight Clowning]

Your absolutely right to be honest I have a ton of experience in smaller inland lakes with smaller boat's but I'm thinking that having room to take more than just 1 ot 2 friends along for the experience. I am a lot of things but Rich isn't a word I'd use but hey that's all relative. Yeah I have Buddies that have made Millions and they aren't anymore happy in their life than me. I'd argue that buying these Older Boats that there's nothing really wrong with them other than they are never used to reach their potential. My Project is a victim of just getting old and brother I can relate to that thought now that I'm getting older.

 

[Straight Clowning]

Your absolutely right to be honest I have a ton of experience in smaller inland lakes with smaller boat's but I'm thinking that having room to take more than just 1 ot 2 friends along for the experience. I am a lot of things but Rich isn't a word I'd use but hey that's all relative. Yeah I have Buddies that have made Millions and they aren't anymore happy in their life than me. I'd argue that buying these Older Boats that there's nothing really wrong with them other than they are never used to reach their potential. My Project is a victim of just getting old and brother I can relate to that thought now that I'm getting older.

So the Project is going to be a 1990 Sea Ray 230 Weekender and I will send photo's shortly when the Boat arrives. The reason I chose this Boat is that it's the Boat's 2nd Owner he's had it for 18 years and the first owner was his Uncle that had passed away and left it to him. This Boat has been lovingly taken care of for it's entire lifetime and it still has very nice clear coating that were visible and attracted me to this specific Boat in the first place. This isn't a Boat that's spent the last 30 Years in Storage collecting dust and never run. Even though it's been used frequently the owner understood the importance taking almost religious care of the Boat Every time he used the Boat. When you keep your Boat never Dirty it never get's that way if you are correctly Organizing your Gear it never get's messy. The main focus is an Inexpensive dependable boat that doesn't eat you alive monetarily.
I can only speak to what has kept me from Purchasing and Enjoying Ownership of one of these Boat's is a complicated question. From the time I was very Young I always have been Drawn to Fishing and Boating. That basically comes down to having enough room in my budget to own a Boat and the responsibility of Boat Ownership is also a factor.

 

[Scott Danforth]

just so you are aware, be prepared.....the late 80's and early 90's weekenders will be suffering from transom issues

make sure you go into the project prepared for the worst

 

[racerone]

Many folks would walk , wait ----RUN AWAY--- from that 35 year old inboard 4 cylinder.

 

[Straight Clowning]

So the Project is going to be a 1990 Sea Ray 230 Weekender and I will send photo's shortly when the Boat arrives. The reason I chose this Boat is that it's the Boat's 2nd Owner he's had it for 18 years and the first owner was his Uncle that had passed away and left it to him. This Boat has been lovingly taken care of for it's entire lifetime and it still has very nice clear coating that were visible and attracted me to this specific Boat in the first place. This isn't a Boat that's spent the last 30 Years in Storage collecting dust and never run. Even though it's been used frequently the owner understood the importance taking almost religious care of the Boat Every time he used the Boat. When you keep your Boat never Dirty it never get's that way if you are correctly Organizing your Gear it never get's messy. The main focus is an Inexpensive dependable boat that doesn't eat you alive monetarily.
I can only speak to what has kept me from Purchasing and Enjoying Ownership of one of these Boat's is a complicated question. From the time I was very Young I always have been Drawn to Fishing and Boating. That basically comes down to having enough room in my budget to own a Boat and the responsibility of Boat Ownership is also a factor.

What my hope is that I can find a couple Guys that have experience that will be willing to make this a fairly cost effective restoration. I've already handled the initial inspection and really if I was not certain it would be fairly difficult to tell this Boat is 32 years old, It's been a working Boat all the way up to November of this year where the Owner bought a Larger Vessel. He is going to prove to be a valuable resource for the Boat History. In the inspection I checked the Floor for weak spots and nothing was visible. I did all the checks necessary to determine that the Maintenene

just so you are aware, be prepared.....the late 80's and early 90's weekenders will be suffering from transom issues

make sure you go into the project prepared for the worst

Love the Boat with Cheeseheads name in it. Yeah i checked everything and went on a sea Trial and it's in amazing shape for the years. Proof positive why it's so important to do physical Inspection and never buy something on the Internet you don't have a personal relationship especially in Boat's. You can get outright scammed truthfully that's better than buying a Boat that was once Great but some Jackass mistreated the Boat. I don't need a Headache because of someone else is to Lazy to take care of his Boat.

 

[JimS123]

We have to apologize for suggesting expensive alternatives. Your initial post indicated "not limited to any monetary concerns", thus we were directed toward your other requirements.

A 32 year old boat, no matter what condition it is in, is most likely not going to be a "cost effective restoration".

"Very serious electric trolling motor" and a Weekender really don't compute. No good way to mount on, or use it if it is mounted.

"Running cost and maintenance" on a 32 year old I/O are going to be much higher than might be expected.

We wish you well in your endeavor. After you have made the upgrades you want, and have run the rig for a year, come back and tell us how you made out.

 

[Chris1956]

You will want a V8 in that 23 footer or a V6 in the 21 footer. They will be dogs with smaller I/O motors.

An outboard powered boat of those sizes will have lots more room in the cockpit since they have no dog house.

MerCruisers of those years need a lot of maintenance. Stuff just wears out, like belts, alternators, circulating pumps, thermostats, exhaust manifolds and risers, starters and other stuff you do not expect, unlike outboard motors.

Finally, SeaRay made their reputation before those boats were built. I had an '88 SR 19 footer. It had great fittings, but was not well made. Some parts of the boat had lots of glass and were strong, while other parts had little glass and were weak. The hull cracked on a strake on a not rough day. My bilge pump kept me from sinking. The keel area buckled when I jacked it up for bottom paint. Boats are jacked up there all the time, as it is real strong, at least usually. The "keel" was a piece of 3/4" plywood, scribed to match the hull and stapled to the floor of the ski well. The staples failed and the keel rotted and fell over. The deck was 1/2" plywood, sprayed with a chop gun. It looks like they ran out of chopped glass near the stern, as it was just resin. Guess what rotted out.