Should I cut my losses now?

[tjjeep278]

I bought a 1975 18' fiberform trihull last fall knowing very little about boats, was told by the prior owner that the motor just needed a tune up. took motor off rebuilt carbs and tuned up and motor runs good now but started looking over the hull and found that under the splash well there is a long angle iron bolted through the transom for support and the wood in there is mush on the bottom of the center of the hull(the keel i believe it is called) it appears that the boat hit something as it is scraped about three feet long and 6 inches wide can see the actual fiberglass and water appears to have gotten into the fiberglass and it just wont dry up. at first thought maybe spreading marine tex over it and sanding smooth but with all that moisture would probably be a waste of time. any thoughts would be great.

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Should I cut my losses now?

Like many folks here, you probably have an older boat in need of some serious work. Post some pics so we can see, but from your description it sounds like you would need "the full monty" of transom, stringer, and deck replacement.

This isn't a complicated job, it's just time consuming and requires the right materials. If you like the boat hull for other reasons you can do it and get a boat that's better than when it was new. It won't be worth what you put into it, though.

If you'd rather cut your losses that's understandable too. The working motor is probably worth a good part of what you paid for the boat, so is a trailer if you got one.

Erik

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Should I cut my losses now?

id have to agree with Erik.
If its one that you really like and plan to keep, then the work is worth it. If not then id move one because you will never be happy with it, no matter what you do to it.
I have a 16' Starcraft American that im not crazy about but im going to put some work into it and then move on to a different project. I just like working on stuff and am hoping to find a keeper one day.

 

[69starcraft]

Re: Should I cut my losses now?

id have to agree with Erik.
If its one that you really like and plan to keep, then the work is worth it. If not then id move one because you will never be happy with it, no matter what you do to it.
I have a 16' Starcraft American that im not crazy about but im going to put some work into it and then move on to a different project. I just like working on stuff and am hoping to find a keeper one day.

Agreed

Unless the boat is worth something to you i.e. sentimental then, as you will learn, when shopping old boats you are looking at motor and trailer....boat is usually "free with purchase of motor and trailer".

I personally hate fiberglass boats now...I've restored about 3 so far and the the last one I immediately sold after completion. I'm tired of the dust and the itch mostly.

Now I am finally working on my grandfathers old boat (thank god is a tinnie) and am willing to spend on this one as it is a keeper and will be passed to my son.

I also love to work on stuff so I won't be surprised when I make a liar out of myself and pickup another fiberglass boat.
Don't tell the wife but I have scouring craigslist for a fixer upper "trailer sailer" boat

 

[geedubcpa]

Re: Should I cut my losses now?

I would also consider looking for a nice aluminum boat that needs a motor. I believe the alum is much easier to renovate, plus they are lighter and more fuel efficent.

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: Should I cut my losses now?

I would have to agree with everything here . I personally have picked up 4 boats this summer . One of them is a deffinate keeper My Starcraft Aluminum boat. One of them is good enough for me to bother restoring and trying to turn a profit with the 1960 Cutter thts my avatar . One of them I figured out after I got here was way more work than I wanted to do so I resold it . The last one I was pretty much paid to haul off and I have it sold to a guy who picks up my scrap metal as it has a good title and he has a good motor for it . I would pull everything useable off of your cutrrent hull Outboard and controls , Steering any interior bits that may be worth saving nd then tke a sawzall to it and drop it off at the dump . Then clean up the Trailer and sell it and take that money and find a decent Starcraft Hull with Triler and mount your outboard and controls on it and enjoy it .


Rick