Should I get this FREE project boat?

[eSail]

Hi

Someone is giving away a 25ft Cadorette powerboat that has been sitting on posts for at least 8 months!
Boat had been vandalized and parts been robbed!

3 Major issues:

• Lots of Missing parts / Replacement required
• Haul has moisture
• Engine has outboard sterndrive missing & inboard has parts missing (No info on condition)

I am leaning to not worth it, My reason is all the money needed (plus time) to restore this could get me a similar sized used boat in a "working" order!

BUT I wanted to get some feedback from others? Is it worth it?

FYI, I am in Canada

Missing outboard sterndrive:


Engine with missing parts (no info on condition) - Yamaha V8 5.7:



Wet Hull (Dry above the waterline & 100% moisture under waterline):




Condition of under the hull:



Missing parts / new upholstery:


Perhaps attempt at removing and stealing the stereo/parts! Possible rewiring?


Bad condition, lots of work! I did not use moisture meter inside the unit (considering IMO boat had bigger problems already)



So please let me know, if you think this FREE boat would cost me more in repair (+ time) than I could get a similar "working condition" used boat (in Canada)?

Thank you

 

[Canadianboater43]

I would stay far far far away from that. The amount of money to replace the parts and get things in serviceable condition would far exceed the value. Not to mention the saturation of the hull.

I would not recommend picking up this boat.

 

[GSPLures]

Welcome,

Price out boats of similar size. Expect a couple thousand replacing out drive and depending on exactly what is missing. The motor appears to have not been covered and rained on. Which means an entire new deck and interior. More than likely stringers and transom also. Plus new electrical to make sure all is safe considering the picture.

If you do all the work i would ball park some where around the 10 thousand mark to restore (not accurate as I do not know the full condition) if the motor will still run after the parts are replaced.

A question you have to ask yourself is are you willing to put hundreds of hours into the boat plus money?

There will be NO financial return on the work done, it is a pride and sense of accomplishment kind of return on investment.

Many on the forums have taken on projects like this myself included. In the end only you can answer if it is worth it. I have been told a lot my boat was not worth it, now that I am in the finishing stages everybody wants in on the maiden voyage.

 

[Scott Danforth]

ok, so you get the boat for free.

in todays economy, you will spend about $6000 restoring the hull, about $4000 restoring the upholstery, about $6000 on a used motor and drive, and about $1500-$3000 on the trailer.

keep in mind, these are US prices with the fiberglass supply company on your drive home. if you have to ship materials, add another $1500+

that is doing it yourself. if you have to hire someone to do the work, add a few zeros before the decimal points.

then do the USD to CAN conversion


and it will be about a 3 year project if you are ambitious. will your Wife/GF/Significant Other tollerate you working non-stop on the boat for that long?

there is a reason the boat was abandoned and stripped before it sat. it wasnt worth anything at that point. now that it sat and just deteriorated more, the amount of work/cash to bring it back simply increased.

only you can determine is it worth it.

 

[Grub54891]

If you have a big plot of land, and young children, you could strip it down to the basics, bury it to the waterline, put a sump pump in it, and a pole building cover of some sort. It would make a great playhouse for the children. Nothing more.

 

[racerone]

There has to be a good reason to want to tackle one like this.-----You will spend a LOT of time and coins to get this back to a safe presentable boat.---- Boats like this ' FREE PROJECT " are all over the place.-----Better off to spend say $1000 for a complete one.---Or if your dad or relative owned it it is different.----I am working on a 17' project now for grandkids tubing , skiing.-----Removed all the wood , foam and replacing with carbon fiber / composite material.------Fortunately not keeping track of the time and beer tokens spent.-----But the reason for the project is for when folks come to look at the ----Action Marine 17-----and ask about it.----I want him to say ----" granpa built it and it will never rot again or break "

 

[phillyg]

Methinks this is a joke from someone who has too much time on his/hers/him/she/other's hands.

 

[Sea Rider]

A very nice boat to pass on, was it vandalized where now rests ?

Happy Boating​

 

[mike_i]

Looks like a very expensive free boat.

 

[Faztbullet]

Heck no.....best thing it for is to make a mosquito breeding ground

 

[racerone]

It even has a YAMAHA sterndrive.----A short lived product.-----Not sure where you would find parts for this thing.----Your location in Canada ?

 

[eSail]

Thank you everyone for taking the time to give your feedback.

As I thought the general consensus is this "free" project boat would cost as much as buying a "working" used boat, if not more.

While I love and would enjoy a restoration, it is best to find a boat at least in a working order and then spend the time to improve that one.

I was trying to run numbers such as the cost of a similar boat / repair costs. But given my limited knowledge, I decided to ask. So thanks to everyone for sharing their experience.

 

[eSail]

Welcome,

Thank you. Happy to join.

Price out boats of similar size. Expect a couple thousand replacing out drive and depending on exactly what is missing.

I had been looking at local classified (in fact found this listed there), similar boats could be as little as $10~20 depending on the condition. And been trying to figure out the cost of repair. But I was hoping a fellow Canadian would be here that would know the numbers better than me.
My feeling was not worth it, but I rather to check.

The motor appears to have not been covered and rained on. Which means an entire new deck and interior. More than likely stringers and transom also. Plus new electrical to make sure all is safe considering the picture.

Do you suggest this because of the rust there?

Engine was under the hood and the entire area was covered by a boat Canopy, when the posted images. But the owner says someone came and stole it the weekend before I visited the boat.
So as a learning experience, what could be the reason for rust there?
That is the air intake?
I also found the engine cover and air filter inside the boat.

If you do all the work i would ball park some where around the 10 thousand mark to restore (not accurate as I do not know the full condition) if the motor will still run after the parts are replaced.

A question you have to ask yourself is are you willing to put hundreds of hours into the boat plus money?

There will be NO financial return on the work done, it is a pride and sense of accomplishment kind of return on investment.

Many on the forums have taken on projects like this myself included. In the end only you can answer if it is worth it. I have been told a lot my boat was not worth it, now that I am in the finishing stages everybody wants in on the maiden voyage.

I love restoration and would enjoy it, but I am worried it would cost me more than buying a working boat!
Which I would rather buy a "working" boat and spend the time improve that. Given my limited experience, I wanted to get more opinion, on its worthiness.

And since I don't have mechanical skills, it would translate to extra $$$ for a mechanic!

BTW, nice work on your restoration, I watched your thread!

 

[eSail]

ok, so you get the boat for free.

in todays economy, you will spend about $6000 restoring the hull, about $4000 restoring the upholstery, about $6000 on a used motor and drive, and about $1500-$3000 on the trailer.

I honestly didn't thought of upholstery costing that much!

that is doing it yourself. if you have to hire someone to do the work, add a few zeros before the decimal points.

and it will be about a 3 year project if you are ambitious. will your Wife/GF/Significant Other tollerate you working non-stop on the boat for that long?

Great point, I have been watching youtubers restore boats and it is a never ending rabbit hole!

there is a reason the boat was abandoned and stripped before it sat. it wasnt worth anything at that point. now that it sat and just deteriorated more, the amount of work/cash to bring it back simply increased.

I think the boat was moved to this commercial lot about 8~9 month ago, while in decent shape.
Then they gave up and rain/snow caused more damage and of course vandals, started to take parts!

In fact it had a canopy and cover in the listing but before I came apparently someone "stole it" over night.

only you can determine is it worth it.

I am trying to be logical -> how much repair would cost -> could I buy a used working order boat with that amount?!!!!

But I have a limited knowledge of costs of supplies / parts / used boats.
So I was hoping to get some idea of the numbers.

Thank you for your feedback

 

[eSail]

There has to be a good reason to want to tackle one like this.-----You will spend a LOT of time and coins to get this back to a safe presentable boat.---- Boats like this ' FREE PROJECT " are all over the place.-----Better off to spend say $1000 for a complete one.

This is what I was thinking, I would have to buy: a used engine + fiberglass repair supplies + all other stuff that I would get if I had bought a used boat.

I am better off to buy a decent boat with that money AND then spend my time improving that boat!

Thanks for sharing. I am sure grand kids will love your boat too.

 

[eSail]

A very nice boat to pass on, was it vandalized where now rests ?​

Boat has been there for at least 9 months.
I use both Google Street View history and Google Earth Pro GIS software to look back in years, so I judged based on that.


It was posted with a full canopy and cover, but when I visited they were "missing"
Owner, said someone overnight came and stole it. Perhaps someone that saw the ad. Which made the boat even less valuable!


Stereo speakers and some parts were missing, so I assume some vandal/theft.

Clearly, they had a hope for it by moving it to their commercial property lot but, then they gave up. Then nature and vandal did what they did.

 

[eSail]

It even has a YAMAHA sterndrive.----A short lived product.-----Not sure where you would find parts for this thing.

Excellent!
That is the kind of expert feedback I needed.

My plan would be to buy a used working engine and use that instead (I found a listing or two).
Then recover some costs by having the current engine sold as salvage for parts.
Any suggestion on this idea?

----Your location in Canada ?

The boat is located in Niagara Region of Ontario, Canada.
Not far from USA/Canada Boarder.
(I would be happy to share the info if anyone wants to get it haha)

 

[eSail]

Methinks this is a joke from someone who has too much time on his/hers/him/she/other's hands.

oh it is a real boat, posted in my area's classified, where I have been looking to find a boat.
I did visit it, in person.
And as for myself, I wish I had "too much time" to take such challenge; if it was not for the money

Thanks.

 

[eSail]

If you have a big plot of land, and young children, you could strip it down to the basics, bury it to the waterline, put a sump pump in it, and a pole building cover of some sort. It would make a great playhouse for the children. Nothing more.

Your response made me laugh hysterically.
However, it is a genius idea!

It would make a great playhouse.
I would also add weeping tiles all around it.
Maybe some landscaping!

And it seems some have done this:

 

[GSPLures]

Thank you. Happy to join.

I had been looking at local classified (in fact found this listed there), similar boats could be as little as $10~20 depending on the condition. And been trying to figure out the cost of repair. But I was hoping a fellow Canadian would be here that would know the numbers better than me.
My feeling was not worth it, but I rather to check.


Do you suggest this because of the rust there?
View attachment 344319
Engine was under the hood and the entire area was covered by a boat Canopy, when the posted images. But the owner says someone came and stole it the weekend before I visited the boat.
So as a learning experience, what could be the reason for rust there?
That is the air intake?
I also found the engine cover and air filter inside the boat.


I love restoration and would enjoy it, but I am worried it would cost me more than buying a working boat!
Which I would rather buy a "working" boat and spend the time improve that. Given my limited experience, I wanted to get more opinion, on its worthiness.

And since I don't have mechanical skills, it would translate to extra $$$ for a mechanic!

BTW, nice work on your restoration, I watched your thread!

I appreciate it!

That rust in the picture is where the carb should be sitting. The hoses look like splotches in the dust from rain hitting dirt/dust (to me at least).

Things getting "stolen the weekend before" seems convenient. More than likely the owner sold some parts off of a bad motor.

Snow and rain in the boat suggests being uncovered for a longer period of time. Plus the leaf on top of the motor.

If you have to source out the work it would more than likely be cheaper to go another route.

For my project I fired the motor before tear down, if the motor was bad along with the rot i was going to part it out and scrap the hull.