I purchased a 1986 Blue Water Eagle 18ft, 205 4.3 last year for 1500.00 with new galvy EZ loader, knowing it was going to need a deck replacement, which means stingers and even transom usually also. I figured I could either do it myself, or have a reputable shop do it and consider the job done for a healthy fee. After looking at it, my enthusiasm level decreased as i found more and more rot towards the stern. Isn't that where it always ends up? Found soaked foam in the rear and even a puddle of water or two. i used the boat all summer last year and it ran great. parked it in the garage for most of the winter hoping the boat would dry out completely. NOPE.
I decided to get a couple bids and have the work done. As it turns out, the transom isn't bad, but the engine has to come out, need new motor mounts, removal of old decking, foam and stringer (I removed everything except the stringers.) I am having the best in the area doing it and he is charging me 2200.00 max for the entire replacement of the stringers/floor, up to the carpet install. The way I see it, I get a solid boat that looks really good, that I really like (been looking for that older Blue Water B/R for years) for under 4000.00 and it will go for years. I was laid off from my real job between 91 and 95, during that time I worked for a Marina who had me certified for Merc, OMC/Volvo Penta and Bombardier products. So I can handle most of the stuff, I didn't feel like removing/replacing the engine after the repair guy told me he would do it as part of the estimate. It just comes down to me not having the time to really spend on doing a good job. I want to use the boat this year and I work so much when I am not on vacation that I am not able to get anything like that done in my off time. I want to use the boat THIS year.
Sure, I will put the carpet and seats in myself. I have already removed every scratch on the hull, sanding, wetsanding and buffing and it came out looking GREAT, it made investing in the stringer job a lot more feasable. I was all ready to try and tackle the job and show my pictures of progress, but I just realized that I would be working on this for months if I wanted to do it right. Everything has to be so clean and prepped for good glass work and really, I wish I had the time, but reality set in and it is just going to be better in the pro's hands.
I decided to get a couple bids and have the work done. As it turns out, the transom isn't bad, but the engine has to come out, need new motor mounts, removal of old decking, foam and stringer (I removed everything except the stringers.) I am having the best in the area doing it and he is charging me 2200.00 max for the entire replacement of the stringers/floor, up to the carpet install. The way I see it, I get a solid boat that looks really good, that I really like (been looking for that older Blue Water B/R for years) for under 4000.00 and it will go for years. I was laid off from my real job between 91 and 95, during that time I worked for a Marina who had me certified for Merc, OMC/Volvo Penta and Bombardier products. So I can handle most of the stuff, I didn't feel like removing/replacing the engine after the repair guy told me he would do it as part of the estimate. It just comes down to me not having the time to really spend on doing a good job. I want to use the boat this year and I work so much when I am not on vacation that I am not able to get anything like that done in my off time. I want to use the boat THIS year.
Sure, I will put the carpet and seats in myself. I have already removed every scratch on the hull, sanding, wetsanding and buffing and it came out looking GREAT, it made investing in the stringer job a lot more feasable. I was all ready to try and tackle the job and show my pictures of progress, but I just realized that I would be working on this for months if I wanted to do it right. Everything has to be so clean and prepped for good glass work and really, I wish I had the time, but reality set in and it is just going to be better in the pro's hands.
