SgtMaj
Lieutenant Commander
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2007
- Messages
- 1,997
Re: Too Far Gone ?
Well, if TD is right and there is a gap between the windshield, that could be a big problem (not because of the windshield, but because it indicates a much larger problem with the hull). But... from the angles of the photos, I can't really say that I can see a gap... the ceter piece may just be smashed in a bit... if that's the case, that's incredibly easy to fix, and cheap, too. You can get a new curved windshield for something like $40-$60/piece from a plexiglass manufacturer, and non-curved pieces you can have cut to size for even less. The metal frame is just bent sheet metal, which any metal shop can do for next to nothing as well.
One thing though... and trust me on this... make SURE this is going to be worth it. It may be cheaper and easier to take some of the money you would have invested into restoring this boat, and getting a better boat from the get-go. I got an older boat in poor condition due to the low initial cost of it (and ignorance at the time)... and I can say without a doubt that was a BAD decision. I'll end up spending 5 times as much to restore this boat than one in the condition I'm restoring it to would have cost... and that's just the money end of it... then there's the backbreaking work involved, and the time it'll take to get it out on the water. The boating season you'll miss because it wasn't ready. On the plus side, you'll learn more than you ever wanted to about the hardware and maintanence. It's just too bad it'll cost you more than a 2 year degree for a marine maintanence technician.
PS - listen to TD. He really knows his stuff, and when he says it's not worth it, odds are it's not worth it even when you factor in the pride and sense of accomplishment from having done it yourself.
Well, if TD is right and there is a gap between the windshield, that could be a big problem (not because of the windshield, but because it indicates a much larger problem with the hull). But... from the angles of the photos, I can't really say that I can see a gap... the ceter piece may just be smashed in a bit... if that's the case, that's incredibly easy to fix, and cheap, too. You can get a new curved windshield for something like $40-$60/piece from a plexiglass manufacturer, and non-curved pieces you can have cut to size for even less. The metal frame is just bent sheet metal, which any metal shop can do for next to nothing as well.
One thing though... and trust me on this... make SURE this is going to be worth it. It may be cheaper and easier to take some of the money you would have invested into restoring this boat, and getting a better boat from the get-go. I got an older boat in poor condition due to the low initial cost of it (and ignorance at the time)... and I can say without a doubt that was a BAD decision. I'll end up spending 5 times as much to restore this boat than one in the condition I'm restoring it to would have cost... and that's just the money end of it... then there's the backbreaking work involved, and the time it'll take to get it out on the water. The boating season you'll miss because it wasn't ready. On the plus side, you'll learn more than you ever wanted to about the hardware and maintanence. It's just too bad it'll cost you more than a 2 year degree for a marine maintanence technician.
PS - listen to TD. He really knows his stuff, and when he says it's not worth it, odds are it's not worth it even when you factor in the pride and sense of accomplishment from having done it yourself.
