Hey everyone, just thinking and wanting some opinions/advice. Has anyone
every bought a boat that needed some major repairs, like patching a bad spot
in the fiberglass or remodeling the inside? Im just wondering how much work
it would be to purchase a fix up boat and make it seaworthy ? Would it be
better to wait and get a boat that is in good condition and doesnt need any
repairs? Or can a person save $$ by doing it over a period of time himself ?

Thanks
Ed

My opinion ... patching fiberglass and remodelling the interior are minor
(almost cosmetic) repairs (not major). Major would include engine, outdrive
if that's what it has, stringers, other structural and more on a larger boat
.... and those repairs cost big bucks for parts and require significant
skill/tools to do yourself. And then there could be that structural part
that you can't see, and can't repair. So, what type of boat are you talking?

every bought a boat that needed some major repairs, like patching a bad
spot in the fiberglass or remodeling the inside?

Here's my '83 ... http://thebayguide.com/rec.boats/ ... a work in
progress :-) Let's see now, replaced the intake manifold gasket (was leaking
oil), replaced the lower unit (it basically broke in a really bad way due to
metal fatigue), replaced bellows (leaking), and there's that plywood engine
cover along with all the other old vinyl that I tossed ... maybe this year
I'll get some proper seats but probably not. All in all though, it gets me
on the water at a fair price ... my opinion, if it went to the bottom this
year I still got my moneys worth :-)

"Bowgus" wrote in message
...
My opinion ... patching fiberglass and remodelling the interior are minor
(almost cosmetic) repairs (not major). Major would include engine,
outdrive
if that's what it has, stringers, other structural and more on a larger
boat
... and those repairs cost big bucks for parts and require significant
skill/tools to do yourself. And then there could be that structural part
that you can't see, and can't repair. So, what type of boat are you
talking?

every bought a boat that needed some major repairs, like patching a bad
spot in the fiberglass or remodeling the inside?

ed wrote:
Hey everyone, just thinking and wanting some opinions/advice. Has anyone
every bought a boat that needed some major repairs, like patching a bad spot
in the fiberglass or remodeling the inside? Im just wondering how much work
it would be to purchase a fix up boat and make it seaworthy ? Would it be
better to wait and get a boat that is in good condition and doesnt need any
repairs? Or can a person save $$ by doing it over a period of time himself ?

Thanks
Ed



Last year I went through this same scenario. I was looking for one
particular make..and I decided I'd look for the best and newest one I
could find. For the extra grand or two, I got a cream puff, rather than
a tired looking older boat. Remember, at some point you'll be selling
that boat.

And one more thing ... do I care if my wife overheard the female help where
I occasionally launch say ... "that ugly boat is here" ... nope, not at all
.... and best of all, neither does my wife :-)

Marinas often auction off boats that haven't paid their moorage. The
notification of such auctions are generally 1 day notices in the ads of the
local rag, therefore are not well attended. Boats are known to sell for $1
and some aren't even worth that. However, sometimes there are some decent
deals.
Be advised, you need to be a tinkerer and jack of all trades and like
restoring things.
Gordon
BTW, there will be a 35' fiberglass being auctioned here in Port Angeles
in the next month or two. Probably go for a dollar, as it needs EXTENSIVE
work. Including an engine.

"ed" wrote in message
news
Hey everyone, just thinking and wanting some opinions/advice. Has anyone
every bought a boat that needed some major repairs, like patching a bad
spot
in the fiberglass or remodeling the inside? Im just wondering how much
work
it would be to purchase a fix up boat and make it seaworthy ? Would it be
better to wait and get a boat that is in good condition and doesnt need
any
repairs? Or can a person save $$ by doing it over a period of time himself
?

Thanks
Ed

Maybe the best news is that there are literally hundreds of examples of
half finished do-it-yourself boat restoration projects being sold for
pennies on the dollar by discouraged owners.

With luck, you'll find one of the 5-10% attempted by a boat owner who
didn't actually destroy the boat in the process and be that much closer
to completion.

As cheaply as you can buy a total mess, you might find that a boat that
was once a derelict but has been brought along by several tens of
thousands of dollars back toward respectability will resell, prior to
completion, for pretty close to the original total mess figure. Moral
of the story- pick up somebody else's labor for nothing and try to
avoid
selling your own for the same price. Make sure you have the time,
energy, money, and expertise to finish the job- or don't bother to
start.

There are some good reasons why top flight boatyards have long wait
lists, despite some very high pricing.

Gordon, can you give me more details on that boat, I might be interested in
it.

Thanks
Ed
"Gordon" wrote in message
...
Marinas often auction off boats that haven't paid their moorage. The
notification of such auctions are generally 1 day notices in the ads of
the
local rag, therefore are not well attended. Boats are known to sell for $1
and some aren't even worth that. However, sometimes there are some decent
deals.
Be advised, you need to be a tinkerer and jack of all trades and like
restoring things.
Gordon
BTW, there will be a 35' fiberglass being auctioned here in Port Angeles
in the next month or two. Probably go for a dollar, as it needs EXTENSIVE
work. Including an engine.

"ed" wrote in message
news
Hey everyone, just thinking and wanting some opinions/advice. Has anyone
every bought a boat that needed some major repairs, like patching a bad
spot
in the fiberglass or remodeling the inside? Im just wondering how much
work
it would be to purchase a fix up boat and make it seaworthy ? Would it be
better to wait and get a boat that is in good condition and doesnt need
any
repairs? Or can a person save $$ by doing it over a period of time
himself
?

Thanks
Ed