Hey guys, new here...well kind of. I've been a long time follower, but new to posting. I have a few questions I could use some input on here and would appreciate any thoughts you guys might have....
I've been an '86 200 osprey w/ '86 rebuilt Johnson 140 owner for about 4 years. Love the boat. I got it for a great price (free) about 4 years ago from my boss. It needed steering, some superficial repair and a paint job...badly. He didn't have time for it, so traded it for a promise I'd take him out when I fixed her up. Here are a few photos from the work:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=117428154316277729252&target=ALBUM&id=5838665312919396433&authkey=Gv1sRgCMTYmrfnz9S5Vg&feat=emailBoat was in OK shape when I got it. Transom had the typical crack between the cap and hull which I re-epoxied with west system (still good to this day) and the coffin cover was a little soft, so I cut out the wet wood and re-glassed it. New fuel lines, hydraulic steering, refinished the wood, added a stereo and a leaning post, new lights, hardware and a great interior paint job and I was back on the water. And yes, have taken the boss out a few times. After 4 seasons, I now have a problem. At the beginning of last season I stuck my head under the deck and noticed the stringers starting to delaminate. They lasted the season and now I have a crack in the hull and two badly damaged stingers.
I've been doing a lot of research over the past few months, looked at a few hulls to drop my motor on, looked at a few Sandy boats and I just cant get over how much I liked my '86 200. I also have a lot invested (mostly time) with the console, custom cushions, hardware etc... so I think I've convinced myself I'm going to attempt a re-build. Original plan was to pull the floor off, replace stingers, add support, replace the transom w/ a rot free material, patch the hole, and replace the floor. Probably will take me the better part of the next year because I live in the city and boat is about 45 minutes from me.
In doing this research I came across an '88 200 hull in Wilmington NC a few weeks ago (one of you actually posted about it in classifieds last Saturday). Other than the fuel fill being in a different location, I looks like the same hull, just 2 years younger. I had a marine surveyor look at it today (I live in the northeast) and he sent me a few photos and a report. Stingers look good, transom is dry, but the floor is bad. It's soft all around the console, so I'm guessing water got into the floor around where the console is screwed down and slowly rotted the floor out. Price is pretty good because it comes with a trailer.
Here is my question:
Anyone have a good idea how much a project '88 hull and trailer is worth? Would be looking at a new paint job anyway, so cosmetics aren't much of a concern. For a nominal cost, think it may be worth picking up another project boat that needs work, but less work? Goal is to re-use all of the custom parts I have on my current '86 (so that would save money) and I'd re-use my current console since it's painted, in better shape, fitted out with my stereo, steeling and controls. I'd most likely part out my current hull (would have some OEM parts or some of you classic 200 owners :) ) and one of the trailers to recoup some of my initial investment.
Either way, I would be taking the floor off. Even with the '88, I'm sure the foam is wet in the stringers, so I am imagining I'd still have to replace the foam and I'd most likely be replacing the transom while I'm at it. The benefit would be with saving the time reglassing the stringers and patching the hull, which I'm imagining would be the bulk of the work.
I consider myself a novice, but I'm pretty handy, ambitious and like doing things myself. Thanks to a background in restoration, this website and You Tube I'm not too worried about the work being too complicated. I'm more worried about the time.
Any input you can provide would be much appreciated.
PS, sorry about the novel. Thank you for your patience to those of you who have made it this far. Many of your previous post and re-build projects have gotten me through my initial repair and have provided me with inspiration and confidence I can get through this project. Hopefully will become a more of a frequent poster as I get into this.
