New to the board & Aquasport Rebuilds, is it worth it?

[cuonawv]

Just picked up a 1974 19.6 with a great looking Suzuki140.  The boat is pretty beat up - so I had no hesitation flipping her or separating her from the power and selling both separately.  

HOWEVER..

Since reading the boards and seeing all the images of restorations gone well.  I'm starting to think - these are sweet little boats, and once restored, would do everything I need it to.

Problem is - I've never done a restoration.  I've done extensive fiberglass repairs in the past - but nothing to big nor too pretty...

I suppose my question is - when is it worth it to restore.  Is the 19.6 a worthy candidate? Are they boats with the history and a following that would justify a costly and lengthy restoration??

AND

Is this a job for an absolute restoration amateur??


 

More pics here..

http://bellsouthpwp2.net/s/u/suensamg/sales/aquasport/aquasport.html


I welcome any and all suggestions..

Thanks,
Sam Gardner
"cuonawv"

[Tailgunner]

Personally, I wouldn't hestitate to rebuild it. That being said, one needs a place to do this, patience and time. I have patience and time but not the location to do the rebuild I want without sacrificing most, if not all, of a fishing season.

Is the transom sound? Are there soft spots in the deck?

Somewhere in here I saw breakdown of what it took to do a rebuild.

[Seadog]

Most guys don't do their rebuilds in the expectation of making money in the end.  We do 'em to get out of it the boat we want to keep and use for a long time.  

Hedge the cost of the rebuild against the cost of a new production boat and you might be about even. But you got a boat built your way, for you, the way you want it.

So I'd advise: is this a boat you want to keep?  If you think it will fit the bill of the type of boat you want, then go for it, and have fun in the process. It takes a lot of planning and thought, and often times takes for-ever to get done.

Don't think anyone can begin to re-coup the cost of the labor alone in these boats, let alone the cost of the materials.

A '74 19.6 is a great candidate for a rebuild.  It's a nice choice.

Best of luck!

[cuonawv]

If I end up doing the restoration work - there's no way I'd sell her.  I think this is a boat that will do everything I'll ever need her to do.
How important is a controled enviroment in restoration work.  I have plenty of room beside the house - but it's not enclosed / open to all the elements and the big oak tree next door.
Asides from painting - is a controlled enviroment important?

Decking isn't much of an issue - Divinycell all the way.
But what about the transom core  - what is suggested?  Pro Balsa, Renicell, Marine Ply?? Anyone ever use this "Seacast System" stuff??  http://www.transomrepair.com/index.html

Also - silly question - If I replace the transom - what happens to the HIN numbers?  Do I have to re-apply the numbers or just not worry about it?

Thanks (again)

[Seadog]

I worked on my rebuild for about a year out in the open. Then I got a metal shelter - about $1250.00 - 16' X 24', open ends and sides. The only advantage, besides keeping it dry, is keeping out the pine needles, oak leaves and junk, off the resin when laying it up.  Plus I couldn't stand seeing all that hard work getting soaked in the rain.

The problem I have with seacast is that the inner and outer transom skins are left in place and you grind out the core with a chain saw. First there will be no way to get at all the rotten core thats adhered to the skins. Second there are bound to be air pockets left with that system of banging the transom while the product is poured in.

Coosa Composites has become a popular core material:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=104

There was a thread here not long ago about replacing the hull numbers. The current concensis is - go ahead and replace them.

[billh1963]

Hi,
New to the forum but not to boating. I have been messing around with Whalers for a while now. However, I feel the need for something different and had been thinking about restoring a Mako. I found this site and started reading the posts and like what I see. I came across Sam's post and I really love the lines on this 19.

I've been thinking about a winter restoration project and I'm seriously considering buying Sam's boat. I'm handy on many items but may "outsource" the hull restoration piece. Does anyone have some estimates on what it typically costs to restore a hull? Other than the motor cost, what are some of the realistic costs involved in transom repair, new gelcoat or paint, deck replacement, etc.? Any and all opinions are appreciated.

Thanks!

[billh1963]

Well...I've bought the boat!

Any opionions on what I'm in for?

Anyone have experience on the cost of having the hull work done by a professional?

Thanks!

[Argo]

what does the hull work involve?  I am sure it will cost some bucks in labor for it to be done by a pro.

[billh1963]

Hull work would involve deck replacement, transom repair, and painting the cap/deck/liner and hull (and associated minor repairs of the hull).

[Argo]

If you do it yourself you could probably be done with it in the range of $800-1k transom, couple hundred for the deck, $2k for good paint and supplies for the boat.  And about 10 million hours of labor.  To have it done i would guess anywhere from 10-20k depending on who does it and how much detail you want them to pay attention to.  You going to put on a bracket for the outboard or keep it on the transom mount?  For a bracket ad another couple of thousand.

[warthog5]

A dry place to work is very important. Not only the reason's mentioned above, but for those day's it's raining and your stuck inside with your thumb up your butt, due to the rain. Come Monday morning when you can't work on it the weather will be nice.
this is part of the delay process that strech's the project to take a much longer time to do.
Sometime's it will take a half a day just to get it dryed out so you can work on it.

[billh1963]

I'll probably hire out the big stuff (deck, transom, and paint) and do the details (that I like to do) myself. I'm interested in seeing pics of other 19-6's to pick up some ideas on modifications.

The focus of this boat will be inshore fishing. My Boston Whaler Outrage 21 is really suited for more offshore fishing. I'm thinking at this point of the following:
- Baitwell
- trolling motor or troll'n tabs
- leaning post
- elevated and extended forward platform
- additional fish boxes
- raw water and maybe even freshwater washdown
- enclosed transom with bracket

We'll see what ideas I get as I progress.

Bill[/list]

[warthog5]

I'll probably hire out the big stuff (deck, transom, and paint)

Are you SURE this is the boat for you that will meet all of your requirement's [present and future]?

Your going to be way upside down on the cost of farming this stuff out compaired to just going and buying another boat.

I can see a low ball price for those item's to be AT Least $11K.

[warthog5]

Hmmmmm!  It's been 3 day's since my last post and no answer.

Did I upset you cuonawv?

[JimCt]

Sam,

I agree with warthog5's cost estimate but maybe there's something else that ought to go into the mix.  Granted, it's an intangeable, but perhaps worth considering.  If the transom's solid, the boat's likely useable as is.  Set out a punch list of your projects and spread their completion out over time.  Use & enjoy the boat between projects.  Excepting myself, with the talent & experience available from the folks on the board, every question you have about materials, techniques and whatever else can be addressed; free of charge too!  The intangeable is that you will have the satisfaction of having done it.

If cost is your sole consideration, don't own a boat.  Buy your fish at the store; the variety & cost per pound is better.  If the enjoyment of just messin' around in boats and the satisfaction of doing a restoration to your liking hits your sweet spot, don't miss the opportunity.  It's sitting right there in your driveway.  Will you ever recover your cost?  Warthog has answered that question.  Of all the objects I own, the ones most dear to me are the ones I have either built or brought back to life.

Let the boat sit for now.  Think about what you want and what you will value in the end. The answer is in your own noggin.

Will await developments.

P.S. When the transom's done you can have a plate made up with HIN on it. Mount it where the old one was.