Boat Customization/"restoration" Questions And Opinions

[MrTexasRigs]

Alright so after a long while we have finally got this boat, for a very low price, from a friend. It has been used in the ocean, etc. So the transom is in rough shape, but definitely usable, but we are going to repair it at some point. I was wondering what you guys think I should do/add on to the boat. We are not buying an outboard at the moment, because where we fish you can only use a trolling motor. It is a Motorguide Varimax 75lb thrust transom mount. The boat is a 15ft (i believe) trihull fiberglass, the company is an old gone company called REPH. We are planing on "gel-coating" it like that metallic grey color if not too expensive, adding fish finders, re-carpeting, etc. So I'm going to post pictures of it, and I want you guys to tell me what we should do/add on to it. Like how to clean it up/recoat the hull. Also I would like to know if you guys would recommend maybe building some storage compartments, etc. So just tell me what you would do if it were your's and how you would go about doing this. Also if you know the prices of like gelcoating, tell me if it would be really expensive or not. I know I'm asking a lot so just bombard me with random answers/opinions lol.  

 

I will post pictures seperatly because they are too big to attach 

 

 

Thanks

 

[MrTexasRigs]

 

It's majorly cropped but this is the back of the boat, it's all flat and open, probably 4 ft wide and probably 10ft give or take of open space in length... gotta measure

[MrTexasRigs]

Cropped, but this is a view from behind of the back of the boat up through the front

 

[Fishing Rhino]

If the transom has a wood core, and is punky, you've got a major restoration job just to rebuild the transom.

 

Chances are that any wooden stringers and cross members may be rotten as well, compromising the structural integrity of the hull.

 

If you are going to do anything with this boat, your first order of business should be to make sure that the stringers, cross members and transom are sound.  They are the foundation of the boat, providing strength and stiffness to the hull.

[John F.]

I did something similar with my Gamefisher. I strongly recommend researching everything you can about stringer / transom / floor replacement. It's not easy, not cheap and mostly an itchy dirty messy job. 

 

 

BUT, I can say in my case it was worth every bit of it. I spent a bunch of money ($2k+) on a $600 boat motor and trailer. And I am about to have to do half of it again. I will never be able to place a dollar value on the countless fishing trips Dad and I have made on that boat. Many would call it a pos and ugly but the fish don't care. 

 

My recommendation, figure out what really needs to be done to make the boat safe and reliable. Do that, use it for a while and then think about what needs to be changed to suit you better. (thats where I am now) You'll know more about why things need to be setup differently and more importantly you'll get to enjoy it before tearing it apart. It's hard to complete a huge project like that, easier if you can remember why you're doing it. (just my 2 cents). 

 

It took a very long time to go from here:

 

 

 

 

 

To here:

 

[John F.]

Resources to look at:

 

http://forums.iboats.com/boat-repair-restoration-408/

www.bateau2.com

www.microskiff.com

www.thehulltruth.com

www.classicmako.com

 

There are rebuild threads everywhere, with various levels of completion and finish quality. I went for a work boat finish, some go to all exotic hardwood and new hardware etc.. Thats up to you.