Just Got Me A Boat

[clayton86]

My buddy has a older bass boat he's been trying to sell but needs some work. Yesterday he told me to just come and take and toss him $100 and help with the farm when he needs it. So I'm gonna tow it home this weekend and get to work.

It's a '86 bass cat I think he said. It's 16' been stored in his dairy barn for years. Boat is solid and the motor was on a different boat last year and had a little over $1000 put into it from the quick math I did when I looked at the receipts.

It mostly needs the motor hooked back up its just setting on the transom but the steering, wires, fuel hoses aren't hooked up. The lights and wiring have been gutted also to put on his whaler. He has a bow trolling motor for it if he can find it along with the gas tanks that are in the whaler but he said I can take them out.

It's gonna be a project that's for sure but for practically nothing for the boat and if I gotta invest some time and money in it I don't mind it gets me on bigger water then the kayak. Doubt it will be ready this summer maybe mid fall but doubt that just for the fact I'll have to re winterize it shortly after.

I wanna tear up the floor and do a new lay out for storage I don't like how some of the compartments are. I work in a fiber glass shop and they let us take scrap raw materials if we ask so I'll probably do that to do my remodeling of the floor plans.

I'll get some pics when I pick it up. I know his horse trailer is blocking it in now so hopefully he moves that out of my way so I can get it Saturday

[Way2slow]

Since you work in a fiberglass shop, I guess you have the know how. Just be aware of one boat fact, the cap and floor are usually laid in the hull, while it's supported in the mold or something similar. If you start cutting them out, make sure you have the hull fully supported. The last one I took the cap off and preplaced the floor was a Stratos 285 Pro, and I dug a pit the boat would set in and filled it in with sand, working it under the hull and about a foot up the sides. If you don't support it, it will get seriously out of shape. I've seen people that did this and had to cut the hull to get the cap back on, and hulls that were all kinds of twisted so they went though the water in weird ways.

Does sound like you have a project that will keep you busy through the rest of the year and maybe have a nice fishing boat by next spring.

[martintheduck]

God speed! Just make sure that transom isn't all cracked out and rotted!

[slonezp]

Congrats on your purchase

[Way2slow]

Probably going to be the most expensive $100 he ever pays for something in his life. All that 100 did was to prime the pump. How many times have I been there, done that in my life time.

[slonezp]

Probably going to be the most expensive $100 he ever pays for something in his life. All that 100 did was to prime the pump. How many times have I been there, done that in my life time.

It'll keep him out of trouble

[nosdog2]

Congrats!   Sounds like a fun project to watch.  Post pics as you go along with it.

[clayton86]

I stopped on my way home and to the lake to get my daily morning fishing in after work and took some pics. Don't let the grass fool you it wasn't stored outside but they are tearing down part of the barn so the boat got pulled out.

This is going lol

Biggest thing I wanna modify the rod locker is to small.

[thomas15]

Good luck with your new project.

 

I'm considering a boat rehab in the future. The main thing you should determine is the condition of the transom core and the hull stringers. Both are wood covered with fiberglass. Also, there should be some type of foam under the deck, this gives the boat structural strength and keeps it from sinking if it gets swamped. The foam needs to be inspected to make sure it isn't full of water. Most likely the only way to find out is to rip up the deck. If you find soft spots on the deck, you will have to do this anyway. What I'm trying to say is you need to make an honest and informed assessment of what you have.

 

You can spend many hours reading about individual hull repairs and restorations here: http://forums.iboats.com/forum/boat-repair-and-restoration/boat-restoration-building-and-hull-repair

 

For the motor, here is a good place to start: http://forums.iboats.com/forum/engine-repair-and-maintenance/mercury-mariner-outboards

 

Trailer info here: http://forums.iboats.com/forum/general-boating-outdoors-activities/trailers-and-towing

 

Main forum directory here: http://forums.iboats.com/

 

I'm in no way connected with anything marine or internet based business but I found that the above forum to be a treasure to the boat fixer-upper. Other places I'm sure on the web no doubt but some of the posters go into great detail and post many pictures of their work in progress. That particular forum is sponsored by a boat/parts retailer for full disclosure.

 

If you need parts for your motor or would just like to see a parts diagram, try boats.net. Click of Mercury and then put your motor serial number in and this will access what you need to know.

 

You have a huge project ahead of you. If you take the time to check out the above and join them it is possible that you will find the information and encouragement you need to do this. You may also determine that the scope of work is beyond your willingness to commit to. Personally I hope you continue and get her back ship shape!

[BKeith]

Looking at the pics, right off  the bat I have doubts about the transom, when you see a piece of diamond plate fastened onto the back. 

 

For the style boat it is, and the fact you will almost have to make a new cap to make much of a change.  It doesn't look bad cosmetically, if the transom and flood is good, I would clean that sucker up, put me some new carpet in it, get it back together with the motor running. and go fishing