Assessing A Project Boat Before BUYING!

[@zacpearson1878]

I’ve found that with my bass boats electrical it’s easier to run your own stuff new than to try to fix the birds nest that’s accumulated

[@markrobbins9552]

I did the same with an old Wellcraft. Tracing down the wire to find the problem and a lot of the problem is the wire. Ripped everything out and rewired the whole thing. Gas tank, steering, floor. Looked like at least in some cases they built the boat around some of the systems.

[@zacpearson1878]

@@markrobbins9552 sometimes they do or even if it’s upgrades/additions they will just go around the factory rats nest, you just gotta know the dos and don’ts of wiring, like what needs a harness or a breaker and all that

[@markt7291]

The message. Don’t ever think about doing this unless you with someone who’s got a lot of honest experience.

[@markrobbins9552]

There is logic in that if you know someone who knows boats and is willing to help. If limited resources has you considering a junkyard bargain, don't know how to budget in a paid mechanic. I learned with boats and cars by reviving a throw away. Learn by failure as well as sucess. Sticks with you better than being shown. All you need to start is some space in the yard and an understanding wife.

[@ncv4708]

Just picked up a project boat a month or so ago. 2001 Sea Sport 2040 CC. Got the boat for a good price knowing the outboard was blown (currently at the dealer getting a new Yamaha F150XB installed). The previous owner put a some money into it right up until the motor blew (new batteries & selector switch, 2 new bilge pumps, new fuel hoses & sender) Since the boat was built using Greenwood XL a lot of the rot issues that would normally concern me were not there, no structural issues, just minor glass chips here and there which I fixed. I redid all of the electrical and put new electronics, redid the upholstery and it'll be in the slip in a week or two hopefully. This video is spot on, project boats have lots of potential as long as you know what you are getting into.

[@monster-pq7ln]

It always amazes me seeing these boats laid up in such disrepair and makes me wonder just at what point they decided the boat was no longer seaworthy.

[@BellavistaPEI]

I literally laughed out loud...."the bilge pump is pristine"!!! Another great video in my eyes but my wife HATES me watching them....she says they give me ideas!! Thanks!!!

[@Fireship1]

A project boat is true to the old adage “all that glitters is not gold!”

[@stuarthennessy8551]

That's a pretty optimistic view for most people that boat is too much work.... Having said that I would definitely leave the screws in the seat that's built in anti slip, by the way thanks for not activating the smellovision, I expect there were a few good moldy corners in the bildge... The main thing is know your financial and technical limits before choosing your project. See you next week. Thanks again

[@jeremytaunton8813]

I would work for free at your shop just to learn. This channel is fun to watch!

[@firedude4080]

I picked up a 91 Proline 19CC . Solid, some patch work done on the hull but nothing horrible. It's just a matter of finding where the fuel tank is getting water from. Had it at a shop for over 7 months and he never touched it so it's sitting in my driveway waiting for me to tackle her and get her on the water. 😫 I work too much. But hopefully my ambition and determination will get it going for the end of the fluke season and ready for fall striper

[@DJSbm-28]

Wow makes me feel a lot better about my boat and the work I had to do to it. Great content and so much information. Thanks Arron for putting so much into this and making it look like we can do it too. I am actually getting ready for a new project boat and this just puts it in perspective. Stay safe out there! 👍😎🌴

[@mchaves7663]

Another thing to take into consideration is the risk of injury. A lot of people think " I can do the job by myself" but what they dont realise is that there's a lot of hazards in dealing with the tools required (angle grinders, reciprocating saws, sanders, chemicals, etc)... it's easy to get hurt if you are not careful. If you get hurt that means time off of your day job. So you need to judge what you can do and what you can pay for someone else to do.

[@denislaouenan5553]

thanks for the video, Evaluating needed work and cost is one thing, evaluating exactly how much time you can spare for the project without becoming all alone in your house before the end is very difficult. Not every family will be happy seeing you constantly in the backyard (if you are lucky you can do it at home, for me no other way than at home) working on your boat and not every family will be wanting to join you work on that project. At the end for those who love boat or have always had one there is no comparison between your rebuild favorite designed boat and a new one but it literally blood and sweat. You need to be very innovative as well cause parts will need modifications and every new step comes with new problems to solve and techniques to learn, every single screw needs to be of the correct design, of the correct length, needs to be bedded in sealant. it takes forever...

[@davidrodriguez5804]

and that is the hard true

[@Carl_Black]

Stoked to see a project boat on the channel.

[@OfficerDave78]

I can’t wait to see how the boat comes out !

[@Rico11b]

I'd just remove that Transom and replace it. While doing that I'd move the rear access to one side of the transom with a door on it. Also just tear out the WHOLE floor and get at every single hidden cranny in the boat to inspect clean and rebuild. Clean and inspect the fuel system and tank. Then put back a whole new deck while making sure you got backer plates for installing a T-top. I'd also strip out ALL of the wiring and re-do ALL of that. I do really like that outboard bracket. Keep that on there for real. :)

[@robertp7209]

If you get an older boat for cheap, and do the work yourself - stringers, bulkheads, gas tank, new floor, various glass repairs, new seats, new engine, new wiring and electronics, it’s still a fraction of the cost of a new boat of equivalent type, length and beam. It will take a year or two to do working part time and weekends. The restored boat will go as fast and do anything a new boat can do. The premise is you have to keep the boat and use it for years, not do this work and sell it. Even doing just a repowering job will be a great loss if you sell. Project boats are not affordable paying others for such work, in my opinion. I replaced most of the stringers, bulkheads, deck coring, wiring, electronics, all pumps, all hoses, both engines new in 2006 - on my 92 Grady Sailfish. Even fabricated a replacement pulpit from scratch. Most of the work was done more than 10 yrs ago. I’ve owned the boat since 1999, still have it. Just replaced the radar scanner and seat cushions. The equivalent new boat replacement today is about 1/4 million bucks. Since I’m using it year after year, the time and cost is paying me off, the longer and longer I use it. The boat can do anything and go anywhere a new equivalent boat can.

[@dbcards4261]

Another great video. :) I'm new to boating and am learning so much from your videos. I looked but couldn't find a video about difficult cold starts. Reason being is because that's my current issue. Takes me 5-6 tries to start at beginning of day. After that, first time every time. A video on my potential problem would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[@brianwhite5464]

Now we need a video about the other half of a project boat; like going to a boat yard like that and finding the boat you want then find out you can't get it registered due to title issues. Whether its a salvage title, etc... then you restore the boat and not be able to use it due to you cannot register it.

[@dylanlaakea]

Register boat as home made project boat.

[@youdonthavetoreadthispost.5850]

Give an old man an old boat and he will never have time or money. That said, I've done quite a few. There's not much you can't fix the key is know if you should. Dry rot and nail sickness are serious problems. Look for fiberglass stringers ( Aquasport) self bailing and full floatation on outboards. Trailering and storing can really hurt a hull. Fuel tanks should be accessible for service. Double bilge pumps for inlet/ocean fishing boats that need them. I spent 9 years on one old boat.

[@floridaoutdooradventures8981]

I am SO HAPPY with my Triumph 150cc made of ropelene (very hard plastic), it doesn't have any of these problems!! LOL... It doesn't get chipped, soft or crack. Fiberglass boats will eventually start falling apart... Too bad there aren't that many plastic boats out there! Plastic vessels are literally indestructible and completely maintenance free!!!

[@denislaouenan5553]

I rented a triumph 20' or 21' once in St Pete FL, I didn't know this tyoe of hull existed, It had a 150 but felt extremely heavy and was very slow compared with the scout 22 we had at home at the time. I really liked the idea, I also like the idea of polyurethane paint over gelcoat and never look back at all the issues gelcoat comes with. One thing I am wondering was how you fix your hull if you have a major puncture. Thanks

[@floridaoutdooradventures8981]

@@denislaouenan5553 It is almost impossible to puncture the hull. Google "Triumph Bubba Test", your jaw will drop!! That's how tough these boats truly are!! I bought my 2006 Triumph 150cc 11 years ago, the hull is still in immaculate shape! There is no wood, the entire hull is made of a single mold and it's very thick. There is even a sledge hammer test! They hit the hull of the Triumph with a sledge hammer, nothing happens! They try the same test with a fiberglass boat, the result is catastrophic as you can imagine. This one time I was going full open throttle right outside the channel, this wicked wave that came from nowhere push the boat against the concrete pillar, the boat hit the pillar sideways really hard and then bounced back! Of course I ended up with few deep scratches on the side of the boat but nothing broke! Had I been on a fiberglass boat, the entire vessel would have shuddered! It was just a cosmetic damage and there was absolutely no holes, the boat was not punctured. But I hated to look at those scratches whenever I would take the boat out. So I ended up taking my Triumph 1500cc to my body shop guy who works on cars. I don't know exactly what he did it, but when he was done with the boat, there was not a single trace of those scratches. He also found a special type of paint and painted the entire hull. The boat looked fantastic!!! Too bad Triumph Boats are out of business, they are amazing vessels! They are extremely durable, there is no waxing, no dents, the boat can literally last forever!!!

[@lifeofdave1237]

Currently rebuilding my Shetland 575 , a lot more work than previously thought lol, but it's getting there. Actually love doing the glass work and making it how I want it to be. Great video 👌 look forward to seeing the results

[@crazedgoldminner7384]

Where we just got a 1980 sunrunner and yeah it's going to be about probably for Grand by the time we're done but the boats Immaculate and we're having so much fun doing the work I'm not going to calculate the amount of hours at work

[@rogeliobravo4927]

Will be keeping up with how the boat looks in the next few videos, theres a few boats that need similar work nearby and theyre for sale lol

[@CorpseGrinder1967]

That outboard bracket, which has been installed after the boat was manufactured was most likely the cause of all the cracked deck and transom coating. Caused too much flex.

[@PFLEONARDI0906]

I would use a bead blaster prior to reglassing with plenty of cloth to level out the deck….

[@greganderson5653]

I have a 1974 StarCraft chieftain. I have to redo everything. But all the aluminum is good.

[@ante8210]

Great video. Please make step by step how you did repair. No rush to put all in one video.

[@WilliamPozo]

Great video! Thank you for sharing and looking forward to seeing the next few videos. Hopefully this is your boat !!

[@brad855]

This video is gold, even if a boat looks like complete sh!t it is not actually that bad and can be repaired and made to look great, Saying that the amount of boats you must see that you probably think it need to be sent to the scrap yard would be surprising. Great video like always

[@vicpinto1970]

9:28 The hornets nest was a nice touch.

[@ericdavi1231]

Love the clip of the bad motor mounts on the 2-stroke Mercury! Been there! Done that! Didn’t get a t-shirt 😩

[@CL-ok1gx]

Registration of a boat can be nightmare. Some states 100% require signed over notarized title. This might be the biggest hurdle. I can fix anything but missing paperwork.

[@wobblyduck1594]

Me: "What a beautiful Sea Craft" Aaron: "Crack, damage, crack, repair...damage, more repair" Proof, I needed this video and didn't even know it. Thanks, for the fantastic content. You are the man!

[@facilis]

Same here 😅

[@vxnova1]

Nice loving a new project, good choice

[@TV-nv8qq]

Best boating channel

[@ShadetreeJetski]

I would run from that boat.

[@facilis]

This is good stuff. So much good info that I would never have thought about to check. 💪

[@BornAgainBoating]

Glad it was helpful!

[@MarkPingel]

Keep up the great work too!

[@fuyt216]

Id rather do glass than anything else. If it has a solid engine and most of the wiring works ill for sure do glass work

[@wilspencer4720]

You guys restore a lot of boats I'm looking for a V8 marine motor I have a 4-cylinder Volvo motor right now that runs really good it's just too small for my boat

[@malekodesouza7255]

Grinding...glassing...sanding...repeat. Then filler...more sanding...then paint. Re-wire, new pumps, mechanicals etc... Some people have the time, talent and money...some don’t.

[@islandlife2302]

Send a boat to Us in Maldives to start a restoration project

[@TheDoug9901]

I squirrel up materials like a roll of glass. Canada is a desert when it comes to materials.

[@ninjalucas509]

nice video love ur boat projects :D

[@DirtMcGert29054]

That sea craft is like 4 houses down from where I'm staying

[@DirtMcGert29054]

Disregard , the one near by just looks like it but it's a 21-23 foot

[@Rev1Kev]

Yes!, finally another boat rebuild!,

[@ErnestLingerfelt]

thanks for adding us in in the vid (lake lanier Liquidators ) if you know anyone up here that can gives us some drone footage we need it in detail for data

[@simimi4851]

How do you feel about buying a project boat for just stationary liveaboard? Do you foresee much mechanical work for a stationary boat

[@jamesrahn8339]

That's a boat worth fixing for sure. I have a 79 aquasport 22 2 and have to do all that and more because of a nice coat of paint hiding everything when I bought it. 😳

[@pescamarescaptainalex4457]

Great video buddy when I come to the keys next time I want to meet you

[@marklaw2845]

Love this channel!

[@beksd9362]

You know my 1998 mercury 115 outboard has that same engine play. Can you make a repair video on that?

[@deezldude]

Any progress videos on this boat or did you go another direction

[@teachingrounds]

Another great video

[@fishingfool2644]

I love project boats I just don't have the time.

[@hankschrader149]

Do not! I repeat do not! buy the used boats I own 🤣😂 BOATT bust out another two thousand!! I own a 1978 17' pacific northwest built boat that has glass stringers from the factory big buying point to me. Foam may be trash but at least the stringers are always going to be solid

[@Wayno228]

Did yall redo this boat and is there a video of it

[@TonyC-pq7bp]

Easy 25k job to make this boat right. That's excluding new power.

[@vivimu]

Lmao

[@techrfun]

You said nothing about the wasp nest under the leaning post.

[@A5JDZK]

Good vid. Good info. Have you ever considered teaming up with fellow KZbinr That Boat Guy? You guys would make a good team.

[@WethePeopleMK]

Great video!

[@ptbentley2000]

Show this rebuild if you do it

[@philswift9431]

I enjoy electrical

[@brianwright874]

Very informative!

[@BornAgainBoating]

Glad you think so!

[@robertoferreira_bethopesca127]

Meu Amigo, tem condições de comprar um barco usado aí e trazer pra o Brasil, e quanto custaria a dispensa ??👍

[@user-dd1mx3df2w]

Damn where is that yard ? I bet you’d find some cool shit in there

[@pap91rt50]

I think that any project boat I would want would have to be wood.....

[@gurnblanstein9816]

This boat is not worth restoring. The money it would cost you to restore it you could just go buy one

[@thecentralscrutinizerr]

How much can I afford? I can afford to look at this boat, but only using one eye.

[@TonyC-pq7bp]

I did one. Not worth it. I did all the work myself still came out relatively priced to a new boat same size. If you want it to be to today's standards then get ready to spend top dollar on materials. 8 month of work. Sold it with no loss added few thousand purchased new.

[@electronpusher604]

I did a tiny Jon boat project. I wanted to spend $2500 but ended up spending $4000. Little trips to the store add up fast! Next time I'll buy somebody else's completed project.

[@TonyC-pq7bp]

@@electronpusher604 dude i did the count, i went thru 700 dollars in just robber gloves along, forget about it.

[@cantmovenow7112]

You didn't check the stringers. The brackets way too long for the boat. The engine even be too big for the boat. Transom flexing against the floor like that just shows how bad the backend is. I would not want to have the money in this thing for any price.

[@Wayno228]

I love boats and love the videos

[@MARCELIOUS18]

Where is the boat graveyard???

[@ivanau9615]

why recently your videos are a mixture of previous 'cuts' instead of really fixing something like what you did before??

[@kevinpaiva6564]

Wow that sea craft was used and abused and at some point owed by a hack lol needs a lot of work

[@ljmtac]

how to be a pro scraper ;)

[@doncaruso1949]

B.reak O.ut A.nother T.housand

[@albertdahl1588]

Auto like

[@qphuong95]

Xin chào

[@fredhinck9685]

Put the engine on another boat.

[@MarkPingel]

First!

[@antonioprado8068]

This is the kinda boat you'll find on offerup or marketplace for $17k and the owner claiming "I know what I got" Yea a big pile of 💩

[@천약유정]

Please check your e-mail.

[@teddobol]

Definitely not a Potter boat

[@seanjmichel]

I disagree. That transom is bad.

[@paterpeter1985]

Indeed, exposed rotten wood. Furthermore, blistering is not just cosmetical, it can be structural as well

[@outlaw565]

I respectfully disagree with your final analysis. There is always waaaay more severe problems than you see on a quick visual inspection even from a pro. Unless a person does this work for a living I highly recommend people should not even think about doing a project boat. You will get burn financially and probably physically from boat catching on fire cause you did wiring improperly. and please do not take anyone else on board and unknowingly risk there life .You will be held fully accountable in the court of law for there injury or death. All the older boats i see where people do there own work do it hazardously wrong. All of them.

[@andjuju6476]

Too hard basket.

[@skullhart]

That boats a total POS and not worth the time. Pull the zuke and bracket, the Simrad and the Airmar transducer and toss the rest in the gutter. Guessing 40k to get everything back in proper order.

[@davidcarpenter5154]

Typical little sinkcraft