The boat restore , the project, the nightmare, and wheew when its done

[NRG]

Do you have a 70's-90s boat that is in need of repair, transom rotting, weak floor, and would like to get it fixed ?

Well you can do it your self, Im on Project boat number 7 a 1986 Hydra-Sports VS-150 a 17.5 ft Bass Boat I bought back the first week of Sept 08, I paid 200 half cash half trade, the boat had no motor, but solid glass, and trailer.

The boat I knew needed at least floor and some stringer work, after I got to looking closer .. I realized needed ALL NEW wood !

Here is some picks from day one to present .. Im not far from being done .. but I fear Ive run out of 60+ degree days till feb or early march .. I may get some soon.. but this time of year they are getting harder to come by.
I need to put new foam in bottom of boat , glass in the 2 new floor sections, and glass the top back on.. but other than that Im done .. just waiting on good weather.

If I had a garage Id be done by now .. oh well maybe by this time next year I will have my garage done and will have a warm place to work

here is picture log of the work from the day brought home up until Thanksgiving
















Lots of work but will be better than t was when it rolled of the factory floor

[Bassinkorea]

Looks like you have your work cut out there, I can't wait to see the boat once you are finished. That's a hobby I am really wanting to get into 

I love those 2 trees that you are using, perfect fit for the boat inbetween 

[Sig Equinox]

Great Job! Been there done that.I was looking for a brand new out of the box boat 10 years ago and could not see spending all the cash and stumbled onto a 1986 Stratos VT Rocket .One of the original Alen Stinsen design hulls in the tunnel hull version.

Did the same thing and rebuilt it top to bottom just as you are doing. It turned into a 5 month project well worth it though as other than the price of $2500 i paid for it the rest of the materials used were pretty much no cost since in in the boat building industry and my elbow grease.

Enjoy !!!

[BassBUFF]

Neat project! Keep us up to date! Love the pics and great use of the trees !

Sig, do you have any pics? Might want to start a thread on yours !

[Sig Equinox]

Neat project! Keep us up to date! Love the pics and great use of the trees !

Sig, do you have any pics? Might want to start a thread on yours !

A bunch of pics taken.Just need to convert to digital and post them up.

[Ron Fogelson]

A bunch of pics taken.Just need to convert to digital and post them up.

Sounds great, looking forward to seeing them.

[smartcaddie]

as what i can see congrats on your project i wish you the best.. well if you need any advice or anything we've rebuilt plenty of boats here in the shop and i may be able to help you if you come into a pickle.. the transom looks awesome! just remember to have anough fiberglass layed on the wood and that it seals it corectly!
anyways GOOD LUCK!!!!

[Sixpack]

I just finished (Aug '08) refurbing my 1988 Stratos V179. It took me about a year to complete it, if you ever really get done. It has new pumps aerators and bilge, put in a Hot Foot this time around and three Big Foot power buttons on the front deck for the trolling motor. New apholstry, carpet & graphics. The 1989 Johnson 140 VRO Looper was rebuilt and painted and also got new graphics. Next came the Stratos Trail trailer which I'm still working on, I cut off the spare tire carrier sanded and repainted it black with matching pinstripe and graphics, new wench and safety chains. All I lack there is a set of chrome rims to finish it up. To tell the truth I like it better now then when it was new.

[NRG]

Im closer to being done with the glass, the foam is in, bottom side of floor is Glassed ready to install, all the battery boxes and rear flotation boxes have a layer of glass on them this afternoon Im doing the other side, in preparation for tomorrow. Thursday here in Chattanooga, Tn is supposed to be 62-70 and very little chance of rain.

Thursday and maybe Friday might be the last warm days I get until Feb you just never know here.. but then again Ive seen many years Jan was in the 60's and 70s .. Im taking no chances .. Thursday the floor sections and the battery/foam boxes get glassed in. 

Once they cure all I have to do is put the top back on glass top to floor, and transom to the top and replace the cap and Im done with that part .. still have much to do ..

sand, repaint the cap, make a molded section for the seats to mount to , the original seats were screwed to floor with a alum backer plate.. there will be no holes in my floor except the drain and it will get glass and silicone and a PVC pipe to make sure water doesn't go down drain and run across the bottom of the floor.

New gauges, deck extension, new compartment lids made from thin stainless steel sheet metal and stainless steel tube for extra strength. they will be much lighter than the wood lids in there now.

So next time I post you will see completed floor and foam/battery boxes pics, and if all goes well pic of the top back on too

[NRG]

Ok guys and gals Im real close to having the sucker wrapped up .. at least wood wise,
floor and 90% battery / flotation box on left side, and 50% on the other side, all I lack is finish the boxes, put in gas tank shelf, and a few reinforcements here and there.

Then the top cap will be ready to go on .. I have 2 gouges to fix on the top cap .. got carried away with carbide burr cutting through the glass patches between hull and cap, but not big deal just another thing to fix    .. before cap goes back on get new bilge and 90 degree livewell pump installed, a couple through hull fittings that got broke taking off the cap, easier to do now than later .. and then the cap goes back on   

Here is pics of floor before top coat of resin and mat, and one of the battery boxes still in progress then below that is floor with resin and glass, and left battery / foam box, the last pic is the underside of the bow of the cap where TM mounts

[Bassinkorea]

This thread and your project are awesome, I love your updated photos    keep 'em coming 

[NRG]

Here is pics from Today ... Im about a day maybe two from having it all back together again.. It would be done Monday but ran out of resin this afternoon, I have to wait till tomorrow to get more resin

Battery /foam boxes done except enclosing the new foam I poured in the boxes with woven mat, then all I need to do is take off my tarp, raise the top half of the boat back up, and back the hull back into position, set in down on the hull, glue in the top to floor, and glass down the splash well to the transom , glass the cap back on, screw the top and bottom back together, caulk the to halves. Then I get to start sand, fill, and prime the top, and then paint.

[AJ]

i know that boat!!! i recognize it from else where!!!!

when u resin you just roll on resin? no glass???    what bout the seams where your plywood goes together it looks like you double resined it???    do you resin underside too???


lookin good!!!

[NRG]

i know that boat!!! i recognize it from else where!!!!

when u resin you just roll on resin? no glass???    what bout the seams where your plywood goes together it looks like you double resined it???    do you resin underside too???


lookin good!!!

Resin without glass is like a car with no wheels, All wood is covered in glass mat, and resin. the seems are a woven 24oz cloth with 10 oz mat bonded to that, resin under and over all mat, Yes I did the underside too .. and edges

[Eric C]

Looking better and better NRG. Hey you gonna pull that thing down to Guntersville any?

[Creel Limit Zero]

Man, that looks like a lot of work.  Pretty sweet, can't wait to see the finished project.      

[Ron Fogelson]

Looking better and better NRG.

Very true Eric, this is a cool project and I love seeing the updates.   

[NRG]

Looking better and better NRG. Hey you gonna pull that thing down to Guntersville any?

 COUCHTATER !  yo yo whats up homey !? You know I will man ..  and I know you wont mind helping me break her in !

[bassfishingva]

lookin good

[NRG]

Hey Guys and Gals .. this project is finally starting to resemble a boat again!!!      I finished all the glass work today .. and now the top is back on!!! .. Im just taking a break ... I still have to glass the splash well to the transom, but holy smokes .. its back together here is the pics from today 
Im shaking Im sooooo happppyyyyyy  BOO YAAAAHHHHHHHHH   

Now I have to clean up my huge mess .. under the tarp was a huge mess lol .. now its scattered all over the back yard lol