Topic: The boat restore , the project, the nightmare, and wheew when its done (Read 14618 times)

NRG · « **on:** December 04, 2008, 06:58:30 PM »

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 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 05, 2008, 02:21:22 AM »

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 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 05, 2008, 06:45:38 AM »

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 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 06, 2008, 12:29:23 PM »

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 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 06, 2008, 01:10:23 PM »

Quote from: BassBUFF on December 06, 2008, 12:29:23 PM

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 · « **Reply #5 on:** December 06, 2008, 02:48:29 PM »

Quote from: Sig Equinox on December 06, 2008, 01:10:23 PM

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

Sounds great, looking forward to seeing them.

smartcaddie · « **Reply #6 on:** December 15, 2008, 06:25:47 PM »

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 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 16, 2008, 08:13:40 PM »

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.

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NRG · « **Reply #8 on:** December 17, 2008, 03:30:56 PM »

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 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 20, 2008, 02:05:17 PM »

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 · « **Reply #10 on:** December 20, 2008, 10:39:54 PM »

This thread and your project are awesome, I love your updated photos

keep 'em coming

NRG · « **Reply #11 on:** December 28, 2008, 07:08:25 PM »

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 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 29, 2008, 07:47:49 AM »

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 · « **Reply #13 on:** December 29, 2008, 03:51:34 PM »

Quote from: AJ on December 29, 2008, 07:47:49 AM

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 · « **Reply #14 on:** December 29, 2008, 05:14:43 PM »

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

Creel Limit Zero · « **Reply #15 on:** December 29, 2008, 06:18:55 PM »

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

Ron Fogelson · « **Reply #16 on:** December 29, 2008, 08:32:34 PM »

Quote from: Eric C on December 29, 2008, 05:14:43 PM

Looking better and better NRG.

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

NRG · « **Reply #17 on:** December 29, 2008, 10:33:06 PM »

Quote from: Eric C on December 29, 2008, 05:14:43 PM

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 · « **Reply #18 on:** December 30, 2008, 03:23:12 PM »

lookin good

NRG · « **Reply #19 on:** December 30, 2008, 03:28:37 PM »

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

Ron Fogelson · « **Reply #20 on:** December 31, 2008, 02:00:00 PM »

Looks like a lot of work but when your done you will have a great boat and know you did it all yourself.

Looks a lot better and thanks for the continued photos!

NRG · « **Reply #21 on:** January 25, 2009, 07:24:44 PM »

Ok Guys and Gals .. small update on the progress .. Weather stopped all progress on the boat until the last couple days, Rain, Rain, Rain, and more Rain, then COLD COLD and coldest, more rain

,

That and 1st week of Jan I got laid off

.. Ive spent most of my time last 3 weeks lookin for work, and have been lucky enough to have a few interviews, 2 of them may be a yes early this week.

Any way on to the boat ..

I haven't done anything to the boat since I finished up the wood work , floors etc .. I let the top back down on the boat, and covered it up there it has sat for about a month, we had a warm spell this week, was 55 Thursday, and has been in high 40s to low 50s since then and sunny.
So I got back to work on her .. I ran all new drain lines, installed new livewell pump and bilge pump, replaced the freshwater pump, was a 500 GPH now its a 1100gph and added a new bigger spray head and 1 1/8" hose for the bigger pump.
Finished up some odds and ends that hadn't done yet .. remounted the circuit breaker for the trolling motor , removed some wires that went no where, removed an old transducer that apparently had died and wires cut, new one added they left the old one epoxied in the hull.
Put wire wraps mesh wraps on all the loose wires that run thru the battery / gas tank compartment , so now no more wires running all over in a birds nest.
Did some dry fitting so when I get a 60+ day, I can finish glassing the splash well to transom and the cap that covers the top of the transom, and glassing top down to the floor in the "woops" pit area.

All I have left is tidy up some more wires, and a few other small things then wait for a warm day .. shouldn't be much longer its almost February usually get a good bit of warm weather in Feb. Bass here generally start staging late Feb into early March here as the water warms back into the 50s .. its in the low to mid 40s last few days.

Then after the glass work is finally wrapped up and I finish screwing the top back to the bottom and reinstall rub rail, and rub rail rubber. The motor will be next to get overhauled , new Thermostats, new Impeller, water passages cleaned and checked for debris, new plugs, carbs cleaned, then fire it up , then mount on jack plate and do some test runs on the lake, then the paint work will start after boat in good running order.

Here is pics from today
my 6 yr old took the one of me standing in the boat!

Bassinkorea · « **Reply #22 on:** January 28, 2009, 02:44:36 AM »

Great to hear you could get a bit more work done on the boat. I'm really enjoying seeing your project all coming together

Real sorry to hear about you losing your job, and I hope those interviews turn into jobs

Marc132 · « **Reply #23 on:** January 30, 2009, 07:04:50 PM »

awesome boat and good luck with the job thing.

NRG · « **Reply #24 on:** February 01, 2009, 05:36:06 PM »

Another update, and another milestone in this project

The top is officially glassed in and screwed down, all I have left to do is wait for one more warm day , today was 63 and sunny so I glassed in the splash well its curing now, also removed the foam rubber on the dash it was cracked.

I liked the look of it but it wouldn't hold up for the long haul anyway. Removed the gauges and switch panels , scrapped off remaining carpet.

I still need to glass over the transom cap, and glass down the top cap where meets floor, didn't have enough resin to do it all today, will need to get one final gallon to finish.

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Author Topic: The boat restore , the project, the nightmare, and wheew when its done (Read 14618 times)