Is this boat worth re-doing?

[Higgo]

My mates got an old Monark glass boat (anygood?) sitting in his yard which hes trying to get rid of. $800 and its mine.

I've thought a few times about fixing up a boat like this but lack of time pretty much stuffs these plans. At the end of the year I've got about 2 months off, with nothing to do (finish year 12). This could be a good project for that time.

So basically, I'm just after opinions from guys who have done this sort of stuff about weather this boat is good to do up, about how long its going to take and around how much would it cost? I didn't check the transom out at all really so I'm not sure of its condition but I had a good look at the floor and I reckon a bit of work need to be done ;D What sort of stuff should I be checking?

Heres a bunch of pics.

[Higgo]

[PAR]

The guy is kidding about $800 right. Unless that engine starts with a touch of the key, you're looking to pay nearly a grand for a well butchered boat?

What I see are well used controls, steering, an old probably spent engine that will be difficult to find parts for, a hacked up sole (floor), a ripped up electrical system, plus the stringers and transom are possibility questionable.

Unless you have a good amount of money, experience fixing things and a fair bit of time, walk away from this thing.

[Ike]

I go with PAR. Even though Monark has a reputation for building solid boats, this one looks like it has been used and abused. Unless you have a lot of time and can do the work yourself, and don't mind taking a year or so to rebuild this thing, I would give it a pass.

[Fanie]

Par is right. Getting to fix that boat up will basically mean stripping it to the bare hull. All the wood stringers and all else inside it will have to be replaced, and you will have to refurniture the inside of the boat, also get another engine, wiring, obholstery etc. The trailer also looks run down and rusted, you probably would have to replace that also or risk losing the boat on the road.

Unless you're madly in love with that hull specifically for some reason then look for something else instead.

Redoing a boat is a huge undertaking. Many many hours and a lot of money and patience. Most never finishes it, they just give it to the next keen guy.

[RealityBoatCo]

That Stinger alone is worth the $800 take that motor off and hide it.

[Higgo]

Whats a stinger? I'm not a boat builder...but learning is good.

Cheers guys, I most likely won't touch it considering your advice.

[RealityBoatCo]

Originally Posted by Higgo

Whats a stinger? I'm not a boat builder...but learning is good.

Cheers guys, I most likely won't touch it considering your advice.

The motor on the back is a Stinger 75, its a nice little motor. The boat, I'd junk, but the motor is worth something.

[PAR]

This is a high school kid, not yet completed 12th grade, RealityBoatCo. So, how much "reality" do you think this old hunk of engine has for this poster Reality?

[RealityBoatCo]

Originally Posted by PAR

This is a high school kid, not yet completed 12th grade, RealityBoatCo. So, how much "reality" do you think this old hunk of engine has for this poster Reality?

Probably one of the best motors a kid could have, not too big, not too small. Easy to fix, and they run great.

If it runs at all its worth the $800. If it doesn't run maybe $500 for parts to other Stinger nuts. If it doesn't run then as a kid pass on it, look for one that does run.

You see nothing but junk, I see an $800 Johnson Stinger 75, including the controls. After you pitch the junk boat, you've also got a trailer worth at least $150.

If that Stinger has a 15" mid its worth twice the asking price.

[Fanie]

It is difficult to judge the parts from the pictures, but if that brown is rust on the trailer it is going to be rotten. Tubing is always worse on the inside than the outside, and if it is coming through like it looks like it is doing then the trailer is scrap, an accident looking for a place to happen.

[Fanie]

I don't know about those engines specifically and maybe you can fix them up with a piece of wire and a plier (like they do a Ford ) but in my experience OLD motors are not worth having. Spares are hard to find, become expensive and tend to be breaking more than nessesary. Heavy on fuel and difficult on the start when cold.

If this is a school kid the rig is going to I would seriously think again. A 75Hp is a powerfull motor if it is working properly. If my kid is in school I wouldn't think about letting him handle that size motor.

A 15 Hp in my opinion is more than adequit for a kid, he should get a smaller boat as well, one that he can handle even when alone. Whatever he's getting should be in fair condition, kids do not have a lot of money to throw around.

Couple of years from now if he's still interested he can buy his own bigger rig.

[PAR]

My sentiments precisely Fanie. I've met very few 18 year old kids, that can afford what it takes to get one of these running well and reliably, let alone have the knowledge to do so. This means spending hundreds more for a 30 year old engine (my assuming). This particularly significant when you consider you can buy a 10 year old Mercury (or other make) 75 HP for about twice the asking price of the antique Johnson. More reliable, parts are readability available and it'll probably still have some compression left in it.

[Fanie]

What worries me even more is is that grown ups just assume that kids are just small adults. There is a good reason why they should be protected from indiscretely driving around in cars, sex and pornography, big boats and guns.

Insurance companies charge extra for insurance for under 25 year olds for a reason. One can only hope this kid has the guts to say no and choose to make some intelligent decisions about this. If anything goes wrong ie like an accident then the $800 is going to be really small fry.

[PAR]

I can buy a fairly nice little jon boat for 800 bucks, with a small engine, but enough to get it up and scooting pretty good.