Rebuilding a deck boat

[bravesfan]

I can't find an appropriate place for this. This seamed most suitable. I am rebuilding a deck boat, a family friend is giving me the boat itself. The floors are rotted, it has no engine, no steering column, no canopy, no seats, no railing, and major rusting on the floats. It's a total rebuild. Has anyone here ever took on a project like this? What was the total cost, and what tips would you give me?

I would prefer to install an 90 hp evinrude 2 stroke, but will consider other suggestions. Any advice helps.

Thanks

 

[JohnRandle]

There's a couple styles of deck boat.
Does it have pontoons?

 

[bravesfan]

There's a couple styles of deck boat.
Does it have pontoons?

Yes it does

 

[JohnRandle]

Can you weld aluminum?
If so, make sure those pontoons are not filled with foam. They will explode and kill you.

 

[outofyourmind]

Can you weld aluminum?
If so, make sure those pontoons are not filled with foam. They will explode and kill you.

 

[cmc_rebar]

It sounds as if he is giving it to you rather than have to deal with hauling it to the scrap yard...other than the basic outline of the boat is there anything usable on it? Maybe take it over to Lake Weiss and sell it to some Alabama redneck as a front porch

 

[JohnRandle]

Like a 16" pipe bomb....

 

[bravesfan]

Can you weld aluminum?
If so, make sure those pontoons are not filled with foam. They will explode and kill you.

Good to know!!

 

[bravesfan]

It sounds as if he is giving it to you rather than have to deal with hauling it to the scrap yard...other than the basic outline of the boat is there anything usable on it? Maybe take it over to Lake Weiss and sell it to some Alabama redneck as a front porch

There's nothing worth reusing, I am still trying to blueprint the rebuild and determine overhead cost. The frame and pontoons look to be in good shape, though I will have it inspected before I touch it

 

[bamabear82]

It sounds as if he is giving it to you rather than have to deal with hauling it to the scrap yard...other than the basic outline of the boat is there anything usable on it? Maybe take it over to Lake Weiss and sell it to some Alabama redneck as a front porch

I'll take it!

 

[JuiceTheGator]

Marine plywood, console and gauges, outboard and harness, throttle and cables, carpet, bimini top, steering assembly....you're looking at probably $7,500 if you do it buying parts online and as cheap as possible.

You can buy a decent, used pontoon for $5k. It's like restoring an old car - it better be worth it to you because you'll spend way more than it's worth. Recycle the aluminum, take the few hundred and buy something usable and make payments for a year on the rest.

05 27' SUNTRACKER REGENCY PARTY BARGE PONTOON BOAT W/115 HP OPTIMAX & TRAIL NR!

 

[Yankee Traveler]

Worth more in scrap aluminum.

Cut it up in small enough pieces to haul to your local metal recycler and go buy a used one that doesn't need the work.

 

[it'sHuskers4me]

There's nothing worth reusing, I am still trying to blueprint the rebuild and determine overhead cost. The frame and pontoons look to be in good shape, though I will have it inspected before I touch it

My brother-in-law got an ancient pontoon boat (as we call them) and made a floating dock, the type kids could swim out to which he semi-permanently anchored out from shore at his old lake house. The motor is the most expensive part of buying a new boat - like they charge you an arm and leg for the motor and the actual boat costs relatively little in comparison. Is it worth the effort to and expense to do a total restore on it? Will you ever be able to recoup the money if you need to? Good luck and keep us posted.