Picked up a old one to restore

Is it worth it?

  • Yes

    Votes: 6 75.0%
  • No

    Votes: 2 25.0%

  • Total voters
    8
  • Poll closed .
My plan is to get the cabin and everything I can get redone this winter. Then use it over the summer. Then next winter change what ever I don't like. I am planning on upgrading everything as I go. As for the engine if it is not strong enough I may drop a 383 or a 496 in it.

Go big or go home!
 
Congrats. I grabbed a 1998 290 sundancer that sat on blocks for 8 years under a tarp. Paid $10 grand. Took about 6 months of scrubbing, buffing, fixing, and bleeding to get her done. Dropped about $6 grand into her since i got her. Its my pride and joy now and the talk of the dock. Just got offered $38,000 for her and said no. Could not put a price on the time and love i gave her to bring her back to life
 
I am reminiscing. 12 years ago I found a 1989 220 CC destroyed by Katrina. Bought her cheap and started the 12 year restoration at the trailer axles and moved up.
Replaced more than I can list in this posting, seriously, leaf springs, stringers, starter, seats, and on and on. Ended the restoration last January with and engine pull-Transom rebuild. I have done all the engine, vinyl, fiberglass work myself.
She is beautiful now.
Just purchased an ‘01 280DA in great shape, but I refuse to even consider selling my 220 CC. Wife does not understand why. “It’s just a boat, after all!” If you have not restored one before, you will understand the satisfaction from a completed project.
Advice...be patient. It took a decade to get in the bad shape. Give yourself some time to get it back. Sorry the pic is upside down. Can’t figure it out.
 

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My plan is to get the cabin and everything I can get redone this winter. Then use it over the summer. Then next winter change what ever I don't like. I am planning on upgrading everything as I go. As for the engine if it is not strong enough I may drop a 383 or a 496 in it.

Not to dampen your spirits but....

I have a 383 Stroker in my '85 Cobalt installed by a previous owner. Runs great and generates somewhere in the neighborhood of 350HP. However, that is an issue as the Merc Alpha I drive is reported be reliable up to about 300HP. I am very judicious in applying power and do it slowly and I don't jump wakes. In other words, I baby it.

A 496 is a great motor but, as soon as you consider a big block motor you have to look at going to a Bravo drive. The Bravo drive will not fit the Alpha transom opening, or in your case, pre-Alpha, so you will need to plug and glass the current transom opening and cut a new hole to accommodate the different drive. That is a lot of work and expense for a 40+ year old boat.

How do I know this stuff? Because I am 5 years and $22,000+ into the restoration/refurb of a 34 year old boat. I just want you to be sure you know what you are getting into. I have been a member of this forum for over ten years and every year we get 3-5 new members that join and post that they got a great deal on an old boat. They post 3-4 times and then we never hear from them again. The assumption is they lost interest in the project. Not all do but most.

I hope you stick with it....I really do. I just want you to be aware of what you are getting into. Craigslist, eBay and the net will be your best friend.

My last bit of advice.... Unless that boat sat under cover for the past 10-20 years it's had water standing in the bilge. That means wet stringers and maybe transom and that means rot. Get the stringers inspected by someone that knows what to look for. The last thing you want to do is dump a shitload of time and money into her only to find later that the stringers and transom are rotted.

I'll close with this.... There is never time or money to do it right but ALWAYS time and money to do it over.
Shawn
 
I am reminiscing. 12 years ago I found a 1989 220 CC destroyed by Katrina. Bought her cheap and started the 12 year restoration at the trailer axles and moved up.
Replaced more than I can list in this posting, seriously, leaf springs, stringers, starter, seats, and on and on. Ended the restoration last January with and engine pull-Transom rebuild. I have done all the engine, vinyl, fiberglass work myself.
She is beautiful now.
Just purchased an ‘01 280DA in great shape, but I refuse to even consider selling my 220 CC. Wife does not understand why. “It’s just a boat, after all!” If you have not restored one before, you will understand the satisfaction from a completed project.
Advice...be patient. It took a decade to get in the bad shape. Give yourself some time to get it back. Sorry the pic is upside down. Can’t figure it out.
Where did you get your 2001 280? Might be my old one ;) Couple that bought my 280 were military in the Fl panhandle
 
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Doesn’t sound like the one I got. Owners were not military and in the Mobile, AL area.
 
Thank u for the advice. I am working on her slowly as I have projects to do for the wife. I have a guy coming out next week to inspect her. I will let u guys know what he says
 
You should be very carefull when you are cleaning a boat with a "pressure washer". They can remove the dirt and grime very easily, but they can also remove the bedding and caulk that is sealing all the penetrations, bow rail, hatches, window caulk, deck rails, etc. And like was said above bigger motor- needs bigger drive.

Good luck with your project- and keep posting updates, we love this sh^*.
 

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