1997 250 DA, restoration thread (THREAD NOW DEAD)

[Little Ducky]

The more I think about it the longer my list gets of parts I would purchase from you....

If you are not interested in parting it out then maybe a local teenager you know would do it for me and make a few bucks?

Windshield wiper unit
Canvas Cover
transom door hinge (it is about 12 inches long)
plexiglass cover for the fluorescent light in the galley
latch for the cabinet under the sink in the head
dashboard gauges
mercruiser throttle
spotlight

Thanks for making me think of all the problems with my boat...

And I think you could sell the depth finder display and probably the props to someone else. I also see people occasionally looking for a fridge.

Thanks, Pete.

Road trip.

See CSR members will help you get rid of it one piece at a time.

And I only thought this happened on car forums.

 

[Weekend dancer]

Hello all,

Thanks for all the suggestions. The problem is, if I part it out, I then have to take it to a salvage yard which could cost me more money than what I made from the parts. (Donation companies will only take boats in original condition, nothing missing so they can make the money). I will also have to rent a trailer again, go through the hours of carefully getting it back in a trailer (which was not fun) I think I am ready to just move on.

Clam bake (or anyone else) as little ducky just said, road trip. The entire boat (including the cover) can be yours for...... ?? I think I am going to place on Craig's list as a parts boat, but must take the boat. Maybe for 1k? I am not sure. Any thoughts?

 

[Clam Bake]

Florida is a little far for me to take a road trip

If you decide to part it out and scrap it then I could pay for your trailer rentals ($125 twice - so you could get it to the scrap yard) and then pay you for the parts I listed above. You wont get rich selling me the parts but I could make you more then whole so you are not at a loss. Let me know if you decide to go down that path.

Good luck, Pete.

 

[Capttjmd]

Hello all,

Thanks for all the suggestions. The problem is, if I part it out, I then have to take it to a salvage yard which could cost me more money than what I made from the parts. (Donation companies will only take boats in original condition, nothing missing so they can make the money). I will also have to rent a trailer again, go through the hours of carefully getting it back in a trailer (which was not fun) I think I am ready to just move on.

I have a '97 240 DA that is a very similar situation, though the molding issue doesn't appear to have progressed to the extent that yours did. Just out of curiosity, was the water limited to the cabin or was it in the engine compartment as well? It looks like the pictures of the rot are in the engine compartment, did you check any spots on the interior for that level of rot.

Also I may have a donation option available for you, my college takes donated boats they are in St. Pete, and would transport the boat themselves, so no trailering costs to you. I will check if they will take the boat.

 

[Weekend dancer]

Capttjmd,

I sold the boat for $750 a couple weeks ago to a salvage company. Yes, the the entire boat held water, from bow to stern. Every bit of wood was slowly soaking up the water. All the plywood was rot (aft cabin, engine compartment, stringers front to back) it was a total loss.

 

[Capttjmd]

Wow. Mine was limited to the cabin floor, nothing in the storage areas under the vberth, nothing on the aft bed, and totally dry engine compartment. Was the floor in the cabin soft or flexible at all? Mine feels solid throughout but now Im wondering if I should check it.

 

[Weekend dancer]

Your fiberglass cabin floor is not water proof for a prolonged period of time. If water sat in the cabin, it will wick through fiberglass and be sucked into the plywood and stringers. There is also foam insulation between each stringer that ends up holding the water.

On mine, I pulled up the carpet and the fiberglass floor was discolored and soft. I then started poking around and the floor was hollow. Keep in mind, with the carpet there, I could not tell the damage. I then cut out some of the floor and saw about 2" of water sitting on the hull and in the insulation.

If water is sitting in your cabin, the sump pump is not working, check that also. The two sections (bilge and cabin) are not connected. You also have a leak (from the windows, ceiling hatch or rails since water is in the cabin). If you feel you need to check this, gently pull the carpet and check the floor. Even cutting the floor and then patching is good if you are that concerned. Since it is covered with carpet, a homemade fiberglass patch is fine.

 

[Capttjmd]

I think the water in mine came from a clogged step well drain (leaves) that caused the water to fill up the step well and come in that way or water that was in the step well drain line froze, cracking the drain line some where between the drain hole in the step well and the discharge through hull on the stbd side of the hull. I'm leaning towards the latter because after washing the boat one time I did notice a small amount of clean water accumulate under the cabin steps. If anyone has any clue how to access that line to inspect and replace it I'm all ears.

Also mine does not have a shower, just a toilet in the head so there is no sump in the cabin (that I have found at least). The only bilge pump is the one in the engine compartment.