Great Lakes Boater
New Member
- Feb 21, 2024
- 5
- Boat Info
- 1981 Sea Ray Amberjack 25.5
- Engines
- Boatless
Hey all. So I've been relying heavily on this site for advice and really enjoying the information provided. I purchased a 25.5 Amberjack around a month ago with trailer for a project with a price of 700 dollars. She's been covered and wrapped and hasn't seen water since 2022. Got the motor running, all the mechanical stuff is an 9 out of 10 surprisingly for an older boat.
Transom is solid, haul solid (did the hammer tap test, rocked motor assembly up and down and checked for weak seal) but I did notice a single spot on the deck on the port side nonskid deck that looks like a patch job at one point that's starting to recrack, plus what looks like box risers that support the deck above the engine compartment. Also noticed that on both sides of the gas tank and right above the bildge there was EXTREMELY rotten wood. The 2nd owner was nice enough to cover gas tank with carpet and a plywood access panel . Seems to run both sides of the tank under the deck only creeping half way up from tank bottom. It stops right before midship (maybe 3 feet of rot). The problem is it's in an area almost unreachable without ripping up deck or removing the tank. Solid core haul at least. Question being is this a stringer job, a fiberglass cut n patch repair, or a whole top down deck rebuild? Anyway I can check for further rot without gutting entirely. Right now I ripped out as much as I could access by hand and including the piece separating the tank from engine bay. Letting her air out. Any advice?
Transom is solid, haul solid (did the hammer tap test, rocked motor assembly up and down and checked for weak seal) but I did notice a single spot on the deck on the port side nonskid deck that looks like a patch job at one point that's starting to recrack, plus what looks like box risers that support the deck above the engine compartment. Also noticed that on both sides of the gas tank and right above the bildge there was EXTREMELY rotten wood. The 2nd owner was nice enough to cover gas tank with carpet and a plywood access panel . Seems to run both sides of the tank under the deck only creeping half way up from tank bottom. It stops right before midship (maybe 3 feet of rot). The problem is it's in an area almost unreachable without ripping up deck or removing the tank. Solid core haul at least. Question being is this a stringer job, a fiberglass cut n patch repair, or a whole top down deck rebuild? Anyway I can check for further rot without gutting entirely. Right now I ripped out as much as I could access by hand and including the piece separating the tank from engine bay. Letting her air out. Any advice?
