Devastated - can this hole be fixed?

[CluelessTN]

Hello. Im hoping someone can provide some insight for me. I purchased a 1987 SeaRay Weekender 230. My 1st boat- ever. Friend told me it was a steal and even tho winterized the engine looked good. Told me everything looked good and pressured me to buy it and told me I could sell it if I decide I dont like it and surely at least get my money out of it. I live in a rural area and while still waiting now weeks to get it dewinterized and serviced a HOLE in the hull became evident. I sent a picture to place Im wait listed and they said it very well may not even be repairable, would cost more than value of boat. I am just heartbroken and sickened that I flushed all this money down the toilet. And worse, signed a 6 month slip contract too. What are my options will anyone buy this boat maybe for salvage or parts? How do I find someone that would do that. Worse still I cant even pull this boat, I only have a small SUV, my friend pulled it back to TN from MS for me. I feel so stupid and sick about this. Im just stuck in limbo now in rural America praying there is hope it can be fixed but preparing for the worst. And it could be a month or longer before anyone can look at it to better assess. Ive already flushed over $6,000 seemingly down the toilet and have never had it in the water and it sounds like probably never will. Does anyone think maybe it can be repaired or what do I do now with it if it cant. Thanks for your help.

 

[Ididntdoit]

Calm down......we need a better pic......that may be the location of a through hull fitting - either way, im sure it can be fixed - either by doing it right (grinding the area inside and out and using layers of fiberglass resin and mat/cloth or.....putting a through hull there with a seacock (kind of rube goldberg, but its an old boat so why not). Truth be know, id be far more concerned about transom and stringer rot, but sometimes ignorance is bliss......get us some better pics of the area inside and out and we'll figure out how to get you on the water!

 

[CluelessTN]

Calm down......we need a better pic......that may be the location of a through hull fitting - either way, im sure it can be fixed - either by doing it right (grinding the area inside and out and using layers of fiberglass resin and mat/cloth or.....putting a through hull there with a seacock (kind of rube goldberg, but its an old boat so why not). Truth be know, id be far more concerned about transom and stringer rot, but sometimes ignorance is bliss......get us some better pics of the area inside and out and we'll figure out how to get you on the water!

Thanks. I will get better pics. That is what the repair shop eluded to ... stringers might be ruined. There has been water under the cabin steps that I was having to bail out after it rains cuz I cant even bilge til I get new batteries. And that water was brown. The cabin windows were also leaking but we tried to silicon those which helped. I now have a huge tarp over it that the prior owner had on it ... to try and keep rain water out til someone can actually service it. My biggest concern WAS that the engine would run. But this hole situation really devastated me. I cant even enjoy it in the slip if that cant be fixed. My hope is that it can be patched. I'll get more pics. Thx so much for your insight and help. This is a pic of the actual boat b/4 I saw the hole. But I'll get more and better pics. I was so excited to get this boat and I am so so appreciative of any help. Thank you.

 

[Golfman25]

Can you sell it to your "friend?"

As for the hole, there is a good possibility that is a thru hull for the toilet or something. Need to figure out what is growing there and clean it up.

A lot of standing water is bad. You need to make sure any drain plugs are pulled so the water can drain out.

Good news is, just about anything can be fixed. Is it worth it? That depends. How much can you do? You have a long road ahead. A lot of restorations recorded on youtube.

 

[Yendor]

Trying to figure out where that picture/hole is at. In that first picture, is that visible wheel the aft one on the port side? If so, your hole would appear to be starboard side of the stem, but how far forward of the transom? and how far down from the chine?

If you take measurement from the stem (middle bottom) up to the chine and note where the hole is along the way, we could probably determine it that is under a stringer or not. Another measurement from the transom forward to the hole would help as well. As with anything, pics, pics, pics. You can see what you have and where. We can't.

Anything can be fixed, so do as suggested; chill out and take some helpful pics. We can help you determine how cost effective that may or may not be, but we need info and pictures that we currently lack in order to do that.

Not that it makes a damn bit of difference, but I am more than passively curious;
Is your friend sharing your "Oh shits" over this, or did the seller give him a percentage of the take? His seeming over exuberance for your buying this boat tends to make him seem suspect.

Where in TN are you at?

 

[Golfman25]

Why does the boat have a Michigan registration number?

 

[CluelessTN]

The guy I bought it from said he inherited it from someone in Michigan. He said he never had it in the water since bringing it to MS. He said it was winterized in 2021. And then it was always kept out of the water and covered.
Here is a better picture of the hole. Inside the boat the floors seem very sturdy. I didn’t want to take the huge tarp that’s tied down on it off right now because it might be not possible for me to put it back on by myself. This hole does seem to be near where the bathroom would be but the toilet I believe is one where it doesn’t empty out into the water … you have to like take it an empty it somewhere. Those wheels are part of the trailer. The hole looks to be about 2 inches wide and less than a half an inch tall. Nothing seems to be ‘growing’ out of it. It feels hard in that dark part. Those are water stains from whatever water I guess has leaked out of it, not something growing out of it. Lol. And yes it is starboard side of boat. Probably kind of under the wheel or the cabin bathroom area. ‘Maybe’ 12-24 inches up from the motor housing area. Do these pics help any?

I’m halfway between Nashville & Memphis. Linden, TN. That’s part of my challenge. There’s not many of resources here so there’s big waiting listS @ the few shops. I’ve already had the boat a month. That’s also a reason why I was so excited to get this boat … so that I would have something to do around here & make some friends at the marina. I moved here last year from Tpa. Long story involving a dysfunctional HOA. There isn’t much to do here. But boating is popular here in summer. I thought this would be a great hobby & could meet some friends at the marina too.

 

[CluelessTN]

This is the engine it has what appeared to be clean oil and some other fluid too that my friend said looked good one hose looked a bit worn. We tried to jump the batteries & got enough juice to see the engine is not locked and does turn over. But we couldn’t tell much til it gets new batteries

 

[Jimmy Buoy]

If you have a manual pump type head, they source water for flushing from a through hull fitting under the boat. This might be that fitting (although I've never seen anything other than a circular fitting with a clear hole in the centre). Working the pump draws water from under the boat in for the flush and evacuates the bowl into a holding tank located in the engine room. That tank is then pumped out at a marina as needed.

 

[CluelessTN]

I took this video before we had to cover it over due to rain. The cushions didn’t need some cleaning, so I have decorated it with these blankets over them … but overall they were are in good condition. The floor seems real solid, but underneath those steps that go down, is where water was accumulating, but we just assumed that it was rolling down there from it raining. And that hole underneath isn’t far from that area. I don’t think it’ll let me upload a video. So here is a link to video of the inside. Thanks in advance everyone so much for any help. I’m just so sad & overwhelmed by this.

https://share.icloud.com/photos/00e8QSkU2Acefo_FesCfVMUMA

 

[Timeflys]

“Friendtold me it was a steal and even tho winterized the engine looked good. Told me everything looked good and pressured me to buy it ”

Sorry to break this to you, but I’d find a new friend!

 

[CluelessTN]

This is the engine.
https://share.icloud.com/photos/0c6fWY7eN33kIdYZ0tbOOpH1A

 

[Ididntdoit]

View attachment 147958 View attachment 147959 View attachment 147959 The guy I bought it from said he inherited it from someone in Michigan. He said he never had it in the water since bringing it to MS. He said it was winterized in 2021. And then it was always kept out of the water and covered.
Here is a better picture of the hole. Inside the boat the floors seem very sturdy. I didn’t want to take the huge tarp that’s tied down on it off right now because it might be not possible for me to put it back on by myself. This hole does seem to be near where the bathroom would be but the toilet I believe is one where it doesn’t empty out into the water … you have to like take it an empty it somewhere. Those wheels are part of the trailer. The hole looks to be about 2 inches wide and less than a half an inch tall. Nothing seems to be ‘growing’ out of it. It feels hard in that dark part. Those are water stains from whatever water I guess has leaked out of it, not something growing out of it. Lol. And yes it is starboard side of boat. Probably kind of under the wheel or the cabin bathroom area. ‘Maybe’ 12-24 inches up from the motor housing area. Do these pics help any?

I’m halfway between Nashville & Memphis. Linden, TN. That’s part of my challenge. There’s not many of resources here so there’s big waiting listS @ the few shops. I’ve already had the boat a month. That’s also a reason why I was so excited to get this boat … so that I would have something to do around here & make some friends at the marina. I moved here last year from Tpa. Long story involving a dysfunctional HOA. There isn’t much to do here. But boating is popular here in summer. I thought this would be a great hobby & could meet some friends at the marina too. View attachment 147958

I'm sorry - but that actually looks really bad....if you stick a screwdriver up there it is probably mush - looks like that was caused by a stand or someone trying to lift the boat.....the exposed part looks like a stringer....needs further investigation - if it's isolated and can be dried up and patched you'd be good to go - even if parts are soft all is not lost - you don't have to repair it 100% - patch it up and use it as a floating cottage/dock queen - hell, I've seen some pretty rotted boats still being used in the ocean.....life has given you a lemon.....make lemonade - ha, a good name for the boat!

 

[CluelessTN]

My other link had a better view of the floor but I’m not sure it’s launching. So here’s another video of the inside. It looked in good shape structurally.
https://share.icloud.com/photos/09fH2r_RALmW42gFRTVGUtZ_w

 

[Golfman25]

I'm sorry - but that actually looks really bad....if you stick a screwdriver up there it is probably mush - looks like that was caused by a stand or someone trying to lift the boat.....the exposed part looks like a stringer....needs further investigation - if it's isolated and can be dried up and patched you'd be good to go - even if parts are soft all is not lost - you don't have to repair it 100% - patch it up and use it as a floating cottage/dock queen - hell, I've seen some pretty rotted boats still being used in the ocean.....life has given you a lemon.....make lemonade - ha, a good name for the boat!

I agree. Not any type of thru hull. Looks like cracked fiberglass right at the stringer. The stains are probably from the wood.

Honestly, while it looks like a clean boat on the outside, underneath looks problematic. Engine has some disconnected hoses. Definitely not turn key. Hate to say it, but since you’re new to this you might want to consider selling. Get yourself something a little more turn key.

 

[Yendor]

I will have to say I got a chuckle out of the "dysfunctional HOA" comment. Don't know if that's an implication of how old I am, or how old you are not. However, that is the only kind that I've ever been aware of. If that friend of yours tries to sell you anything based on "The Great HOA" involved, don't even blink . . . punch him in the mouth!

That certainly looks like a rotted stringer to me.
I'm not one to discourage anybody, but know you do have an uphill battle on your hands there. You are going to find that 1/2" wide hole is actually three times that wide. Note all the stress cracks to the left of the hole. I'm not familiar with that hull or it's layout so still am unclear where that is fore and aft.

I would start out by drying out everything I could and then move to the engine and outdrive.
No need to buy more than one battery out of the gate, one will suit your needs for at least the short term. By the time you get it dried out and somebody to look at it, you should already know everything pertaining to the drive-line prognosis.

If you find similar issues there, hull repairs may not be justified. If that's all great and ready to go, then you may be able to justify more toward hull repairs. Either way, that isn't a call you make until after you have the drive-line assessment in hand. That should be your first order of business AFTER starting the 'drying it out' process.

In the end, Ididntdoit may well have the best idea yet, and is one I hadn't thought of myself. Little sense in having an empty, paid for slip at the lake AND a boat in the yard, if it can be avoided.

I don't believe very much (if any) of the story you were told. There are just to many leaps of improbability all strung together.
That guy is not your friend. You could very likely upgrade just by buying a beer for the next local you meet.

 

[Flyer5]

I don't think it looks too bad. At least it doesn't look like it would make the boat worthless. Would your friend be able to tackle a repair like that? Like others have said there are hundreds of good fiberglass repair videos on youtube.

 

[Scott215]

I would do temp repair and see if engine and outdrive are in good shape. If all is sound then I would make the decision to keep or sell. Might be worth it

 

[Flyer5]

I would do temp repair and see if engine and outdrive are in good shape. If all is sound then I would make the decision to keep or sell. Might be worth it

Great advice.

 

[TTG]

Why does the boat have a Michigan registration number?

This whole thing smells bad. I’m sorry you are going through this. It looks rotted out from the color……but my question is do you even have a title for the boat? I ask because of the registration and then moving the boat from state to state after it was “inherited”

Cut losses and get rid of it.