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I believe it would be a costly mistake to buy that boat. Too many of the key, almost impossible to replace, components are missing, to bring it back as originally configured, and which accordingly, will never make it worth much.

As Tom says, all that is being purchased is a poor condition bare hull, even though the engines could be rebuilt/restored to like new condition, another expense. Actually, the Merc 60 HP 2-strokes are excellent, reliable and quiet running engines and may be worth the restoration work. But I would check on the installation and rigging work. I've seen some real butcher jobs on putting twins on these hulls.

Ribsides are restorable if all of the original components remain, although it almost takes the skills of a professional boat restoration shop, like Metan Marine or Nautical Lumber, to do it, and with very high cost. Re-gelcoating a hull like that is a big job and labor intensive expense.

In my estimation, the following components need to be there for a Ribside accurate reproduction, and to make a purchase a wise buy:

1. Original high profile bow rail - no drawings exist for replacement, and used/loose ones are difficult to find, if at all. Fittings where stantions penetrate the topside hull are no longer available, but may be possible to locate with some difficulty.

2. Teak bow locker cover - This can be reproduced if a model can be found. Nautical Lumber may be able to do it.

3. Teak bow deck. This can be fabricated from new wood if an old one can be located for patterning. I had to make one of these for mine, and have a drawing.

4. Original teak console top, and fiberglass base, with shelf and access door. This absolutely key component is practically impossible to find loose as a whole unit.

5. Pilot/cooler seat from Outrage I, or RPS seat from Outrage II. Easier to source, especially the RPS.

6. Center console rail. No pattern exists, but could be reproduced from an existing rail. Impossible to find loose. The windscreen that fits this console rail is readily available from Mills, for $350.

7. Under gunwale "ceiling boards". 5 Mahogany boards covering the inside gunwales. With patterns from an existing boat, these can be reproduced, at considerable expense and effort.

8. The side grab rails can be be sourced locally fairly easily. About $200/pair.

9. Stern rail - no pattern exists, but could be fabricated from existing rail model. Attachment fittings could be a problem.

Now some may be happy with a boat without all these items, but they are what makes a Ribside complete. On the boat in question, it appears almost all of those components are missing.

As for the hull, look for soft bow deck or stern quarter decks. These are balsa cored, and if bad are a major, dirty job to repair. Avoid a boat with these problems. Later 19 and 21 Outrage/Revenge could also have this soft deck problem.

The boat has no internal fuel tank, a big plus. Nothing to go bad. It also only has one thru hull for the stern sump drain. It's about 15" long, so be sure it's sound. When in the water, there is ALWAYS water in that tube. This is the boat's only source of water into the hull, other than transom bolt holes.

Check for torn up interior transoms from poor engine installations. The transom is shallow, and many installers did not know how to handle this, and cut into the foam to access lower engine bolts. There could be a lot of damage in there which could weaken the transom and let water into the foam.

You can see mine on the personal website link, although it is not restored. Except for the vernish work, I found it that way and just cleaned it up and installed the classic power, new keel roller trailer and Mills canvas.