Thread subject: Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos :: water-logged hull - time to give it up?
Posted by tbaywhaler on 07/28/09 - 8:14 AM
#1
I've just found out the 1970's 17' whaler I picked up is leaking, has several cracks in the hull, lists to port 4", is water-logged and has "transom-problems". The marina advised me to give up on it. I bought it for $3500 with a Johnson 70 HP (which runs well). Could anyone tell me if there's any sense in selling it for parts, making it into a gigantic planter or whether there are reasonable ways to make it into a sea-worthy family boat? Thanks.
Posted by kamie on 07/28/09 - 9:59 AM
#3
Strip the hull of everything that is original and sell it or find a bare hull, transfer all the parts over and the engine. if it's dripping, cracked and listing 4 inches, it is probably time to turn it into a planter.
Posted by tbaywhaler on 07/28/09 - 10:20 AM
#4
Thanks guys.
Posted by Jeff on 07/28/09 - 10:38 AM
#5
Keep the boat. You have nothing to loose at this point. Cut the area of intrusion open and see how much you can get to drain out. Also drill a series of holes along the keel every 6" - 12" starting from the stern and work you way forward until you no long have water seeping out. Let it sit out of the water for a couple months in temps above the freezing point and then patch it up and paint the bottom. If it floats just use it. While you do that you can always be on the look out for another Whaler.
Or, if you really wanted to do a complete refurb you would have to head the route of Tony Boy see here:
link
Posted by wannabe on 07/28/09 - 6:38 PM
#6
The resto by " Tony Boy " is truly amazing. Never say die !!!
Posted by MW on 07/29/09 - 3:45 AM
#7
Try what Jeff said, more than once these boat's have been written off as "Dead" only to "Come back to life". They can really take a beating.
Posted by Binkie on 07/29/09 - 4:20 AM
#8
I would cut the floor out, dig all the saturated foam out and rebuild the floor with stringers and new foam, and a new deck. Make the deck and stringers out of closed cell foam such as divinycell, and then fill with liquid foam. There is a 13 footer that has been rebuilt this way. Probably a lot easier than cutting sections of the outside hull out, and rebuilding the outer hull. and doesn`t jeopardize the strength of the hull depending on your skill, putting it back together. There are many threads on rebuilding the transom. If you don`t want to do it sell it to someone who does.
Posted by Turpin on 07/29/09 - 8:03 AM
#9
It would greatly depend on what you are willing to do. It would take time but it can be restored. As Binkie said, If your not willing to do the work or have it done, find someone that will. Yes it easy to take it to the dump and be rid of a headache, but what has been accomplished other than cleaning up the yard. Many thought my boat was to far gone to restore but were not talking about reinventing the wheel it's a little fiberglass, foam, wood and a whole lot of time. I understand that not everybody wants to tackle such misery or put forth the amount of work required. I assure you the pay off in the end will be self satisfying.
I'm not sure where Thunder Bay is but I would love to have a Montauk project. Someday I'll find that neglected Montauk that is virtually free and my wife will say, oh no not again.
Posted by tbaywhaler on 07/29/09 - 8:17 AM
#10
The main theme I'm hearing is that there are solutions if there's time. Time, though I don't have much of - 3 kids, busy practice in medicine, yadayada. So I'll either drill the holes for now when I find a trailer for her or find a guy who wants the challenge. I knew it was too good to be true when I found her.
Posted by Binkie on 07/29/09 - 7:48 PM
#11
To Get an idea what your up against, when you find a trailer, take it to a weigh station and get an actual weight on it. Then mount the boat and remove everything except the motor and the steering system, and weigh the whole rig. You can find the weight of the motor on this site. By doing some subtraction, you wind up with the hull weight. That weight can also be found here. Then you will know how many pounds of water in the hull. Offhand I don`r remember what a gallon of water weighs, but you get the idea. You wind up knowing how many gallons of water is in your hull, and you may be pleasantly surprised.
Posted by Zamboni65 on 07/30/09 - 3:13 AM
#12
A gallon of water weights 8.35 lbs.
Edited by Zamboni65 on 07/30/09 - 4:46 AM
Posted by modenacart on 07/30/09 - 4:38 AM
#13
To know if there is a water problem, just put it in the water and see where it drafts. The transom problem can be a real problem because you would had for it to fail and the engine fall off the boat. That is what I would be most worried about until you see how the boat drafts.